Blyton, Enid - Adventure 02 - The Castle of Adventure

7/17/2019 Blyton, Enid - Adventure 02 - The Castle of Adventure

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Enid Blyton

The Castle of Adventure

Chapter 1

NOW FOR THE HOLIDAY!

TWO "irls sat on a #indo#$seat in their s%hool study& One had red #avy hair' and so (any fre%)les

that it #as i(*ossi+le to %ount the(& The other had dar) hair that stu%) u* in front in an a(usin"

tuft&

,One (ore day and then the hols +e"in'- said red$haired Lu%y$Ann' loo)in" at Dinah out of

%urious "reen eyes& ,I.( lon"in" to see /a%) a"ain& A #hole ter( is an a#fully lon" ti(e to +e

a#ay fro( hi(&-

,Well' I don.t (ind +ein" a#ay fro( my +rother!- said Dinah' #ith a lau"h& ,0hili*.s not +ad'

+ut he does (a)e (e #ild' al#ays +rin"in" in those a#ful ani(als and inse%ts of his&-

,It.s a "ood thin" there.s only one day +et#een our +rea)in"$u* days'- said Lu%y$Ann& ,We

shall +e ho(e first1and #e %an have a loo) round' and then the ne2t day #e shall (eet the +oys1

hurrah!-

,I #onder #hat this *la%e is li)e' that 3other has ta)en for the hols'- said Dinah& ,I.ll "et out

her letter and read it a"ain&-

he fished in her *o%)et for the letter and too) it out& he s)i((ed it throu"h&

,he doesn.t say very (u%h& Only that she #ants our ho(e to +e de%orated and %leaned' and so

she has ta)en a %otta"e so(e#here in the hills for us to stay in these hols'- said Dinah& ,Here.s the

letter&-

Lu%y$Ann too) it' and read it #ith interest& ,Yes1it.s a *la%e %alled *rin" Cotta"e' and it.s onthe side of Castle Hill& he says it.s rather a lonely sort of *la%e' +ut *a%)ed #ith #ild +irds' so /a%)

#ill +e very *leased&-

,I %an.t understand your +rother +ein" so (ad on +irds'- said Dinah& ,He.s 4ust as +ad a+out

+irds as 0hili* is a+out inse%ts and ani(als&-

,0hili* is (arvellous #ith ani(als' I thin)'- said Lu%y$Ann' #ho had a "reat ad(iration for

Dinah.s +rother& ,Do you re(e(+er that (ouse he trained to ta)e %ru(+s fro( +et#een his teeth5-

,Oh' don.t re(ind (e of those thin"s!- said Dinah' #ith a shudder& he %ould not +ear even a

s*ider near her' and +ats and (i%e (ade her s6ueal& Lu%y$Ann thou"ht it #as 6ueer that she should

have lived so (any years #ith an ani(al$lovin" +oy li)e 0hili*' and yet still +e afraid of thin"s&

,He does tease you' doesn.t he5- she said to Dinah' re(e(+erin" ho# 0hili* had often *ut

ear#i"s under Dinah.s *illo#' and +la%) +eetles in her shoes& He really #as a terri+le tease #hen he#as in the (ood& No #onder Dinah had su%h a te(*er!

,I #onder ho# 7i)i has "ot on this ter('- said Dinah&

7i)i #as /a%).s *arrot' an e2tre(ely %lever +ird' #ho %ould i(itate voi%es and sounds in a (ost

re(ar)a+le (anner& /a%) had tau"ht her (any *hrases' +ut 7i)i had *i%)ed u* (any (any (ore

herself' es*e%ially fro( a %ross old un%le that Lu%y$Ann and /a%) had on%e lived #ith&

,7i)i #asn.t "oin" to +e allo#ed to +e at s%hool #ith /a%) this ter('- said Lu%y$Ann sadly& ,It.s

an a#ful *ity1+ut still he "ot a friend in the to#n to loo) after her for hi(' and he "oes to see her

every day& But I do thin) they (i"ht have let hi( have her at s%hool&-

,Well' %onsiderin" that 7i)i )e*t tellin" the head(aster not to sniff' and /a%).s for($(aster to

#i*e his feet' and #o)e everyone u* at ni"ht +y s%ree%hin" li)e a rail#ay en"ine' I.( not sur*rised

they didn.t #ant 7i)i this ter('- said Dinah& ,Any#ay' #e.ll +e a+le to have her for the hols andthat #ill +e ni%e& I really do li)e 7i)i1she doesn.t see( li)e a +ird' +ut li)e one of us' so(eho#&-



7i)i %ertainly #as a "ood %o(*anion& Althou"h she didn.t %onverse #ith the %hildren *ro*erly'

she %ould tal) nineteen to the do8en #hen she #anted to' sayin" the (ost ridi%ulous thin"s and

(a)in" the %hildren lau"h till they %ried& he adored /a%)' and #ould sit 6uietly on his shoulder for

hours if he #ould let her&

The "irls #ere "lad that the holidays #ere so soon %o(in"& They and the t#o +oys and 7i)i

#ould have "ood fun to"ether& Lu%y$Ann es*e%ially loo)ed for#ard to +ein" #ith Dinah.s *retty'(erry (other&

/a%) and Lu%y$Ann Trent had no father or (other' and had lived #ith a %ross old un%le for years'

until +y %han%e they had (et 0hili* and Dinah 3annerin"& These t#o had no father' +ut they had a

(other' #ho #or)ed hard for the(& he #or)ed so hard that she had no ti(e to (a)e a ho(e for

the(' so they #ere sent to +oardin"$s%hool' and in the holidays #ent to an aunt and un%le&

But no# thin"s #ere %han"ed& Dinah.s (other had enou"h (oney to (a)e a ho(e for the(' and

had offered to have their "reat friends' /a%) and Lu%y$Ann' as #ell& o in ter($ti(e the t#o "irls

#ent to s%hool to"ether' and the t#o +oys #ere at another s%hool& In the holidays all four 4oined u*

#ith 3rs& 3annerin"' the (other of 0hili* and Dinah&

,No (ore un%les and aunts!- said Dinah 4oyfully' #ho hadn.t (u%h li)ed her a+sent$(inded old

9n%le /o%elyn& ,/ust a lovely ho(e #ith (y (other!- No#' in the %o(in" holidays' they #ere all to +e to"ether in this holiday %otta"e that 3rs&

3annerin" had found& Althou"h Dinah #as a little disa**ointed at not "oin" +a%) to the ho(e her

(other had (ade for the( all' she %ouldn.t hel* loo)in" for#ard to the holiday %otta"e& It sounded

ni%e1and #hat fine #al)s and *i%ni%s they #ould have a(on" the hills!

,Do you re(e(+er that (arvellous adventure #e had last su((er5- she said to Lu%y$Ann' #ho

#as loo)in" drea(ily out of the #indo#' thin)in" of ho# lovely it #ould +e to see her +rother /a%)

the day after ne2t&

Lu%y$Ann nodded& ,Yes'- she said' and she s%re#ed u* her fre%)led nose a little& ,It #as the

(ost e2%itin" adventure anyone %ould have1+ut oh dear' ho# afraid I #as so(eti(es! That Island

of :loo(1do you re(e(+er it' Dinah5-

,Yes1and that shaft "oin" ri"ht do#n into the heart of the earth1and ho# #e "ot lost there1

"olly' that was an adventure!- said Dinah& ,I #ouldn.t (ind havin" another one' really&-

,You are funny!- said Lu%y$Ann& ,You shiver and sha)e #hen you see a s*ider' +ut yet you

see( to en4oy adventures so e2%itin" that they (a)e (e tre(+le even to re(e(+er the(!-

,Well1#e shan.t have any (ore'- said Dinah' rather re"retfully& ,One adventure li)e that is

enou"h for a lifeti(e' I su**ose& I +et the +oys #ill #ant to tal) a+out it a"ain and a"ain& Do you

re(e(+er ho# in the Christ(as hols #e %ouldn.t (a)e the( sto*5-

,Oh1I #ish the hols #ould %o(e 6ui%)ly!- said Lu%y$Ann' "ettin" off the #indo#$seat

restlessly& ,I don.t )no# #hy these last t#o or three days al#ays dra" so&-

But to(orro# %a(e at last' and the t#o "irls #ent off in the train #ith s%ores of their friends'

%hatterin" and lau"hin"& Their lu""a"e #as safely in the van' their ti%)ets #ere in their *urses' their hearts +eat fast in deli"ht& No# for the holidays&

