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.