He wanted to do as his
father requested and to aid him all he could, yet he knew that an
all-night trip in the boat down the lake would be dangerous, not
only from the chance of running on an unknown shore or into a
hidden rock, but because Mr. Swift was not physically fitted to
stand the journey.
"Come, Tom," exclaimed the aged inventor impatiently, "we must
start at once!"
"Won't morning do as well, dad?"
"No, I must start now. I could not sleep worrying over what has
happened. We will start--"
At that instant there came a low, rumbling peal of thunder. Mr.
Swift started and peered from a window. There came a flash of
lightning and another vibrant report from the storm-charged
clouds.
"There is your bill, Mr. Swift," remarked the proprietor, coming
up, "but I would not advise you to start to-night. There is a bad
storm in the west, and it will reach here in a few minutes.
Storms on Lake Carlopa, especially at this open and exposed end,
are not to be despised, I assure you."
"But I must get home!" insisted Tom's father.
The lace curtain over the window blew almost straight out with a
sudden breeze, and a flash of lightning so bright that it
reflected even in the room where the incandescent electrics were
glowing made several others jump.
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