llbound, gazing on a scene of unspeakable devastation!

To the north, west and southeast the forest lay prone like a field of
wind-swept corn. Huge oaks and pines were tossed in grotesque windrows.
Here and there gnarled roots projected above the prostrate foliage. The
once proud trees lay like brave soldiers; their limbs rigid in the
contorted attitudes of death.

The line of wreck was clearly marked along its northern line but the
hills shut off our view to the west. The road to Pine Top was one mass
of trunks and twisted limbs. For some distance in the other direction
there was no forest to the right, and so far as we could see the road
was clear.

At first glance I thought the touring car a total wreck. It had been
lifted and hurled on its side against a partially dismantled stone wall.
It was half hidden by a large branch of a tree, and its rear wheels were
buried in mud and debris.

As we stood silent and awe-stricken amid this manifestation of the
insignificance of man, the sun blazed forth from behind a laggard cloud.
The effect was theatrical. It was like throwing the limelight on the
scene which marks the climax of some tense situation. Instinctively we
lifted our arms and cheered for sheer joy.

"What care we for wrecked automobiles and wet clothes?" I shouted. "We
live, we live!"

"It is good to live," she cried; "it is splendid to live!"

We smilingly saluted His Majesty the sun once again, and then returned
to earth.

"What shall we do?" Miss Harding asked.

My most vivid impression of this charming young woman at that instant
was that her shoes gave forth a "chugging" sound as she walked,
convincing aural evidence that their spare spaces were occupied with
water. I also recall that her hat was a limp and bedraggled wreck from
being jammed for an hour or more against the roof of the culvert.

"I don't know," I frankly admitted. "It is certain we cannot take this
road to Pine Top. I have an idea that our back track is clear. I suggest
that I proceed to ascertain if this machine is dead beyond hope of
resurrection. If it isn't we'll take it back to civilisation. If it is
we'll abandon it and walk."

"It is now half past three o'clock," she said, looking at her watch.
"Even if we are late in getting to Oak Cliff we must go there if
possible, for I know papa will wait for us and be worried if we do not
come."

"I'll do the best I can," I said, hesitating a moment and vainly
attempting to think