hat he might have been able to
leap into the car and get away with it, had not something else
happened.

For Towser, though he had run away from a rabid specimen of his
own species, had circled about. Now he leaped into the automobile,
growling, just as Fred would have sprung in.

"That's right, Towser. Hold the sneak!" called Dave, arriving
on a run and leaping into the car. "Now, Ripley, hang you, do
some quick and honest work!"

"Kick that dog out of the car first," pleaded Fred.

"I won't," Darrin retorted. "The dog is my guarantee for your
good behavior to-night."

As soon as might be they ran around the lower end of the lake,
then raced for the hotel.

There Dr. Bentley was aroused. While he was dressing he sent
a bell-boy to order his own big car.

Just when Ripley vanished from the scene no one about the grounds
or the hotel seemed to know or care.

Dr. Bentley, dressed in record time, came down.

"Now, we'll drive fast, Darrin," the doctor announced, as he dropped
his bag into the car and seated himself at the wheel. "Struck
by lightning, did you say? It was a fearful storm, but it is
stopping now."

Ere they reached the camp the stars were out. There was no sign
of nature's dangerous mood.

Dr. Bentley first of all ordered that the canvas be lifted and
cast aside. The tent was badly wrecked and burned, though the
rain had prevented the rising of flames that might have burned
the bodies of the five unconscious boys.

"Throw your coat off, Darrin, and do the work of four men for
a few minutes," said Dr. Bentley tersely.

"I'll do the work of a hundred," replied Dave, "if I can find
the way."

After some minutes of hard work Tom Reade opened his eyes. Shortly
after this the puffing of one of the hotel launches was heard.
For the doctor, while hurrying into his clothes, had left word
with Mrs. Bentley what to do. The launch brought another and
much larger tent, with cots, bedding and other things, as well
as four capable workmen.

Greg came to next. Neither he nor Reade, however, were good for
much at the time. By the time that the new tent was up, and the
cots arranged those who were still unconscious were carried in
there. Then Greg and Tom were helped into the drier quarters.

It was Dick who longest resisted the efforts to bring him to
consciousness. At last, however, he opened his eyes.

"It was a mercy that none of you were killed," uttered Dr. Bentley
devoutly. "A