They had to %han"e trains t#i%e' +ut Dinah #as "ood at that sort of thin"& Lu%y$Ann #as ti(id

and shy in her dealin"s #ith stran"ers' +ut t#elve$year$old Dinah stood no nonsense fro( anyone&

he #as a stra**in"' %onfident "irl' #ell a+le to hold her o#n& Lu%y$Ann see(ed t#o or three years

youn"er to Dinah' althou"h a%tually there #as only one year +et#een the(&

At last they #ere at the station for their holiday ho(e& They lea*t out and Dinah yelled to the

one and only *orter& He ran to "et their lu""a"e&

,There.s 3other!- shouted Dinah' and rushed to her *retty' +ri"ht$eyed (other' #ho had %o(e

to (eet the(& Dinah #as not one to hu" or )iss very (u%h' +ut Lu%y$Ann (ade u* for that! Dinah

"ave her (other one 6ui%) *e%) of a )iss' +ut Lu%y$Ann "ave her a +ear$hu"' and ru++ed her red

head ha**ily a"ainst 3rs& 3annerin".s %hin&



,Oh' it.s lovely to see you a"ain!- she said' thin)in" for the hundredth ti(e ho# lu%)y Dinah

#as to have a (other of her o#n& he felt "rateful to her for lettin" her share her& It #asn.t very

ni%e' havin" no father or (other to #rite to you' or #el%o(e you ho(e& But 3rs& 3annerin"

al#ays (ade her feel that she loved her and #anted her&

,I.ve "ot the %ar outside to (eet you'- said 3rs& 3annerin"& ,Co(e alon"& The *orter #ill +rin"

your lu""a"e&-They #ent out of the station& It #as only a little %ountry station& Outside #as a %ountry lane' its

+an)s starred #ith s*rin" flo#ers& The s)y #as +lue and the air #as #ar( and soft& Lu%y$Ann felt

very ha**y& It #as the first day of the holidays' she #as #ith Dinah.s lovely (other' and to(orro#

the +oys %a(e ho(e&

They "ot into the little %ar' and the *orter *ut the trun)s in at the +a%)& 3rs& 3annerin" too) the

#heel&

,It.s 6uite a lon" #ay to *rin" Cotta"e'- she said& ,We have to fet%h our o#n "oods and food

fro( the villa"e here1e2%e*t for e""s and +utter and (il) #hi%h a near+y far( lets (e have& But

it.s lovely %ountry' and there are (arvellous #al)s for you& As for +irds1#ell' /a%) #ill have the

ti(e of his life!-

,It.s nestin" ti(e too1he.ll +e thin)in" of nothin" +ut e""s and nests'- said Lu%y$Ann' feelin" 4ust a little 4ealous of the +ird life that too) u* so (u%h of her +rother.s ti(e&

The "irls loo)ed round the( as 3rs& 3annerin" drove alon"& It %ertainly #as lovely %ountry& It

#as very hilly' and in the distan%e the hills loo)ed +lue and rather e2%itin"& The %ar ran alon" a road

do#n a #indin" river valley' and then +e"an to %li(+ a stee* hill&

,Oh' is our %otta"e on the side of this hill5- as)ed Dinah' thrilled& ,What a lovely vie# #e.ll

have' 3other!-

,We have1ri"ht a%ross the valley to other hills' and yet (ore hills risin" +eyond the(!- said her

(other& The %ar had to "o very slo#ly no#' for the road #as stee*& As they rose hi"her and hi"her'

the "irls %ould see (ore and (ore a%ross the valley& Then Lu%y$Ann "lan%ed u*#ards to see ho#

hi"h they #ere1and she "ave a shout&

,I say! Loo) at that %astle on the to* of the hill! /ust loo) at it!-

Dinah loo)ed& It %ertainly #as a (ost i(*osin" and ru""ed old %astle& It had a to#er at ea%h end'

and its #alls loo)ed thi%)& It had slit #indo#s1+ut it had #ide ones too' #hi%h loo)ed a little odd&

,Is it a really old %astle5- as)ed Lu%y$Ann&

,No1not really'- said 3rs& 3annerin"& ,o(e of it is old' +ut (ost of it has +een restored and

re+uilt' so that it is a real (i2$u*& No+ody lives there no#& I don.t )no# #ho it +elon"s to' either1

no$one see(s to )no# or %are& It.s shut u*' and hasn.t a very "ood na(e&-

,Why5 Did so(ethin" horrid ha**en there on%e5- as)ed Dinah' feelin" rather thrilled&

,I thin) so'- said her (other& ,But I really don.t )no# anythin" a+out it& You.d +etter not "o u*

there' anyho#' +e%ause the road u* to it has had a land$slide or so(ethin"' and is very dan"erous&

They say that *art of the %astle is ready to sli* do#n the hill!-,:ra%ious! I ho*e it #on.t sli* on to our %otta"e!- said Lu%y$Ann' half s%ared&

3rs& 3annerin" lau"hed& ,Of %ourse not& We are no#here near it1loo)' there.s our %otta"e'

tu%)ed a#ay a(on" those trees&-

It #as a lovely little %otta"e' #ith a that%hed roof' and s(all leaded #indo#s& The "irls loved it

the (inute they sa# it&

,It.s 4ust a +it li)e the house you +ou"ht for us'- said Dinah& ,That.s *retty too& Oh' 3other' #e

shall have a lovely ti(e here! Won.t the +oys +e thrilled5-

There #as a fair$si8ed shed at the side into #hi%h 3rs& 3annerin" drove the %ar& Everyone "ot

out& ,Leave the trun)s for a +it'- said Dinah.s (other& ,The (an #ho %o(es fro( the far( #ill

%arry the( in& No#1#el%o(e to *rin" Cotta"e!-



Chapter 2

THE BOY CO3E HO3E1AND 7I7I!

THAT day and the (ornin" of the ne2t the t#o "irls s*ent in e2*lorin" their holiday ho(e& It #as

%ertainly a tiny *la%e' +ut 4ust +i" enou"h for the(& There #as a lar"e old$fashioned )it%hen and a

tiny *arlour& A+ove #ere three s(all +edroo(s&

,One for 3other' one for you and (e' Lu%y$Ann' and one for the +oys'- said Dinah& ,3other.s

"oin" to do the %oo)in" and #e.re all to hel* #ith the house$#or)' #hi%h #on.t +e (u%h& Isn.t our

+edroo( s#eet5-

It #as a little roo( tu%)ed into the that%hed roof' #ith a #indo# 4uttin" out fro( the that%h& The

#alls slanted in a 6ueer fashion' and the %eilin" slanted too& The floor #as very uneven' and the

door#ays #ere lo#' so that Dinah' #ho #as "ro#in" tall' had to lo#er her head under one or t#o in

%ase she +u(*ed it&

,*rin" Cotta"e'- she said& ,It.s a ni%e na(e for it' es*e%ially in the s*rin"$ti(e&-

,It.s na(ed +e%ause of the s*rin" that runs do#n +ehind it'- said her (other& ,The #ater starts

so(e#here u* in the yard of the %astle' I +elieve' runs do#n throu"h a tunnel it has (ade for itself'and "ushes out 4ust a+ove the %otta"e at the +a%)& It runs throu"h the "arden then' and disa**ears

do#n the hillside&-

The "irls e2*lored the s*rin"& They found #here it "ushed out' and Dinah tasted the #ater& It #as

%old and %rystal %lear& he li)ed hearin" the "ur"lin" sound it (ade in the untidy little "arden& he

heard it all ni"ht lon" in her slee* and loved it&

The vie# fro( the %otta"e #as (a"nifi%ent& They %ould see the #hole of the valley +elo#' and

%ould follo# too the #indin" road that led u* to their %otta"e& Far a#ay in the distan%e #as the

rail#ay station' loo)in" li)e a toy& T#i%e a day a train %a(e into it' and it too loo)ed li)e a toy&

,/ust li)e the rail#ay en"ine and %arria"es that /a%) used to have'- said Lu%y$Ann'

re(e(+erin"& ,And ho# %ross our old 9n%le :eoffrey #as #hen #e used to set it "oin"! He said it

(ade (ore noise than a thunderstor(& :olly' I.( "lad #e don.t live #ith hi( any (ore&-Dinah loo)ed at her #at%h& ,It.s al(ost ti(e to (eet the train'- she said& ,I +et the +oys are

feelin" e2%ited! Co(e on& Let.s find (y (other&-

3rs& 3annerin" #as 4ust a+out to "o and "et the %ar out& The "irls *a%)ed the(selves in +eside

her& Lu%y$Ann felt terri+ly e2%ited& he #as so loo)in" for#ard to +ein" #ith /a%) a"ain& And #ith

