Circus of Adventure, The - Enid Blyton

8/12/2019 Circus of Adventure, The - Enid Blyton

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Enid Blyton

The Circus of Adventure

Chapter 1

HOME FROM SCHOOL

THEquiet house was quiet no loner! The four children were "ac# fro$ "oardin%school& and were

even now drain in their trun#s& shoutin to one another' (i#i the )arrot *oined in the eneral

e+cite$ent& of course& and screeched loudly'

,Aunt Allie! -e.re "ac#!. yelled /ac#' ,Be quiet& (i#i! 0 can.t hear $yself shout!.

,Mother! -here are you1. called 2inah' ,-e.re ho$e aain!.

Her $other a))eared in a hurry& s$iles all over her face' ,2inah! 3hili)! 0 didn.t e+)ect you

quite so soon' -ell& Lucy%Ann& you.ve rown! And 3hili)& you loo# "urstin with health!.

,0 don.t #now why&. rinned 3hili)& ivin Mrs' Cunninha$ a "i hu' ,The food at school is sofrihtful 0 never eat any of it!.

,Sa$e old story!. said Mrs' Cunninha$& lauhin' ,Hallo& (i#i! Say how do you do!.

,How do you do1. said the )arrot& sole$nly& and held out her left foot as if to sha#e hands'

,4ew tric#&. said /ac#' ,But wron foot& old thin' 2on.t you #now your left fro$ your riht

yet1.

,Left& riht& left& riht& left& riht&. said (i#i at once& and "ean $ar#in ti$e re$ar#a"ly well'

,Left& riht& left ' ' '.

,That.s enouh&. said /ac#' He turned to Mrs' Cunninha$' ,How.s Bill1 0s he here& too1.

,He $eant to "e here to welco$e you all&. said Mrs' Cunninha$& Bill.s wife' ,But he had a

sudden ,)hone call this $ornin& too# the car& and went racin off to London all in a hurry'.

The four children roaned' ,0t isn.t so$e *o" that.s turned u) *ust as we.re ho$e for the Easterhols& is it1. said Lucy%Ann' ,Bill.s always ot so$e secret wor# to do *ust at the wron ti$e!.

,-ell& 0 ho)e it isn.t&. said Mrs' Cunninha$' ,0.$ e+)ectin hi$ to tele)hone at any $o$ent to

say if he.s oin to "e "ac# toniht or not'.

,Mother! Shall we un)ac# down here and ta#e our thins u) straiht away1. called 2inah' ,Four

trun#s lyin a"out the hall leave no roo$ to $ove'.

,5es' But leave two of the trun#s downstairs when they.re e$)ty&. said her $other' ,-e.re oin

off on a holiday to$orrow& all of us toether!.

This was news to the children' They clustered round Mrs' Cunninha$ at once' ,5ou never said

a word in your letters! -here are we oin1 -hy didn.t you tell us "efore1.

,-ell& it was really Bill.s idea& not $ine&. said Mrs' Cunninha$' ,He *ust thouht it would $a#e

a nice chane' 0 was sur)rised $yself when he arraned it'.

,Arraned it! And never said a word to us!. said 3hili)' ,0 say6is anythin u)1 0t see$s funny

that Bill did it all of a sudden' Last ti$e 0 saw hi$& when he ca$e down to school to see us& he was

tal#in a"out what we.d all do at homein the four wee#s. Easter hols'.

,0 don.t really thin# there.s anythinpeculiara"out it&. said his $other' ,Bill ets these sudden

ideas& you #now'.

,-ell6where are we all oin to& then1. as#ed /ac#& )ushin (i#i off the side"oard& where she

was tryin to ta#e the lid off the "iscuit%*ar'

,0t.s a )lace called Little Broc#leton&. said Mrs' Cunninha$' ,7ery quiet' 0n the $iddle of the

country' /ust the #ind of )lace you all li#e' 5ou can $ess a"out in old thins all day lon'.

,LittleBrockleton&. said 3hili)' ,Broc# $eans "ader' 0 wonder if there are "aders there' 0.vealways wanted to study "aders' 8ueer little "ear%li#e "easts'.


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,-ell&you.ll "e ha))y then&. said 2inah' ,0 su))ose that $eans you.ll "e #ee)in a cou)le of

"aders for )ets "efore we #now where we are! 9h!.

,Baders are very nice ani$als&. "ean 3hili)' ,Clean and $ost )articular in their ha"its&

and ' ' '.

Lucy%Ann ave a little squeal of lauhter' ,Oh dear6they don.t sound a bit li#e you then&

3hili)!.,2on.t interru)t li#e that and don.t $a#e silly re$ar#s&. said 3hili)' ,0 was sayin& a"out

"aders ' ' '.

But no"ody wanted to listen' /ac# had a question he wanted to as#' ,Are there any decent "irds

round a"out Little Broc#leton1. he said' ,-here isit1 By the sea1.

/ac# was as $ad as ever a"out "irds' So lon as he could do "ird%watchin of so$e #ind he was

ha))y' Mrs' Cunninha$ lauhed at hi$'

,5ou and your "irds& /ac#& and 3hili) and his "aders! 0 can.t tell you anythin a"out the "irds

there6the sa$e ones as usual& 0 su))ose' 4ow6what a"out these trun#s1 -e.ll un)ac# the lot:

ta#e the "oys. trun#s u)stairs& and leave the irls. to ta#e with us to Little Broc#leton6they are not

quiteso hard%used as yours!.

,Can we have so$ethin to eat after we.ve un)ac#ed1. as#ed 3hili)' ,0.$ fa$ished' The schoolfood& you #now& is so ' ' '.

,5es60.ve heard all that "efore& 3hili)&. said his $other' ,5ou.ll have a fine lunch in half an

hour6yes& your favourite6cold $eat& salad& "a#ed "eans in to$ato sauce& )otatoes in their *ac#ets&

hea)s of to$atoes' ' ' '.

,Oh& ood!. said everyone at once& and (i#i ho))ed sole$nly fro$ one le to another'

,;ood!. she said' ,;ood! ;ood $ornin& ood niht& ood!.

The un)ac#in "ean' ,(i#i was dreadful in the train ho$e&. said /ac#& strulin with an ar$ful

of clothes& and dro))in half of the$' ,She ot under the carriae seat to )ic# over so$e old toffee

)a)ers there& and such a nice old $an ot in' (i#i stuffed the toffee )a)ers into the turn%u) of his

trousers6you should *ust have seen his face when he "ent down and saw the$!.

,And then she "ean to "ar# li#e a do&. said Lucy%Ann& with a ile& ,and the )oor old $an

lea)t off his seat as if he.d "een shot'.

,Ban%"an&. )ut in (i#i' ,3o)%)o)' 3o) oes the weasel' -i)e your feet and shut the door'.

,Oh& (i#i! 0t.s nice to have you aain with your silly tal#&. said Mrs' Cunninha$& lauhin'

(i#i )ut u) her crest and sidled over to her' She ru""ed her head aainst Mrs' Cunninha$.s hand

li#e a cat'

,0 always e+)ect you to )urr& (i#i& when you do that&. said Mrs' Cunninha$& scratchin the

)arrot.s head'

The un)ac#in was soon done' 0t was very si$)le really' 2irty clothes were )itched into the

enor$ous linen%"as#et& the rest were )itched into drawers'

,Can.t thin# why )eo)le ever $a#e a fuss a"out )ac#in or un)ac#in&. said /ac#' ,(i#i& ta#eyour head out of $y )oc#et' -hat.s this sudden cra


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,-hat.s he say1. as#ed Lucy%Ann' ,0s he co$in soon1 0 do ,want to see hi$'.

,5es& he.s co$in this evenin& a"out half%)ast five&. said Mrs' Cunninha$' The four children

didn.t thin# she loo#ed very )leased' She o)ened her $outh to say so$ethin& hesitated& and then

closed it aain'

,Mother& what was it you said you.d e+)lain1. said 3hili) at once' ,-e heard you say& =5es& 0.ll

e+)lain>' -as it so$ethin you had to tell us1 -hat is it1.,2on.t say it.s anythin horrid&. said Lucy%Ann' ,Bill isco$in away with us& isn.t he1.

,Oh yes&. said Mrs' Cunninha$' ,-ell60 ho)e you won.t $ind& $y dears6"ut he "adly wants

us to ta#e so$eone else with us'.

,-ho1. as#ed everyone at once& and they all loo#ed so fierce that Mrs' Cunninha$ was quite

sur)rised'

,4ot his old aunt1. said 2inah' ,Oh& Mother& don.t say it.s so$eone we.ve ot to "e on our "est

"ehaviour with all the ti$e'.

,4o& of course not&. said her $other' ,0t.s a s$all "oy6the ne)hew of a friend of Bill.s'.

,2o we #now hi$1 -hat.s his na$e1. as#ed /ac#'

,Bill didn.t tell $e his na$e&. said Mrs' Cunninha$'

,-hy can.t he o to his own ho$e for the holidays1. as#ed 2inah in disust' ,0 don.t li#e s$all"oys' -hy should wehave to have hi$1 He.ll )ro"a"ly s)oil everythin for us!.

,Oh no he won.t&. said 3hili)& at once' ,S$all "oys have to toe the line with us& don.t they& /ac#1

-e et enouh of the$ and their fatheadedness at school6we#now how to deal with the$ all

riht'.

,5es& "ut why has he ot to co$e to us1. )ersisted 2inah' ,Hasn.t he ot a ho$e1.

,Oh yes6"ut he.s a foreiner&. said her $other' ,He.s "een sent to school in Enland to have a

ood Enlish education' 0 should i$aine his fa$ily want hi$ to have a few wee#s in a British

fa$ily now& and e+)erience a little of our ho$e%life' Also& 0 ather& there is so$e difficulty at his

ho$e at the $o$ent6illness& 0 should thin#'.

,Oh well6we.ll have to $a#e the "est of it&. said Lucy%Ann& )icturin a very little& ho$esic#

"oy& and thin#in that she would co$fort hi$ and $a#e a fuss of hi$'

,-e.ll )ar# hi$ with you& then& Lucy%Ann&. said 2inah& who didn.t li#e s$all "oys at all& or

s$all irls either' ,5ou can wheel hi$ a"out in a )ra$ and )ut hi$ to "ed at niht!.

,2on.t "e silly& 2inah' He won.t "e as s$all as that!. said her $other' ,4ow6have you finished1

0t.s al$ost lunch%ti$e& so o and wash your hands& and "rush your hair'.

,-ash your hands& "rush your hair& wi)e your feet& "low your nose&. shouted (i#i' ,Brush your

hands& "low your feet& wi)e your6your6your ' ' '.

,5es6you.ve ot a "it $uddled& old thin&. said /ac#& with a lauh' (i#i flew to his shoulder&

and "ean to )ull at /ac#.s ear lovinly' Then& as she heard the sound of the on suddenly

"oo$in out& she ave a loud screech and flew into the dinin%roo$' She #new what thatsound

$eant!,/ac#! (i#i will )ec# all the to$atoes if you don.t #ee) an eye on her&. called Mrs' Cunninha$'

,;o after her& quic#ly!.

But there was no need to say that6everyone had rushed to the dinin%roo$ at the first sound of

the on!

Chapter 2

ARR07AL OF ;9STA79S

THEafternoon was s)ent in loo#in all over the house to see if any chanes had "een $ade& and in

e+)lorin the arden fro$ end to end to see what flowers were out& what edi"le thins there were?only lettuces& alas!@ and to introduce (i#i to si+ new hens'


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,There.s a new car)et in the uest%roo$&. said Lucy%Ann' ,But that.s all the chanes there are'

0.$ lad' 0 don.t li#e to co$e ho$e and find anythin chaned' 0 su))ose this s$all "oy will slee)

in the uest%roo$& Aunt Allie1.

