"It may," was the reply. "That will depend on how far up the river that heavy rainfall extended. If it covered the whole watershed, then the river here must keep on getting bigger for a good many hours before it reaches a crest."
"But we never knew the Missouri to rise at this late time in the summer, did we, Dick?"
"Not anything like this, that's sure, Roger. Of course, after a heavy storm it always creeps up. But this is really a flood, and will bother the exploring expedition for a day or two, I think."
"Oh, but they have boats, and will think little or nothing of it, Dick," the younger boy went on. "But what a bad fix it finds us in! What if the water does keep on coming up and up all day; won't it cover this little island and perhaps wash it away?"
"Oh! hardly that," Dick hastened to answer. "It has stood many floods in the spring time, because these trees have had a chance to grow."
"But even if that rushing water only covers the island, where will we be then, I'd like to know? Ugh! it makes me shiver to think of it," and Roger turned to look once more at the roaring river.
"Of course I don't know where we'll be," Dick observed, calmly; "but if we've got the good sense I think we have, chances are two boys about our size will be perched in the branches of the largest tree on the island, with all their stores about them, waiting for the waters to go down again."
"Oh! and I never thought of that, either!" exclaimed Roger, apparently somewhat relieved in his mind, as he noted that one of the trees was of some size.
"The worst thing about that plan," continued Dick, "is that we've got to lose our horses; and I hate to think of that more than I can tell you."
"Well, horses can swim, you know; and they might get ashore if we turned them loose in good time. But even then, we'd never be able to track them; and our job of overtaking the expedition would be made all the harder. Still, we will not be the ones to give it up, Roger. Nothing could make us do that, could it?"
"No, indeed, it could not," replied the other boy, firmly. "But, Dick--"
"Yes, what idea has come into your mind now?" asked the other lad, encouragingly.
"Why, when you spoke of turning the horses loose, and letting them have a chance of reaching the shore, I thought what a fine thing it would be if we were holding on to the saddles at that time. Why, they'd just tow us to land with them, you see!"