0hili* too& It #ould +e lovely to +e all to"ether on%e (ore& he did ho*e Dinah #ouldn.t fly into

one of her te(*ers too soon! he and 0hili* 6uarrelled far too (u%h&

They arrived at the little station& The train #as not yet si"nalled& Lu%y$Ann #al)ed u* and do#n'

lon"in" to see the si"nal "o do#n1and then' #ith an alar(in" %lan)' it did "o do#n& Al(ost at the

sa(e (o(ent the s(o)e of the train a**eared' and then' round the %orner' %a(e the en"ine' *uffin"

vi"orously' for it #as u*hill to the station&

Both the +oys #ere han"in" out of the #indo#' #avin" and shoutin"& The "irls s%rea(ed"reetin"s' and %a*ered a+out in deli"ht&

,There.s 7i)i!- shouted Lu%y$Ann& ,7i)i! :ood old 7i)i!-

With a s%ree%h 7i)i fle# off /a%).s shoulder and landed on Lu%y$Ann.s& he ru++ed her +ea)

a"ainst the little "irl.s %hee) and (ade a %urious %ra%)in" noise& he #as deli"hted to see her&

The +oys 4u(*ed out of the %arria"e& /a%) rushed to Lu%y$Ann and "ave her a hu" #hi%h the

little "irl returned' her eyes shinin"& 7i)i "ave another s%ree%h and fle# +a%) on to /a%).s shoulder&

,Wi*e your feet'- she said sternly to the startled *orter& ,And #here is your hand)er%hief5-

0hili* "rinned at his sister Dinah& ,Hallo' old thin"'- he said& ,You.ve "ro#n! :ood thin" I have

too' or you.d +e as tall as I a(! Hallo' Lu%y$Ann1 you haven.t "ro#n! Been a "ood "irl at s%hool5-

,Don.t tal) li)e a "ro#n$u*!- said Dinah& ,3other.s outside in the %ar& Co(e and see her&-

The *orter too) their trun)s on his +arro# and follo#ed the four e2%ited %hildren& 7i)i fle#

do#n to the +arro# and loo)ed at hi( #ith +ri"ht eyes&



,Ho# (any ti(es have I told you to shut the door5- she said& The *orter dro**ed the handles of

the +arro# in alar(& He didn.t )no# #hether to ans#er this e2traordinary +ird or not&

7i)i "ave a lau"h 4ust li)e /a%).s and fle# out to the %ar& he 4oined the others' and tried to "et

on to 3rs& 3annerin".s shoulder& he li)ed Dinah.s (other very (u%h&

,Attention' *lease'- said 7i)i sternly& ,O*en your +oo)s at *a"e ;&-

Everyone lau"hed& ,he "ot that fro( one of the (asters'- said /a%)& ,Oh' Aunt Allie' she #asso funny in the train& he *ut her head out of the #indo# at every station and said' <Ri"ht a#ay'

there!. 4ust as she had heard a "uard say' and you should have seen the en"ine$driver.s fa%e!-

,It.s lovely to have you +a%)'- said Lu%y$Ann' )ee*in" %lose to /a%)& he adored her +rother

thou"h he didn.t really ta)e a "reat deal of noti%e of her& They all "ot into the %ar' and the *orter

shoved the lu""a"e in so(eho#' )ee*in" a shar* eye on 7i)i&

,0lease shut the door'- she said' and #ent off into one of her never$endin" "i""les&

,hut u*' 7i)i'- said /a%)' seein" the *orter.s startled fa%e& ,Behave yourself' or I.ll send you

+a%) to s%hool&-

,Oh' you nau"hty +oy!- said 7i)i= ,oh' you nau"hty' nau"hty' nau"hty & & &-

,I.ll *ut an elasti% +and round your +ea) if you dare to say another #ord!- said /a%)& ,Can.t you

see I #ant to tal) to Aunt Allie5-/a%) and Lu%y$Ann %alled 3rs& 3annerin" Aunt Allie' +e%ause ,3rs& 3annerin"- see(ed too

stiff and stand$offish& he li)ed +oth %hildren very (u%h' +ut es*e%ially Lu%y$Ann' #ho #as far

(ore "entle and affe%tionate than Dinah had ever +een&

,I say1this loo)s e2%itin" %ountry!- said 0hili*' loo)in" out of the %ar #indo#s& ,0lenty of

+irds here for you' Fre%)les1and *lenty of ani(als for (e!-

,Where.s that +ro#n rat you had this ter(5- said /a%)' #ith a (is%hievous "lan%e at Dinah& he

"ave a s6ueal at on%e&

0hili* +e"an to feel a+out in his *o%)ets' divin" into first one and then the other' #hilst Dinah

#at%hed hi( in horror' e2*e%tin" to see a +ro#n rat a**ear at any (o(ent&

,3other! to* the %ar and let (e #al)!- +e""ed Dinah& ,0hili*.s "ot a rat so(e#here on hi(&-

,Here he is1no' it.s (y han)y'- said 0hili*& ,Ah1#hat.s this1no' that.s not hi(& No#1here

#e are& & & &-

He *retended to +e tryin" to "et so(ethin" out of his *o%)et #ith "reat diffi%ulty& ,Ah' you.d

+ite' #ould you5-

Dinah s6uealed a"ain' and her (other sto**ed the %ar& Dinah fu(+led at the door$handle&

,No' you stay in' Dinah'- said her (other& ,0hili*' you "et out and the rat too& I 6uite a"ree #ith

Dinah1there are to +e no rats runnin" all over us& o you %an "et out and #al)' 0hili*&-

,Well' 3other1as a (atter of fa%t1I.ve left the rat +ehind at s%hool'- said 0hili*' #ith a "rin&

,I #as 4ust teasin" Dinah' that.s all&-

,Beast!- said Dinah&

,I thou"ht you #ere'- said his (other' drivin" on a"ain& ,Well' you nearly had to #al) ho(e' so 4ust +e %areful! I don.t (ind any of your %reatures (yself' e2%e*t rats or sna)es& No#' #hat do you

thin) of *rin" Cotta"e5-

The +oys li)ed it 4ust as (u%h as the "irls had1+ut it #as the stran"e old %astle that really too)

their fan%y& Dinah for"ot to sul) as she *ointed it out to the +oys&

,We.ll "o u* there'- said /a%)' at on%e&

,I thin) not'- said 3rs& 3annerin"& ,I.ve 4ust e2*lained to the "irls that it.s dan"erous u* there&-

,Oh1+ut #hy5- as)ed /a%)' disa**ointed&

,Well' there has +een a land$slide on the road' and no$one dares to set foot on it no#'- said 3rs&

3annerin"& ,I did hear that the #hole %astle is sli**in" a +it' and (i"ht %olla*se if the road

%ru(+les (u%h (ore&-

,It sounds very e2%itin"'- said 0hili*' his eyes "lea(in"&



They #ent indoors and the "irls sho#ed the( their roo( u* in the roof& Lu%y$Ann #as so

deli"hted to +e #ith /a%) that she %ould hardly leave hi( for a (inute& He #as very li)e her' #ith

dee*$red hair' "reen eyes and hundreds of fre%)les& He #as a very natural' )indly +oy' and (ost

*eo*le li)ed hi( at on%e&

0hili*' #ho( /a%) often %alled Tufty' #as very li)e his sister too' +ut (u%h (ore even$

te(*ered& He had the sa(e unruly lo%) of hair in front' and even their (other had this' so that /a%) often referred to the( as ,The Three Tufties&- The +oys #ere older than the t#o "irls' and very

"ood friends indeed&

,Holidays at last!- said 0hili*' undoin" his trun)& Dinah #at%hed hi( fro( a safe distan%e&

,:ot any %reatures in there5- she as)ed&

,Only a +a+y hed"eho"= and you needn.t #orry' he.s "ot no fleas'- said 0hili*&

,I +et he has'- said Dinah' (ovin" a fe# ste*s +a%)& ,I shan.t for"et that hed"eho" you found

last su((er'-

,I tell you' this +a+y one hasn.t "ot any fleas at all'- said 0hili*& ,I "ot so(e stuff fro( the

%he(ist and *o#dered hi( #ell' and he.s as %lean as %an +e& His s*ines haven.t turned +ro#n yet!-

