Page:Rover Boys in Camp.djvu/175

Rh while others held Flapp. Then the rope was cut with a knife.

"Wha—what a fearful wind!" groaned the tall boy, when he could speak. "This is the worst storm I ever saw!"

"Oh, but I'm sorry I ever came to camp," groaned William Philander Tubbs. "I'm so wet the water is actually running out of my shoetops!"

"Ton't said a vord," came from Hans. "I sink me I half a rifer floating mine packpone town alretty! Of dis keeps on much longer der whole camp vos in der schwim, ain't it!"

"I reckon we're in the swim already," broke in Sam. "Some of us had better bring the rowboats up."

The high wind lasted for fully half an hour and during that time six of the tents were literally blown to ribbons, while many others suffered to a lesser extent. A quarter of the shelters laid flat in the mud, and nothing could be done with these until the wind went down.

"It's the worst blow I have seen since we have held our encampments," was Captain Putnam's comment, and he and the teachers went around with lanterns to aid the students as much as they could.

By three o'clock in the morning the storm was