Where to go next he did not know. To journey far in such a storm was entirely out of the question.
Dick had hardly gotten to the edge of the woods when a blinding flash of lightning and a ripping crash of thunder fairly lifted him from his feet.
"Oh!" he gasped, and staggered to a tree for support. "My, but that was close!"
It was not until a moment later that he realized what had occurred. The lightning had struck the cottage, ripping off a corner of the roof and descending into the room below. The structure was now a mass of flames.
"The cottage is on fire!" murmured the youth. "Wonder if the Baxters have been struck?"
The wind quickly drove the fire in all directions until the cottage was in flames almost from end to end.
Staggering from the effects of the shock, Dick drew closer to the building and then tried the door, to find it locked.
"Help!" came faintly, in Arnold Baxter's voice. "Help!"
"Open the door," returned Dick, forgetting that it was an enemy who was calling for assistance.