The "irls loo)ed #ith interest as 0hili* sho#ed the( a tiny *ri%)ly +all rolled u* in his 4erseys in

the trun)& It un%urled a little and sho#ed a tiny snout&,He.s s#eet'- said Lu%y$Ann' and even Dinah didn.t (ind hi(&

,The only sna" a+out hi( is1he.s "oin" to +e a#fully *ri%)ly to %arry a+out #ith (e'- said

0hili*' *uttin" the tiny thin" into his shorts *o%)et&

,You.ll *ro+a+ly sto* %arryin" hi( a+out #hen you.ve sat on hi( on%e or t#i%e'- said Dinah&

,I *ro+a+ly shall'- said 0hili*& ,And 4ust see you don.t annoy (e too (u%h' Di1for he.d +e a

(arvellous thin" to *ut into your +ed!-

,hut u* +i%)erin"' you t#o' and let.s "o out and e2*lore'- said /a%)& ,Lu%y$Ann says there.s a

s*rin" in the "arden that %o(es all the #ay do#n fro( the %astle&-

,I.( )in" of the %astle'- said 7i)i' s#ayin" "ently to and fro on to* of the dressin"$ta+le& ,0o*

"oes the #easel&-

,You.re "ettin" a +it (i2ed'- said /a%)& ,Co(e on1out #e all "o!-

Chapter 3

ETTLIN: IN AT 0RIN: COTTA:E

THE first day or t#o #ere very ha**y days indeed& The four %hildren and 7i)i #andered a+out as

they *leased' and /a%) found so (any hundreds of nests that he (arvelled to see the(& He #as (ad

on +irds' and #ould s*end hours #at%hin" the(' if the others let hi(&

He "ot very e2%ited one day +e%ause he said he sa# an ea"le& ,An eagle!” said Dinah

dis+elievin"ly& ,Why' I thou"ht ea"les #ere e2tin%t' and %ouldn.t +e found any (ore1li)e that:reat Au) you al#ays used to +e tal)in" a+out&-

,Well' ea"les aren.t e2tin%t'- said /a%) s%ornfully& ,That 4ust sho#s ho# little you )no#& I.(

sure this #as an ea"le& It soared u* and u* and u* into the air 4ust as ea"les are said to do& I +elieve

it #as a :olden Ea"le&-

,Is it dan"erous5- said Dinah&

,Well' I su**ose it (i"ht atta%) you if you #ent too near its nest'- said /a%)& ,:olly1I #onder

if it is nestin" any#here near here!-

,Well' I.( not "oin" ea"le$nestin"'- said Dinah fir(ly& ,Any#ay' /a%)' you.ve found a+out a

hundred nests already1surely that.s enou"h for you #ithout #antin" to see an ea"le.s nest as

#ell&-

/a%) never too) +irds. e""s' nor did he distur+ the sittin" +irds at all& No +ird #as ever afraid of

hi(' any (ore than any ani(al #as ever afraid of 0hili*& If Lu%y or Dinah so (u%h as loo)ed at a



nest' the sittin" +ird see(ed fri"htened and fle# off1+ut she #ould allo# /a%) to stro)e her'

#ithout (ovin" a feather! It #as very odd&

7i)i al#ays %a(e #ith the( on their e2%ursions' sittin" on /a%).s shoulder& He had tau"ht her

not to (a)e a sound #hen he #anted to #at%h any +ird' +ut 7i)i see(ed to o+4e%t to the roo)s that

lived around& There #as a lar"e roo)ery in one %lu(* of trees not far off' and 7i)i #ould often "o

to sit on a near+y +ran%h and address rude re(ar)s to the astonished roo)s&,It.s a *ity they %an.t ans#er her +a%)'- said 0hili*& ,But all they say is <Ca#$%a#$%a#&. -

,Yes' and 7i)i says it too' no#'- said /a%)& ,he "oes on %a#in" for a"es unless I sto* her& Don.t

you' 7i)i5-

7i)i too) /a%).s ear into her shar* %urved +ea) and fondled it "ently& he loved /a%) to tal) to

her& he (ade a %ra%)in" noise #ith her +ea)' and said lovin"ly' ,Ca#$%a#$%a#$%a#$%a#& & & &-

,All ri"ht' that.s enou"h'- said /a%)& ,:o and listen to a ni"htin"ale or so(ethin" and i(itate

that! A roo).s %a# isn.t anythin" to (arvel at& to*' 7i)i!-

7i)i sto**ed' and "ave a realisti% snee8e& ,Where.s your han)y' #here.s your han)y5- she said&

To Lu%y$Ann.s deli"ht' /a%) "ave her a han)y' and 7i)i s*ent the ne2t (inute or t#o holdin" it

in her %la#ed foot and da++in" her +ea) #ith it' sniffin" all the ti(e&

,Ne# tri%)'- e2*lained /a%)' #ith a "rin& ,:ood' isn.t it5-There #ere "or"eous #al)s around the %otta"e& It #as a+out three (iles to the little villa"e' and

e2%e*t for the fe# houses and the one "eneral sho* there' there #ere no other houses save for a

far( or t#o' and a lonely far( %otta"e here and there in the hills&

,We.re not li)ely to have any adventures here,” said 0hili*& ,It.s all so 6uiet and *ea%eful& The

villa"e fol) have hardly a #ord to say' have they5 They say <Ah' that.s ri"ht. to everythin"&-

,They.re half afraid of 7i)i'- said Dinah&

,Ah' that.s ri"ht'- said /a%)' i(itatin" the s*ee%h of the villa"ers&

7i)i i((ediately did the sa(e& ,Do you re(e(+er #hen 7i)i "ot lo%)ed u* in a %ave

under"round' and the (an #ho lo%)ed her u* heard her tal)in" to herself' and thou"ht she #as

(e5- said /a%)' re(e(+erin" the adventure of the su((er +efore& ,3y #ord' that #as an

adventure!-

,I.d li)e another adventure' really'- said 0hili*& ,But I don.t e2*e%t #e.ll have another all our

lives lon"&-

,Well' they say adventures %o(e to the adventurous'- said /a%)& ,And #e.re *retty adventurous'

I thin)& I don.t see #hy #e shouldn.t have *lenty (ore&-

,I #ish #e %ould "o u* and e2*lore that stran"e %astle'- said Dinah lon"in"ly' loo)in" u* to

#here it to#ered on the su((it of the hill& ,It loo)s su%h a 6ueer *la%e' so deserted and lonely'

standin" u* there' fro#nin" over the valley& 3other says so(ethin" horrid on%e ha**ened there' +ut

she doesn.t )no# #hat&-

,We.ll try and find out'- said /a%) *ro(*tly& He al#ays li)ed the hair$raisin" tales& ,I e2*e%t

*eo*le #ere )illed there' or so(ethin"&-,Oooh' ho# horrid1I don.t #ant to "o u* there'- said Lu%y$Ann at on%e&

,Well' 3other said #e #eren.t to' anyho#'- said Dinah&

,he (i"ht let us "o ea"le$nestin"'- said 0hili*& ,And if our sear%h too) us near the %astle' #e

%ouldn.t very #ell hel* it' %ould #e5-

,We.d +etter tell her' if #e do "o any#here near'- said /a%)' #ho didn.t li)e the idea of

de%eivin" 0hili*.s )indly (other in any #ay& ,I.ll as) her if she (inds&-

o he as)ed her that evenin"& ,Aunt Allie' I +elieve there (ay +e an ea"le.s nest so(e#here on

the to* of this hill'- he said& ,It.s so hi"h it.s al(ost a (ountain1and that.s #here ea"les nest' you

)no#& You #ouldn.t (ind if I tried to find the nest' #ould you5-

,No' not if you are %areful'- said 3rs& 3annerin"& ,But #ould your ea"le hunt ta)e you

any#here near the old %astle5-



,Well' it (i"ht'- said /a%) honestly& ,But you %an trust us not to fool a+out on any land$slides'

Aunt Allie& We shouldn.t drea( of "ettin" the "irls into dan"er&-

,A**arently there #as a %loud$+urst on the to* of this hill so(e years +a%)'- said 3rs&

3annerin"' ,and su%h a delu"e of #ater fell that it under(ined the foundations of the %astle' and

(ost of the road u* to it slid a#ay do#n the hillside& o' you see' it really (i"ht +e very dan"erous

to e2*lore u* there&-,We.ll +e very %areful'- *ro(ised /a%)' deli"hted that 3rs& 3annerin" hadn.t for+idden outri"ht

their "oin" u* the hill to the %astle&

He told the others' and they #ere thrilled& ,We.ll "o u* to(orro#' shall #e5- said /a%)& ,I really

do #ant to hunt a+out to see if there is any si"n of an ea"le.s nest&-

That afternoon' in their #anderin"s' they had a %urious feelin" of +ein" follo#ed& On%e or t#i%e

