"Not everything quite ready," Prescott retorted. "Tom, if you're going to grow up to be an engineer there's one thing more you should see the need of."
"What?" challenged Reade blankly.
"Get the pick and shovel! You and I will do it. Let the rest get in under shelter!"
Standing in the rain, Tom and Dick hastily dug two ditches at either end of the tent. These ditches were no creditable engineering jobs, but they would, at need, carry a good deal of water down the slope.
By this time the rain was falling heavily. In the distance heavy thunder volleyed, and the sky was growing blacker every minute.
"One more job," called Dick. "Dave and Greg, tumble out with the shelter flap!"
This was a great sheet of canvas that had to be fastened in place over the tent roof, and at a different pitch.
"We'll be drowned before we get the shelter flap in place," grumbled
Tom.
"And we might as well be out in the rain, if we don't have it up," Dick retorted. "Open her up! Now, then—-up with it!"
The shelter flap was placed with difficulty, for now the wind was driving across the country, blowing everything before it. The other two boys leaped out to help their chums. The shelter flap was made secure at last, the ropes being made fast to the surrounding trees.