There was sudden confusion.  Nobody wanted to be out in the storm, and to avoid it seemed a difficult problem.  Hastily the ladies caught up their scarfs and bags, and set off upon a scattering flight through the woods to the shore, those who were nearest or first ready not stopping to wait for the others.  Quickly the luncheon ground was deserted; fast the blue and white flutter of muslins disappeared in the enveloping woods; hastily the remainder of the packing went on to get the hampers again in readiness to move.  In the midst of all this, who was to carry Daisy’s chair?

“You say there is a house somewhere on the way,” said Mr. Randolph to the doctor.  “If you will go forward with Daisy at once, I will stay to look after those children in the boat.  They are coming now as fast as they can.”

“Can you carry my gun?”

“Certainly.  Doctor, I will take that office, if you will stay behind till the boat gets to land.”

“Thank you—­it is better arranged the other way.  The storm will be upon us before the ladies get to the shore, I fear.”

“Then they had better take the other route.”

Mr. Randolph in haste despatched one of the men to recall the fleeing members of the party, and bring them, round by the other road to the house.  But before that, the doctor had put Daisy in her chair, and with Logan at the other end of it had set off to reach shelter.  It grew very dark; and it was sultrily still in the woods.  Not a leaf trembled on its stem.  The steps of the two chair-bearers sounded ominously in the entire hush of everything.  The gloom still deepened.  The doctor and Logan with swift, steady strides carried the chair along at a goodly rate; not as it had come in the morning.  In the midst of this, and after it had gone on some time in silence, Daisy twisted herself round to look at the doctor and give him a smile.

“You do not seem concerned, Daisy, in the view of getting wet?”

“Why no,” said Daisy twisting round, again, “it is nice.  I am only sorry for the people who are so frightened.”

“What is nice? getting wet?”

“O no,” said Daisy.  “Maybe I shall not get wet—­you go so fast.”

But at this moment there came a nearer growl of thunder, and the leaves in the tops of the trees rustled as if a breath had passed over them.  Then were still.

“Can you mend your pace, Logan?” said the doctor.

“Ay, sir!”—­came in the deep, cheery utterance of Logan’s Scotch voice.

“Hold fast, Daisy”—­said the doctor; and the two chair-bearers changed their pace for a swinging trot.  It was needful to hold on now indeed, for this gait jolted the chair a good deal; but it got over the ground, and Daisy found it excessively amusing.  They passed the thick-standing tree stems in quick succession now; the rocks uprising from the side of the path were left behind one after another; they reached the sharp bend in the road;