,5es&. said Mrs' Cunninha$' ,0.$ ettin it ready in a $inute or two' ;o and *oin the others in

the arden' 5ou can )ic# a few daffodils& if you li#e6we want so$e in the hall'.

Lucy%Ann wandered off ha))ily' The very first day of the holidays was always heavenly' All thefirst few days went slowly& and the thouht of days and days ,of holiday ahead was one to dwell on

contentedly al$ost every $inute'

,Lucy%Ann! Co$e here! (i#i.s havin the ti$e of her life!. called /ac#' ,Loo# at her showin off

in front of the new hens!.

(i#i was sittin on a )ost in the hen%run' The si+ hens were athered ad$irinly round her'

,Cluc#%cluc#%cluc#&. they said to one another& and one stretched herself on ti)toe and fla))ed her

wins as if tryin to fly' (i#i )ut her head on one side& stretched herself on ti)toe too& s)read her

wins wide and too# off' She sailed down to the sur)rised hens'

,Cluc#%luc#%luc#& urrrrrr#!. she said& earnestly' ,Cluc#%luc#%luc#& urrrrrr#!.

,Cluc#%uc#%uc#& cluc#!. said the hens& in ad$iration& and went nearer' One hen darinly )ec#ed

at one of the )arrot.s tail%feathers'This was insolence! (i#i danced round the alar$ed hens& $a#in a noise li#e an aero)lane in

trou"le' The hens too# to their heels and fled into the hen%house& al$ost tu$"lin over one another

as they tried to squee to hi$ now& 0 "et you she will!.

,Silly%Billy& Billy%Silly!. shouted (i#i' She always loved words that sounded the sa$e' /ac#

ta))ed her on the head'

,4o& (i#i& sto) it' Loo#& here.s a car co$in' 3erha)s it.s Bill.s'.

But it wasn.t' As it went "y& (i#i hooted loudly6)ar)%)ar)%)ar)6e+actly li#e a car'

The driver was astonished' He could see no car in siht' He sounded his horn& thin#in there$ust "e a hidden corner so$ewhere'


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And then Lucy%Ann ave a squeal' ,HeresBill!. she said' ,A "i "lac# car& very slee# and shiny!

Bill& Bill!.

She was riht' 0t wasBill.s car' 0t drew u) at the front ate& and Bill.s *olly face rinned at the$

as he loo#ed out of the window' So$e"ody sat "eside hi$' -as it the "oy1

Bill o)ened the door and lea)t out' The four children )ounced on hi$' ,Bill! ;ood old Bill! How

are you& Bill1.,Silly%Billy!. screeched a voice'

,Ah6ood evenin& (i#i&. said Bill& as the )arrot landed full on his shoulder' ,Still the sa$e

rude old "ird' Aha! 5ou want $e at ho$e to teach you a few $anners!.

(i#i cac#led li#e an e+cited hen' ,4ow then6don.t you lay es down $y nec#!. said Bill'

,-hat are you cac#lin a"out1 -here.s your $other& 2inah1.

,There she is&. said 2inah& as Mrs' Cunninha$ ca$e runnin to the ate' Bill was a"out to call

to her when an e+tre$ely loud couh ca$e fro$ the car6a couh that was $eant to "e noticed'

,Oh60 co$)letely forot for the $o$ent&. said Bill' ,0.ve "rouht a visitor' 2id you tell the$&

Allie1.

,5es& 0 did&. said Mrs' Cunninha$' ,-here is he1 Oh& in the car' Brin hi$ out& Bill'.

,Co$e on out&. said Bill& and in the $idst of a dead silence the owner of the loud couh slid outof the car in as dinified a $anner as he could'

Everyone stared at hi$' He was a"out eleven& and certainly very forein%loo#in' His "lue%"lac#

hair was curly and too lon' His eyes were as "lac# as his hair& and he had thic#er lashes than either

of the irls' And he certainly had $anificent $anners'

He went to Mrs' Cunninha$& and too# the hand she held out to hi$' But instead of sha#in it

he "owed over it and touched it with his li)s' Mrs' Cunninha$ couldn.t hel) s$ilin' The four

children stared in a$use$ent'

,My than#s to you& dear lady&. he said& in a very forein accent'

,That.s all riht&. said Mrs' Cunninha$' ,Have you had any tea1.

But "efore the "oy chose to answer this question he had to $a#e a further dis)lay of $anners'

He went to 2inah& and "efore she #new what he $eant to do& he too# her hand and "ent over it' She

ave a squeal and snatched it away'

,2on.t!. she said' Lucy%Ann )ut her hands fir$ly "ehind her "ac#' She didn.t want the$ #issed

either' -hat an e+traordinary "oy!

,;us& old fellow6we *ust sha#e hands& you #now&. said Bill& tryin to hide his a$use$ent at the

siht of the two irls. indinant faces' ,Er6this is ;ustavus Bar$ilevo& Allie' He will "e with us

for the ne+t few wee#s& as his uncle has as#ed $e to #ee) an eye on hi$'.

;ustavus Bar$ilevo "owed very low& "ut did not atte$)t any $ore hand%#issin' Bill introduced

the rest'

,2inah6Lucy%Ann6/ac#6and 3hili)' 06er6ho)e you.ll soon all "e ood friends'.

The two "oys shoo# hands with ;us& eyein hi$ with $uch disfavour' ;oodness! -ere they to)ut u) with this little foreiner all the holidays1

;us did a funny little "ow each ti$e he shoo# hands' ,3li


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,Fetch the doctor& 3olly.s ot a cold& fetch the doctor&. chanted (i#i& en*oyin herself' The "oy

suddenly realised that it was the )arrot who was tal#in' He forot his ,"liddin. and stared at (i#i

in a$a to death!.

This was a $ost alar$in thouht& and ;us rushed into the house at once' The others followed

slowly' -hat an e+traordinary "oy!

,Bit di))y&. said 2inah in a low voice& and they all nodded' Bill.s voice hailed the$'

,Hey! -hat a"out a s)ot of hel) with the luae1.

,Oh& Bill' Sorry& we weren.t thin#in&. said /ac#& and ran "ac# at once' ,;us rather too# our"reath away' -hat nationality is he1.

,Oh& he.s a "it of a $i+ture& 0 thin#&. said Bill' ,2on.t "other hi$ a"out his fa$ily or his ho$e&

or he.ll )ro"a"ly "urst into tears' Sorry to inflict hi$ on you li#e this' He.ll "e "etter when he.s

sha#en down a "it' 0 "elieve he ot on quite all riht at the Enlish school he was at' Anyway60.ll

ta#e hi$ off your hands as $uch as 0 can& 0 )ro$ise you& as it.s myfriend who as#ed $e to #ee) an

eye on hi$!.

,-e.ll hel)& Bill&. said Lucy%Ann' ,0 e+)ect he.s shy' Oh dear60 was so afraid he.d #iss $y

hand! -hat wouldthe irls at school say1.

,-ell& 0 should hardly thin# they.d #now anythin a"out it&. said Bill' ,5ou ta#e that "a& /ac#6

and you that "o+& 3hili)' -ell6it.s nice to see you all ho$e aain! And (i#i& too& you old rascal'

How dareyou call $e Silly%Billy1.

,3o) oes Billy& )o) oes Billy!. screeched (i#i in deliht& and flew down to his shoulder to

ni""le his ear' ,3o)%)o)%)o)!.

Chapter 3

;9SS5 A42 (0(0

THEREreally wasn.t very $uch ti$e that evenin to et to #now ;ustavus Bar$ilevo' As they were

all oin off aain the ne+t day there was )ac#in to do& and all #inds of aru$ents arose as to what

was or was not to "e ta#en';ustavus was "ewildered "y the noise of so $any )eo)le tal#in at once' He sat starin at the$

all& nursin his "andaed finer' (i#i a"solutely fascinated hi$' He watched her continually& "ut

would not allow her near hi$'

As soon as she ca$e near& he fla))ed his hands at her as if she was a hen' ,;o off!. he cried'

,Clear away!.

,He.s as $uddled as (i#i so$eti$es ets&. said /ac#& with a rin' ,(i#i can.t $a#e hi$ out'

4ow& where did 0 )ut that "oo#1 Aunt Allie& did 0 )ac# that "i "oo#1.

,5ou did&. said Aunt Allie' ,And 0 have un)ac#ed it' For the third ti$e& /ac#& you are 4OT oin

to ta#e a score of "oo#s a"out "irds' Two is $ore than enouh& so $a#e your choice'.

,5ou.re so hard%hearted&. roaned /ac#' ,-ell& 0 su))ose you will allow $e to ta#e $y field%

lasses1 0n fact& if they don.t o& 0 shan.t o either'.


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,5ou can carry those round your nec#&. said Mrs' Cunninha$' ,2o try and re$e$"er that there

will "e seven of us in the car and all the luae& too' -e really $ust ta#e the least luae

)ossi"le' (i#i& "rin that strin "ac#' (0(0! /ac#& if you don.t sto) (i#i runnin off with a"solutely

everythin 0 )ut down for a $o$ent& 0 shall o $ad'.

,-here is the cae1. suddenly de$anded ;ustavus& in a co$$andin voice' ,3ut hi$ in the

cae'.,She.s a her& not a hi$&. said /ac#& ,and sto) tal#in a"out caes' 4o orderin a"out& )lease!.

;ustavus a))arently did not follow this& "ut he resented /ac#.s fir$ voice' He sat u) stiffly'

,This "ird iss6iss6wic#et!. he said' ,4ot ood' -ic#et' 0 will not haf hi$ wi


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and she would "e anry' There was the lawn%$ower6a $ost successful noise& "ut also not very

)o)ular indoors'

And there was quite a variety of couhs6little short hac#in couhs6dee) hollow ones6and

snee


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,0 "et (i#i thin#s the sa$e of you!. said /ac#' ,5ou.re standin in $y way' 5ou.d "etter $ove

unless you want this suit%case "iffin you in the $iddle'.

,E+cuse& )li


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,Let.s )lay a a$e&. said /ac#& seein an aru$ent develo)in' ,-e.ll loo# out for "lac# dos6

white cats6)ie"ald horses6red "icycles6and ice%crea$ vans' The one who is last to reach a

hundred $ust sto) at the ne+t ice%crea$ van and "uy ices for us all!.

This sounded e+citin to ;ussy' He scra$"led u) fro$ the floor at once& and squee


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,;ood racious!. said Bill& sto))in very suddenly indeed' ,;et out of the car& then& quic#! 3ush

hi$ out& 2inah' -hy& oh& why did 0 let hi$ have that ice%crea$1 He told $e yesterday he was

always car%sic#'.

Mrs' Cunninha$ ot out to co$fort )oor ;ussy& who was now reen in the face' ,He would"e

car%sic#!. said 2inah' ,/ust the #ind of thin he.d have6car%sic#ness'.

,He can.t hel) it&. said Lucy%Ann' ,Anyway& it.s all over now' He loo#s fine'.,3li


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,Shut u)&. said Bill& and ;us shut u)'

The others rinned' 0t was nice to see Bill squashin ;ussy' ;ussy was very anry' He lared at

Bill& and see$ed a"out to say so$ethin' But Bill loo#ed across at hi$& and he didn.t say it' Bill

win#ed at the others& and they win#ed "ac#'

,Fussy%;ussy&. re$ar#ed (i#i& fro$ /ac#.s left shoulder' ,2in%don%"ell& ;ussy.s in the well'.

