Part 43 (1/2)
”So it might,--but I don't know. I wish this camp was on the sh.o.r.e, instid o' this island.”
”So do I,” answered Dave, bluntly.
A fire had been started in the stove and a lantern lit, and Jerry Blutt rather reluctantly began preparations for the evening meal. But he kept peering out of the doorway of the cabin, and from the lean-to, and his eyes always rested on the river, with its rain-swept, swollen surface.
”I don't like it at all!” he said, finally. ”I wish we had moved over to the sh.o.r.e.”
”Don't you think it is safe to stay here?”
”It ain't as safe as it might be. If I was alone----” The man stopped short.
”What would you do?”
”I hate to say it, but I think I'd go over to the sh.o.r.e, till the storm was over and I knew jest how thet dam was a-goin' to act.”
”Well, I don't blame you,” answered Dave. ”And if you want to go, go ahead.”
”Want me to go alone?”
”If you wish to go, yes.”
”But it ain't no safer fer you than it is fer me.”
”That's so, too. But I want to see those other fellows--in fact, I must see them. If I went to the sh.o.r.e I might miss them.”
”You could come back later on.”
”But I want to warn them of the danger from the dam.”
”You could write a letter and stick it up where they couldn't help but see it. Then---- What's that?”
The camp-worker stopped short, as a distant cry reached their ears, sounding out above the wind. An instant later the cry was repeated.
”That is Ben Ba.s.swood's voice!” cried Dave. ”They must be coming back!”
Soon another voice sounded out, and our hero recognized Buster Beggs's tones. He ran to the cabin door. All was dark outside, and the rain was being driven in sheets by the wind.
”h.e.l.lo! h.e.l.lo!” he yelled, and catching up the lantern, he swung it out in one direction and another. Then he saw two forms approaching on the run, each dripping with water.
”Ben! And Buster!”
”Why, if it isn't Dave!”
”Where in the world did you come from?”
”Where is Phil?” demanded our hero.
”He is somewhere behind us,” answered Buster. ”Oh, what a time we've had!” and entering the cabin, the fat youth sank down on a bench all but exhausted.
”We've had to tramp for over two miles in this rain,” explained Ben.
”And of course we had to ford to the island. Say, the current is something fierce now! And the water is getting higher every minute!”