"Kick that dog out of the car first," pleaded Fred.
"I won't," Darrin retorted. "The dog is my guarantee for your good behavior to-night."
As soon as might be they ran around the lower end of the lake, then raced for the hotel.
There Dr. Bentley was aroused. While he was dressing he sent a bell-boy to order his own big car.
Just when Ripley vanished from the scene no one about the grounds or the hotel seemed to know or care.
Dr. Bentley, dressed in record time, came down.
"Now, we'll drive fast, Darrin," the doctor announced, as he dropped his bag into the car and seated himself at the wheel. "Struck by lightning, did you say? It was a fearful storm, but it is stopping now."
Ere they reached the camp the stars were out. There was no sign of nature's dangerous mood.
Dr. Bentley first of all ordered that the canvas be lifted and cast aside. The tent was badly wrecked and burned, though the rain had prevented the rising of flames that might have burned the bodies of the five unconscious boys.
"Throw your coat off, Darrin, and do the work of four men for a few minutes," said Dr. Bentley tersely.