The Treasure of Netherstrand

Chapter 32

Forgetting about manners and forgetting that Tim was supposed to keep out of the customers' sight, the two made a dash for the main staircase. They sped down the passage. But as they turned to fly downstairs, they nearly crashed into someone who was climbing up. Timothy stopped and dodged just in time to miss him.

"Gracious me!" Bently exclaimed. "Where on earth are you off to?"

Timothy paused, laughing breathlessly. Gracie blushed in surprise and embarrassment.

"Sorry for almost knockin' ya off yer feet!" the boy finally wheezed. "We're off t' see the well!"

"The well?" the man laughed in amusement.

Timothy was off again like a shot, dragging Grace behind him.

"Please do forgive us, Mr. Bently!" the girl called over her shoulder. The man's joyous laughter was a reassuring sound. It was clear that he hadn't taken offense.

In a minute more, the two ran outside and were trotting down the garden path. It was turning into a beautiful day. The rain had stopped, and all of the plants were dancing in a gentle breeze. Tim led his friend straight to the special walled garden where the well sat full of rain water.

Gracie stumbled to a halt and leaned against the well's stone rim, laughing and trying to catch her breath. "Tim, what are we doing here?" she asked. "You haven't told me a thing yet!"

In an excited squeal, the little boy started to explain, hopping up and down as he talked. "It's just like this, Gracie," he began. "Ya see, I've been a-finkin' a good deal 'bout that poem we found in the old prison cell! An' t'day, I fink I know just what it's sayin'. Lady Denzell was tellin' the story in the Bible 'bout the woman who met Jesus at the well! I 'eard that story just this mornin'. An' suddenly, I knew that if the clue was t' be anywhere, it 'ad t' be 'ere 'cause this is the only well Netherstrand's got!"

Grace's heart bounded with excitement. Immediately, the two began searching the well. They pushed back the vines that were climbing up its rocky walls, and they peeled away bits of moss just in case there were engraved letters beneath it. When all of that failed, Tim leaned over the edge of the well. The water was darkly shadowed on that cloudy day. But after staring for several minutes, he saw something that made him perk up with hope. Each time the clouds moved apart and the sun chanced to shine, something deep in the water gleamed.

"Gracie, look!" he gasped. "D'ya s'pose there's somefing down there?"

The girl's eyes widened as she looked in. "Yes! I think there is!" she exclaimed joyously. "It looks like something metal!"

She rolled up her frilly sleeve and reached her arm down as far as it would go, but she couldn't even touch the water's surface. "It is so deep!" she complained.

Tim thought for a moment, but he could find only one conclusion. "Well, there's nuffin' for it. We've gotta pull it out. An' there's just one way t' do that!"

Gracie looked at him in surprise. He was peeling off his little brown jacket and slipping off his shoes.

"Timothy!" she gasped. "You can't mean to go diving for it, can you? What if you drown?"

The boy laughed. "I don't reckon we gotta worry 'bout that. I can swim like a fish! A sailor taught me 'ow once!" He couldn't be dissuaded. With unharnessed bravery, he scrambled up onto the edge of the well, took a deep breath, and dropped in with a splash.