,3ussy.s in the well& not ;ussy&. corrected /ac#' ,Oh& you )est6you.ve na""ed a straw"erry outof the *a$!.

The far$er.s wife too# (i#i in her stride& and was not unduly sur)rised at her& nor annoyed' ,My

old aunt had a )arrot once&. she said' ,One li#e yours here' She didn.t tal# as well as yours thouh'.

,0s she alive1. as#ed /ac#& thin#in that it would "e fun to )ut the two )arrots toether and see

the$ eyein one another' -hat #ind of conversation would they have1

,0s who alive1 My aunt or her )arrot1. as#ed the far$er.s wife& )ourin out cu)s of crea$y $il#'

,The )arrot.s dead' 0t was su))osed to "e over a hundred years old when it died' My old aunt is still

alive& thouh' There she is& sittin "y the fire over in that corner' She.s $y reat%aunt really& and

shell"e $ore than a hundred if she lives another ten years'.

The five children stared in awe at the old wo$an in the corner' She loo#ed rather li#e a witch to

the$& "ut her eyes were faded "lue& instead of reen' She s$iled a di$ s$ile at the$& and then "enther white head to her #nittin aain'

,She.s a real worry so$eti$es&. said the far$er.s wife' ,She wanders round and falls a"out& you

#now' And the doctor.s off on a wee#.s holiday soon& and what 0 shall do if old Aunt 4ao$i falls

and hurts herself then& 0 don.t #now! There.s no neih"ours near "ut you6and you.re a ood "it

away!.

,5ou send a $essae to us if you want us at any ti$e&. said Mrs' Cunninha$ at once' ,0.ll

certainly co$e' 0 a$ quite ood at first%aid and nursin' So don.t worry a"out the doctor oin'

Send a $essae if you want us'.

,Ah& yes60 could do that&. said the far$er.s wife' ,Than# you #indly' 4ow6who wants a "it of

that fruit%ca#e1 0t.s ood& thouh 0 shouldn.t say it& seein that 0 $ade it $yself'.

,0f 0 eat any $ore 0 shan.t "e a"le to $ove a ste)&. said Bill& at last' ,-ill you #indly $a#e u)

your $inds to finish& you #ids1 -e.ll et alon to 8uarry Cottae& and settle in' 2id you $anae to

send a wo$an in to clean u) the )lace for us& Mrs' Ellis1.

,Oh yes&. said the far$er.s wife' ,And she too# es& $il#& a )ie& so$e ho$e%$ade cheese& ha$

and "utter and new "read for you' Oh yes& and a side of "acon' 5ou won.t do too "adly down there!

Co$e alon to $e when you want anythin' 0 ho)e you have a ood& restful holiday'.

They left the cosy far$%house reluctantly' /ac# eyed ;ussy sus)iciously& as they ot into the car'

,5ou loo# a "it reen&. he said' ,Sure you.ll "e all riht in the car1.

,He.ll "e all riht&. said Mrs' Cunninha$& hurriedly' ,0t.s not very far6he.ll "e quiteall riht'.

,-ishful thin#in& Aunt Allie!. said /ac#' ,(i#i.s very quiet' (i#i& youve$ade a )i of yourself

too6a little )i& eatin such a "i tea!.(i#i ave a "i hiccu)' 4o"ody ever #new if her hiccu)s were real or )ut on' Mrs' Cunninha$

always felt quite certain that they were )ut on'

,(i#i!. said /ac#& severely' ,Manners& $anners!.

,3ardon&. said (i#i' ;ussy stared at her in a$a


14/86

The windows were rather s$all& as they always are in old cottaes' The door was stout& $ade of

oa# dar#ened "y the years& and was )rotected "y a s$all )orch& thatched with straw li#e the slo)in

roof of the cottae'

,A thatched cottae6how lovely!. said Lucy%Ann' ,0 don.t #now why& "ut thatched houses

always loo# as if they "elon to fairy%tales& not to real life' 0t.s a dear little )lace'.

They went u) the )ath' Bill had the #ey and unloc#ed the door' 0n they all went& e+clai$in overeverythin'

,0 need hardly re$ind you that this house& and everythin in it& "elons to so$eone else&. said

Mrs' Cunninha$' ,So that we.ll have to "e e+tra careful6"ut as you will )ro"a"ly "e out of doors

$ost of the day you won.t have ti$e to do muchda$ae!.

,-e shouldn.t anyway&. said /ac#' ,4ot with Bill here ready to *u$) on us!.

The cottae was *ust as )retty inside as out& and very cosy and co$forta"le' The three "oys had a

"i attic& the two irls had a s$all "edroo$ over the sittin%roo$& and Bill and his wife had a larer

one ne+t to it'

The larder was full of food! Mrs' Ellis& the far$er.s wife& had certainly re$e$"ered the$

enerously' Mrs' Cunninha$ heaved a sih of relief as she loo#ed at the ha$ and "acon& es and

$il#' House#ee)in was not oin to "e the niht$are she had e+)ected!,5ou two irls un)ac# everythin&. she said' ,-e.ve not "rouht $uch with us& so it won.t ta#e

you lon' Arrane the "oys. thins in the "i chest in their roo$6there.s enouh roo$ for the

clothes of all three there'.

,0 cannot sli) with others&. announced ;ustavus& co$in down the stairs into the hall& where the

irls and Mrs' Cunninha$ were undoin the suit%cases' ,4ever have 0 sli)t with others'.

,-hat are you tal#in a"out1. said 2inah' ,4o"ody wants you to sli)' -hy should you1.

,He $eanssleep&. said Lucy%Ann' ,2on.t you& ;ussy1.

,0t is what 0 said&. said ;ussy' ,0 $ay not sli) with others' At school 0 sli)t "y $yself' Here 0 will

sli) "y $yself also' 0t iss the rule of $y fa$ily'.

,-ell& it isn.t the rule here&. said 2inah' ,;et off those shirts& ;us' And don.t "e an ass' There are

only three "edroo$s& anyway'.

,-hat.s the aru$ent1. said Bill& co$in in after )uttin the car into a shed& and seein ;ussy.s

frownin face'

,0t.s ;us&. said 2inah& )ilin her ar$s full of clothes' ,He.s *ust announced he wants to slee) "y

hi$self' Says it.s the rule of his fa$ily' -ho does he thin# he is1 A )rince'.

;ussy o)ened his $outh to re)ly& and Bill hurriedly interru)ted what he was oin to say' ,;us&

you.ll slee) with the two "oys here' 9nderstand1.

,0 sli) alone&. said ;us& o"stinately' ,4ever have 0 ' ' '.

,There.s a tiny little "o+%roo$ he could have&. said 2inah& suddenly& a lea$ in her eye' ,0 saw it

*ust now& when 0 was u)stairs' He could =sli)> there' 0.$ sure he won.t $ind the do


15/86

The irls went u)stairs' ,Mother.s as $ysterious a"out ;us as Bill is&. said 2inah& crossly' ,0s

there so$e $ystery a"out hi$1 Can he "e a 3rince in disuise& or so$ethin1.

,-hat! A silly little "oy li#e hi$!. said Lucy%Ann& in disust' ,Of CO9RSE not!.

Chapter #MOSTL5 ABO9T ;9SS5

0Twas fun settlin in at 8uarry Cottae' Mrs' Cunninha$ was )leased and ha))y' She hadn.t "een

loo#in forward to a holiday for seven )eo)le& five of the$ children& #nowin that she would have

to do everythin for the$& and that )erha)s the sho))in would "e difficult'

But it was easy' The villae was not too far away& even for wal#in )ur)oses' The far$house

was willin to su))ly a wonderful selection of ood food' Mrs' ;u$)& the tiny little charwo$an&

ca$e every day& and was cheerful and hard%wor#in' She also li#ed children& which was a reat

"lessin'

She didn.t li#e ;ussy& thouh' ,He orders $e a"out& that one&. she co$)lained' ,He even wanted

$e to o u)stairs and fetch his hand#erchief for hi$& Ma$' He.s a little foreiner& isn.t he1 -ell&0.$ not oin to "e ordered a"out "y foreiners& s)ecially not little ni))ers li#e that'.

;ussy was very difficult those first days' He didn.t li#e this and he didn.t li#e that' He

co$)lained if he was iven a crac#ed )late' He a"solutely refused to $a#e his "ed& thouh it was a

rule in the house that everyone should $a#e their own'

,0 do not $a#e "eds&. he announced& in his hauhtiest $anner' ,Mrs' ;u$) shall $a#e $y "ed'.

,Mrs' ;u$) shall not&. said 2inah& fir$ly' ,5ou o and $a#e your own6and for oodness. sa#e

don.t $a#e such a$uss& ;ussy'.

,Fussy%;ussy& Fussy%;ussy!. chanted (i#i& in deliht' ,Fussy%;ussy& Fussy ' ' '.

;us cauht u) a "oo# and flun it at (i#i' The "ird doded easily& sat on the "ac# of a chair and

cac#led with lauhter' ;us was *ust a"out to )ic# u) another "oo# when he found hi$self on his

"ac# on the floor'

2inah had )ut u) with enouh fro$ ;ussy' She had now lost her te$)er& and was showin hi$

how well she could do it! She "aned his head on the floor& and he yelled the )lace down'

Mrs' Cunninha$ ca$e in at once' ,2inah! -hat are you thin#in of1 ;et u) at once' ;o

u)stairs and stay there till 0 co$e to you'.

,He flun a "oo# at (i#i&. )anted 2inah& risin u) red and anry' ;ussy still lay on the floor& and

the tears ran down his chee#s'

,;et u)& ;ussy&. said Mrs' Cunninha$' ,0.$ *ust as cross with you as 0 a$ with 2inah' ;o u)

to your roo$ too& and stay there'.

,5ou cannot order $e&. said ;ussy& with as $uch dinity as he could $anae throuh his tears'

,Send this irl "ac# ho$e' And that wic#et "ird'.,;O TO 5O9R ROOM!. said Mrs' Cunninha$ in such a furious voice that ;ussy lea)t to his

feet& tore u) the stairs& went into his roo$& sla$$ed the door and turned the #ey!

Bill ca$e in' ,0t.s ;ussy aain&. said his wife' ,He.s such a little$athead' 0 ho)e this is oin to

wor# out all riht& Bill' 0 thin# we should have thouht of so$e other idea' The others don.t

understand& you see' Can.t we tell the$1.

,0.ll have a word with ;ussy aain&. said Bill' ,0f he doesn.t co$e to heel 0.ll ta#e hi$ away "y

$yself6"ut 0 thouht it would "e so $uch safer if he was here with all of us'.

He went u)stairs' Mrs' Cunninha$ also went u) to 2inah' Lucy%Ann was with her& arranin

the clothes in the drawers' 2inah was very $utinous'

,0t.s all very well&. she said& when her $other scolded her& ,"ut why should ;ussy s)oil

everythin for us1 He.s always interferin& always orderin us a"out& always wantin the "est ofeverythin for hi$self6and fancy 2AR04; to try and hurt (i#i!.


16/86

,0 understand how you all feel&. said her $other' ,So does Bill' But he.s )ro$ised to #ee) an eye

on ;ussy for the ne+t few wee#s& and he $ust' 0 thin# )erha)s it would "e "est if he too# ;ussy off

so$ewhere& and left us here "y ourselves'.

,Oh& no&. said Lucy%Ann at once' ,4o& Aunt Allie! 5ou.ve $arried hi$& and he "elons to us

now' 3lease don.t let hi$ do that! 2inah&sayso$ethin!.

