Dick, too, managed to get to sleep before a great while. Both of them were presently aroused by a loud crash of thunder.
“Why, it did get here after all, Dick!” exclaimed Roger, the first thing.
“Listen and you can hear the rain further along beating down on the forest trees. One good thing about it is that the storm will probably not be a long one.”
Dick’s words were immediately followed by a vivid flash of lightning, and then came another loud detonation that seemed to shake the earth.
In these present days two wide-awake boys who had picked up some knowledge of woodcraft would be very much alarmed to find themselves in a hollow tree during an electrical storm, knowing that there was always a chance of the lightning’s striking such an object and bringing about their destruction.
Dick and Roger were not worried on that point. Perhaps it was because they were accustomed to taking hazards; or it may have sprung from ignorance of the danger.
However, the hollow tree had lost its top long years ago, and was surrounded by loftier trees so the chances of its being struck were not serious.
Then the rain came, and, from the sounds that reached their ears, the boys decided that it was almost a tropical downpour. Roger was on the alert to discover whether their shelter was going to prove its worth, or begin to leak. After some time had passed he voiced his conviction in his usual fashion.
“Not a drop so far, Dick, and I believe we’re going to keep dry jackets through the whole downpour. Why, this is better than being in one of the tents, for they nearly always let a stream of water trickle down your neck when you’re not expecting it. I think we’re mighty lucky to have such good shelter.”