"I trust it will be so in this case," said Tom.
"So do I," said Jack hopefully, but a cold fear that his father was ruined possessed him, and made his heart feel heavy as lead.
Suddenly, from the purple firmament, came the sound of distant thunder. Following it a puff of wind, hot as the exhalation of an opened oven, blew in their faces. In the distance they saw a ragged streak of lightning tear the cloud curtains.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE "LIGHTNING CAGE."
"Look at that, will you!" exclaimed Tom.
"What, you are not scared, are you?" asked Jack.
"N-no, but I must say I'm not fond of thunderstorms Particularly when we are carrying all that gas over our heads."