,-ell60 thouht 0 could)ut u) with ;ussy& rather than have Bill leave us&. said 2inah' ,But6"ut6oh dear& 0 cant)ro$ise not to o for ;ussy' 0 don.t thin# 0.ll "e a"le to sto) $yself! And 0

can.t )ossi"ly let Bill o away either'.

,-ell& stay here "y yourself for an hour and $a#e u) your $ind&. said her $other& losin

)atience' ,Lucy%Ann& co$e downstairs with $e'.

4o"ody told /ac# or 3hili) a"out ;ussy flinin a "oo# at (i#i' (i#i didn.t foret thouh! She

)laued the life out of )oor ;ussy! He never #new when she was under the ta"le ready to twea# his

toes at the end of his sandals' He never #new when she would hide in his "edroo$ and wait for hi$

to co$e u)' Then she would )roduce one of her e+traordinary noises and send hi$ downstairs in a

)anic at to) s)eed!

,-ell& if Bill didn.t )unish hi$6and 0 don.t thin# he did6%ikisdoin it all riht!. said 2inah

to Lucy%Ann' ,Anyway& ;ussy is certainly "etter' 0 wish he wasn.t co$in on the )icnic with ustoday& thouh'.

A )icnic had "een arraned for everyone on Suar%Loaf Hill' 0t was really the na$e that had

attracted the children6Suar%Loaf Hill! -hat a lovely na$e!

They set off toether& Bill and the "oys carryin the food in satchels on their "ac#s' ;us had

$ade a fuss& of course' He see$ed to thin# that it was a reat indinity to carry so$ethin on his

"ac#'

,4ever haf 0 done this "efore&. he )rotested' ,0n $y country it is the6how do you call it16

don#eys who carry for us' -hy do you not haf don#eys1 0 will not "e a don#ey'.

He was )u


17/86

,Be quiet& (i#i&. said /ac#' ,;ussy& don.t #ee) sniffin' 0f you do& you.ll set (i#i off and she.ll

do nothin "ut sniff too'.

,0 do not sniff&. said ;ussy' ,That "ird is wic#et and too clever' 0t should have a cae'.

,Shut u)& ;us&. said Bill& who was now leanin "ac#& en*oyin a )i)e' ,Re$e$"er what 0 said to

you'.

;us a))arently re$e$"ered' He su"sided and lay "ac# and closed his eyes' The others sat andloo#ed at the view' 0t was $arvellous& for they could see a reat way off'

,That.s the villae over there&. said 3hili)& )ointin' ,And there.s the far$%house' And you can

*ust see the to)s of the chi$neys and a "it of one end of the thatched roof "elonin to 8uarry

Cottae' 0n those trees& loo#'.

,And there.s the road we ca$e "y6the $ain road&. said /ac#' ,-here are $y field%lasses1 3ass

the$& 2i' ;osh& 0 can see $iles with these' 0 can see the way the $ain road twists and turns: 0 can

see the traffic on it6loo#in *ust as s$all as the toy cars we used to have& 3hili)' Have a loo#'.

3hili) )ut the lasses to his eyes' They really were $anificent ones' He could see for $iles& *ust

as /ac# had said' ,5es6it.s queer to see the cars and the lorries loo#in li#e toys& oin alon those

ri""ony roads&. said 3hili)' ,4ow6there.s a "lac# car6rather li#e Bill.s' 0.$ oin to watch it and

see how far 0 can follow it'.The others lay "ac#& half aslee)& listenin to 3hili).s voice' The sun was hot now& and they didn.t

feel inclined to o wal#in after such a "i )icnic'

,5es6it.s on the $ain road still&. said 3hili)& starin throuh the lasses' ,There it oes6a ood

s)eed too' /olly ood s)eed' May "e a )olice car& )erha)s'.

,5ou can.t tell a )olice car so far away&. said /ac#' Bill loo#ed u) fro$ his news)a)er' He #new

a lot a"out )olice cars!

,Tell $e its nu$"er and 0.ll tell you if it.s a )olice car&. he said' The "oys lauhed'

,That.s clever of you& Bill&. said /ac#& ,"ut you #now *olly well you.re safe6we can.t )ossi"ly

read the nu$"er at this distance' Still ot the car& 3hili)1.

,Lost it for a "it&. said 3hili)' ,0t.s one "ehind so$e "uildins6no& there it is aain' 0t.s co$e to

cross%roads6it.s& one across' 4ow it.s sto))ed'.

;ussy ave a little snore which (i#i i$$ediately co)ied' 3hili) went on with his car story'

,A $an ot out60 thin# he $ust have one "ac# to loo# at the sin%)ost' He.s ot into the car

aain' 5es& they $issed their way& they.re "ac#in' Ah& 0 thouht so6they.ve turned down the

other road6the road that leads to our villae'.

,5ou.ll tell us it.s at 8uarry Cottae ne+t&. said /ac#& slee)ily' ,5ou.re $a#in all this u) now& I

"et!.

,0.ve lost it aain' 4o& here it co$es&. said 3hili)& )leased' ,5es& it.s oin throuh the villae6

down into the lane' 0t.s sto))ed aain' 0 thin# they.re as#in the way fro$ so$eone6a la"ourer

)ro"a"ly' Can.t see fro$ here' On they o aain6and they.ve turned u) the far$%road! They.re

oin to the far$%house' 3ro"a"ly rich relations of Mrs' Ellis'.Bill )ut down his )a)er a"ru)tly and reached out for the lasses' He focused the$ on the

far$house and saw the car i$$ediately6a "i one& o"viously e+)ensive' He studied it intently for

a $inute and then handed "ac# the lasses without a word'

,2o you #now the car& Bill1. as#ed /ac#& curiously& seein Bill.s e+)ression'

,4o&. said Bill' ,0 don.t' But6it *ust $a#es $e thin# a "it& that.s all' Sorry 0 can.t tell you any

$ore' 0.ll wander u) to the far$%house toniht and as# a few questions6then 0.ll #now a "it $ore!.

Chapter &

A S9R3R0S04; A44O94CEME4T


18/86

3H0L03and /ac# were $ore interested in the car& after Bill.s re$ar#s' They too# it in turns to #ee)

an eye on it& "ut it si$)ly stayed where it was for twenty $inutes& and then went away& ta#in the

sa$e route as it ca$e'

,0t.s one& Bill&. said 3hili)' ,0 e+)ect it was only so$e visitor' 0 say& loo# at ;ussy! His $outh is

wide o)en' Let.s )ut so$ethin into it'.

,Let slee)in don#eys lie!. said /ac#' ,And don.t )ut ideas into (i#i.s head! She.ll hunt aroundfor so$ethin now to )o) into ;ussy.s $outh'.

3hili) loo#ed round at everyone' Only Bill and /ac# were awa#e "esides hi$self' He )ut his

hand into his )oc#et and "rouht out so$ethin6so$ethin s$all and "rown and )retty' 0t sat u)

on his hand'

,0 say! 5ou.ve ot a dor$ouse! -hat a )et!. said /ac#' ,2on.t let 2inah see it6she.ll have a fit'.

,0 ot it on the way here&. said 3hili)' ,0 saw it sittin on a "ranch& and it let $e )ic# it u)'.

,0t would!. said /ac#& enviously' ,5ou.ve ot so$e $aic a"out you& 3hili)' 0.ve never seen an

ani$al yet that didn.t co$e under your s)ell' 0sn.t he a )retty little fellow1.

,0.ve called hi$ Snoo


19/86

,0 #now&. said /ac#& $a#in u) his $ind at once that he would o and watch in the quarry' He

li#ed owls very $uch' 3erha)s he could et a youn one and ta$e it' But he.d have to "e careful

not to let it see Snoo


20/86

,4ow we.ve none for your cocoa toniht or for "rea#fast to$orrow!. she said'

,0.ll et so$e at the far$ when 0 sli) u) this evenin&. said Bill' ,0t will "e a ood e+cuse to o

u) and as# a few questions'.

,Any $ystery on1. enquired 2inah' ,0.$ never sure a"out you& Bill! Even in the $iddle of a

holiday 0 always wonder if you.ve ot a hush%hush *o" on as well'.

,Mystery or not& Bill always #ee)s his eyes o)en!. said 3hili)' ,0t.s )art of your *o"& isn.t it&Bill1.

,Let.s )lay a a$e&. said 2inah' ,-here are the cards1 Let.s )lay Racin 2e$on' 2o you )lay it&

;us1.

,0 )lay it&. said ;us' ,0 )layed it at school last ter$' 0 a$ ood with this a$e' 7ery ood' 0 o as

fast as this'.

He )retended to "e )uttin cards down& and was so viorous that his hair fell over his eyes' He

)ushed it "ac#' He was always doin that& and it ot on 2inah.s nerves'

,5our awful hair!. she said' ,5ou ouht to "e a irl'.

,4ow don.t start anythin&. said /ac#' ,A s)ar# is enouh to set hi$ off' Tal# a"out "ein

touchy! 2on.t lare li#e that& ;us& you $a#e $e sha#e at the #nees!.

,3oof!. said ;us& rudely',3oof!. said (i#i at once' ,3oof& )oof& )oof!.

,That.ll do&. said /ac#' ,One )oofer is quite enouh in the fa$ily' ;ot the cards& 2i1 Oh& ood!.

They were soon sittin in a rin on the floor& )layin Racin 2e$on' (i#i couldn.t understand

the a$e at all and wandered off into a corner "ecause /ac# wouldn.t let her )ic# u) any of the

cards'

,3oof!. they heard her say to herself quietly' ,3oof!.

Sur)risinly enouh ;ussy wasood at Racin 2e$on' He was very deft with his cards& and

very shar) to see which )ile he could )ut the$ on' He ot very e+cited& and )anted loudly' His hair

fell over his eyes& and he )ushed it "ac#' /ac# cal$ly )ut a card on a )ile that ;us was *ust a"out to

)ut one on& and ;us e+clai$ed in annoyance'

,0 was oin to )ut $ine there6"ut $y hair fell over $e!.

,-hy do you havehair li#e that then1. said 2inah' ,5ou loo# li#e a irl' -hy don.t you et it

cut1.

,5es& that.s a ood idea&. said 3hili)& )uttin a card down' ,-e.ll o into the villae to$orrow

and see if there.s a "ar"er' He.ll cut it nice and short for you& ;us' 5ou.ll et a cric# in your nec#&

tossin your hair a"out li#e that!.

,5es' ;ood idea! -e.ll have it cut to$orrow&. said /ac#& rinnin at ;us'

;us sur)rised the$' He flun down his cards& stood u)& and went scarlet in the face' ,Short hair

is for "oys li#eyou&. he said& scornfully' ,0t is not for $e' 4ever $ust 0 have $y hair short' 0n $y

country always it is the custo$ for such "oys as $e to wear their hair lon!.

,Such "oys as you!. echoed /ac#' ,-hat do you $ean1 5ou.ve ot a very hih o)inion ofyourself& $y lad' 5ou $ay co$e fro$ a rich fa$ily& "ut you act li#e royalty& and it won.t do' 5ou.re

not a 3rince& so don.t try and act li#e one' 0t only $a#es you ridiculous'.

;us drew hi$self u) to his last inch' He threw "ac# his hair once $ore' ,0 ama 3rince!. he said&

dra$atically' ,0 a$ the 3rince Aloysius ;ra$ondie Race$olie Torquinel of Tauri%Hessia!.

