Page:Barbour--Peggy in the rain.djvu/19

 condition to that of a drowned rat, when, above the hissing clamor of the rain, he heard a cry. He stopped, shielded his eyes and looked about. At a little distance from the path was a big magnolia, and under it stood the horse with the three white stockings. His first glance failed to detect the girl, but a flash of light flooded the scene the next instant and Gordon caught sight of a figure huddled against the bole of the tree, of a white, frightened face, of a wet, gloved hand holding tightly to the bridle reins. He brushed through the dripping underbrush that caught and tripped him and hurried to the shelter of the tree. The horse, plainly nervous, whinnied at his approach. The girl summoned a smile to her pale face. She had been crouching on the ground, but now she stood up, steadying herself against the tree, her knees trembling under her.

"Would you mind—staying here?" she asked. "I'm so awfully afraid! I" A clap of thunder drowned her voice. Gordon smiled and nodded reassuringly, leaned his gun against the tree, and took the reins from her clenched hand.