"No, it's there, but it's slipped around on his side," replied Gabe, as he came closer and saw what had happened. The saddle girths had slipped, and the pack, though soaking wet, was intact. Pete allowed himself to be caught without difficulty. Probably he had had enough of adventures for one night. He was led back to the camp, where a big fire was burning. Here the gold hunters dried themselves, and were soon partaking of a bountiful meal. "This beats farming all to pieces!" declared Jed, with his mouth half full of some broiled elk meat. "Even getting into the rapids?" asked his brother. "Sure. After the first scare was over, it was like being back in the old swimming hole at our creek. The water was nice and warm." "Yes, it's quite hot to-night," observed Mr. Hurd. "I shouldn't be surprised if we got a thunder storm." "Then we'd better rig up some sort of a shelter," advised Gabe. This was done, a lean-to being built with branches, and their rubber blankets spread on top, and well fastened down. Jed's pack had been opened out to dry, and when the horses had been safely tethered, and the camp made as snug as possible for the night, the travelers stretched out to sleep, tired out with the day's travel. It was hot, entirely too hot for that time of year, and it was almost stifling under the improvised shelter. Still, after vainly wishing it would cool off, Jed and Will, with their older companions, fell asleep. Jed had a vivid dream that night. He thought he was again in the rapids, and that his horse was pulling him into a deep hole of the stream. So vivid was it that he awoke with a start, to find himself in water, while something seemed wrapped about his neck, dragging him forward. "What's the matter?" he cried. "Fierce storm!" replied Gabe. "Our lean-to has blown away, and it's raining cats and dogs!" An instant later there came an intensely bright flash of lightning, and a peal of thunder that seemed to shake the ground. CHAPTER XII AT THE GOLD FIELDS Confusion reigned in the camp. The storm had come up with such suddenness that no one had been aware of it. Every one had been sleeping soundly, after a hard day, and the first intimation of the outburst of the elements was when the deluge of rain came, and the lean-to was blown over. "Somebody catch me!" cried Jed, who, wrapped up as he was, in several rubber blankets, was being blown along like a ship under sail. Will grabbed his brother, and helped to unwrap the coverings. While he was doing this the lightning seemed to be constant, and the roar of thunder was like the firing of heavy guns. "Whew! This is fierce!" cried Jed, when he got his breath. The horses were huddled together, trying to find some shelter from the pelting rain beneath the trees. "Fierce?" repeated old Gabe. "How about farming now? This rain beats the one when the cow was killed." "That's right!" exclaimed Will. "Can't we get under some shelter?"