A THUNDERSTORM. 99 



the drains. They look very funny twirling away all by 

 themselves." 



Early in the day they reached a public-house surrounded by 

 a little grove of trees, which gave an agreeable variety to the 

 landscape. This was Coldham Hall, and as the sky was 

 clouding over and the wind sighing fitfully through the reeds 

 and the trees, and there was every symptom of a violent storm, 

 the boys decided to remain there until the morrow, and then 

 sail up to Norwich. 



During the afternoon they amused themselves by fishing for 

 eels, which were biting very freely. The heavens grew black, 

 and the thunder muttered at intervals, but the storm held off 

 until the evening, and then as it was getting dark it came on 

 most violently. The rain came down in torrents. The 

 lightning lit up the marsh for miles most vividly, and each 

 flash was succeeded by an intenser blackness, v/hile the 

 bellowing of the thunder made the very earth shake. The 

 boys stood at the door of the inn, gazing at the storm and 

 awe-struck by its mighty power. 



" I don't like the idea of sleeping on the river to-night," said 

 Jimmy. " The landlord has a bedroom vacant, and I vote we 

 sleep here instead of going on board." 



The others willingly consented, and Dick and Jimmy had a 

 double-bedded room between them, while Frank slept in a small 

 attic. As the night wore on the storm passed away, but its mut- 

 terings could still be heard. Jimmy did not like thunder, and felt 

 very nervous while it was about, as many otherwise brave people 

 will. He could not for the life of him go to sleep, and lay tossing 

 about in a most uncomfortable state for half the night, while Dick 

 was slumbering peacefully. Jimmy could stand it no longer, 

 and got out of bed with the intention of arousing Dick, and 

 getting him to talk to him. He stole across the room, and by 

 the faint starlight which came from the sky, which had partially 

 cleared after the storm, he saw that Dick had kicked all the 

 bed-clothes off, and lay very deep in slumber. He touched 

 him lightly on the foot to awake him gently. To his amaze- 

 ment Dick lifted his leg and began to wave it slowly backwards 

 in the air, at the same time whistling softly. Jimmy was so 

 struck with the oddity of this procedure in a sleeping man that 

 he burst into a peal of laughter. Even this did not wake Dick ; 

 and Jimmy, having now something to occupy his mind, went 



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