Then it was dark again. Then more lightning showed her the fields and woods and hills on the other side of the lake, beyond the raging water.
The others missed her and would have gone back to the tent without her if Nancy had not seen the gleam of a torch away to the left of the path.
John found her and tugged at her sleeve.
“Come along,” he shouted. “We thought you’d gone on already.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” said Titty, though John could not hear her, and they joined Nancy on the path and went back to the tent together.
“Well,” said Susan, “if you were wet before, you’re a lot wetter now. And nothing to change into.”
“It was worth it,” said Titty.
“Were the boats all right?” asked Roger.
“Couldn’t be snugger,” said Captain Nancy. “But their crews will have a lot of baling to do in the morning.”
“What’s the time now?” said Peggy. “Susan says it’s only about three.”
“It’s nearly five,” said John.
Nobody could go to sleep. They became shipwrecked sailors.
“Both our masts went by the board,” said Captain Nancy.
“And before that the mizen was struck by lightning,” said Captain John.
“Did you see the blue lights flickering on the ends of the spars?” said Nancy. “That was before the mizen was struck.”
“Then we started a plank,” said John, “and the water poured in.”