“I only hope nothing of that kind happens around here; a falling tree might pin us all under, and be our death,” he said to himself.

At length they concluded that it was time to separate and try to get some sleep, though both Bluff and Will declared they knew they would not close their eyes so long as that howl kept up without, and the canvas fluttered with each wild gust.

Just as they were about to make a run for it, Frank caught them by the arms.

“Wait!” he shouted, for there was a terrible crash close by, and the earth seemed to tremble as a forest monarch was laid low.

At the same minute with a shriek the wind descended upon the tent under which they were crouching.

Frank heard a snap above the other sounds, and like a flash the entire tent was blown away, leaving the four campers exposed to the fury of the storm.

CHAPTER XIV

HOW JERRY WAS TREED

Jerry, that same morning, reached the camp of the old trapper without any trouble.

He did not find Jesse Wilcox at home; but, knowing something of the trapper’s habits, he made himself comfortable, and waited.

After a time the other showed up.  He carried a tidy bunch of fur along with him, having stopped to remove the pelts on the way.

“Glad to see ye, Jerry.  Looky here, one fine fox, and, would ye believe it, actually a mink, boy!  That ere pelt orter bring me a twenty, all right.  That’s why I’m so tickled, ye see.  This shore must be one o’ my lucky days.  Make yerself to hum.  Come to take a snack o’ dinner along with me, I reckons, eh?”

“Well, I might wait up and have a bite if you don’t keep me too long.  You see I mean to make a roundabout trip into that stretch of woods you told us about I’d like the worst kind to get a crack at a deer.  That would be worth while, Jesse.”

“Then I’ll get busy right away.  But p’raps ye’d better defer that ere trip fur a day or so, lad,” remarked the trapper, sweeping an eye upward.

“Why?” asked the boy.

“Thar’s some sorter storm broodin’, er I’m bad deceived.  In course at this season we don’t expect much along that line; but I hev seen a scorcher come along, even in October.  Ten year ago it was, and thar was quite some timber leveled, I’m tellin’ ye.”

But Jerry was built along a stubborn line:  Having once made up his mind to do a thing it was very hard for him to break away.

“Oh!  I don’t bother about a little blow.  If it comes to the worst I can find a hollow tree, and keep pretty dry.  Now, I want to see just how you cook that stew, so I can do it sometime.”

The dinner was a success, and, of course, Jerry, being hungry, heartily enjoyed it.  When the meal was finished he arose, and picked up his gun.

“Still of a mind to take that long tramp, air ye?” asked the trapper.