Chapter (

B0LL E3LA04S

THEREwas a dead silence after this dra$atic announce$ent' 4o"ody said a word& not even (i#i'

They all stared in astonish$ent at ;us& not #nowin whether to "elieve a word of what he had said'


21/86

Then his li)s "ean to sha#e& and he tried to )ress the$ toether fir$ly' Lucy%Ann was sure he

wanted to cry aain!

,0 have "ro#e $y word!. suddenly wailed ;us' ,0 a$ a 3rince and 0 have "ro#e $y word!.

A voice ca$e fro$ "ehind the$' 0t was Bill.s'

,5es& you have "ro#en your word& Aloysius ;ra$ondie Race$olie Torquinel' And your uncle

told $e you would neverdo that' How a$ 0 to #ee) you safe if you "rea# your word1.Bill ca$e forward& his face stern' Everyone stared at hi$ in alar$' -hatever was u)1

,Bill6he.s not reallya 3rince& is he1. said /ac#'

,Believe it or not& he is&. said Bill' ,His uncle is the (in of Tauri%Hessia'.

,-ell! That e+)lains his )eculiar "ehaviour&. said 2inah' ,His orderin )eo)le a"out6and his

hih%and%$ihty airs6and all his $oney and "oastin'.

,And his lon hair too&. said Bill' ,The 3rinces in his country never have their hair cut short as

ours do' They wear it a certain lenth& as you see' 0t.s "ad luc# on hi$& really& "ecause he ets

teased' Still& the "oys at his school #new who he was and #new he couldn.t hel) it& and he didn.t

have too "ad a ti$e'.

There was a )ause while the four too# a loo# at 3rince Aloysius' He shoo# "ac# his hair and

2inah roaned',0 wish you wouldn.t do that& ;ussy' 0 can.t call you Ally6Ally%so$ethin or other' 5ou.ll have

to o on "ein ;ussy'.

,Oh& he $ust&. said Bill& at once' ,0 ave hi$ the na$e of ;ustavus Bar$ilevo for a s)ecial

reason' Thins6rather serious thins6are ha))enin in his country at the $o$ent& and it.s

essential that he should o under another na$e here'.

,-hat serious thins are ha))enin1. said /ac#' ,Revolts or so$ethin1.

,-ell& 0.ll tell you&. said Bill' ,His uncle is (in& and as he has no children& ;ussy is the heir to

the throne' 4ow there are certain )eo)le in Tauri%Hessia who don.t li#e his uncle or the fir$ way in

which he overns the country' 0ncidentally he overns it very well& and our own ;overn$ent thin#

hi$ a very sound ruler'.

,0 can uess what.s co$in&. said /ac#' ,Those who don.t li#e the stron uncle thin# it would "e

a ood thin to et a wea# younster& who.ll have to do what they tell hi$& and )ut himon the

throne' Then they can do as they li#e!.

,E+actly&. said Bill' ,And so they are on the loo#%out for ;ussy here' 0f they can et hold of hi$

and )ut himon the throne& he will have to do e+actly what he.s told' His uncle will "e i$)risoned

or #illed'.

,And ;ussy #nows all this& does he1. as#ed 3hili)'

,He #nows all riht!. said Bill' ,Everythin was e+)lained to hi$' He.s fond of his uncle: he

doesn.t want to "e used as a #ind of )awn "y his uncle.s ene$ies6and so he was )ut in $y

#ee)in& and told to "e $erely a forein school"oy called ;ustavus' And here he is'.

,0 have "ro#e $y word to you&. said ;ussy& soundin very doleful' ,Mr' Bill& 0 as# you to )ardon$e'.

,-ell& don.t do it aain& that.s all&. said Bill' ,4o"ody here is li#ely to ive you away& fortunately

6we are all your friends6or would li#e to "e if only you.d "ehave yourself a "it "etter'.

,0 "ehave "etter at once i$$ediately&. said ;ussy& e$)hatically'

,H$' -ell& we.ll see&. said Bill& drily' ,0t would hel) considera"ly if you could try to "ehave li#e

the others so that if any straner co$es hanin round he.ll thin# you are an ordinary school%"oy

stayin with friends' At )resent 0 thin# you.re "ehavin li#e a s)oilt "a"y& not li#e a 3rince at all' 0n

fact& if 0 were a Tauri%Hessian citi


22/86

,Both&. said Bill' ,0t.s i$)ortant to "oth ;overn$ents that there should "e a sound& stron ruler

in Tauri%Hessia' 0 can.t tell you why at )resent' 0 thin# it.s )ossi"le that all this will "low over in a

few wee#s& and then ;ussy can o "ac# to school in safety' 0n the $eanti$e& we.ve ot to $a#e the

"est of all this'.

,5es' 0 see everythin now&. said 2inah' ,5ou should have told us at first& Bill' -e.d have

understood "etter'.,0 had orders not to say a word e+ce)t to your $other&. said Bill' ,She had to "e in on this& of

course' 0 too# this cottae "ecause it was well hidden and no"ody would uess that ;ussy would "e

here' And 0 thouht if you all ca$e too& he would "e even "etter hidden6hidden in the $idst of

you& one of $any& so to s)ea#'.

,5ou.re clever& Bill&. said Lucy%Ann& sli))in her hand in his' ,-e.ll loo# after ;ussy' -e won.t

let hi$ out of our siht' ;ussy& we.re your friends'.

,0 than# you&. said ;ussy& with a funny little "ow' ,0t is an honour'.

,That.s the way to tal#&. said Bill& and ave hi$ a cla) on the "ac#' ,4ow then& everyone6

you.ve ot to foret all a"out Aloysius ;ra$ondie and Tauri%Hessia' ;ot that1.

,5es& Bill&. said everyone' They loo#ed rather sole$n' 0t was queer to have serious and unusual

)ro"le$s suddenly )resented to the$ candidly in the $iddle of a a$e of Racin 2e$on' Theordinary and the e+traordinary didn.t really $i+' They turned with relief to their a$e aain& as Bill

went out of the roo$ to find his wife and tell her what had ha))ened'

,)ookwhat (i#i.s "een doin while we.ve "een tal#in!. said /ac#& in e+as)eration' ,Mi+in u)

all the cards' 3ut down the ones you.re holdin& (i#i!.

,She.s "een )layin a quiet little a$e "y herself&. said Lucy%Ann& with a lauh' ,And she.s

holdin two cards in her foot e+actly as if she was waitin for her turn to o' 3ut the$ down& (i#i'.

,One& two& three& si+& eiht& four& one&. said (i#i& ettin her nu$"ers $uddled u) as usual'

,Three& four& "uc#le $y shoe'.

,One& two& "uc#le $y shoe&. said Lucy%Ann' ,5our $e$ory.s oin& (i#i!.

(i#i ave a Hiccu)& as she often did when she thouht she had $ade a $ista#e'

,Enouh& (i#i&. said /ac#' ,Anyone want another a$e1.

4o"ody really felt li#e one after all the revelations Bill had $ade' They didn.t li#e to discuss

the$ in front of ;ussy& thouh they were lonin to tal# a"out the$'

Mrs' Cunninha$ )ut her head in at the door' ,Bill.s oin u) to the far$ for $il#' Anyone want

to o with hi$1 4ot ;ussy& he says'.

,0.ll o&. said Lucy%Ann& scra$"lin u)' ,0.d li#e a wal#' 5ou "oys stay with Aunt Allie& and

loo# after her'.

,Riht&. said /ac#& thin#in it was *ust as well to do so& with )ros)ective #idna))ers and

revolutionaries a"out& even althouh they $iht "e as far away as Tauri%Hessia'

,0.ll stay "ehind too&. said 2inah' ,0.ve ot a "lister on $y foot'.

So Lucy%Ann went off ha))ily with Bill' She li#ed ettin hi$ alone' He was always *olly andfull of fun when they were all toether& "ut Lucy%Ann thouht he was even nicer alone' She sli))ed

her hand throuh his ar$& and they wal#ed off in the dus# toether'

,0n case you want to say anythin a"out ;ussy& 0.ll *ust warn you not to&. said Bill& in a low

voice' ,0 don.t want the slihtest sus)icions to et a"out that he.s not all he see$s' 0t would "e a

very serious thin for hi$ if he were forced to "e (in at his ae'.

,0 won.t say anythin&. said Lucy%Ann in a whis)er' ,Let.s tal# a"out /ac#'.

,5ou.re always ready to tal# a"out /ac#& aren.t you1. said Bill& a$used' ,-ell& 0 $ust say that

/ac# has ot so$ethin 0.d dearly li#e to have $yself'.

,-hat.s that1 (i#i1. as#ed Lucy%Ann'

,4o6a very nice little sister&. said Bill' ,0t.s ood to see a "rother and sister so fond of one

another'.


23/86

,-ell& our $other and father died when we were very youn&. said Lucy%Ann& ,so we only had

each other' But now we.ve ot you and Aunt Allie& and we.ve ot 3hili) and 2inah as well' -e.re

luc#y!.

,0.$ luc#y too&. said Bill' ,A nice ready%$ade fa$ily for $e! Har# at the owls hootin round'

-hat a collection of hoots!.

,That was the little%owl&. said Lucy%Ann& who had "een well trained in "ird calls "y /ac#' ,That=tvit%tvit%tvit> noise' And that lovely lon quaverin hoot is the tawny%owl'.

,And what in the world is that1. said Bill& suddenly startled "y a loud screech near his head'

Lucy%Ann lauhed'

,The screech%owl6the old "arn%owl!. she said' ,He does that to frihten the $ice and the rats'.

,-ell& he scared $e too&. said Bill' ,Ah6is that the far$%house loo$in u)1 0t is' 5ou co$e in

with $e& Lucy%Ann& and don.t "e sur)rised at $y conversation with Mrs' Ellis!.

They #noc#ed at the door and went into the "i& cosy #itchen' Althouh it was a war$ niht

there was a fire in the chi$ney corner& and old Aunt 4ao$i sat there& #nittin& huddled u) in a

shawl'

Mrs' Ellis hurried to $eet the$' ,-ell& it.s ood to see you! And how are you ettin on1 Settled

in nicely1 That.s riht' 4ow& what can 0 do for you1 Sit you down& do!.They sat down' Lucy%Ann found a roc#in%chair and "ean to roc# to and fro' A "i ta""y ca$e

and *u$)ed into her la)& settled down and went to slee)' Lucy%Ann felt quite honoured'

Mrs' Ellis "rouht her a )iece of ca#e& and she ni""led at it and listened la


24/86

stri#in%loo#in& and so easily reconi


25/86

eyelass in his eye& as 3hili) had descri"ed6and the wo$an was wal#in slowly& leanin on his

ar$'

/ac# s)ed indoors "y the "ac# way' ,Bill!. he called' ,They.re co$in' -here.s ;ussy1 He could

)ee) at the$ as they o "y and see if he #nows the$!.

;ussy ran to a front window and hid "ehind the curtain& waitin' But the cou)le fro$ the far$

didn.t o "y! They turned in at the front ate and ca$e riht u) to the cottae door' A shar) soundca$e on the afternoon air'

,Rat%a%tatta%TAT!.

Mrs' Cunninha$ *u$)ed' She was havin a rest on her "ed' Bill o)ened her door and went in'

,Allie! 0t.s the cou)le fro$ the far$' -hat nerve to co$e riht to the house! They o"viously

don.t thin# that we sus)ect anythin at all' -ill you o down and o)en the door1 0 shan.t a))ear6

and ;ussy $ustn.t either' The others can& of course'.

