was behind them and they were once more in the
shelter of the woods, which broke the force of the wind. It was now
raining in torrents.

"One good thing about this is that the rain will beat the sand down and
make the traveling better," said Mr. Freeman.

The road was a mere lane, and they all began to feel a little
uncomfortable and discouraged as the thunder deepened and came peal
after peal, followed by shooting darts of lightning. The big horse was
going at a good pace, but, all at once, Lady made a quick turn, and
before Mr. Freeman could stop her had swung into an even more narrow
track, half hidden by underbrush from the main road. In a few moments
they saw a long low shingled house nearly hidden by closely growing
trees.

"Well done, Lady!" exclaimed Mr. Freeman laughingly, as Lady stopped
directly in front of the door.

Mr. Freeman handed the reins to Rose and sprang out, and rapped on the
door, but no answer came.

"I don't believe there is any one here," he declared. "Stay in the
chaise a moment, and I'll find out." As he spoke he gave the door a
little push when, much to his surprise, it swung open and Mr. Freeman
found himself face to face with a tall, black-bearded man who regarded
him with a scowling countenance.

"What do you want?" he asked gruffly.

At that moment a peal of thunder heavier than any preceding it made Rose
and Anne shrink more closely together in the corner of the chaise. "He
looks like a pirate," whispered Rose fearfully.

"We want shelter until this storm is over," Mr. Freeman replied. "May I
drive my horse into that shed?"

The man grunted an unwilling assent, and Mr. Freeman sprang back into
the chaise and drove Lady under a rough shelter in the rear of the
house.

"Don't go in the house, will you, father?" whispered Rose; for the man
had opened a back door leading into the shed and was regarding his
undesired guests with suspicious eyes.

"How did you happen to come here?" he asked gruffly. "This road don't
lead nowheres."

"My horse turned in from the main road very suddenly," explained Mr.
Freeman. "We had no plan except to get on to Sandwich as fast as
possible."

"Going far?" questioned the man.

"We are on our way to Boston," answered Mr. Freeman.

"Guess the English are going to give the Yankees a lesson even if they
couldn't hold Boston!" said the man with a smile, as if he would be glad
to know his words would come true.

"I think not, sir," answered M