The avenue was lined with 'rikshas, and hundreds of pedestrians paced
slowly along. They were in holiday attire and the bright colors of the
kimonos and obis made a bewildering and brilliant picture. At intervals
booths had been erected, decorated with lanterns, where refreshments were
sold, and nearby a roving band of musicians and dancers were entertaining
the crowd.

The mistake Billie made was to attempt to take the car through the
crowded road where apparently there were only pedestrians and jinrikshas.
But Komatsu had not objected and since they had been accustomed to take
the "Comet" wherever there was a navigable road, they pushed innocently
on. As for the populace celebrating the cherry blossom festival, they
evidently regarded the sight of a young woman driving a red devil-wagon
as something just short of miraculous. Slowly and at a dignified pace the
motor car moved along the avenue, and suddenly like a bolt from the blue
two things happened.

A little boy escaped from his sister's hand and ran across the road.
Billie reversed the lever just as the child fell under the wheels. At the
same instant a tire on a rear wheel exploded with a loud report.

Miss Campbell groaned and hid her face in her hands.

Instantly they were surrounded by a mob of angry people.




CHAPTER VII.