y had to shout to make the girls hear. The
turmoil of the rain and thunder was terrific.

"I really wish you'd wait, Tom, till the tempest is over," Ruth anxiously
said. "Suppose something happened to you on the road?"

"Suppose something happened to _us_ here in the auto?" shrieked Helen.

"But Henri Marchand will be with you," said her brother, preparing to
depart. "And if I delay we may not reach Boston to-night."

"Oh!" gasped Jennie. "Do please find some gas, Tom. I'd be scared to death
to stay out here in these woods."

"One of the autos may bite her," scoffed Helen, ready to scorn her own
fears when her friend was even more fearful. "These cars are the wildest
thing in these woods, I warrant."

"Of course you must do what you think is best, Tom," said Ruth, gravely.
"I hope you will not have to go far."

"No matter how long I am gone, Ruth, don't be alarmed," he told her. "You
know, nothing serious ever happens to me."

"Oh, no!" cried his sister. "Of course not! Only you get carried away on a
Zeppelin, or are captured by the Germans and Ruth has to go to your
rescue. We know all about how immune you are from trouble, young man."

"Thanks be! there are no Boches here in peaceful New England," exclaimed
Jennie, after Tom had started off with the gasoline can. "Oh!"

A sharp clap of thunder seemingly just overhead followed the flash that
had made the plump girl shriek. The explosion reverberated between the
hills in slowly passing cadence.

Jennie finally removed her fingers from her ears with a groan. Aunt Kate
had covered her eyes. With Helen they cowered together in the tonneau.
Ruth had been sitting beside Tom in the front seat when the cars were
stalled, and now Henri Marchand was her companion.

"I heard something then, Colonel," Ruth said in a low tone, when the salvo
of thunder was passed.

"You are fortunate, Mademoiselle," he returned. "Me, I am deafened
complete'."

"I heard a cry."

"Not from Captain Cameron?"

"It was not his voice. Listen!" said the girl of the Red Mill, in some
excitement.

Despite the driving rain she put her head out beyond the curtain and
listened. Her face was sheltered from the beating rain. It would have
taken her breath had she faced it. Again the lightning flashed and the
thunder crashed on its trail.

Ruth did not draw in her head. She wore her raincoat and a rubber cap, and
on her feet heavy shoes. The storm did not frighten her. She might be
anxious