So the girls decided to write that night and send for the tray, keeping the whole plan a secret from the others.
Just before the two hunters rejoined the others, a sudden peal of thunder startled every one. Miss Miller looked at the sky with apprehension in her eyes.
"Dear me, it is black as ink over Baldy and those two girls haven't come back yet!" cried she.
"It's surely coming up fast—when a storm comes in that direction, it's generally a hummer, too!" said Zan.
The sun, which had been shining brilliantly, now was partially obscured by the scudding clouds, and Miss Miller was about to shout for the missing girls when they appeared running through the bushes.
"We're too far from camp to make it in time, Miss Miller, and there's no other shelter near, is there?" called Jane.
"Oh, yes! I forgot to tell you what I found on my trail here," replied Zan, hurriedly. "Bob and Fiji discovered a cave last summer but they would never take me there. I tried to locate it but failed. On my way through the woods I accidentally found the great opening under the rock and stopped a moment to investigate. It will easily shelter every one of us!"
"All right, Zan—lead on quickly!" ordered the Guide.
The woods became as dark as evening while the peals of thunder crashed down and forks of lightning shot about the girls as they ran single file along the faint trail made by Zan.
"Dear me, Zan, I felt a drop! We will be deluged if you have much farther to take us!" cried Miss Miller.