muffled.

But by and by they knew that sound was changed. Instead of the
roaring of the wind, torrents of rain dashed upon the rocks outside
the cave. The girls ventured through the tunnel again, for Rhoda
assured them that very heavy rain usually followed the big wind.

"Daddy says the wind goes before to blow a man's roof off, so that
the rain that comes after can soak him through and through. Oh,
girls!" exclaimed their hostess, who was ahead, "it certainly is
raining."

"I--should--say!" gasped Bess.

The moisture blew into the cavern's mouth; but that was not much.
What startled them was that they were slopping about in several
inches of water, and this water seemed to be rising.

"There's been a cloudburst back in the hills," declared Rhoda.
"This gulch runs a stream."

"Oh, poor Walter!" cried Grace, sobbing again. "He'll be drowned."

"Of course not, goosie!" said Bess. "He's on horseback."

"But if this gulley is full of water--"

"It isn't full," said Nan. "If it were running that deep, we'd be
drowned in here ourselves."