CHAPTER I

OUT IN THE STORM

"Jack, it looks as if we were in for another storm."

"Yes, and it's starting right now," declared Captain Jack Rover, as he glanced through the trees to the overcast sky. "Don't you hear it on the leaves?"

"It does beat everything!" declared Andy Rover, his usually bright face clouding a bit. "It has rained enough in the past two weeks to last a year."

"Do you know, I like these constant rains less than I liked being snowbound up at Cedar Lodge," put in Lieutenant Fred Rover.

"Oh, there was some fun in being snowbound," declared Randy Rover. "A fellow could go out in it and have the best time ever. But what can a chap do when the rain is coming down to beat the band?"

"Well, you can go out and get a shower-bath free of charge," commented his twin gaily.

"I'll take my showers in the gym," was the quick reply. "Gee! listen to that, will you?"

There was no need for any of the four Rover boys to listen, or to look, either. A blinding flash of lightning had swept the sky, followed almost immediately by a crash of thunder in the woods behind them. Then followed another crash, as of falling timber.

"It struck a tree, I'll bet a new cap!" exclaimed Jack.

"Yes, and it was a little bit too close for comfort, too," answered his cousin Fred.

The thunder and lightning were followed by a sudden rush of wind which caused the trees of the forest to sway violently. Then the downfall of rain increased until it was little short of a deluge.

Answer this series of questions:

1. Does Fred Rover like the rain better than being snowbound?
2. Does Randy Rover think there's fun in being snowbound?
3. What is Jack Rover's rank?
4. What is Fred's?
5. How many Rover boys total are there?
6. Are any of them twins?
7. What Lodge is mentioned?
8. What did one of the boys say you could get free of charge in the rain?
9. Where did another prefer to take his?
10. What did Jack bet?
11. What was he betting about?
12. What followed the thunder and lightning?
1. No
2. Yes
3. Captain
4. Lieutenant
5. four
6. Yes
7. Cedar Lodge
8. a shower-bath
9. in the gym
10. a new cap
11. lightning struck a tree
12. another crash