THE scene around had changed during the half-hour. Angry looking clouds were coming up on all sides, and heavy drops of rain were falling.
"What shall we do?" cried Ben. "Your coach has been stolen, Kit. What will they say at home? Oh dear-dear! Some tramps have got it. We must follow on, and perhaps we'll overtake it.”
"I don't like the lightning, Ben," cried Kit.
"And this rain will soak you through; keep close up to the hedge a few minutes, while I wrap you in the shawl. It's a good thing I took that with us.”
He wrapped Kit up as warmly as possible, and made her sit down behind him while he kept the rain off her as best he could. Tears of vexation rolled down his cheeks as he thought, "things seem to be all going wrong," and he absently put his hands in his pockets. Doing so, he laid hold of the two little texts Miss Randolph had given him-"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to-day, and forever" (Heb. 13:88Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8)). Her words occurred to his mind-Yesterday means long ago when He died on the cross for us and put away our sin; To-day means now while He helps us along the narrow path; and Forever, when we will be with Him safe in heaven.
"All right," thought Ben, "if Jesus keeps the same, He won't forget us, but He'll help us safe through all this trouble we've got into. There's another flash, Kit! We mustn't stay here, it is not safe; I heard father say people were struck dead under trees and such like when the lightning flashes. What was that! It sounded like someone crying out? Listen." But a peal of thunder drowned every other sound. "I suppose it was only my fancy. Now Kit, stand on that old tree-that's it, and put your arms round my neck, and I'll sling the shawl right over your head and bind you on my back, and run away home as fast as I can, then I'll come back and look after the 'coach.'”
Kit did as she was told, and with his precious burden on his back, Ben ran as fast as he could down the hill. The rain pelted upon them, and the little boy panted for breath, but he struggled on till the little red cottage came in sight.
"We must try and get in here," he gasped, and upon reaching the door, he rapped.
A woman past middle age opened the door, and looked greatly surprised at seeing Ben with the little girl's head peeping out above his shoulders.
"Please let us in; the gentleman who walks in the woods to keep the public off, told us to come here till the thunder was over," cried Ben.
The woman drew the children inside the door, and asked them to walk in and dry themselves at the kitchen fire, while they told her what had happened.
She had a sweet sad face, with gray banded hair, and though her dress was very plain, almost poor, yet it was very neat. A younger woman, with a baby in her arms, stood by the fire.
"It's an awful storm for such little children to be out in. Tell us all about it, my lad, and how you met our Michael!" said the elder woman, lifting Kit on her knee.
Thus encouraged, Ben began at the beginning and told all about the excursion, the bird's nest, the meeting with Michael, and the loss of the "coach.”
The women were loud in their sympathy, and said it was a strange thing that it should be stolen so quickly.
"Directly I've taken little Kit home, I shall run and have another look round just in case someone has moved it and it is still somewhere about," said Ben.
"Yes, it would be worth while to do that," she answered.
While they were speaking, the sound of a hollow cough was heard in the next room, and a feeble voice asked-
"Who is that?”
"That's John," said the elder woman, rising and going toward the next room.
"Who is John? your little boy?" asked Ben.
"He was my little boy once, he's a big boy now, and he's very ill, but that would be nothing if I knew he was happy." She turned in a minute, saying, "John wants to see you children; he has always been fond of children." Mrs. Craig lifted Kit into the next room, and Ben followed.
The sick man lay on a little bed in one corner; everything around was comfortable and neat, and a few flowers stood beside him in a tumbler of water. His face was sallow and sunken, and his dark hair, which was long and straight, was brushed off his forehead; but he had a pleasant, kindly smile, and he greeted the children warmly.
"I was always fond of little children," he said, shaking his head from side to side, and speaking with difficulty, for his breath was short and troublesome. "The Lord said 'except ye become as little children.' I wish I could do that." He went on to speak to them as well as he was able, asking them how they were caught in the storm, and so on.
"They met Michael," said the mother, "and he sent them here. Michael has a kind heart though he speaks sternly when on duty.”
Ben was standing by the window, and now and then casting anxious glances out at the storm, which seemed to be subsiding. Suddenly he ran towards the door crying, "There's father passing.”
And so it was; Mr. Gray, with rapid strides, was passing up the hill, and heeding little the rain and storm.
"Call him in, he is looking for you, no doubt," said Mrs. Craig, and Ben ran out and brought him in. He, in his turn, was surprised, and very thankful to find the children safe.
Ben's heart beat very quick at the thought of the perambulator, and he anxiously waited the moment when he should speak of it. Meanwhile, Mr. Gray, after hearing about the children, was having a little talk with the mother, who was telling him about her sick son.