Part 27 (1/2)
”But just look at the river! Must have been a cloudburst, as they call it out in the Rockies, Mr Mabie says It's just rising right before our eyes!”
”Then they'll have to change the camp, because by this time the water must be up to where the tents were pitched Why, see there, Frank! Isn't that water over yonder, too, on the right of us?” asked Bluff, pointing through the woods
”As sure as you live, and rushi+ng madly on, too We are between two rivers, it see like a tidal wave Perhaps we may have to take to a tree yet, fellows,” announced Frank after a long look
”H'm! These trees are sure handy to have around! We shi+n up one to avoid all sorts of dangers, it see down on us just now, the sooner we cli his actions to his words, and seizing the lower limb of a friendly oak, into which he clambered hastily, followed by his three chums, just as a five-foot wave swept under the in from the ocean and up the beach
CHAPTER XXIII
THE STAMPEDE
”What d'ye call this, anyway?” exclai with his exertions
”I'd say it was crowding the s to chase each other so fast, and the ele chums,” said Frank
”Tell , then put to soak, after which comes another hot experience, and now treed by a flood! Upona little too rapid even for me,” put in Jerry
”There!” remarked Will, with a satisfied chuckle ”I think you three felloillthat li below”
”Talk to rapher! If that chap hasn't taken our pictures in this ridiculous attitude! Why, they'll believe we've gone back to the old days, when our ancestors used to live in trees”
”Speak for yourself, Jerry I refuse to adnantly
”How long do you suppose weout here?” asked Will
”Oh, a day or so, I suppose,” replied Jerry, keeping a straight face
”A day or so! Listen to hi before that tiue that I'd have to be strapped tointo the treacherous water,” stammered Will
”And what of me?” burst out Bluff ”I'd waste away to a er Sooner than sub ashore”
”Do you think the water will get any higher? Could it possibly overwhelm us in this tree? We could climb up twenty feet if necessary”
”Well, I hardly think that e to arise, Will; not at this ti,”
announced Frank, taking pity on Jerry's victims, both of whom looked worried
”Oh! do you really think so?” cried Will ”Then Jerry is only up to some of his old foolishness Yes, I can see that it does not quite come up to the wet mark on the trunk of the tree Then perhaps on't have to stay up here all night”
”Well, I guess not I expect that in less than twenty minutes we'll be once enuine cloudburst, and they tell s, while severe at the time, are quickly over”
”Bully for you, Frank! You always look on the bright side of things, while Jerry tries to dash a fellow's spirits Things have coe experiences, coh the I've captured some dandy views I can hardly wait to develop them”
”Go ahead, then Plenty of water at hand for washi+ng off the hypo,”