sandwiches, hard-boiled eggs, and milk, and all "fell to" with a
keen appetite. Joe remembered seeing Ralph at the market in
Oakvale, and he grunted approvingly when informed that Ralph was
to be a visitor at camp.

They paddled across the lake and began the journey through the
woods on the southern shore. But they had not gone far when they
were overtaken by a thunderstorm, which drove them to the shelter
of a cave at the base of a cliff forming one side of a broad ravine.
The rain fell in torrents, mingled with hail, the thunder rolled
and reverberated among the hills, and the skies were riven by vivid
flashes of lightning. Within the cave, however, they were snug
and dry.

"We're safe here," said Rawson, "and we'll camp here for the night."




CHAPTER X

CAMP LIFE


After a long march through magnificent forests, along winding streams,
up and down the sides of steep hills, the boys and their leader
and the guide reached Pioneer Camp late the following afternoon.

A rousing welcome awaited them, and almost the first news they heard
was that Tom Sherwood had been elected leader of the Otter patrol,