“Say, we seem to be taking a special course in storms,” remarked Jerry to his mother and the professor that afternoon, when one or two shutters had been blown from the Hopkins house. “This is almost as bad as the one at sea when we saw the submarine.”
But the professor was oblivious to everything but writing out facts concerning the rare lady bug, and with making memoranda concerning the hermit crabs, of which he soon hoped to start in search.
Jerry was kept busy tying back window blinds, and in mending a rain-pipe leader that had become displaced, letting the water flood the cellar.
Attired in a raincoat and rubber boots, the tall lad was working away when Ned came splashing through the storm. He seemed much excited.
“What’s the trouble?” panted Jerry, ceasing from his labors.
“Say, this is a fearful blow!” burst out Ned. “Two or three houses in town have been unroofed, and when I came past the newspaper office just now I saw a bulletin to the effect that out at sea it was much worse. It is feared that a number of ships have been sunk.”
“Then I’m glad we’re safe on land,” remarked Jerry. “Say, lend me a hand for a minute, Ned; will you? Just hold that piece of pipe until I slip this section into it. The wind blew it out of the fastenings.”
“This wind would do almost anything!” cried Ned, as he helped his chum. “I could hardly walk up the street. The chimney blew off the roof of Mr. Black’s house, and some of the bricks just missed me.”
“‘A miss is as good as a mile’,” quoted Jerry with a laugh. “But it sure is some blow, all right! I’m glad we’re not out in it in the Comet.”