wouldn't want to miss."

"Huh, guess I'm in the same box," chuckled Josh; "anyway I promised to
be sitting in my usual chair with my feet under our dining table on
that same day; and it'd grieve my heart if I missed connections."

The middle of that June day proved to be very warm, and the boys
decided to lie around for several hours. When the sun had got well
started down the western sky perhaps there might be a little more life
in the air. Besides, they were in no hurry; so what was the use of
exerting themselves unduly?

"I hope it isn't going to storm!" suggested Carl, as they sprawled
under the shady tree where they had halted for the noon rest, each
youth in as comfortable an attitude as he could assume.

"Oh, is there any chance of a terrible storm dropping down on us, do
you think?" asked Horace Crapsey, looking troubled; for although none
of the others knew it, the crash of the thunder and the play of
lightning had struck terror to his soul ever since the time he had been
knocked down, when a tree near his house was shattered by a bolt from
the clouds.

"Not that you can see right now," Josh informed him, a little
contemptuously; with a strong boy's feeling toward one who shows signs
of being afraid; "but when it's summer time and when, in the bargain, a
day has been as hot as this one, you never can tell."

"That's so, Josh," George Kingsley remarked, wagging his head as though
for once he actually agreed with something that had been said; "a
simmering day often coaxes a storm along. It may hit us toward
night-time, or even come on any hour afterwards when we're sleeping
like babes in the woods."

"But what can we do for shelter?" asked Billy Button; "we haven't got
even a rag for a tent; and once we get soaked it'll be a hard job to
dry our suits, you know."

"Leave that to us, Billy," Tom told him, confidently. "First of all
every scout has a rubber poncho; two of these fastened together will
make what they call a dog tent, under which a couple of fellows can
tuck themselves, and keep the upper part of their bodies dry. Soldiers
always use them."

"Yes," added Rob Shaefer; "and if it looks like rain to-night we'll
raise several brush shanties. By making use of the rubber blankets they
can be kept as dry as a bone. Scouts must learn how to meet every
possible condition that can rise up. That's a big part of the fun, once
you've begun to play the game."

Billy seemed to be much impressed by this