"Under a tree is the very worst place to be in a thunderstorm,"
said Stella, lifting her white, little face, and staring at the
girls with big, scared eyes.

Just then another terrible crash and flash made them all grasp
each other again, and then, without further restraint, they all
cried together.

The storm increased. The winds simply raged, and though the old
maple-trees were too sturdy to shake much, yet the little house
swayed some, and all about could be heard the cracking and
snapping of branches.

"I think--" began Molly, but even as she spoke there came the
loudest crash of all. It was the splitting of the heavens, and
with it came a fierce, sudden flash of flame that blinded them
all.

The girls fell apart from one another through the mere shock, and
when Molly and Midge dazedly opened their eyes, they saw Stella
crumpled in a little heap on the floor.




CHAPTER XVI

FIRECRACKERS