There was a slight rustling among the straw in the kennel where the dogs slept, and Brave came out, and followed his master into the house.
After wrapping up their guns in their coats, they were ready to set out.
Half an hour's walk, through mud up to their ankles, brought them to Uncle Mike's house, which stood at the end of the road, and, climbing over the fence that inclosed his pasture, they struck off through the woods toward the lake.
After picking their way for half a mile over fallen logs, and through wet, tangled bushes, Frank, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped, and, leaning back against a tree to get out of the rain, said, "Here we are.

Had we better try to cross the creek now, or shall we wait until daylight ?" "You must have cat's eyes," said Archie, trying to peer through the darkness.

"I knew there was a creek here somewhere, but I didn't suppose we had reached it yet." "Well, we have; and, unless I am very much mistaken, you will find the bridge right before you.

Shall we try to cross it now?
It will be a slippery job." The "bridge" that Frank referred to was simply a large tree that the boys had felled across the creek, and stripped of its branches.

It could easily be crossed in the day-time, but in a dark, stormy night it was a difficult task to undertake.