“Guess we can go a little faster now,” said Shirley, and touched the horse with her whip.
At that moment there came a brilliant flash of lightning, followed by a terrific peal of thunder. The horse shied and broke into a gallop.
Shirley tightened her hold on the reins, and, with an effort, succeeded in pulling him down to a trot again.
“Well, here’s where we turn off, anyhow,” said Shirley. “If the rain will hold off for twenty minutes we will be all right.”
“And then, just as they turned onto the Bethlehem pike, darkness enveloped them, shutting out the sight of the road ahead. It descended so suddenly and unexpectedly that Mabel cried out in alarm.
“Don’t be frightened,” said Shirley in a low voice. “I know the road and can drive just as well in the dark.”
Nevertheless she was forced to check the horse slightly, and this required great effort, for the animal, badly frightened, was trying to bolt.
Suddenly Shirley’s hat went flying from her head, as the wind was blowing a gale. Mabel, her hands free, caught hers as it left her head.
“Mine’s gone,” cried Shirley.
“Shall we stop and get it?” asked Mabel, raising her voice to make herself heard above the roaring wind.