Before they could settle down they noticed that the wind was soughing through the trees with a louder note than before. "That storm is coming closer all the while," remarked Dick, "and we needn't be surprised to hear thunder at any time now." "If it does come," added Roger, sleepily, "we'll be glad to have such a fine shelter in the rain. But it may fool us after all, and for one I don't mean to lie awake waiting for it." Dick, too, managed to get to sleep before a great while. Both of them were presently aroused by a loud crash of thunder. "Why, it did get here after all, Dick!" exclaimed Roger, the first thing. "Listen and you can hear the rain further along beating down on the forest trees. One good thing about it is that the storm will probably not be a long one." Dick's words were immediately followed by a vivid flash of lightning, and then came another loud detonation that seemed to shake the earth. In these present days two wide-awake boys who had picked up some knowledge of woodcraft would be very much alarmed to find themselves in a hollow tree during an electrical storm, knowing that there was always a chance of the lightning's striking such an object and bringing about their destruction. Dick and Roger were not worried on that point. Perhaps it was because they were accustomed to taking hazards; or it may have sprung from ignorance of the danger. However, the hollow tree had lost its top long years ago, and was surrounded by loftier trees so the chances of its being struck were not serious. Then the rain came, and, from the sounds that reached their ears, the boys decided that it was almost a tropical downpour. Roger was on the alert to discover whether their shelter was going to prove its worth, or begin to leak. After some time had passed he voiced his conviction in his usual fashion. "Not a drop so far, Dick, and I believe we're going to keep dry jackets through the whole downpour. Why, this is better than being in one of the tents, for they nearly always let a stream of water trickle down your neck when you're not expecting it. I think we're mighty lucky to have such good shelter." "And I agree with every word you say, Roger," his companion added. "How is the night going, do you know?" continued the other. "I'm sure I can hardly say, Roger. At a guess I might venture to say that we may have something like two hours more of darkness." "Then all I hope is the storm will peter out before dawn, so we can start for the river right away. We ought to come upon the expedition by evening, unless we get lost, and that is something not likely to happen to boys like us, who have lived in the woods since they were knee-high to grasshoppers." "One thing sure, we have had all the sleep we're going to get to-night," Dick remarked.