Bill went to tell ;ussy to #ee) out of the way and Mrs' Cunninha$ ran down the stairs to the

front door& )attin her hair tidy' She o)ened it'

Two )eo)le stood on the ste)& a $an and a wo$an' The $an raised his hat )olitely'

,Forive this sudden visit&. he said& ,"ut $y wife and 0 were ta#in a short wal#& and she has

"eun to feel faint' A cu) of water would hel) her& 0 thin#6if you would "e so #ind1.,Oh6do co$e in&. said Mrs' Cunninha$& ho)in that ;ussy wouldn.t co$e runnin down the

stairs' ,0.ll et so$e water'.

She too# the$ into the little sittin%roo$' The wo$an san# down into a chair and closed her

eyes'

,My wife has "een ill&. said the $an' ,0 have "rouht her down to the far$ for a few days6ood

air& and ood food& you #now6"etter than any hotel! But 0 should not have ta#en her so far on her

first day'.

,0.$ so sorry&. said Mrs' Cunninha$& )layin her )art as "est she could' ,2inah! -here are

you1 ;et a *u of water and a lass& will you& dear1.

2inah s)ed to the #itchen& and ca$e "ac# with a lass *u of ice%cold water& and a lass on a

little tray' She )ut the$ down on the ta"le and loo#ed curiously at the cou)le' They loo#ed "ac# at

her'

,And is this your dauhter1. said the wo$an' ,-hat a nice child! Have you any other children1.

,Oh yes&. said Mrs' Cunninha$' ,Another of $y own and two ado)ted ones' Fetch the$&

2inah'.

2inah went to fetch the others' They ca$e in )olitely& Lucy%Ann& 3hili) and /ac#' The wo$an

screa$ed when she saw (i#i on /ac#.s shoulder'

,A )arrot! 2on.t let it co$e near $e& 0 "e of you!.

,-i)e your feet&. ordered (i#i' ,Shut the door' ;rrrrrrrrr!.

The wo$an ave an e+cla$ation in a forein lanuae& and said so$ethin to the $an' He

lauhed',My wife says that )eo)le who co$e to visit you should have ood $anners& or your )arrot will

soon teach the$&. he said' ,So these are your four children' But have you not a fifth1.

,4o&. said Mrs' Cunninha$' ,Only these four "elon to $e'.

,0 thouht Mrs' Ellis said there was another little "oy&. said the wo$an& si))in the water'

Mrs' Cunninha$ reached for a "o+ of ciarettes and handed it to the wo$an& ho)in that she

would not )ursue the su"*ect of the ,other little "oy.' But the wo$an )ersisted'

,3erha)s you have a little "oystayinwith you1. she said& sweetly& s$ilin at Mrs' Cunninha$'

,Oh& 0 e+)ect Mrs' Ellis $eans ;ussy&. said Mrs' Cunninha$' ,Little ;ussy is stayin for a

while6till his fa$ily can ta#e hi$ ho$e'.

,And $ay we not see the little ;ussy1. said the wo$an' ,0 love children' 2o not leave this little

;ussy out'.


26/86

,Anyone #now where he is1. said Mrs' Cunninha$& in a voice that $ade the four children quite

certain that she didn.t want the$ to #now' They didn.t #now& anyway! ;ussy was at that $o$ent in

the wardro"e u)stairs& where he had )ut hi$self straiht away at the first sound of the #noc# on the

door' Bill had thouht he $iht as well stay there!

,0.ve no idea where ;us is&. said /ac#' ,2oin so$ethin on his own& 0 e+)ect' 2o you#now

where he is& 3hili)1.,4o idea&. said 3hili)' ,Messin a"out so$ewhere& )ro"a"ly out in the woods'.

,Ah6he li#es to wander a"out& does he1. said the $an' ,-ell6we $ay see hi$ when we o

"ac# to the far$' Than# you& Mada$& for "ein so #ind to $y wife' May 0 )lease ive your four

nice children so$ethin to "uy ice%crea$s with1 And here is so$ethin for the little $issin ;ussy

also'.

To the children.s sur)rise he )ut down five new ten%shillin notes on the ta"le in front of Mrs'

Cunninha$' She )ushed the$ "ac# at once& quite horrified'

,Oh no6)lease! 0 couldn.t hear of it' -e only ot you a lass of water' 4o& no6ta#e this "ac#' 0

couldn.t )ossi"ly allow the children to have it'.

The $an loo#ed sur)rised and rather unco$forta"le' He )ut the notes "ac# in his )oc#et' ,/ust as

you )lease&. he said' ,0n mycountry it is only a courtesy to return a #indness'.,-hat isyour country& sir1. as#ed /ac#& at once' ,Aha!. he thouht' ,'owwe.ll "rin you out

into the o)en'.

The $an hesitated& and the wo$an ave hi$ a quic# lance' ,My country6oh& 0 co$e fro$

0taly&. he said' ,A "eautiful land' Co$e& $y dear& we $ust o'.

He too# his wife.s ar$ and led her to the door& his eyes searchin everywhere for the $issin

;ussy' He "owed to Mrs' Cunninha$ and went down the )ath'

She called a sentence after hi$& and he turned' ,-hat do you say1. he said' ,0 didn.t understand'.

Mrs' Cunninha$ re)eated it' He loo#ed )u


27/86

,0 thin# )erha)s you.re riht&. said Bill& )uffin at his )i)e' ,Anyway6we.ll stay )ut for the ne+t

two days& and wait for the ene$y to $a#e the ne+t $ove' There.s no dou"t that they thin# ;ussy.s

the "oy they want' 0 e+)ect Mrs' Ellis has descri"ed hi$ carefully to the$6and he.s easily

descri"ed!.

,5es6lon hair& for one thin&. rinned /ac#' ,Shall 0 ni) alon to the far$ now& Bill& and #ee)

watch for the rest of the day1 0 can o and as# for so$e "utter or so$ethin& and then han round&hel)in with a few *o"s' 0.d li#e that& anyway'.

,Riht' 5ou o&. said Bill& and /ac# s)ed off with (i#i on his shoulder' The others ot u) to o

for a wal#& well away fro$ the far$! ,Ta#e your tea&. said Mrs' Cunninha$' ,4o"ody will #now

where you are& if you o off for a wal#& so no"ody will "e a"le to find you! 5ou should "e quite

safe& ;ussy!.

So ;ussy& 3hili) and the two irls went off with a )icnic "as#et' They wal#ed for a"out two

$iles and then found a lade that was olden with )olished celandines' They sat down& hot with

their wal#'

,This is heavenly&. said Lucy%Ann' ,0 do love celandines' They loo# as if so$eone )olished the$

every sinle $ornin' /olly ood wor#$an he $ust "e6he never $isses a )etal!.

2inah ave a screa$' ,Oh6what.s that on your shoulder& 3hili)! Oh& it.s a $ouse!.3hili).s dor$ouse had decided that the )oc#et he lived in was ettin too hot for his li#in' So

he had squee


28/86

,So$eone co$in&. said Lucy%Ann& suddenly' Her shar) ears had cauht the sound of voices'

,;et under that "ush& ;ussy&. ordered 3hili)' ,;o on& quic#!.

;ussy vanished at once& and the "ush closed over hi$' 0t was a )ity it was a orse "ush& "ut

;ussy didn.t have ti$e to thin# of )ric#les'

Two $en ca$e "y& tal#in in the "road accent of the countryside' One was the $an who had told

3hili) so $uch a"out "aders' He waved to hi$',0t.ll "e a ood niht for "aders toniht!. he called' ,Moonliht6and that.s what they li#e'.

,Co$e out& ;us&. said 3hili)& when the $en had )assed' ,False alar$'.

;ussy crawled out& scratched on face& hands and #nees "y the orse )ric#les' He was nearly in

tears'

,He "lids&. said 2inah un#indly' ,;us& you are "liddin all over'.

,0t.s nothin $uch&. said 3hili)& ta#in out his hand#erchief and scru""in the dro)s of "lood

away here and there' ,Everyone ets )ric#ed "y orse sooner or later' Cheer u)& ;us' And for

oodness. sa#e don.t "e a "a"y'.

,0 don.t li#e "liddin&. said )oor ;ussy& in a woe"eone voice' ,0t $a#es $e feel sic#'.

,-ell& "e sic# then&. said hard%hearted 2inah' ,But don.t $a#e a F9SS'.

;ussy $ade a valiant effort and swallowed hard' He didn.t cry after all' -hat a victory!After they had eaten every cru$" of their tea& they decided to o "ac#' 3hili) wanted to have a

loo# at the quarry on the way to see if he thouht that "aders $iht really $a#e that their haunt'

He wandered round the "i deserted )lace& e+a$inin the hedes round for sins of a "ader.s

sett' The irls and ;ussy ran the few hundred yards that lay "etween the quarry and the cottae'

Lucy%Ann thouht they ouht to& in case any ene$y was lyin in wait!

,Any news1. she as#ed& as they went indoors& )antin' ,Has /ac# co$e "ac# fro$ the far$ yet1.

He hadn.t' 4o"ody had any news at all& it see$ed' /ac# had none either& when he ca$e'

,4ot a soul ca$e to the far$&. he said' ,And 0 didn.t even see the $an and the wo$an' They

$ust have "een in their roo$ all the ti$e' Once 0 heard a =tin>6as if so$e"ody was usin the

tele)hone' 0t $iht have "een the$'.

,Can.t tell&. said Bill' ,-ell60 see$ to have had a la


29/86

,Oh& sir& Mrs' Ellis has sent $e down to "e you to co$e u) to the far$&. said an an+ious voice'

,0t.s her old aunt' She.s fallen down and "ro#en her hi)' Can you co$e1 Mrs' Ellis is in such a way!

She sent $e to as# you& "ecause the doctor.s away'.

Bill o)ened the door' He saw a "ent fiure& wra))ed round in a shawl' 0t $ust "e Alice& the old

wo$an who hel)ed Mrs' Ellis in the #itchen' ,Co$e in&. he said'

,4o& sir& 0.ll "e ettin "ac#&. said the old wo$an' ,5ou.ll co$e& won.t you1.,5es& we.ll co$e&. said Bill' He shut the door and went "ac# to tell his wife'

,0t.s a $essae fro$ Mrs' Ellis a"out the old aunt' A))arently she has fallen and "ro#en her hi)&.

he said' ,-ill you o& Allie1 0.ll ta#e you there& of course& and then 0 $ust leave you and co$e "ac#

here& "ecause of ;ussy' But Mr' Ellis will "rin you "ac#& unless you stay for the niht'.

,5es& 0.d "etter o at once&. said Mrs' Cunninha$' ,3oor Mrs' Ellis! /ust what she was afraid

$iht ha))en!.

She ot her thins on& and Bill and she went out of the door' ,0t.s not worth wa#in u) the

children and tellin the$&. he said' ,They.re sound aslee)' Anyway& 0.ll "e "ac# here in a few

$inutes. ti$e'.

He shut the door quietly& $ade sure he had the #ey with hi$ to o)en it when he ca$e "ac#& and

then set off with his wife' -hat a wonderful $oonliht niht! Really& he would quite en*oy thewal#!

Chapter 11

HA33E404;S 04 THE 40;HT

THE$oonliht strea$ed down over the countryside as Bill and his wife set out' ,-hat a lovely

niht!. said Bill' ,As liht as day& al$ost!.

They went u) the tiny lane& hurryin as $uch as they could' ,0.ll as# at the far$ if Mr' Ellis can

"rin you "ac#&. Bill said& ,0 won.t stay even a $inute' 0.$ worried a"out ;ussy' 0 $ay et a

li$)se of Mada$e Tatiosa and her co$)anion6"ut 0 don.t )articularly want the$ to see me'.

