Part 19 (1/2)
”Did the lightning strike you?” yelled Ben
”No But we had a close call of it,” answered Mr Porter ”It hit this tree ere less than one hundred and fifty feet away Then the tree caht into it”
”Phew! That's so broken?”
”We don't know yet,” answered Dave
He alighted from the car, and his uncle did likewise An exauards in front had been badly bent, and that a headlight had snapped off, but beyond this, and the windshi+eld, the big touring-car seeed
”I'm thankful it's no worse,” reo,” returned Dave ”It will et it fixed”
”Oh, let us be thankful that no one was hurt!” cried Laura
While Dave and his uncle had been exa for some way around the tree, which covered the roadway coh yonder trees,” said Ben, pointing to his left ”The ground see is plenty large enough for our cars”
Mr Basswood moved forward in the direction his son indicated, and soon called to Ben to start the car He led the way on foot, and theseveral trees, and then ehway, some distance beyond the obstruction
”Hurrah! That's the way to do it!” cried Luke ”Now the others can back up and follow us”
”So they can,” answered Shadow ”But what about leaving that tree in the roadway? It's erous, and will be more so after dark”
”We can notify the authorities at Simpson's Corners,” said Mr Basswood
”They can send somebody up here with a lantern”
He went back to tell the others of what had been accomplished, and soon the Wadsworth car was backed out frohway
”Well, I think the rain is letting up a little, anyway,” announced Roger, after the two touring-cars were once ht That last downfall see
Wet from end to end, and covered with mud, the two automobiles rolled into the little settlement that went by the name of Sieneral store to which, in the rear, was attached a se
”You certainly must have had some trip over the hills in this storm,”
remarked Mr Simpson, after the party had trooped into his place ”It's about as heavy a rainfall as we have had in soet to Carpen Falls if we could,” answered Dunston Porter
”But perhaps we'll stay in Simpson's Corners, if there are any accommodations”
”Ain't no hotel here,” answered the storekeeper ”Used to be one soave it up But Mrs Whittle serves lunch to travelers if you are hungry”
”Me for Mrs Whittle's!” whispered Phil
”Good gracious, Phil! You seeood-natured comment