"We've forgot the covering for our boat," exclaimed Henry. "Paul, keep her
steady, while the rest of you help me."
It required the strength of four to spread the tarpaulin in the wind and
make it all secure, but they were a strong four and the task was quickly
done. Meanwhile the turbulence of air and water were increasing. The waves
on the river rose higher and higher and the wind drove the foam in their
faces. The thunder, no longer a mutter, became one terrific peal after
another, and the lightning burned across the great stream in flash after
flash.
"I sp'ose it's jest the same ez bein' at sea," said Sol between crashes.
"I don't know much choice between bein' drowned in the Mississippi, which
I know is muddy, an' the sea, which they say is salt."
"No danger of either!" said Paul cheerfully, "but I'm glad this is such a
wide river. So long as we can keep the boat straight there is not much
risk of being driven into anything."
Then everyone jumped suddenly to his feet. There was a tremendous crash of
thunder louder than all the rest, and the whole river swam for a moment in
a burning glare. The lightning seemed to have struck upon the surface of
the water not far from them. Then, when the lightning and the thunder
passed, they heard only the wind and saw only the darkness.
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