I feel right now all I want is
sleep and lots of it."

He nodded understandingly and just then the car drove up beside the
truck and they jumped down and entered it.

Henry Thorne took the wheel while his wife and the girls made themselves
comfortable in the back seat. Mrs Thorne very wisely made no effort to
ask them about the events of the night, but tucked them in with blankets
and before the car had gone half a mile both girls were sound asleep.

The next thing Janet knew someone was shaking her shoulder. It was Mrs.
Thorne.

"We're home and you can be in bed in five minutes," she said. Janet
rubbed a little of the sleep from her tired eyes--just enough so she
could see to get into the house.

Helen, walking ahead of her, moaned now at every step, for her feet had
been badly bruised by the stones.

Mrs. Thorne hurried ahead to run a tub of hot water while her husband
drove the car around to the garage. With Mrs. Thorne helping them, the
girls were soon in fresh pajamas.

Janet decided on a warm shower and Helen followed her under the spray.
Then Mrs. Thorne treated the bruises on Helen's feet and both girls
piled into bed.

"Sleep as long as you want to," she said as she snapped off the light.

Janet didn't even hear the click of the switch. She dropped into a deep
slumber, one so heavy that there were no dreams of fires and storms.

When she finally awoke it was broad daylight. Fresh, sweet air filled
their room. There was no smell of smoke, no threat of storm, and she
wondered, for a moment, if she could have been dreaming about the night
before. It was just possible that it had been a nightmare. Then she
stretched and the aching muscles of her legs told her that indeed it had
not been a nightmare.

Janet looked over to Helen's bed. Her friend was still sleeping heavily
so Janet slipped out of bed quietly, donned her dressing gown, and went
down to the bathroom.

Mrs. Thorne heard her moving about and looked in for a minute.

"We telephoned your folks last night," she said. "They'd heard the radio
broadcast and were greatly relieved when we told them both of you were
safe."

"Oh, thanks so much. I was so sleepy I forgot all about it," confessed
Janet.

"Helen getting up?" asked Mrs. Thorne.

"No, she's sleeping soundly."

"Then come in to lunch without going back to dress," said Helen's
mother.

"You mean breakfast?" asked Janet.

Mrs. Thorne smiled. "No, I mean lunch, and a very late lu