The Treasure of Netherstrand

Chapter 49

By the time Hannover and Arthur reached higher ground, all of the other people had scattered and run to find shelter.

Please let my sister be safe! Arthur thought in prayer. He had told his servants to find a refuge for themselves and her. But having Grace a minute out of his sight made him feel unbearably anxious. Where was she now? Was she alright?

It was a long horrible walk. But at last, they saw the gleam of lighted windowpanes, and a scene of distant cottages gave them hope. With as much speed as they could muster, they pressed on to the first house's doorstep and gave a quick knock on the door. A woman opened it a crack and looked out. Her brow was wrinkled with worried lines. "No, no! Ye can't come in 'ere! I'm sorry, but I 'aven't any more room!" she exclaimed. "I tell you, not one more person can fit in this 'owze! There's fifteen in 'ere already! I'm sorry! Really I am!"

Arthur stopped the door from slamming shut. "Is there a young lady here named Grace Lansbury?" he asked. "She is eleven years old with blonde hair and blue eyes, and she would have come with two servants: a man named Gregory Johnson, and a woman named Linda Shore."

"Not a soul by those names or descriptions 'ere, sir," the woman answered. "Good luck to you, jin'lemen! Try George Hill's 'owse; it's straight ahead, an' it's larger than mine!"

The three hurried on, but George Hill's house was so full that the man could hardly get his door open. The next house after that was in the same condition. At every door, Arthur asked whether his little sister and his servants were within, but each time the answer was "no".

Hannover felt so strange. He had been through times of poverty in the past. He had endured hardships and hunger. But never in his life had he found himself in such dire need. He had never thought that he would be homeless for a night and begging for someone to take pity on him. It made him think about all of the times he had ignored the poor and sent them away from his house empty-handed. He determined within himself that he would never do it again. Whether rich or poor, he would share what he had even if he had to give his last piece of bread to save a beggar from starvation.

"If my inn was not quite so far away, we could have spent the night there!" he yearned. But it would have taken close to an hour to reach that refuge on foot. He knew none of them could endure that long. He and Arthur were running out of energy, and he could feel Timothy shaking with chills. He clasped the boy closer and prayed earnestly for a shelter.

As they moved on, something loomed out of the shadows ahead of them. It took a moment before Hannover and Arthur could tell that it was a young man, tall and thin. The figure was sprinting through the rain, but instead of running for shelter, he was hurrying down the road toward them.

"Are you Arthur Lansbury an' Mr. Hannover?" he shouted above the howling wind.

"Yes!" both chimed eagerly.

"A yoong gal sent me t' find you. My mother's 'owse ain't far away. There's still enough room for both o' you. Follow me, sirs!"

The two men obeyed, following the youth as fast as they could. In the darkness, their guide looked like a lithe shadow. He was so tall and yet so narrowly built. Finally, he led them to a tiny house that stood all alone in the dark.

Hannover rejoiced as the door swung open to welcome them. They were met by a tumult of voices and motion. The tiny dwelling was crammed full of people, and a few familiar faces brightened as they saw the newcomers.

"Hannover! Ain't you a welcome sight, old boy!" Rory cheered. "I'll tell ya now, I was right worried we'd never see yer face again!"

Among the chorus of greetings, Hannover recognized Mr. Lory's and Mary's voices, and Arthur heard his own servants rejoicing. The next instant, Grace squeezed through the crowd and threw her arms around Arthur's neck.