"It's time to be getting out of here if I don't want to get drowned
on the way back to the hotel," Ripley decided. "I'll have to
postpone getting square with Prescott. Besides, the storm will
waken those fellows and I don't want to be caught here."
There came another flash, that descended near the water. The
crashing noise of the thunder came at the same instant.
Fred, facing the tent, saw the bolt strike the ridge pole. Evidently
the current ran down one of the poles, for he saw the bluish white
electric fluid running over the ground, coming from inside the
tent. The tent sagged, then fell.
"Gracious!" shivered this evil traveler of the night. "It will
be a wonder if that bolt didn't stretch them all out. I wonder
if it killed Dick Prescott and his crowd?"
Uncontrollable curiosity seized upon Fred. Turning about he ran
toward the tent. Violently he tugged at the canvas. As he lifted
it another sharp flash showed him the six Gridley High School
boys lying motionless in a row.
"The lightning did finish them!" gasped young Ripley, overcome
with fright and awe.
CHAPTER XXII
FRED IS GRATEFUL---ONE SECOND!
For some moments Fred Ripley stood there, spellbound, regarding
the still figures of Dick & Co. with fascinated fear.
Most of the time he stood in darkness, but as the flashes of lightning
came he again saw the six motionless figures. Even the fearful
crashes of thunder failed to arouse the sleepers.
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