/a%) turned round' sure that so(eone #as +ehind the(& But there #as never anyone there&

,Funny'- he said to 0hili* in a lo# voi%e& ,I felt %ertain there #as so(eone +ehind us then1I

heard the %ra%) of a t#i"1as if so(eone had trodden on it and +ro)en it&-

,Yes1I thou"ht so too'- said 0hili*& He loo)ed *u88led& ,I tell you #hat' /a%)& When #e "et

into that *at%h of trees' I.ll %rou%h do#n +ehind a +ush and sto*' #hilst you others "o on& Then' if

there.s anyone follo#in" +ehind us for so(e reason' I.ll see the(&-The "irls #ere told #hat 0hili* #as "oin" to do& They too had felt that there #as so(eone

+ehind the(& They all #al)ed into the *at%h of trees' and then' #hen he %a(e to a %onveniently

thi%) +ush' 0hili* dro**ed do#n suddenly +ehind it and hid' #hilst the others #al)ed on' tal)in"

loudly&

0hili* lay there and listened& He %ould hear nothin" at first& Then he heard a rustle and his heart

+eat fast& Who was it tra%)in" the(' and #hy5 There didn.t see( any sense in it&

o(eone %a(e u* to his +ush& o(eone %re*t *ast #ithout seein" hi(& 0hili* "a8ed at the

o(eone and #as so astonished that he let out an e2%la(ation&

“Well!”

A "irl #ith ra""ed %lothes' +are feet and #ild' %urlin" hair' 4u(*ed violently and turned round&

In a tri%e 0hili* had 4u(*ed u* and had hold of her #rists& He did not hold her rou"hly' +ut he held

her too fir(ly for her to "et a#ay& he tried to +ite hi(' and )i%)ed out #ith her +are feet&

,No# don.t +e silly'- said 0hili*& ,I.ll let you "o #hen you tell (e #ho you are and #hy you are

follo#in" us&-

The "irl said nothin"' +ut "lared at 0hili* out of +la%) eyes& The others' hearin" 0hili*.s voi%e'

%a(e runnin" +a%)&

,This is the *erson #ho #as follo#in" us' +ut I %an.t "et a #ord out of her'- said 0hili*&

,he.s a "y*sy "irl'- said Dinah& The "irl s%o#led at her& Then she "lan%ed at 7i)i' on /a%).s

shoulder' and stared as if she %ouldn.t ta)e her eyes off her&

,I +elieve she #as only follo#in" us to "et a "li(*se of the *arrot!- said 0hili*' #ith a lau"h& ,Is

that ri"ht' "y*sy "irl5-The "irl nodded& ,Ah' that.s ri"ht'- she said&

,Ah' that.s ri"ht'- said 7i)i& The "irl stared and "ave a lau"h of sur*rise& It altered her fa%e at

on%e' and "ave her a (erry' (is%hievous loo)&

,What.s your na(e5- as)ed 0hili*' lettin" "o her #rists&

,Tassie'- said the "irl& ,I sa# that +ird' and I %a(e after you& I didn.t (ean no har(& I live round

the hill #ith (y (other& I )no# #here you live& I )no# all you do&-

,Oh1+een s*yin" round a +it' and follo#in" us' I su**ose!- said /a%)& ,Do you )no# this

hillside #ell5-

Tassie nodded& Her +ri"ht +la%) eyes hardly left 7i)i& he see(ed fas%inated +y the *arrot&

,0o* "oes the #easel'- said 7i)i to her' in a sole(n voi%e& ,O*en your +oo) at *a"e ;&-

,I say1do you )no# if the ea"les nest on this hill5- as)ed /a%) suddenly& He thou"ht it 6uiteli)ely that this #ild little "irl (i"ht )no# thin"s li)e that&



,What.s an ea"le5- said Tassie&

,A +i" +ird'- said /a%)& ,A very +i" +ird #ith a %urved +ea)' and & & &-

,Li)e your +ird there5- said Tassie' *ointin" to 7i)i&

,Oh no'- said /a%)& ,Well1never (ind& If you don.t )no# #hat an ea"le is li)e' you #on.t

)no# #here it nests either&-

,It.s ti(e to "o +a%) ho(e'- said 0hili*& ,I.( hun"ry& Tassie' ta)e us the shortest #ay ho(e!-To 0hili*.s sur*rise Tassie turned round and *lun"ed do#n the hillside' as sure$footed as a "oat&

The others follo#ed& he too) the( su%h a short %ut that all of the( #ere a(a8ed to see *rin"

Cotta"e in front of the(&

,Than)s' Tassie'- said 0hili*' and 7i)i e%hoed his #ords& ,Than)s' Tassie&-

Tassie s(iled' and her usual' rather sul)y loo) fled& ,I.ll see you a"ain'- she said' and turned to

"o&

,Did you say you lived at that old %otta"e round the hill5- yelled /a%) after her&

,Ah' that.s ri"ht!- she shouted +a%)' and disa**eared into the +ushes&

Chapter 4TAIE AND B9TTON

CERTAINLY Castle Hill #as a very lonely *la%e' for' after they had e2*lored it' there see(ed to +e

only their o#n %otta"e on it' Tassie.s tu(+le$do#n house' and a far( near the +otto(' #here they

"ot their e""s and (il)& The villa"e lay in the valley +elo#&

But althou"h the "reat hill #as al(ost e(*ty of *eo*le' it #as full of #ild life= +irds for /a%)'

and ani(als of all )inds for 0hili*& 6uirrels ran every#here' ra++its *o**ed u* #herever they

#al)ed' and red fo2es slun) +y' not see(in" at all s%ared&

,:olly! I #ish I %ould "et a +a+y fo2' a little %u+!- said 0hili*& ,I.ve al#ays #anted one&

They.re li)e s(all and lively *u**ies' you )no#&-Tassie' the "y*sy$li)e "irl' #as #ith the( #hen he said this& he often 4oined u* #ith the( no#'

and #as 6uite invalua+le +e%ause she al#ays )ne# the #ay ho(e& It see(ed very easy to "et lost

on the vast hill' +ut Tassie %ould al#ays sho# the( a short %ut&

he #as a 6ueer "irl& o(eti(es she #ould not %o(e near the(' +ut hovered a+out' so(e yards

off' loo)in" at 7i)i #ith fas%inated eyes& o(eti(es she #al)ed %lose to the(' and listened to their

tal)' thou"h she never said very (u%h herself&

he loo)ed #ith ad(iration and envy on the si(*le %lothes of the t#o "irls& o(eti(es she too)

the stuff they #ere (ade of +et#een her fin"ers and felt it& he never #ore anythin" +ut a ra""ed

fro%) that loo)ed as if it had +een (ade fro( a dirty sa%)& Her #ild' %urly hair #as in a tan"le' and

she #as al#ays dirty&

,I don.t (ind her +ein" dirty' +ut she s(ells a +it stron" so(eti(es'- said Lu%y$Ann to Dinah&,I don.t +elieve she ever has a +ath&-

,Well' she.s *ro+a+ly not seen a +ath in her life'- said Dinah& ,he loo)s a#fully healthy

thou"h' doesn.t she5 I.ve never seen anyone #ith su%h +ri"ht eyes and *in) %hee)s and #hite teeth&

Yet I +et she never %leans her teeth&-

On en6uiry' it #as found that Tassie didn.t )no# #hat a +ath #as& Dinah too) her into *rin"

Cotta"e and sho#ed her the +i" tin +ath they all used& Her (other #as there and loo)ed at the #ild

little "irl in a(a8e(ent&

,Whoever is that dirty little "irl5- she as)ed Lu%y$Ann in a lo# voi%e& ,he.d +etter have a

+ath&-

Lu%y$Ann )ne# 3rs& 3annerin" #ould say that& 3others thou"ht a lot a+out *eo*le +ein"

%lean& But #hen Dinah e2*lained to Tassie #hat havin" a +ath (eant' Tassie loo)ed s%ared& he

shran) +a%) in horror at the thou"ht of sittin" do#n in #ater&



,No# you listen to (e'- said 3rs& 3annerin" fir(ly& ,If you li)e to let (e "ive you a +ath and

s%ru+ you #ell' I.ll find an old %otton fro%) of Dinah.s for you' and a ri++on for your hair&-

The thou"ht of this finery thrilled Tassie to su%h an e2tent that she %onsented to have a +ath& o

she #as shut u* in the )it%hen #ith Dinah.s (other' a +ath of hot #ater and *lenty of soa*&

After a +it su%h a"onised shrie)s %a(e fro( the )it%hen that the %hildren in the "arden outside

#ondered #hat %ould +e ha**enin"& Then they heard 3rs& 3annerin".s fir( voi%e&,it do#n *ro*erly& :et #et all over& No# don.t +e silly' Tassie& Thin) of that *retty +lue %otton

fro%) over there&-

3ore shrie)s& Evidently Tassie had sat do#n +ut didn.t li)e it& There %a(e the sound of

s%ru++in"&

,Your (other.s doin" the 4o+ thorou"hly'- said /a%)' #ith a "rin& ,0ooh' #hat a s(ell of

%ar+oli%!-

In half an hour.s ti(e Tassie %a(e out of the )it%hen' loo)in" 6uite different& Her +ro#n fa%e

and ar(s #ere no# only dar) #ith sun+urn' not #ith dirt& Her hair #as #ashed and +rushed' and

tied +a%) #ith a +lue ri++on& he #ore a +lue %otton fro%) of Dinah.s' and on her feet she a%tually

had a *air of old ru++er shoes!

