ad of abating, the storm kept increasing in violence. So far,
there had been but little thunder and lightning, but now several
vivid flashes lit up the sky, and some sharp cracks made the girls jump.

"Oh, I detest a thunder storm," cried Nellie. "I wish it was over."

"So do I," answered Dora. "But I suppose we have got to make the best
of it."

"Do not sit so close to an open window," said Mrs. Laning.

"I was going to close the window," came from Mrs. Stanhope. "I never
sit with a window open during such a storm as this." And then the
window was closed, and also the door.

"I'm going out for some fresh air," said Tom a little later, when
the worst of the lightning seemed to be over. "I hate to be cooped
up like a chicken in a hen-house." And, getting out his rain-coat,
he went on deck, and presently Dick followed him.

"This will make the river swell up," remarked Dick, gazing around
curiously. "Gracious, how it pours!"

"The wind is rising. That's a sign it is going to clear up."

"Not always, Tom. I think this storm will last all day, and perhaps
to-night, too."

The boys walked from one end of the houseboat to the other and gazed
out on the rolling river. Then a gust of wind almost took them from
their feet.

"Phew! we can't stand much of this," observed Dick. "We'll get drenched
in spite of our rain-coats. I think--"

Dick got no further, for at that moment there was a weird flash of
lightning, followed by an ear-splitting crash of thunder. Then came
a crash of another kind.

"Look out! One of the trees is coming down on the houseboat!" ejaculated
Dick.

As he uttered the words another crash followed, and down came the
trunk of a big tree, cutting into the companion ladder and the cabin
of the _Dora_. One of the branches of the tree swept over poor Tom,
and before he could save himself, he was hurled into the river.

CHAPTER VI

THE EFFECTS OF A BIG STORM

"Tom!" cried Dick, as he saw his brother swept from view.

There was no answer to this call, and, much alarmed, the eldest Rover
leaped over a limb of the fallen tree and ran to the edge of the
houseboat.

The rain was again coming down in torrents and for the moment Dick
could see little or nothing. He heard a cry from the cabin of the
_Dora_, and this increased his dismay.

At last he caught sight of Tom's head, about ten feet away from the
houseboat. A glance showed him that his brother was unconscious and
on the point of sinkin