I was aroused to consciousness by the flash of a dazzling light upon my
closed eyelids, accompanied by the crash of a terrific clap of thunder.
Opening my eyes I discovered that the room was in opaque darkness--
showing that I must have been allowed to sleep at least eight hours; but
even as I swung my feet to the floor and started to grope for my boots,
while the reverberations of the thunder-clap still rumbled and echoed in
the distance, there came another blinding flash of lightning, instantly
followed by a deafening crash of thunder; and, getting my bearings by
the illumination of the lightning, I started to my feet and, forgetting
my boots, rushed to Billy's bedside, apprehensive of what might be the
effect of the storm upon him.