Part 19 (1/2)

Fortunately, otherwise this story might have had a different ending, the barn was lifted almost entirely from its foundations and hurled over on its side. The roof was ripped off like an old hat and hurtled through the tempest to the water's edge.

None of the wreckage and debris struck the crouching boys. But the mere sound was terrifying enough. Even Jack was cowed by the tremendous force of the elements. Each lad felt as if the next moment would be his last.

But at last Jack mustered up courage and looked up. The beating rain, which had already soaked them all through, stung his face like hailstones.

”Hullo, fellows,” he exclaimed, ”is--is anybody hurt?”

”All right here,” rejoined Billy. ”But say, wasn't that the limit?”

”It sure was,” agreed Jack. ”At one time I thought we were goners, and----”

”Goo-oof-g-r-r-r-r-r!” An extraordinary sound, which can only be typographically rendered in this manner, suddenly interrupted him.

”Heavens, what's that?” gasped Billy, looking about him in a rather alarmed manner.

”Ugh-ugh-groof-f-f-f-f-f-f!”

”It's Noddy!” cried Jack.

”Gracious, he must be dying,” gasped Billy.

In his eagerness to escape the full fury of the storm and the flying wreckage of the barn, Noddy had plunged into the hay with his mouth open, and now his throat was full of the dry stuff. He was almost choked.

”Pull him out,” directed Jack, and he and Billy laid hold of Noddy's heels and dragged him out of the hay-pile. The lad was almost black in the face.

”Ug-gug-groo-o-o-o-o-o!” he mumbled, making frantic gestures with his arms.

”Goodness, this is as bad as the time he was almost drowned,” cried Jack. ”Clap him on the back good and hard. That's it.”

There were several gulps and struggles, and then Noddy began to cough.

But all danger from strangulation had pa.s.sed, thanks to the heroic efforts of Jack and Billy.

”Phew! I thought I was choked,” sputtered Noddy, as soon as he found his voice. ”I'd hate to be a horse and have to eat that stuff.”

”You are a kind of a horse,” said Billy slyly.

”How do you make that out?” demanded Noddy, falling into the trap.

”A donkey,” laughed Billy teasingly, but poor Noddy felt too badly after his experience in the hay to retaliate in kind.

After the restoration of Noddy, they began to survey the situation. All were soaked through, and the rain beat about them unmercifully. But they were thankful to have escaped with their lives. Through the white curtain of rain they could make out the outlines of the _Curlew_, riding at the dock.

”I'm glad to see that,” observed Jack. ”I was half afraid that she might have broken away.”

”Then we _would_ have been in a fine fix,” said Billy.

”What will we do next?” asked Noddy, removing some fragments of hay from his ears.

”Wait till the clouds roll by,” laughed Billy. ”I guess that's about the program, isn't it, Jack?”