"Let's put them all in a tin pan," said Marjorie, "and put the box
on top of them to keep them dry, and then set them all off at
once."

"All right," said Molly, "but I'm afraid Carter will think it's
thunder."

However, it seemed the best plan, and after lighting the end of
the twisted string, the girls ran into the house and shut the
door.

Such a racket as followed! The crackers went off all at once. The
box flew off, and the tin pan tumbled down, and the little veranda
was a sight to behold!

It sounded like Fourth of July, but to the two girls, watching
from the window, there was no effect of celebration.

But their desperate plan succeeded. Carter heard the racket, and
did not mistake it for thunder; but, strangely enough, realized at
once what it was.

"It's them crazy children in their tree-house," he exclaimed; "but
what the mischief do they be settin' off firecrackers for, in the
pouring rain? Howsomever I'll just go and see what's up, for like
as not they've burned their fingers, if so be that they haven't
put their eyes out."

As Carter started from the greenhouse, where he had been working,
the torrents of rain that beat in his face almost made him change