increased in fury the clouds began to blot out the
daylight. It grew as dark as night almost. The roar of the rain was like
the voice of a giant cataract.

"We may have to stay here all night," said Billy, after a long silence.

"That's true," rejoined Jack. "It would be foolhardy to take a boat like
the _Curlew_ out in such a storm."

Suddenly there came a terrific flash of lightning, followed by a sharp
clap of thunder. It was succeeded by flash after flash, in blinding
succession.

"My, this is certainly a snorter," exclaimed Billy, and the others
agreed with him.

"We won't forget it in a hurry," said Jack. "I can't recall when I've
heard the wind make such a noise."

To add to their alarm, as the fury of the wind increased, the old barn
visibly quavered. It seemed to rock back and forth on its foundations.
The noise of the wind grew so loud that conversation was presently
impossible.

Suddenly there came a fiercer blast than any that had gone before. There
was a ripping and rending sound.

"Great Scott! Boys, run for your lives, the old shack is tumbling down,"
cried Jack.

He had scarcely spoken when what he had anticipated happened. Beams,
boards and shingles flew in every direction. There was no time even to
think. Acting instinctively, each boy threw himself flat upon the pile
of moldy hay.

Noddy, in his terror, burrowed deep into it. The noise that accompanied
the dissolution of the old barn was terrific. Each boy felt as if at any
moment a huge beam might fall on him and crush his life out. Above it
all the wind howled with a note of triumph at its work of destruction.

The boys felt as if the end of the world had come.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE END OF JACK'S HOLIDAY.

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 th