They were )assin a little co)se of trees& a )atch of dense "lac# shadow in the surroundin

$oonliht' Bill and his wife wal#ed "y& not seein a s$all $ove$ent in the shadows'

Then thins ha))ened very quic#ly indeed' Four shadows ca$e fro$ the co)se of trees& runnin

silently over the rass' Bill turned at a sliht sound6"ut al$ost as he turned so$eone lea)t on hi$

and "ore hi$ to the round'

Mrs' Cunninha$ felt an ar$ round her& and a hand )ressed over her $outh' She tried to screa$&

"ut only a s$all sound ca$e fro$ her'

,2on.t strule&. said a voice' ,And don.t screa$' -e.re not oin to hurt you' -e *ust want you

out of the way for a short ti$e'.

But Bill did strule& of course' He #new what these $en were after6;ussy! He roaned inaner at hi$self' This was a tric#& of course! Old Aunt 4ao$i hadn.t had a fall! There had "een no

real $essae fro$ the far$' 0t was all a ruse to et the$ out of the house& so that it would "e easy

to #idna) ;ussy'

So$eone aed his $outh "y wra))in a cloth fir$ly round his face' He could hardly "reathe!

He wondered how his wife was ettin on& "ut he could see and hear nothin' He sto))ed

strulin when at last his ar$s were )inned "ehind hi$& and tied toether with ro)e'

There was nothin he could do' 0t was four aainst two& and as they had "een ta#en "y sur)rise

they were at a reat disadvantae' 3erha)s he would "e a"le to undo the ro)e that "ound hi$ when

his ca)tors had one to et ;ussy' He $iht still )revent the #idna))in'

Mrs' Cunninha$ was scared& and did her "est to et away& "ut one $an was quite sufficient to

hold her and "ind her hands and feet' She too was aed so that she could not screa$'


30/86

,-e are sorry a"out this&. said a $an.s voice& quite )olitely' ,0t is i$)ortant to us to ta#e the little

3rince out of your hands' His country needs hi$' -e shall not har$ hi$ in any way6and we have

not har$ed you either' -e have $erely )ut you to so$e inconvenience' Once we have the 3rince

one of us will co$e to untie you& if it is )ossi"le' 0f not6well& you will "e found "y so$e far$%

la"ourer early in the $ornin'.

The $en left Bill and his wife aainst a haystac#& )rotected fro$ the wind' One of the$ hadone throuh Bill.s )oc#ets first& and had ta#en out the #ey of the cottae'

Bill listened as the $en went off' -ere they one1 He ru""ed his head aainst the round tryin

to et off the cloth "ound round his face' -as his wife all riht1

He was furious with hi$self' To wal# into a tra) as easily as all that! The wo$an with the

$essae $ust have "een one of the an& of course' 4o wonder she wouldn.t co$e in' He should

have "een sus)icious a"out that' An ordinary $essener would have waited for the$ and then

wal#ed to the far$ in their co$)any'

He re$e$"ered the ,tin. of the tele)hone that /ac# said he had heard that afternoon' That $ust

have "een Mada$e Tatiosa or her co$)anion tele)honin to their headquarters to say that they

#new where the 3rince was& and requestin hel) to ca)ture hi$' Another car $ust have co$e down

that evenin with other $e$"ers of the an' 0t all fitted in so well6"ut )oor Bill saw the )lotafter it had "een carried out& instead of "efore!

He wondered what was ha))enin at 8uarry Cottae' He "elieved the $an who had said that he

was not oin to har$ the little 3rince' All they wanted to do was to de)ose his uncle and set ;ussy

u) in his )lace' 3oor ;ussy! He would "e $ade to do all that the an wanted& and his life would

"e very $isera"le'

4othin was ha))enin *ust then at 8uarry Cottae' All the five children were fast aslee)& and so

was (i#i' The window of the "oys. "edroo$ was shut& as Bill had ordered6"ut of what use was

that when the ene$y had the #ey to the front door!

Ti$e cre)t on6and eleven o.cloc# ca$e' 3hili).s alar$ cloc# went off under his )illow&

whirrin in a $uffled way that wo#e hi$ u) with a *u$)' At first he didn.t #now what the noise

was& then he re$e$"ered'

,Eleven o.cloc#!. he thouht& and slid his hand under his )illow to sto) the alar$ rinin' He sat

u)' Moonliht )oured into the roo$& and $ade everythin silvery' /ust the niht for "aders!

He )added across the roo$ and shoo# /ac#' ,-a#e u)! Eleven o.cloc#!. he whis)ered& riht into

his ear' He did not $ean to wa#e ;ussy& and have hi$ cla$ourin to o with the$! But ;ussy was

very sound aslee) indeed' The $oonliht strea$ed on to his face& and showed u) the lon loc# of

hair that had fallen as usual over his forehead'

(i#i awo#e as soon as the alar$ went off' But she was used to $uffled alar$ cloc#s& and $erely

ave a little yawn& and stretched her wins' 0f the "oys were oin out& she was quite ready!

4othin would )ersuade her to "e left "ehind'

The two "oys dressed quic#ly in shorts& *erseys and ru""er%soled shoes' They too# a last lanceat ;ussy' His $outh was wide o)en aain' /ac# rinned as he re$e$"ered the "its of rass that

(i#i had )o))ed into it on Suar%Loaf Hill'

They cre)t downstairs& )ausin outside Bill.s "edroo$ door to $a#e sure all was quiet& and that

Bill and his wife were aslee)'

,Can.t hear a thin&. whis)ered /ac#' ,They $ust "e verysound aslee)! 4ot even a snore fro$

Bill!.

This wasn.t very sur)risin& of course& as Bill was at that $o$ent strulin with his ro)es as he

lay in the shelter of the haystac#'

,-e.ll o out the "ac# way&. whis)ered 3hili)' ,The front door crea#s a little' 2on.t "u$) into

anythin in the hall& for oodness. sa#e'.

(i#i was on /ac#.s shoulder& as quiet as the dor$ouse in 3hili).s )oc#et' She could always "ede)ended on to #ee) silent when it was necessary' She #new quite well that the "oys were tryin


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not to "e heard' She )ec#ed /ac#.s ear affectionately& wonderin what he was u) to on this

$oonliht niht'

The "oys went out of the "ac# door& and then stood still& de"atin which way to o'

,0 thin# 0.ll co$e u) to the little wood with you first&. said /ac#' ,0 $iht )o) down to the quarry

later& to hear the owls there& and see if 0 can watch the$ swoo)in on $ice or rats'.

So they went silently to the wood on the east side of the cottae& $a#in no noise in theirru""er%soled shoes' They #e)t to the shadows of the hedes& afraid that so$eone $iht see the$&

even in this deserted s)ot' The $oonliht was so very "rilliant!

They ca$e to the wood' 3hili) #new what ty)e of )lace "aders would visit& and he led /ac# to a

hede overshadowin a "i "an#'

,This is the sort of )lace to wait a"out in&. he said' ,Let.s squee


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An owl hooted aain& so$e way off' 0t was a tawny owl callin' Then there was a screech fro$ a

"arn%owl' (i#i stirred on /ac#.s shoulders' She was lonin to do a "it of hootin and screechin

herself!

,0 thin# 0.ll o "ac# now&. said 3hili)& ettin u)' ,0.d li#e to stay and watch for a few $ore

creatures to co$e "y& "ut 0.$ afraid 0 shall fall aslee)' 5ou co$in& /ac#1.

,-ell60 rather thin# 0.ll o and wander round that quarry a "it&. said /ac#' ,0.d li#e to see whatowls are there6and 0.d li#e to ive old (i#i the chance of callin the$& to see if she really can

"rin the$ to her' 0 #now she.s lonin to try' Aren.t you& (i#i& old "ird1.

(i#i $uttered so$ethin into his ear& afraid of s)ea#in out loud' /ac# ot u) and stretched'

,-ell& you et to "ed& and 0.ll co$e when 0.$ ready&. he said' ,0.ll "e a"out half an hour& 0 e+)ect'

2on.t "e sur)rised if you hear thousands of hoots in a little while& once (i#i ets oin!.

3hili) went "ac# to the cottae& and /ac# $ade his way to the quarry' Little did they uess what

a shoc# they were "oth oin to et in the ne+t ten $inutes!

Chapter 12

CA3T9RE!

3H0L03$ade his way to the "ac# door of the cottae& "ut *ust as he was a"out to o in& he sto))ed'

-hat noise was that1 0t sounded li#e so$eone oin to the front door6so$eone ti)toein u) the

)ath& surely1

The "oy hesitated' Could it "e so$eone after ;ussy1 He.d "etter warn Bill then6o in and

wa#e hi$' He ti)toed quietly& throuh the "ac# door& into the hall and u) the stairs' He sto))ed at

the to) and loo#ed "ac#& hearin a s$all sound'

The front door was o)enin quietly& "ut with the little crea# it always ave' Then a torch was

flashed on and off very quic#ly' 5es6so$e"ody wasettin in'

3hili) yelled at the to) of his voice' ,Bill! B0LL! B0LL! -a#e u)& Bill' There.s so$eone ettin

in'.

He was standin *ust outside the irls. door as he yelled& and they wo#e u) at once' ;racious!6

who was shoutin li#e that1

,So$eone.s ettin in' 8uic#& Bill& quic#!. shouted 3hili) aain& wonderin why there was no

answerin shout fro$ Bill.s roo$ near"y'

The irls. door o)ened and 2inah loo#ed out& scared' ,-hat is it1 -ho is it1 -here.s Bill1.

,(ee) where you are&. said a voice suddenly& and a torch was flashed on to the three of the$& for

Lucy%Ann had now a))eared& tre$"lin'

3hili) )ushed the irls violently& and they al$ost fell into their "edroo$' Then he rushed into

Bill.s roo$& yellin aain' ,B0LL! 2o wa#e u)!.

The $oonliht showed hi$ a co$)letely e$)ty "ed6a "ed not even sle)t in! Then where wasBill1 And his $other6where wasshe1 3hili) was astounded'

;ussy was now awa#e& u) in the attic "edroo$' He sat u)& "ewildered' -hat was all this

shoutin1 He suddenly noticed that /ac# and 3hili) were not in their "eds& and he lea)t out of his&

afraid'

2ownstairs& in Bill.s "edroo$& 3hili) was still yellin' Bill must"e so$ewhere a"out6"ut

where1 ,Bill! 0 say& B0LL!.

A torch flashed into the roo$& and two fiures loo$ed u) "y the door'

,5ou won.t find Bill&. said a voice' ,Or his wife either' -e.ve ot the$' And now we want the

3rince Aloysius' -e do not intend to har$ hi$ in any way6"ut he $ust co$e with us' His country

needs hi$'.


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,-hat have you done with $y $other1. de$anded 3hili)& fiercely' ,0.ll et the )olice! -hat do

you thin# you.re doin& ca)turin )eo)le& and co$in after the 3rince! 5ou can.t do that #ind of

thin in Britain!.

,Oh yes& we can&. said the forein voice& s$oothly& and the $an ste))ed into the $oonliht'

3hili) saw that it was the $an who had co$e with the wo$an that afternoon' Behind hi$ were

other )eo)le6how $any1 3hili) wished that /ac# was with hi$' One "oy wasn.t $uch aainst allthese )eo)le' He didn.t count ;ussy as a "oy!

