On they dashed; past bridges, woods, gullies and inlets. They were taking the inside road as that would get them home quicker than the beach road they had used coming down. The girls thought it was a lark to sit cuddled up safe and dry in the car while the lightning flashed and the rain beat upon the leather roof over their heads.
On they went, past more woods and orchards and creeks, all the time having near them on one side or the other the wide stretches of water that now, at high tide, came up so close to the road. The shell road made fine driving but no one, not even the driver who was used to that country, realized how very slick the road might be in such a storm. On, and on, through the lightning that lit up the dark shadows of the groves they raced past.
And then a sudden whirl—a slip—a splash! The car had skidded from the road into the bay and stood hub deep in a vast inlet of water.
WALKING THE PLANK
FOR a minute all seven folks in that car were too amazed to speak; then, suddenly every one began to talk at once.
“Will we sail out to sea?” asked Mary Jane.
“Driver, do you know when the tide is high?” from Mrs. Merrill.
“Of course, there’ll be no one along this road while the storm lasts!” cried Mrs. Berry.
“Will we just sit here and drown?” exclaimed Ellen.