,Oh' Tassie1you loo) fine!- said Lu%y$Ann' and Tassie loo)ed *leased& he fan%ied herself very (u%h indeed in her ne# %lothes' and )e*t stro)in" the +lue fro%) as if it #as a %at&

,I s(ell ni%e'- she said' evidently li)in" the s(ell of %ar+oli% soa* +etter than the others did&

,But that +ath #as dreadful& Ho# often do you have a +ath5 On%e a year5-

Tassie #as e2traordinarily stu*id in so(e thin"s& he %ould not read or #rite' and yet' li)e a Red

Indian' she %ould read the si"ns in the #oods and fields in a #ay that really astonished the %hildren&

he #as (ore li)e a very intelli"ent ani(al than a little "irl& he atta%hed herself to 0hili* and also

to 7i)i' and *lainly thou"ht that he and the *arrot #ere the (ost ad(ira+le (e(+ers of the *arty&

The day after her +ath' she %a(e do#n to the %otta"e and loo)ed in at the #indo#& he held

so(ethin" in her ar(s and the others #ondered #hat it #as&

,There.s Tassie'- said Lu%y$Ann& ,he.s "ot her +lue fro%) on' and loo)s 6uite ni%e& But her

hair.s all in a tan"le a"ain& And #hatever has she "ot round her ne%)5-

,Her shoes!- said 0hili* #ith a "rin& ,I )ne# she #ouldn.t #ear those lon"! he.s so used to

+ein" +arefooted that shoes #ould hurt her& But she %an.t +ear to *art #ith the(' so she.s strun"

the( round her ne%)&-

,What has she "ot in her ar(s5- said Dinah %uriously& ,Tassie' %o(e in and sho# us #hat

you.ve "ot&-

Tassie "rinned' sho#in" all her even #hite teeth' and #ent round to the +a%) door& he a**eared

in the )it%hen' and 0hili* "ave a yell&

,It.s a fo2$%u+! Oh' the *retty little thin"! Tassie' #here did you "et it!-

,Fro( its den'- said Tassie& ,I )ne# #here a fo2 fa(ily lived' you see&-

0hili* too) the little %u+ in his ar(s& It #as the *rettiest thin" i(a"ina+le' #ith its shar* littlenose' its s(all +rush$tail and its thi%) red %oat& It lay 6uiverin" in 0hili*.s ar(s' loo)in" u* at hi(&

Before (any se%onds had *assed the s*ell that 0hili* see(ed to *ut on all ani(als fell u*on the

fo2$%u+& It %re*t u* to his ne%) and li%)ed hi(& It %uddled a"ainst hi(& It sho#ed hi( in every #ay

it %ould that it loved hi(&

,You.ve "ot a #onderful #ay #ith ani(als'- said his (other& ,/ust li)e your father had& What a

dear little %u+' 0hili*! Where are you "oin" to )ee* it5 You #ill have to )ee* it in so(e sort of

%a"e' #on.t you' or it #ill run off&-

,Of %ourse not' 3other!- said 0hili* s%ornfully& ,I shall train it to run to heel' li)e a *u**y& It

#ill soon learn&-

,Well' +ut fo2es are su%h #ild %reatures'- said his (other dou+tfully& But no %reature #as #ild

#ith 0hili*& Before t#o hours had "one +y the %u+ #as s%a(*erin" at 0hili*.s heels' +e""in" to +eta)en into his ar(s #henever the +oy sto**ed&



0hili*.s li)in" for the little "y*sy "irl in%reased very (u%h after that& He found that she )ne# an

a(a8in" a(ount a+out ani(als and their #ays&

,he.s li)e 0hili*.s do"' al#ays follo#in" hi( a+out'- said Dinah& ,Fan%y anyone #antin" to

follo# 0hili*!-

Dinah #as not feelin" very fond of her +rother at that (o(ent& He had four +eetles 4ust then'

#hi%h he said he #as trainin" to +e o+edient to %ertain %o((ands& He )e*t the( in his +edroo(' +ut they #andered a+out in a (anner that #as (ost terrifyin" to *oor Dinah&

7i)i disli)ed 0hili*.s fo2$%u+ very (u%h and s%olded it vi"orously #henever she sa# it& But

Tassie she loved' and fle# to her shoulder as soon as she sa# her' (ur(urin" nonsense into her ear&

Tassie' of %ourse' #as deli"hted a+out this' and felt enor(ously *roud #hen 7i)i %a(e to her&

,You (ay thin) Tassie si(*ly adores you +ut you %o(e se%ond to 7i)i' all the sa(e!- Dinah

told 0hili* #ith a lau"h&

,I #ish 7i)i #ould leave Button alone'- said 0hili*& Button #as the na(e he had "iven to the

little fo2$%u+' #hi%h' li)e Tassie' follo#ed hi( a+out #henever it %ould& ,7i)i is really +ehavin"

+adly a+out Button& I su**ose she.s 4ealous&-

,Ho# (any ti(es have I told you to #i*e your feet5- 7i)i de(anded of Button& ,Where.s your

hand)er%hief5 :od save the #easel! 0o* "oes the )in"!-The %hildren yelled #ith lau"hter& It #as al#ays funny #hen 7i)i "ot (i2ed u* in her senten%es&

7i)i re"arded the( sole(nly' head on one side&

,Attention *lease! O*en your +oo) at *a"e ;&-

,hut u*' 7i)i! You re(ind (e of s%hool!- said /a%)& ,I say' you others1I sa# that ea"le a"ain

today& It #as soarin" over the hill$to*' and its #in"$s*read #as terrifi%& I.( sure it.s "ot a nest u*

there&-

,Well' let.s "o u* and find it'- said Dinah& ,I.( lon"in" to have a s6uint at that old %astle'

any#ay& Even if #e %an.t "o u* the road that has land$slided1or is it land$slid1#e %an "et as

%lose to it as *ossi+le and see #hat it.s li)e&-

,Yes1let.s do so(ethin" e2%itin"'- said Lu%y$Ann& ,Let.s ta)e our tea out' and "o u* the hill as

far as #e %an& You %an loo) for ea"les. nests' /a%)' and #e.ll have a loo) at the old %astle& It loo)s

so stran"e and (ysterious u* there' fro#nin" do#n at the valley' as if it had so(e se%ret to hide&-

,It.s e(*ty' you )no#'- said 0hili*& ,0ro+a+ly full of (i%e and s*iders and +ats' +ut other#ise

e(*ty&-

,Oooh' don.t let.s "o inside then'- said Dinah at on%e& ,I.d rather find an ea"le.s nest than "et

(i2ed u* #ith +ats inside the old %astle!-

Chapter 5

THE WAY TO THE CATLE

,WE.RE "oin" u* to the to* of the hill' 3other'- said 0hili*& ,Huntin" for an ea"le.s nest' to *lease

old /a%)& He.s seen that ea"le a"ain& We #on.t "o u* the road' so you needn.t #orry1the road to

the %astle' I (ean&-

,Ta)e your tea #ith you'- said his (other& ,I shall +e' "lad to +e rid of you all for the afternoon!

