Part 23 (1/2)
The youngsters sprawled flat on the ground just as the beam crashed to the earth behind them. Bewildered, they scrambled up and looked around. Suddenly Henner realized that Nancy had saved their lives.
”Oh, Nancy,” he cried out, ”you kept us from being dead already yet!”
”Thank you! Thank you!” Michael exclaimed.
By this time, several of the workers had left their posts and rushed toward the three. In both English and Pennsylvania Dutch, they commended Nancy for her quick action.
One man separated himself from the group and stepped forward. ”I am Mr. Beiler,” he said. ”I told my son not to come near the building. I thank you for saving him.”
Mr. Beiler added that Nancy was no doubt a stranger in the neighborhood and asked her name. She gave it, then stated her reason for coming to the farm. Mr. Beiler replied that he would be very glad to lend her his carriage.
He promised that he and his sons would repair the broken carriage after the barn-raising was over, and return it to the Glicks the following day.
”You're very kind,” said Nancy gratefully. ”I don't want to interrupt the work here. Could Henner and Michael hitch up the horse?”
As they talked, Nancy noticed a woman coming toward them from the house. When she walked up, Mr. Beiler introduced his wife.
Tears came to the woman's eyes when she learned that Nancy had saved the lives of her youngest boy and of Henner Glick. Smiling at Nancy, she said, ”You are a brave girl. Please let me show my appreciation. In the kitchen we are getting ready a big dinner to serve to the men. I want you and Henner to eat some of it.”
Nancy thanked her and said she must hurry back to Mrs. Glick and the friends she had left on the road. But she did walk to the kitchen with Mrs. Beiler while the boys got the carriage.
Nancy had never seen so much food in one house! It seemed to her that there was enough to feed a small army. On the table were dishes piled high with the traditional ”seven sweets and seven sours,” which the Pennsylvania Dutch housewife serves at meals. At least fifty moon pies were on trays at one side of the kitchen, waiting to be baked. On the floor stood crocks of fasnachts, fried chicken, and pickle relish.
After casting her eye about and introducing several friends who were helping her, Mrs. Beiler picked up a large angel-food cake with whipped-cream frosting.
”Please take this,” Mrs. Beiler requested. ”I will wrap it for you.”
She also insisted upon giving Nancy several pieces of fried chicken, a dozen doughnuts, and a jug of lemonade. At this moment Henner drove up to the door and the food was lifted into the carriage. Nancy thanked Mrs. Beiler once more, then climbed into the wagon, and the young driver turned toward the field over which they had come.
When he and Nancy reached the others, who were beginning to worry, Henner immediately told them about the falling beam. His mother's eyes opened wide and she put an arm around Nancy's shoulders. With a catch in her voice, she said, ”I must admit that I never thought any women were so brave as the Amish. But you have made me see that a girl does not have to be brought up like a pioneer to be courageous and helpful to others.”
Nancy flushed at the compliment. Then she showed the food Mrs. Beiler had sent and everyone stared in astonishment at the huge quant.i.ties. Bess insisted that they take time out to eat, and no one else had to be persuaded. All of it was as delicious as it looked, especially the cake, which Mrs. Glick declared must contain two dozen eggs!
”And the beating of them surely took an hour,” she added.
As soon as they finished eating, they started off once more. This time Mrs. Glick, an experienced driver, took the reins. They kept to the field, crossing several narrow roads. Finally Nancy said that according to GroeszdawdiEsch's directions, they were nearing the old Hoelt farm where the schnitz was.
”Do you think we should leave the horse and buggy and walk the rest of the way?” Mrs. Glick asked Nancy.
After a moment's thought Nancy said that if Roger Hoelt were on the property he probably had it guarded and already knew they were coming. ”I doubt that it would do any good to try hiding the horse and carriage,” she said. ”And if he isn't there, it will be better to have them with us. We may as well drive right up to the place.”
They went on. Skirting a small woods, the searchers suddenly came upon a long, low, dilapidated wooden building. Mrs. Glick reined in the horse and stopped.
”This must be the old apple storehouse,” she commented.
The others gazed at it. There was no sign of activity around the building, but they had an uneasy feeling that someone might be hiding inside. They all wondered if this was the place where the stolen furniture was stored.
”We'll start our search,” Nancy announced. ”I suggest that we divide forces. Bess and George, suppose you go in one direction and the Glicks and I will take another.”
Bess did not like to see the group split up, but finally agreed that it was the most practical plan.