"It seems to me the rain has slackened some. At least, it doesn't make such a terrible noise when it strikes the trees. But there was a pretty lively wind blowing, Dick, and I think I heard more than one tree crash down before the gale." "Yes," added the other. "And this old wreck did some groaning, too. Once I was in a sweat thinking it might go toppling over; but the other trees must have protected it some, for it stood through the wild storm." When Roger hazarded the opinion that the gale was abating he spoke the truth, for in a short time it became manifest that the thunder came from a more distant point, the lightning was not so brilliant, and the rain itself began to fall more lightly. In fact, things took on such a different tone that Roger actually settled himself down to try for a little more sleep. Dick had been too thoroughly aroused to think of doing this. He continued to sit there, keeping a vigil on the crack, through which he knew he would catch the first glimpse of breaking day. He amused himself while sitting thus by letting his thought go back to the happy home far down the "Big Muddy," where his father and his mother, his little brother Sam, and his grandparents besides, occupied the big cabin in the clearing, close to the one where Roger's parents lived. Finally, Dick discovered that it was no longer pitch dark outside. The moon had broken out from the scattering storm clouds, and was giving a fair amount of light. Dick, always in touch with the positions of the heavenly bodies, knew, after he had located the fragment of a moon, that morning was indeed close at hand. Indeed, he believed that in less than half an hour the dawn would break. He allowed Roger to sleep until it was broad daylight, and then, acting under the belief that they had better be on their way, he laid a hand on the other's arm. "Morning has come, and we ought to be getting out of here," Dick told his comrade, as he felt the other move under his touch. "Why, I did go to sleep after all, it seems," muttered Roger, as though he considered this the queerest thing of all; but Dick only smiled, for he knew of old some of the little weaknesses of his chum. They succeeded in pushing the old stump away from the opening, leaving a gap big enough for them to crawl through. "If Mr. Bear ever takes the trouble to come back to his den," remarked Roger, as he surveyed the big tree with its hollow butt, "he's welcome to his old quarters. I'd like to tell him that his hole is all right, too, when a fellow is caught in a storm; but we have other fish to fry just now." His words reminded him of the fine mess of trout they had caught on the preceding day, just before the trap set by the cunning Indians had been sprung, and shortly afterwards he remarked: