Frank and Andy Afloat Part 32

"I wonder--" began Andy, after a terrific clap, but his words were silenced in the thunderous vibration that followed. It was the hardest clap yet, and the boys felt a tingling, numbing sensation in their fingers.

"That struck near here!" yelled Frank.

His face was turned upward toward the roof of the cavern. He felt something falling on his cheeks. It seemed to be particles of dirt.

Then he felt a dampness that was not from the waters below him. More particles fell.

"What's the matter?" cried Andy. "Something is happening. What is it?"

Before Frank could answer, had he known what was taking place, there came a loud splash in the water at Andy's left.

"Is that you Frank? Have you fallen?" he called desperately.

"No, I'm here," replied his brother. "That must have been part of the side or roof of the cave jarred off by the thunder. Hold fast, Andy."

There came a second splashing sound in the water, followed by another.

The drops of dampness and particles of earth continued to rain into the faces of the lads.

"The cave's crumbling in!" cried Andy. "The roof is falling."

"Hold--" began Frank.

A roar interrupted him. Suddenly the cave seemed to be illuminated by a dazzling light bluish in color. By it the boys could see each other as they clung to the wall. They could see the black and swirling waters now waist high. But they could see something else.

They could look up and out through a jagged hole in the roof of the cavern, and through that opening they had a glimpse of the fury of the storm. They could see the lightning flashing in the sky.

For a moment the meaning of it was lost on them. Then Frank uttered a cry of hope.

"We're saved, Andy, saved! Now we can crawl up out of the top of the cave and escape. The tide can't reach us now! We're saved!"

CHAPTER XXIII

TO THE RESCUE

Back in the Racer cottage there was an anxious consultation going on.

It was the afternoon of the second day since Andy and Frank had gone to Cliff Island, and they had not returned.

"I don't like it!" exclaimed Mr. Racer, tossing aside the paper he had been trying to read, and restlessly pacing the floor. "I wish they hadn't gone. I wish they were back."

"Don't you think they can look after themselves?" asked the mother.

Usually she was the more nervous, but this time it was her husband.

"Oh, I suppose they could, ordinarily," he answered. "But this is different."

"How, d.i.c.k?" and there was an anxious note in Mrs. Racer's voice. She had just come in from a tennis tournament to find that her husband had returned from New York earlier than usual. Now she began to realize the cause. It was on account of the boys.

"Well, there's a storm coming up, for one thing, and then there's that man. I wish Andy and Frank hadn't started after him."

"It was to help Paul, dear."

"I know. They meant all right, but they're too daring. However, it can't be helped. Where's Paul?"

"He felt so well that he went for a little walk. He said he'd go down toward the pier and see if he could see or hear anything of the boys.

"Well, I'm glad he's getting better." Mr. Racer once more tried to read the paper, but gave it up.

"You're nervous," said his wife, as he tossed it aside.

"Yes, I am. Nothing is worse than sitting still, and waiting--waiting for something to happen.

"Oh, d.i.c.k! I'm sure you don't want anything to happen!"

"Of course not. But I don't like this weather."

Paul came in at that moment. The glow off health was beginning to reappear in his pale cheeks.

"Well?" asked Mr. Racer quickly.

"They're not in sight," answered the lad who did not know who he was.

"And Captain Trent says a bad storm is brewing."

"That settles it!" exclaimed Mr. Racer. He started up and took down an old overcoat and hat.

"Where are you going?" asked his wife in alarm.

"I'm going for those boys. I can't stand it any longer."

"But how can you get to Cliff Island if a storm is coming up? You have no boat, and to row--"

"I don't intend to row. Mr. Lacey, a friend of mine, put in here with his big motor boat a little while ago. I saw him as I got off the New York steamer, and he said he might stay here a couple of days. His craft is at the pier float. I know he'll take me to Cliff Island, blow or no blow, and his _Norma_ is big enough to weather quite a sea."

"Oh, d.i.c.k, I'm afraid to have you go!"

"Oh, there's no danger, but there might be to our boys, and I'm going to the rescue. Don't worry. I may be able to get out to the island and back before dark. They're probably scouting around, looking for that man, and he isn't there at all. They think they're having a good time, but they don't realize what the weather is going to be."

Mr. Racer went on with his preparations for being out in the storm.

Mrs. Racer, after the first alarm, agreed with him that it was best to go after the boys.

"Do you think that I--that is--Oh, mayn't I go?" burst out Paul Gale.

"I'd like to help. Andy and Frank have done so much for me. Can't I go?"

"I'm afraid you're not strong enough," objected Mr. Racer.

"Oh, but I am!" insisted the lad. "I believe it will do me good. But can't you ask Dr. Martin?"

They were saved the necessity of calling the physician up on the telephone for he drove past at that moment and Mr. Racer hailed him.