And satisfied of this, all turned in again to get what sleep they could ere the sun came up.
CHAPTER XVI
BACK TO THE LODGE
But the excitement of that night was not yet at an end.
As mentioned before, the wind had increased steadily, until it was blowing as fiercely as it had during the blizzard. It tore through the tall pines and other trees, swaying them viciously, and causing them to creak and groan as if in pain. It hurled the snow in long drifts and sent every living creature for miles around into cover.
But the young hunters and old Runnell were too tired to listen to the wind, and it was not until an extra heavy blast caused one of the trees directly back of the shelter to split apart, that Runnell and Fred awoke.
“What a wind!” cried the stout youth. “Never heard it blow so in my whole life!”
“Thought I heard a tree snap,” returned the old hunter. “Listen!”
The others were now awake, and all listened as directed. Then came another gust, and all felt the back end of the shelter move as the roots of the biggest of the pines were loosened.
“Creation! I think the tree is coming down!” ejaculated Joe. “Perhaps we had better——”
“Run, boys, run!” shouted Runnell, leaping up. “Run for your lives!”