Frank, as an old campaigner, knew what was to be done. Under his directions Toby and the two boys made everything as snug as could be expected. They also concealed some dry wood in the hollow of a tree nearby, so that later on they might be prepared for making a fire. The storm came at last, with a furious wind, and a heavy downpour of rain. "Wow!" exclaimed Bluff, as he looked out from the tent, "ain't I glad we got here before that came. One ducking satisfies me; I'm not greedy." The afternoon waned, and night came on, still there were no signs of Jerry. Frank worried some, but stopped speaking of the matter, for he saw that old Toby was beginning to shake with fear, as the wind increased in fury, and the tents wobbled about at a great rate. "I hope they hold out," said Frank to himself. He even donned a waterproof he had brought along, and going outside, tapped the pegs all around again. Everything seemed secure so far as he could see. Still, he knew that if one peg gave, the balance could not resist the additional strain, and a catastrophe must result. Old Toby was really too much alarmed to retire to his fly; so Frank told him he could remain with him when the other boys went to their tent. None of them expected to obtain much sleep. The wind came in fierce gusts, the trees groaned and writhed, and once or twice Frank really heard a crash in the forest that told of a rent in the timber. "I only hope nothing of that kind happens around here; a falling tree might pin us all under, and be our death," he said to himself. At length they concluded that it was time to separate and try to get some sleep, though both Bluff and Will declared they knew they would not close their eyes so long as that howl kept up without, and the canvas fluttered with each wild gust. Just as they were about to make a run for it, Frank caught them by the arms. "Wait!" he shouted, for there was a terrible crash close by, and the earth seemed to tremble as a forest monarch was laid low. At the same minute with a shriek the wind descended upon the tent under which they were crouching. Frank heard a snap above the other sounds, and like a flash the entire tent was blown away, leaving the four campers exposed to the fury of the storm. CHAPTER XIV HOW JERRY WAS TREED Jerry, that same morning, reached the camp of the old trapper without any trouble. He did not find Jesse Wilcox at home; but, knowing something of the trapper's habits, he made himself comfortable, and waited. After a time the other showed up. He carried a tidy bunch of fur along with him, having stopped to remove the pelts on the way. "Glad to see ye, Jerry. Looky here, one fine fox, and, would ye believe it, actually a mink, boy! That ere pelt orter bring me a twenty, all right. That's why I'm so tickled, ye see. This shore must be one o' my lucky days. Make yerself to hum. Come to take a snack o' dinner along with me, I reckons, eh?"