STII.L-WATER. A FLOODED CAMP. 95 



sheets, in torrents, in tloods, descended without method. 

 deluged us; while we fora time sought protection under 

 the dripping lir.inehes of our half-completed shelter. The 

 trees trickled and then poured water and were full of show 

 ere; the moss under our feel was like a saturated sponge, 

 oo/y wet; there was not a dry stick or limb for a fire, not 

 even the lee side of a big tree for shelter, " water, water, 

 everywhere. " and not the slightest suspicion that there 

 would ever again In- a dry place in that region. \\Y stood 

 about in our slouch -d hats and rubber coats, as helpless, 

 bedraggled and dispirited as ever did a community of barn 

 yard fouls in an autumnal rain. 



The night was near at hind. The preying questions 

 were: when will this flood cease? where .-hall we sleep and 

 what shall be our bed v how shall we kin U'- a tire in this 

 drowned and water snaked forest ~; 



The Kditor is a man of keen perceptions and quick deci- 

 sion After a word with me. he said: 

 ' I Joys, how far is it to Fuller's?" 



"Ten miles -rapids, carries and all. 



" (toing to rain all night V " 



' ' (Jllcss so. 



('an youjake us through and home in the dark ?" 



"That we can;" and it- was Chris. Crandall who spoke, 

 the most noted guide of the region, tall, bony, shaggy, 

 inn l/<.i<'l and using a crutch and cane, rude and rough, 

 bul with a commanding intellect that made him the favor- 

 ite hunter and guide of all that, part of the wilderness, ;l n 1 

 his \\ord law with all his. associates. 



