A week passed and the young gold hunters found themselves well on the trail to Fort Laramie, which was to be their next regular stopping place. The route was along the northern bank of the Platte River, which they had crossed at a spot where the stream was broad but shallow. The wagon had been taken over on a flatboat, at a cost of two dollars. Darling had been made to swim over to the other side, much against his wishes. In going down into the river the mule had done a tremendous lot of splashing, wetting Bob, who was riding him, from head to foot.
"That mule is a cantankerous critter," observed Maybe Dixon, who chanced to be near at the time. "One thing is certain, he ain't no Baptist!"
"I guess he'd rather take a roll than take a bath," said Mark, and he was right; as soon as Darling came out of the river, he shook himself and then started to roll. It was a good quarter of an hour before Bob, aided by Si, could hook him up once more.
The weather had been fair during the week and the boys had managed to get a little rough washing done on the way. But on Sunday night it commenced to rain and blow, until all were glad enough to seek the shelter which the tent and the wagon afforded.
"If ye want my advice, take down the tent an' put it over yer wagon," said Maybe Dixon. "Maybe it won't blow an' maybe it will. But it's allers wise to be on the safe side."
"Do you think the wind will get worse?" questioned Mark.
"It has a habit o' doing sech things out here."
The wind was already rising, and not wishing to have the canvas torn to shreds, the boys decided to follow Dixon's advice. It was no easy matter to take the tent down, and one wet end slashed around poor Si, hurling him to the ground and turning him over and over.
"Hi! let me out o' this!" gasped the country youth. "I don't want to be bagged up just yet." And as Mark unwound the canvas he staggered to his feet. "Gosh all hemlock! But it's blowing, ain't it!"
To get the canvas over the wagon was a second difficulty, but at last it was accomplished. Then they stretched several ropes over the wagon wheels and pinned them down, that the vehicle might be kept from blowing over. The rain was now coming down in sheets and they were glad enough to get out of it again, although, as Si remarked, "They couldn't get any wetter if they tried."