I %an do so(e readin" for a %han"e!-

he and Dinah %ut sand#i%hes' and *a%)ed u* %a)e and fruit and (il)& 0hili* too) the )na*sa%)

#ith the food' and #histled to Button' #ho no# ans#ered his na(e or a #histle for all the #orld as

if he #ere a do"&

Button %a(e runnin" to hi(' "ivin" little shar* +ar)s& He #as a (ost attra%tive %u+ and even

3rs& 3annerin" li)ed hi(' thou"h she said he s(elt a +it stron" so(eti(es& he o+4e%ted to Button

slee*in" on 0hili*.s +ed' and she and 0hili* had len"thy ar"u(ents a+out this&



,Your +edroo(.s full of all )inds of %reatures already'- she said& ,There.s that hed"eho" al#ays

in and out of the roo( no#1and yesterday there #as so(ethin" 4u(*in" a+out all over the *la%e&-

Dinah shuddered& he never #ent into 0hili*.s roo( if she %ould hel* it&

,It #as only old Teren%e the Toad'- said 0hili*& ,I.ve "ot hi( so(e#here a+out (e no#' so he

#on.t +e lea*in" a+out in (y +edroo(& I.ll sho# hi( to you1he.s "ot the (ost +eautiful eyes you

ever & & &-,No' 0hili*'- said his (other fir(ly& ,I don.t #ant to see hi(& Don.t distur+ hi(&-

0hili* sto**ed ferretin" a+out his *erson' and *ut on an in4ured e2*ression& ,No+ody ever & & &-

he +e"an' +ut Button too) his attention +y tryin" to %li(+ u* his le" to "et into his ar(s& ,What.s

the (atter' Button5 Has 7i)i +een teasin" you a"ain5 Has she +een *ullin" your tail5-

The fo2$%u+ %hattered to hi(' and finally settled do#n %o(forta+ly on the to* of the )na*sa%)

#hi%h 0hili* had slun" a%ross his +a%)& ,Where are the others5- said 0hili*& ,Oh' there they are& Hi'

everyone' are you ready5-

They set off u* the #indin" road#ay' narro# and stee*' 4ust #ide enou"h to ta)e a %art' Tassie

soon a**eared fro( so(e#here' still #earin" the %otton fro%)' thou"h it #as no# torn and dirty&

he had the ru++er shoes tied round her #aist that day& It a(used the %hildren that she al#ays

+rou"ht the( #ith her' althou"h she never #ore the(&,Her feet (ust +e as hard as nails'- said /a%)& ,he never see(s to (ind treadin" on the shar*est

stones!-

Tassie atta%hed herself to 0hili* and Button& 7i)i addressed a fe# a(ia+le re(ar)s to her' and

then fle# off to the roo)ery to startle the roo)s #ith her realisti% %a#in"s& They %ould never "et

over their astonish(ent at this *erfor(an%e' and listened in silen%e until 7i)i tal)ed li)e a hu(an

+ein"' #hen they all fle# a#ay in dis"ust&

The %hildren #ent on u* the road& It #as very hot that afternoon' and they *anted and *uffed as

they %li(+ed& ,Why did #e %hoose an afternoon li)e this to "o u* to the %astle5- said 0hili*&

Tassie sto**ed& ,To the %astle5- she said& ,You %an.t "o this #ay& The road u* a+ove is +lo%)ed&

You %an only "et round the +a%) no#&-

,Well' #e #ant to see #hat there is to +e seen'- said 0hili*& ,I.d li)e to see this land$slide or

#hatever it is& We #on.t %li(+ a+out on it' +e%ause #e said #e #ouldn.t& But I.d li)e to see it&-

,I.d li)e to "o ri"ht into the %astle'- said /a%)&

,No' no!- said Tassie' her eyes #idenin" as if she #as s%ared& The others loo)ed at her #ith

interest&

,Why not5- as)ed /a%)& ,It.s e(*ty' isn.t it5-

,No' it.s not e(*ty'- said Tassie& ,There are voi%es and %ryin"s and the sound of feet& It is not a

"ood *la%e to "o&-

,You.ve +een listenin" to villa"e tal)'- said 0hili* s%ornfully& ,Who #ould +e there no#5

There.s no %o(in" and "oin"' there.s no$one ever seen a+out the %astle! It.s only the o#ls hootin"

there' or the +ats s6uea)in" or so(ethin"&-,What.s the old story a+out the %astle5- as)ed Dinah& ,Do you )no# it' Tassie5-

,It.s said that a #i%)ed (an lived there on%e' #ho "ot *eo*le to visit hi( in his %astle1and they

#ere never heard of a"ain'- said Tassie' s*ea)in" in a lo# voi%e as if she #as afraid that the #i%)ed

(an' #hoever he #as' (i"ht hear her& ,They heard %ries and "roans' and the %lashin" of s#ords& It

is said' too' that he used to lo%) *eo*le u* in hidden roo(s' and starve the( to death&-

,What a ni%e old (an!- said 0hili*' #ith a lau"h& ,I don.t +elieve a #ord of it& You al#ays "et

these stories a+out old *la%es& I e2*e%t so(e half$(ad old fello# %a(e alon"' +ou"ht the old %astle'

*at%hed it u*' and lived there *retendin" to +e an old$ti(e +aron or so(ethin"& He (ust have +een

(ad to live in a lonely *la%e li)e that&-

,He had *lenty of horses' they say' and they used this road every day'- said Tassie& ,Did you

noti%e ho# here and there' in the stee*est *la%es' the road #as %o++led5 That #as to hel* thehorses&-



,Yes' I did noti%e a %o++led +it 4ust no#'- said 0hili*& The others #ere silent for a (inute&

o(eho# the fa%t that the road really #as %o++led here and there (ade the( thin) there (i"ht +e

so(ethin" in the story Tassie had told the(&

,Any#ay' that all ha**ened years a"o' and the old (an.s "one' and no+ody.s there'- said 0hili*&

,I.d love to e2*lore all over the %astle& Wouldn.t you' /a%)5-

,Rather!- said /a%)& And 7i)i a"reed' s#ayin" to and fro on his shoulder& ,Rather'- said 7i)i',rather' rather' rather' ra & & &-

,7i)i' "et off (y shoulder for a +it'- *anted /a%)& ,You feel 4olly heavy u* this hill&-

,7i)i! I.ll have you!- said Tassie' and 7i)i fle# to her at on%e' infor(in" her that she had +etter

o*en her +oo) at *a"e ;& Tassie did not *ant and *uff as the others did& he #as li)e a "oat' the #ay

she s*ran" u* the stee*est *la%es and never see(ed in the least tired&

,Hallo1#e.re a "ood #ay u* at last!- said 0hili*' #i*in" his hot forehead& ,Loo)' the road "oes

all 6ueer here&-

o it did& It %ould no lon"er +e %alled a road' for *art of the hillside had fallen a#ay and had

*iled itself on the road and all around& Enor(ous +oulders of ro%) lay #here they had rolled' and

the stu(*s of trees sho#ed #here the (ovin" hillside had %ut the( into *ie%es&

The %hildren "a8ed over the untidy' ro%)$stre#n lands%a*e& ,It loo)s as if an earth6ua)e hadu*set it'- said Lu%y$Ann&

Beyond the land$slide stood the %astle' loo)in" even (ore enor(ous no#& The %hildren %ould

see ho# stron"ly +uilt it #as' and %ould see t#o of the s6uare to#ers' #ith the lon" +attle(ented

#all stret%hin" +et#een the(&

,I.d li)e to "o u* into one of those to#ers'- said 0hili* lon"in"ly& ,What a (arvellous vie#

#e.d "et!-

,The %astle isn.t really ri"ht on to* of the hill'- said /a%)' ,thou"h it loo)s as if it is fro( do#n

+elo#& Doesn.t it loo) fier%e' so(eho#!-

It did& None of the %hildren thou"ht it #as a very ni%e %astle& It see(ed to +e su%h a lonely'

stran"e' sinister *la%e& It fro#ned over the hillside' and #as not at all #el%o(in"& All the sa(e' it

#as e2%itin"&

,Tassie' ho# do #e "et to the +a%) of it5- as)ed 0hili*' turnin" to the little "y*sy "irl& ,We

could %li(+ over this land$slid +it' I su**ose' +ut #e said #e #ouldn.t' and anyho# so(e of those

+oulders loo) as if they #ould li)e to "o rollin" over and over do#n the hillside if any+ody "ave

the( a little *ush!-

,There.s (y ea"le a"ain!- %ried /a%) suddenly' in e2%ite(ent' and he *ointed to a +i" +ird that

rose soarin" in the air' a+ove the %astle& ,ee it5 It is an ea"le' no dou+t a+out it& Isn.t it enor(ous5

