Joe the Hotel Boy

"[...]rowboat and the oars and then he followed his friend. Just as one porch of the old lodge was reached there came a flash of lightning, followed by a clap of thunder that made Ned jump. Then followed more thunder and lightning, and the rain came down steadily. "Ugh! I must say I don't like this at all," remarked Ned, as he crouched in a corner of the shelter. "I hope the lightning doesn't strike this place." "We can be thankful that we were not caught out in the middle of the lake, Ned." "I agree on that, Joe,?but it doesn't help matters much. Oh, dear me!" And Ned shrank down, as another blinding flash of lightning lit up the scene. It was not a comfortable situation and Joe did not like it any more than did his friend. But the hermit's boy was accustomed to being out in the elements, and therefore was not so impressed by what was taking place. "The rain will fill the boat," said Ned, presently. "Never mind, we can easily bail her out or turn her over." "When do you think this storm will stop?" "In an hour or two, most likely. Such storms never last very long. What time is it, Ned?"[...]".