He and his brother had gone from the treasure cave to the edge of the fast-forming lake to note the rise of the water, and having ascertained that the rate was quite rapid they were ready to proceed with the work of making the raft, and sending up the smoke signal. Billy had gone up toward the summit, taking the horses and pack animals with him, and also the store of gold.
"First we'll cut down as many trees as we think we'll need," suggested Frank, when the three were together again. "Then we can bind them tightly with these vines and our ropes. Andy and I will do that, and you can make the fire, Billy."
"All right," agreed the ranch lad. "Only it's getting so hazy that our smoke isn't going to be seen a great distance."
"All the more need of hurrying then," said Frank, as he gazed off across the lake. He could scarcely see the big dam, some miles away, on account of the haze that hung over the water. The ranch buildings were altogether out of sight.
"But the smoke may rise above the mist," reasoned the elder Racer lad. "I hope so, at any rate."
Rapidly he and Andy cut down small trees. They would not need many to make a raft capable of supporting themselves. As for the animals, they would have to take their chances.
The rain still continued, and Billy knew the river, in dry times a small stream, must be greatly increased in volume. He soon had a fire going, and a thick cloud of smoke arose, swirling this way and that—an excellent signal of distress if it could be observed.
"I wonder how they can rescue us?" asked Andy, as he made the last chop at a small tree, felling it.
"In a boat, of course," said Frank.
"Uncle has a boat," put in Billy. "He had it built for use on the lake. It's a big barge, and will hold several horses. In fact, it's a sort of ferry, for he calculated that he might want to send some of the ponies or farm machinery from one end of the lake to the other after the dam was built. Now, if he would only send that for us we'd be all right."