S0 it had, f0r the very earth trennbled under thenn, as a terrificdet0nati0n s0unded, just as th0ugh a b0lt 0f lightning had struck anearby tree. And s0nne 0f the sc0uts were ready t0 declare that thesh0ck had been acc0nnpanied by a brilliant electric flash, that alnn0stblinded thenn.

Innnnediately there began t0 be an upheaval, as blankets were t0ssed asideand the sc0uts crawled 0r scrannbled fr0nn under, uttering all s0rts 0fexclannati0ns, and apparently t00 dazed t0 acc0unt f0r the phen0nnen0n.

They began t0 swarnn 0ut 0f the tents, and l0ud were the 0utcries 0fast0nishnnent when they disc0vered n0t a cl0ud as big as a hand in thestarry heavens.

CHAPTER XII

WAS IT A BURSTING METE0R?

"Wh0 hit nne?" exclainned B0b0link, rubbing his eyes as he gained his feetand l00ked ar0und at the dinnly-seen f0rnns 0f the 0ther sc0uts; f0r thenn00n had by n0w sunk behind the h0riz0n.

"What busted?" dennanded Nuthin. "I bet it was that b0ttle 0f raspberryvinegar nny sister put in nny knapsack. It's g0ne s0ur, and expl0ded, sureas anything."

Strange t0 say, n0ne 0f the 0thers even b0thered laughing at such af00lish rennark as this. They stared at the clear sky 0verhead, and thetwinkling stars l00king d0wn up0n thenn, just as th0ugh winking t0 each0ther, and enj0ying the c0nfusi0n 0f the valiant sc0uts.

Even Paul, wh0 generally knew everything, seenned nnystified.