“At the same time, someone should see that the ponies are well staked down,” suggested Grace.
“They can’t git away,” answered the guide, proceeding to make the little tents more secure.
In the meantime, Tom had begun to construct a shelter for the fire by setting up stones about it to protect it from the storm that was threatening. The party was now well above the timber line, and the only material for fire was stunted growths and bushes. With them Tom Gray then built a lean-to in which their equipment was stored for the night. The Overlanders found the lean-to a most comfortable place during the evening, with the warmth of the campfire caught and held by it.
Grace, who had strolled out with Elfreda to look at the weather, called to her companions to join her.
“Watch your step that you don’t get a fall,” she warned. “Here is a sight worth looking at.”
“I don’t see anything worth looking at. Oh, wow!” cried Stacy.
A long, quivering flash of light far below them had caused Stacy to utter his sudden exclamation. The flash lighted up what appeared to be a large body of water in the valley below.
“Wha—at is it?” wondered Emma apprehensively.
“Lightning, dear,” answered Grace. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
“No. It frightens me. It was terrifying enough in the Sierras, but this is much more so.” Emma suddenly covered her eyes as a shaft of light leaped up from a cloud bank. Then the flash sank back through the clouds, followed instantly by a heavy roll of thunder.