They covered their eyes, and tried to “grin and bear it”; but such heroic effort could only be made for a short while, and they were obliged to run out into the pelting rain in order to get the pure air.
It was no fun to stand out-of-doors in a storm, and, acting on Captain Jimmy’s suggestion, the party returned after a few moments to “kick the fire out.”
But such a plan was of very little benefit, since the embers would smoke despite all they could do, and out they ran again, seeking such shelter as they could find under the trees, where it was not long before they came to the conclusion that camping out in a rain-storm was both a delusion and a snare.
In half an hour the tent was so nearly freed from smoke that they sought its shelter again, and when they were housed once more they presented a very forlorn appearance.
At first they decided that they would remain awake until daylight; but as the hours rolled on this plan was abandoned, for one after another wrapped himself in his blanket, concluding he could keep his eyes open as well lying down, and proved it by going to sleep at once.
They did not sleep very soundly, nor lie in bed very late. When they awakened it was not necessary to look out-of-doors in order to know if it was raining, for the water was falling on the thin shelter as hard and as persistently as if bent on beating it down.
There was but one happy-looking face among all the party, and that belonged to Tim. He realized that it would be impossible to do much cooking while it was storming, and after his experience with the hen he had no desire to begin again his official duties.
As soon as the boys were fairly out of bed they began to ask how breakfast could be cooked, and what they were to have in the way of food, all of which questions Tim answered in a way that left no chance for discussion. He cut eleven slices of bread, spread them thickly with butter, placed over that a slice of cake, and informed the party that they would begin the day with just that sort of a breakfast.
Of course there was some grumbling, but the dissatisfied ones soon realized that Tim had done his best under the circumstances, and they ate the bread and cake very contentedly.
That forenoon was not spent in a very jolly manner; no one could go out save at the risk of a thorough wetting, and when dinner, consisting of the same as was given for breakfast, was served, they began to consider themselves an injured party.