"Oh, I can't! I durstn't!" cried Osric. "Elsie, do come back! Only wait till morning, and I will tell him."
Osric cried and pleaded, but in vain. Elsie had had enough of concealments, and she felt how much might depend on the little boy's having timely assistance. She went down to her father's room and told him the story. Mr. Dennison came up and questioned Osric himself, and felt convinced that Elsie's suspicions were correct, and that Christopher had been left in the vault.
As soon as the storm abated, he harnessed his horse, drove down to the village as fast as possible, and seeing a light in Jeduthun's cottage, he went straight to his door, and arrived there just as Jeduthun and Kissy came out.
"There!" said Jeduthun, as soon as he heard the story. "Kissy, she waked me up half an hour ago. She felt it for 'sure and certain' that Christopher was in there, and started me out to see."
"How shall we get in?" asked Mr. Dennison.
Jeduthun explained that he had a key which would unlock the vault.
"You'd better hitch the horse under the shed," said he. "That road always washes badly with such a heavy rain, and we shall get on faster a-foot."
"Seeing you've got company, I'll stay at home and have everything ready," said Kissy. "You had better bring him right here the first thing. I'm as sure you will find him, as if I see him this minute."
Three or four minutes brought the two men to the door of the vault. Jeduthun unlocked it without difficulty, and entered, holding up his lantern. The next moment he uttered a suppressed exclamation:
"Here he is, sure enough! Softly, squire! 'Twon't do to wake him too sudden. See how he lies, poor lamb! Tired himself out worrying and crying, I suppose."