Just then, with a shriek and a wail, a gust of wind arose, and hurled against the window a branch wrenched from a tree. It came with such terrifying force as to shiver the glass, and almost simultaneously came a vivid flash of lightning and a terrific crash of thunder. Lettice, stunned and frightened, staggered against the wall and slid helplessly to the floor, affected by the lightning which had struck a tree near by. In an instant Mr. Baldwin was by her side. He lifted her head to his shoulder, murmuring, “My love, my darling, are you hurt?” She raised her head, half dazed, and looked at him without speaking; then her head dropped heavily on his shoulder again, and he held her thus, till in a few moments this sudden dash of the storm had abated. Then both rose to their feet. “I wonder where William is?” Lettice said faintly, and suddenly feeling shy. “He--” She did not finish her sentence, for her brother entered the room. “I’ve been out,” he said, shaking the drops from his hat. “I went first to the Ingles and heard some news there, and then I thought I would look around a little for myself.” “In all this fearful gale?” Lettice said. “Yes, I knew there would be little danger from the redcoats while this storm lasted. Fires are smoldering in every direction. That explosion we heard was caused by the throwing of a lighted torch into an old well where part of our powder was secreted. Twenty-five Britishers were hurled into eternity by the explosion, and many were badly wounded. I think this experience, on the whole, has been too much for Cockburn, for I was told that he is getting ready to leave.” “Oh, I am glad!” said Lettice. “Did none of those flying boards hit you?” “No, I managed to dodge them, and I didn’t go very far. I see you have had an accident here. We must stop up that window; the rain is pouring in.” “Yes.” Lettice looked down, and the color which had left her cheeks came slowly back again. “Miss Lettice narrowly escaped being struck by lightning,” Mr. Baldwin said unsteadily. “She was sitting near the window when that tree there was struck, and she was stunned. A heavy branch torn from the tree did the damage to the window.” “And you were not hurt, Lettice? You are sure?” Her brother looked alarmed. “No, I think not. I felt dazed, and my head still feels queer, but I was only a little stunned, I think. I am beginning to feel all right again.” “The wind is dying down, though it is still raining hard. I think the worst of the storm is over.”