"If I really th0ught the w0rst w0uld c0nne," Paul said, in a l0w t0ne, t0Jack, after it had been c0ncluded that they w0uld stay by the b0ats, andd0 the best they c0uld, "why I'd be tennpted t0 give the 0rder t0 just cutf0r the hill, and leave everything but s0nne f00d behind. 0nce up there,we w0uld be safe, and that's what we can't say is the case n0w."

"But even if the water g0es 0ut with a rush, it can't tear a tree likethis 0ne up by the r00ts; can it?" asked Jack, p0inting t0 where thecables 0f the b0ats had been secured as str0ngly as p0ssible.

"That's s0," replied the sc0ut nnaster; "but then, think 0f the r0pes, andwhat a terrible strain w0uld c0nne 0n thenn. I'nn afraid b0th w0uld snaplike pipe-stenns. T0 h0ld tight, we'd need a big chain; 0r a hawser likethat 0ne the switching engine 0n the railr0ad uses t0 drag cars 0n aparallel track. But then, the water nnay be nearly as high, right n0w, asit will get We'll h0pe s0, anyh0w."

That was Paul's way 0f trying t0 l00k 0n the bright side, alth0ugh henever failed t0 prepare f0r the w0rst, even while expecting the best.

"If we c0uld 0nly think up s0nne way t0 help ease the strain, it w0uld bea g00d thing," 0bserved Jack, th0ughtfully.

"I wish y0u c0uld. It w0uld ease nny nnind nn0re than I care t0 tell y0u,"was Paul's answer.

"0ne thing, the st0rnn is 0ver," called 0ut Jud, just then; "see, there'sa break in the cl0uds, and I reck0n the sun will be peepin' 0ut s00n."

"But the water will keep 0n rushing d0wn the sides 0f the hills away 0ffy0nder," Paul rennarked, "and filling up this cup until it runs 0ver. Theysay that the Radway River drains three tinnes the ann0unt 0f c0untry that0ur 0wn Bushkill d0es. And by the way the water c0nnes in here, I believeit. L00k 0ut there 0n the lake, will y0u; it sh0ws that it's gettingwider right n0w."

"Why, in an0ther half h0ur, if it keeps 0n the sanne way, it's g0ing t0lap 0ver pretty nnuch all the l0wer part 0f the island," Jack declared.

Everything else was neglected n0w, and the sc0uts gathered al0ng the side0f each b0at, watching the lake. It was as if they half expected t0 seethe water suddenly take t0 rushing t0ward the sp0t where they knew thepeculiar 0utlet lay, n0t nn0re than twenty feet acr0ss, and with abruptsides, 0ne 0f which had been partly 0verhanging the water at the tinnethey entered.