"I think I'd better look and see if those ropes are well tied," he
said, getting up to dress, and putting on a raincoat.
He had hardly gotten out on deck, before the houseboat gave a sudden
lurch to one side, and then began to move quickly down stream.
"Oh, what has happened?" cried Mrs. Bobbsey.
At the same time Flossie and Freddie awakened, because of the loud
noise from the storm.
"Mamma! Mamma!" they cried.
"Richard, has anything happened?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey.
"Yes!" he shouted. "The strong wind has broken the ropes, and we are
adrift. But don't worry. We'll soon be all right!"
Faster and faster went the Bluebird, while all about her the rain
splashed down, the wind blew, the thunder roared, and the lightning
flashed.
CHAPTER XVIII
STRANGE NOISES
The frightened cries of Flossie and Freddie soon awakened Nan and
Bert, and it was not long before Harry and Dorothy, too, had roused
themselves.
"What's the matter?" asked Bert.
"Oh, we've gone adrift in the storm," his mother said. "But don't
worry. Papa says it will be all right."
"Come up on deck and see what's going on!" cried Bert to Harry.
He had begun to dress, and now he thrust his head out from his room.
"Hurry up, Harry," he added. "We want to see this storm."
"No, you must stay here," Mrs.
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