"And I'll help," said Tom, who had recovered rapidly from his involuntary bath.
"We shall need a carpenter to make repairs," said Captain Starr, who had been working to shove off the fallen tree. "This smash-up is a pretty bad one."
The boys remained outside, and all went to work to remove the tree trunk and to cover the hole with a heavy tarpaulin. It was a task lasting the best part of an hour, and when it had come to an end, the rain was slackening up.
"We shall certainly have to lay up somewhere for repairs," said Fred. "We can't continue the journey in this condition."
"Let us hire a carpenter at the next town we stop at," suggested Sam, and to this they agreed.
The mess in the cabin was left for Aleck to clean up, and then the ladies and the girls straightened things out as best they could. As soon as the storm cleared away, the journey down the Mississippi was continued.
"I can't help but think of what might have happened if that stroke of lightning had hit the houseboat," said Songbird. "It makes me shiver."
"We certainly had a narrow escape," answered Dora. "I never wish to get quite so close to another stroke."
