Betty had just jumped upon the running board in a wild attempt to drag
her chum from the car when suddenly help came to them from an
unexpected quarter.

An elderly man came running from the woods, evidently attracted by
their excited cries. He gave one look at the toppling tree, even now
tearing itself loose from the impeding branches, another at the
machine with the two girls still in it, and then, with a speed and
decision which seemed to belie his age, went to the rescue.

"Come-- help me push!" he cried to Amy and Grace, who were still
standing dumbly in the middle of the road. A moment later he had
thrown himself with all his might against the machine, striving to
push it out of the path of the falling tree.

In an instant of time the girls had added their strength to his and
the automobile was moving slowly down the road. Luckily the car was on
a down grade or they never could have managed it. As it was, there was
just time to got out of the way when the great tree came crashing
down, its outermost branches just brushing Amy's skirt. The giant had
fallen on the very spot where the car had been only a moment before!

"Girls," breathed Betty, with a shaky little attempt at a laugh, "I
guess we've never in our lives been nearer death than we were just
then."

And while the girls are marveling at their almost miraculous escape
from a terrible death, time will be taken to introduce the Outdoor
Girls to those readers who have not yet met them and also to review