"Maybe he will," suggested Frank, hopefully. "Anyhow, keep the fire going. Now, Andy, I think we've got enough trees down. Let's see what sort of a raft we can make."
It was a crude affair that was soon in process of construction, but it would answer the purpose of saving the lads, though it would not hold the horses.
"It isn't going to be very hard to launch," commented Andy, when it was almost completed. "All we'll have to do will be to get on it and wait for the water to float it."
"And that won't be long, for she's rising fast," said Frank.
It was indeed so, as they could tell by looking down the slope of the hill. Tree landmarks that had been wholly out of the water were now almost covered. It would not be long before the whole of Golden Peak was submerged.
Several hours passed. The raft was completed, but there was no need to go to the laborious work of getting it down the side of the hill to the level of the lake. The lake itself would rise up soon enough to float it.
"Another foot will do the business," said Frank, in a quiet voice, as he noted the water lapping the stones and bushes about twelve inches from where the raft rested.
"Then we might as well get on and wait," suggested Andy. "We've got the gold as secure as we can make it."
"All right," agreed Billy. "I guess I may as well let the fire go out. They don't seem to have seen our smoke." He tossed on a final armful of wet leaves to make a thicker smudge, and gazed off through the mist for a sign of rescue. But he saw none.
The boys got on the frail raft. As they did so the horses and burros came closer to them. The animals seemed pitifully frightened.