One of the $en "ehind called out so$ethin in a lanuae that 3hili) didn.t understand& and

received a shar) order in return' There was the sound of feet on the stairs leadin u) to the attic

"edroo$' They were after ;ussy& who had done quite the wron thin& and had a))eared at the to)

in the "riht $oonliht! He had "een seen at once& of course'

;ussy fled into the "edroo$& sla$$ed the door and loc#ed it' He leaned aainst it& tre$"lin'

Then he ran to the window' Could he et out1

4o' ;ussy was no cli$"er& and althouh /ac# and 3hili) would certainly have had a shot at

cla$"erin down the cree)er& ;ussy was afraid he $iht fall'

,9nloc# this door!. cried a voice& "ut ;ussy did not o"ey' Then two of the $en flun the$selves

aainst it& and it "ro#e down easily' They cla$"ered over the "ro#en )anels and went to ;ussy' Hescrea$ed'

One of the $en "owed to hi$' ,5our Hihness& we have not co$e to har$ you' -e have co$e

to ta#e you "ac# to Tauri%Hessia to "e crowned (in in the )lace of your uncle' He is not li#ed&

your uncle' The )eo)le want you instead'.

,0t.s a lie!. shouted ;ussy& tre$"lin' ,0.ve "een told all a"out it' My uncle is too stron a ruler

for you& and you want a "oy instead who will do as he is told' 0 will not co$e!.

All this was said in his own lanuae& so that the irls& listenin fearfully in their roo$ "elow&

did not understand a word' 3hili) )ushed "y the $en at the door of Bill.s roo$ and ran u) to ;ussy'

,Loo# here&. he said fiercely to the two $en there' ,5ou #now that the British ;overn$ent and

your own ;overn$ent won.t let you $a#e ;ussy (in' 5ou.ll et into trou"le with our

;overn$ent& you #now' 5ou.ll "e cla))ed into )rison either here or in your own country'.

The $en& *oined "y the other two "elow& had a quic# conference' 3hili) didn.t understand a

word' Then the tall $an with the eyelass "owed slihtly to 3hili)'

,5ou too will co$e with us&. he said& ,and the other children as well' 5ou will6er6"e

co$)anions for our little 3rince6and we do not thin# your ;overn$ent will "e tooanry when

they #now we hold you also!.

,Oh! So you thin# you.ll ta#e us and $a#e us a #ind of hostae& do you1. said 3hili)& quite

"eside hi$self with rae' ,5ou thin# you can "arain with our ;overn$ent *ust "ecause you.ll hold

us )risoners! My word& you don.t #now the British )eo)le' 5ou.ll "e sorry for this! Holdin us to

ranso$! 0 never heard such a fatheaded idea in $y life' 5ou aren.t livin in the Middle Aes& you

#now!.The $an heard hi$ out to the end& quite )olitely' Then he $ade a $otion with his hand& and two

of the $en )ounced on 3hili) and ;ussy and held the$ in such a vice%li#e ri) that it was quite

ho)eless to et away'

,Run& you two irls& run!. yelled 3hili) at the to) of his voice& ho)in that 2inah and Lucy%Ann

would have the sense to rush into the woods and et away' But althouh they did $anae to tear

downstairs& they found a $an in the hall& and he was quite a"le to hold the two #ic#in& yellin irls

until yet another fellow ca$e to his hel)'

Shar) orders were iven "y the $an with the eyelass& who see$ed to "e in co$$and' One $an

detached hi$self and went u)stairs' He ca$e down with an assort$ent of clothes for the irls and

;ussy& who was& of course& still in his "eautiful sil# )y*a$as' The irls were in )y*a$as and

dressin%owns& "ut had no sli))ers on' The $an was sent "ac# to fetch shoes'


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,-here.s Bill1. said Lucy%Ann& with chatterin teeth' ,0 want Bill' -hat have they done with

hi$1 And where.s Aunt Allie1.

,2on.t "e frihtened&. said the $an with the eyelass& )attin her' ,-e shall treat you very

#indly' -e shall not hurt you' 0t will "e nice for the little 3rince Aloysius to have his friends with

hi$' 5ou will have a fine ti$e in Tauri%Hessia'.

Lucy%Ann suddenly reali


35/86

alar$& that 3hili)& 2inah& Lucy%Ann and ;ussy were all "ein held very fir$ly indeed! He stared&

"ewildered& una"le to thin# what to do'

(i#i suddenly screeched6"ut it was not an owl%screech& it was a real )arrot screech6and 3hili)

reconi


36/86

,An aero)lane!. said /ac#' ,So thatswhat they.ve )lanned' They.re oin off to Tauri%Hessia!

They $ust "e' And they.ll hide ;ussy so$ewhere till their )lans are all ready& and the irls and

3hili) with hi$' 4o"ody will #now where they are'.

He felt the car co$e to a sto) with a "u$)' He crawled out of the "oot at once& and ran to a "i

sha)e loo$in u) near"y' 0t was a lorry' /ac# crouched "eside it& watchin'

He saw an aero)lane not far off& its )ro)ellers whirrin' 0t hadn.t all its lihts on yet& "ut $enwere round it with la$)s' 0t was o"viously soon oin to ta#e off'

-hat was this )lace1 A )rivate airfield1 /ac# had no idea at all' He watched all the )asseners in

the "i "lac# car tu$"lin out& one after the other' He thouht he heard Lucy%Ann cryin& and his

heart san#' She would hate all this! She wasn.t touh& li#e 2inah' -here would she "e to$orrow1

Everyone was hurried towards the )lane' /ac# left his hidin%)lace and hurried too' He had had

another idea! Could he hide in the )lane1 He had hidden in the car& and no%one had sus)ected it'

-ould there "e any )lace to hide in the )lane1

He thouht of the )lanes he had flown in' The luae%s)ace would "e the only )lace' There

)ro"a"ly wouldn.t "e $uch there' 0t was a ris#& "ut he.d ta#e it' 0f he was discovered& well& at least

he.d "e with the others'

,But 0 mustnt"e discovered!. he thouht des)erately' ,0f 0 a$ 0.ll "e hidden away so$ewheretoo6and 0 si$)ly mustfind out where the others are "ein ta#en& so that 0 can so$ehow et word

to Bill'.

(i#i ca$e to his hel)& quite une+)ectedly' She didn.t see why she shouldn.t tal# to the others&

whose voices she had reconi


37/86

,-e.ve ta#en off&. thouht /ac#& than#fully' ,And 0.$ here with the others& thouh they don.t

#now it' 4ow will $y luc# hold1 Shall 0 et to wherever they.re oin without "ein discovered1 0

do ho)e so! 0f only 0 can find out where they will "e hidden& thins will "e easy'.

0t was unco$forta"le in the "o+& "ut as /ac# had left so$e of the soft $aterial at the "otto$& at

least he had so$ethin soft to crouch on' (i#i didn.t li#e it at all' She ru$"led in his ear& and then

suddenly )roduced a tre$endous snee


38/86

Chapter 1!

/AC( 0S O4 H0S O-4

THEsun was u)& *ust a"ove the hori


39/86

,0.$ Enlish&. said /ac#& tryin to s)ea# slowly and clearly' ,-here is the )olice station1.

,Elinoota1. said the $an aain& loo#in "ewildered' ,Oota1 Oota1.

,3ar)%)ar)&. said (i#i& suddenly' ,3ar)%)ar)!. 0t sounded e+actly li#e the hooter of a car! /ac#

lauhed'

,2id you thin# the $an #e)t sayin =hooter =1. he as#ed (i#i' ,-ell& he wasn.t' ;oodness

#nows what he was sayin! 0 wish 0 #new what =food> was in the Hessian lanuae!.,3ow#e)oto)lin#1. said the $an& tryin aain' He )ointed to the )arrot' ,3ow#e)oto)lin#1 Ai&

ai!.

He suddenly too# out a note"oo# and a )encil and "ean drawin so$ethin on a )ae' /ac#

wondered what it was' The $an tore out the )ae and ave it to hi$'

The drawin loo#ed li#e a s$all $a) showin various roads' There was so$ethin that loo#ed

li#e a )ond also& and so$ethin else that loo#ed li#e a church s)ire' At the "otto$ of the $a) the

$an had drawn what loo#ed li#e a tent' He *a""ed at it with his )encil'

,3ow#e)otot)lin#&. he said aain& very loudly& as if that $iht hel) /ac# to understand'

,3lin#%)lon#& )lin#%)lon#&. said (i#i& at once& and went off into a cac#le of lauhter' The $an

loo#ed at her in ad$iration' He undid a "a and too# out a s$all suared ca#e' He )resented it to

(i#i& who too# it with her riht foot& $a#in a sudden cluc#in noise li#e a hen'/ac# loo#ed at it with hunry eyes and the $an noticed the loo#' He delved in his "a aain and

"rouht out an enor$ously thic# sandwich with so$e #ind of "riht red $eat in it' He )resented

this to /ac#& who was thrilled'

,Than# you&. said the "oy' ,Than# you very $uch'.

,Chee)ali##le&. said the $an& inco$)rehensi"ly& and rode off& wavin' /ac# wal#ed on&

$unchin the hue sandwich' (i#i )ut out her )arrot%tonue and lic#ed the ca#e' She didn.t li#e it

and ave it to /ac#' 0n return he ave her so$e of her favourite sunflower seeds& of which he

always #e)t a su))ly in his )oc#et' She sat ha))ily on his shoulder& crac#in the$'

/ac# loo#ed at the $a)' -hat did it $ean1 -hy had that $an drawn it1 He $ust have thouht

there was so$e )articular )lace /ac# wanted to o to6"ut /ac# hi$self didn.t #now of any )lace in

Tauri%Hessia that he wanted to find& e+ce)t the )lace where the others had one' And that $iht "e

Bor#en and it $iht not' Bor#en $iht $ean anythin in this )eculiar Hessian lanuae!

He wal#ed on and on for $iles& feelin $uch "etter for the sandwich' He decided that he $ust

loo# for a )olice%station if ever he ca$e to the end of this wide& deserted road' 0t loo#ed as if it had

only "een "uilt to lead to the airfield! E+ce)t for the $an on the "icycle he $et no"ody at all'

But at last he saw houses in the distance' Anne was co$in to a villae6no& a town& "ecause as

he ca$e nearer he saw that it was far too "i to "e called a villae'

,0f 0 could *ust find so$e"ody who s)o#e Enlish& it would "e such a hel)&. thouht /ac#' ,0

could as# for a )olice%station then& and et a telera$6or ca"le6sent to Bill' 0 wish he.d co$e out

here and hel)' 0 wonder what ha))ened to hi$' 0 "et those fellows #noc#ed hi$ out'.

He ca$e into the town and loo#ed around hi$ with interest' The sho)s were s$all and dar#& thehouses were white%washed or )in#%washed& and see$ed to run to curls and squiles and $uch

decoration6rather ,fretwor#y.& /ac# decided' Curly roofs& squily "its of woodwor# here and

there& and windows whose sills were covered with decorated flower%"o+es'

The )eo)le loo#ed li#e )easants& and were dressed in ay& si$)le clothes' 4o wo$an wore a hat&

"ut $any wore shawls' The $en wore rather tiht trousers& and had so$e #ind of sash round their

waists' Their waistcoats were aily e$"roidered& and so$ehow they re$inded /ac# of "ull%fihters

thouh he didn.t quite #now why'

The children were very dirty and "adly dressed' Even the little irls wore lon& rather raedy

s#irts& and the "oys wore tiht trousers li#e their fathers "ut had no ay waistcoats' 0nstead they had

very dirty red& "lue or yellow shirts'

They soon saw /ac#& and ran to hi$' The )arrot fascinated the$'


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,3ow#e& )ow#e!. they yelled& )ointin at (i#i& who was delihted at "ein the centre of

attention' She

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Circus of Adventure, The - Enid Blyton

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