"I blinked my eyes when the lightning flashed," replied the aviator.
"Well, I tell you I saw something." Fred spoke with conviction. "And it looked like a bird."
"Maybe it was—the one that yelled," said Dunk.
"The Thunder Bird, maybe," shouted Carl.
"Gee!" said several of the boys at once.
"I'll bet we're near his shrine," continued Fred excitedly, "and he's raising this storm."
"Aw, come off, you're dreamin'," discouraged Tender, though half convinced.
"I didn't see nothin' either," added Jerry, unwilling to admit that he was a little scared at the supernatural aspect things were taking.
"Maybe the picture will show," said Hawke.
Bang—a cannon seemed to be hurling great balls against an iron wall with a shock that reverberated in all directions. The tumult became so continuous as to make conversation impossible, and the frequent flashes of light gave the timber the appearance of being on fire. The boys stood silent, rather enjoying the spectacle, though they were shivering with cold.