"Yah, und he vos know ve ton't stay here nildowit suppers for noddings," was the manner in which the German cadet expressed himself. "Oh, Hans, how can you!" broke from Tom, who could eat at any time, and who now felt more hungry than any of them. "Do you mean to say we'll have to remain here all night without our suppers!" "Vell, vot else you vos going ter do, hey?" "We'll have to go without something to eat, unless we can find something close at hand," said Frank. One after another went out to the doorway and to the open window and gazed forth. But the howling wind and blinding snow soon made all glad enough to get back to the sheltered corner. It was now pitch dark. "We are in for it, so make yourselves as comfortable as possible," observed Frank. "My, how the wind does blow!" "It's like a hurricane in an African forest," said Sam. "I believe it's almost strong enough to take a fellow off his feet." The wind kept increasing in violence, until the old barn seemed to rock back and forth. It arose in a low moan and mounted steadily to a shriek, gradually dying away in the distance, followed by the slish-slishing of the fine snow across the rotted shingles of the roof. "It's a tempest not to be forgotten," said Frank. "I can't remember when I've heard the wind make such a noise before. If it gets any worse it--" Frank got no further, for the shrieking of the wind drowned out every other sound. Then came a strange grinding and creaking overhead, and the barn rocked more than ever. "Get out, boys," yelled Tom. "The old shebang is going to pieces!" Tom had scarcely spoken when the shock came, and beams, boards, and shingles flew in all directions. It was a terrifying occurrence and not knowing what else to do the five boys dug into the loose hay and threw themselves flat. Each felt as if the end of the world had come. CHAPTER XIV A FEW SPRING HAPPENINGS Luckily for the boys the barn was blown clean over on its side, its roof falling some distance away, so that none of the wreckage came down on top of the crowd. But the sounds of the beams and boards breaking were so terrifying that for several minutes after the damage was done none of the crowd dared to move. Each felt as though the next second might be his last. At length Dick pulled himself together and peered forth. "Any--anybody hurt?" he panted. "I'm not," came from Tom. "But, say, wasn't--" A splutter, coming from Hans, interrupted him. In his eagerness to escape the fall of the barn the German cadet had plunged into the hay open-mouthed, and now some of the stuff had entered his throat and was almost choking him. "Clap him on the back!" cried Dick, and Tom did as requested. Then came several gulps and Hans began to cough. But the danger from strangulation was over. All were soon out of the wreckage, and thankful that they had escaped thus easily. "But we won't have the barn to shelter us," said Frank ruefully. "What will we do next?"