As the rowboat came closer Jack reached over and caught Sands by the arm, and then he and Gif pulled the dripping cadet over the gunwale. They then rowed up beside Bob Mason and assisted him aboard.
“My gracious! did you ever see such a storm?” spluttered Mason. “I never saw so much lightning in my life. I wish I was ashore.”
“Help! Help! I don’t want to be struck by lightning!” came in a bellow from the overturned rowboat, and now the Colby Hall boys saw that the fellow clutching the craft was Tommy Flanders.
Another flash of lightning now lit up the scene and the thunder rolled along from one end of the lake to the other. In the midst of this those on the motor-boat hauled in Flanders and then came beside the craft occupied by the Colby Hall cadets and those they had rescued.
“Shall we pull you in?” questioned the man who had the motor-boat in charge.
“Perhaps it would be as well,” answered Gif. “We’re pretty well tired out from the race, and that wind is fierce.”
“All right. We’ll take you over to your dock. Here’s a rope. Tie it fast.”
“What of our boat?” questioned Ted Maxwell.
“We can either pick that up coming back or let it drift. I don’t think you’ll lose it.”
Some floating oars were picked up and then the craft belonging to Mr. Garrison was hauled over to its dock.