I +et it.s "ot a nest so(e#here a+out& Oh "olly' there.s another of the(' loo)!-

ure enou"h there #ere t#o (a"nifi%ent ea"les risin" in the air& They rose hi"her and hi"her'

and the %hildren #at%hed the(' fas%inated&

,Ho# do they soar u*#ards li)e that #ithout (ovin" their #in"s5- as)ed Lu%y$Ann& ,I %ouldunderstand it if they soared do#n#ards1"lided' you )no#1+ut to "o u* and u* and u*1

"ra%ious' they.re only 4ust s*e%)s&-

,They use air$%urrents I e2*e%t'- said /a%)& ,3ust +e *lenty on a hill$to*& Two ea"les1and

to"ether& Well' that settles it1there (ust +e a nest!-

,You.re not thin)in" of ta(in" a youn" ea"le' I ho*e5- said Dinah' in alar(&

,Don.t #orry& 7i)i #ould never let /a%) have a ta(e ea"le'- said Lu%y$Ann&

This #as true' and Dinah heaved a si"h of relief&

,They rose fro( so(e#here +ehind the %astle as far as I %ould see'- said /a%) ea"erly& ,Let.s "o

round and see if #e %an find out #here their nest is& Co(e on&-

They left the stran"e' untidy land$slide' and' follo#in" Tassie' (ade their #ay to the east'

%li(+in" over the hillside #ith diffi%ulty& Tassie led the( to a #indin" little *ath' narro# +ut safe&,Whose *ath is this5- said Dinah in sur*rise&



,The ra++its. *ath'- said Tassie& ,There are (illions here& They (a)e 6uite "ood little *aths all

over the *la%e&-

,I %an.t "o any further!- *anted Lu%y$Ann after so(e #hile& ,I.( tired out& Let.s rest and have

our tea& The ea"les. nest #on.t run a#ay&-

Everyone thou"ht that #as a "ood idea& They flo**ed do#n on the "rass' *antin"& 0hili* slun"

his )na*sa%) round to his %hest and undid it& He handed out the food' and then lay flat on the"round& Button i((ediately +e"an to li%) his fa%e all over&

It #as lovely to have a drin)' thou"h there #asn.t nearly enou"h& No$one see(ed very hun"ry'

+ut Button and 7i)i (ana"ed 6uite a fe# sand#i%hes +et#een the(& Tassie had a fe# too& he #as

the least tired out of any of the(& he sat and s%rat%hed 7i)i.s head' #hilst the others lay flat on the

hillside&

They soon re%overed and sat u*& 0hili* heard the tri%)lin" of #ater so(e#here near+y and #ent

to investi"ate& He still felt terri+ly thirsty& He %alled +a%) to the others>

,The s*rin" that runs *ast our %otta"e runs here& It.s lovely and %old& Anyone #ant a drin)5-

Every+ody did& They "ot u* and #ent to the little s*rin" that "ushed out fro( a hole in the

hillside and then ran and lea*t over a *e++ly +ed until it on%e (ore disa**eared into the earth' to

%o(e out a"ain further do#n&The %hildren +athed their hot feet in the %ool #ater& Then /a%) %au"ht si"ht of his *re%ious ea"les

a"ain& ,Co(e on! We.ll see #here they fly do#n to& I #ish I.d +rou"ht (y %a(era! I %ould have

*hoto"ra*hed their nest!-

Chapter 6

HOW CAN THEY :ET IN5

THEY #ere near to the %astle +y no#& The "reat' thi%) #alls rose u*' far a+ove their heads& There

#as no +rea) in the(' e2%e*t a+out si2teen feet u*' #hen slit #indo#s %ould +e seen&,It.s +uilt of the +i" +oulders #e see all over the hillside'- said 0hili*& ,It (ust have +een very

hard #or) to ta)e so (any u* here to +uild the %astle& Loo)1over there are so(e +i""er #indo#s&

I su**ose that #i%)ed old fello# Tassie #as tellin" us a+out li)ed to have a little (ore li"ht in his

%astle than slit #indo#s "ive& It.s a funny *la%e& You %an 6uite #ell see #here it has +een *at%hed

u*' %an.t you5-

,There are the ea"les a"ain!- %ried /a%)& ,They.re "lidin" do#n1and do#n& Wat%h the('

everyone!-

The little %o(*any stood and #at%hed the t#o +i" +irds' #hose s*an of #in"s #as really

enor(ous&

,They.ve "one do#n inside the %astle %ourtyard'- said /a%)& ,That.s #here they.ve "ot their

nest' I +et! In the %ourtyard so(e#here& I si(*ly (ust find it&-,But you %an.t *ossi+ly "et into the %ourtyard'- said 0hili*&

,Where.s the "ate#ay of the %astle5- de(anded /a%)' turnin" to Tassie&

,At the front' #here that land$slide is'- said Tassie& ,You %ouldn.t "et over the land$slide #ithout

+ein" in dan"er' and any#ay if you did' you.d find the "reat "ate shut& There.s another door' further

alon" here' +ut that.s lo%)ed& You %an.t "et into the %astle&-

,Where.s the door alon" here5- said /a%)& They #ent further alon"' turned a %orner of the %astle

#all' and %a(e to a sturdy oa) door' flush #ith the #all& The #all ar%hed a+ove it' and the door

fitted e2a%tly& /a%) *ut his eye to the )eyhole +ut %ould see nothin"&

,Do you (ean to tell (e there.s no other #ay into this %astle5- he said to Tassie& ,What a

*e%uliar *la%e! It.s li)e a *rison&-



,That.s #hat it #as'- said Lu%y$Ann' shiverin" as she re(e(+ered the story Tassie had told& ,A

*rison for *oor #ret%hed *eo*le #ho %a(e here and %ouldn.t "et a#ay1and #ere never heard of

a"ain!-

/a%) #as in des*air& To thin) that t#o rare ea"les (i"ht +e nestin" in the %ourtyard on the other

side of the #all1and he %ouldn.t "et at the(& It #as too +ad&

,We (ust "et in' #e si(*ly (ust'- he said' and "a8ed u* at the hi"h #indo#s& But there #as no#ay of "ettin" u* there& The #alls #ere far too s(ooth to %li(+& There #as no ivy& The %astle #as

i(*re"na+le&

,0eo*le #ould have "ot in +efore no# if there had +een a #ay'- said 0hili*& ,It 4ust sho#s

there.s no #ay in if no$one ever %o(es here&-

,Tassie1don.t you )no# of a #ay5- said /a%)' turnin" to the little "y*sy "irl& he %onsidered

sole(nly& Then she nodded her head&

,I (i"ht )no#'- she said& ,I have never +een& But it (i"ht +e a #ay&-

,ho# us' 6ui%)ly!- said /a%) ea"erly&

Tassie led the( further round the %astle' to#ards the +a%) of it& Here it #as +uilt al(ost into the

%liff& A narro#' dar) *ath#ay led +et#een the stee* hillside and the +a%) #all of the %astle& It #as

al(ost a tunnel' for +oth #all and %liff *ra%ti%ally (et at one *la%e&Tassie %a(e to a sto*' and *ointed u*& The other four loo)ed' and sa# that there #as one of the

slit #indo#s hi"h u* a+ove the(& They stared at Tassie' not seein" in the least ho# that hel*ed

the(&

,Don.t you see5- said Tassie& ,You %ould %li(+ u* the %liff$side here' +e%ause it is all over"ro#n

#ith %ree*ers1and then' #hen you "et o**osite that #indo#' you (i"ht *ut a +ran%h of a tree

a%ross or so(ethin"' and "et in&-

,I see #hat she (eans!- said 0hili*& ,If #e %ould lu" a *lan) or a +ou"h u* the side of the stee*

%liff here' that the %astle +a%)s on to1and *ut one end of it on to the #indo#$sill' and the other

fir(ly into the %liff1#e %ould slide a%ross and "et in! It.s an idea!-

The rest of the %o(*any re%eived this ne#s #ith (i2ed feelin"s& Dinah #as already afraid of

+ats in the dar) and narro# *assa"e$#ay' and #ould #illin"ly have "one +a%) into the sunshine of

the o*en hillside& Lu%y$Ann didn.t li)e the idea of %li(+in" the %liff and slidin" a%ross a dan"erous

+ran%h that (i"ht sli*' into the silent and deserted %astle& /a%)' on the other hand' thou"ht it #as

#ell #orth tryin"' and #as ea"er to do so at on%e&

,0ut on the li"ht'- said 7i)i earnestly fro( so(e#here in the dar) *assa"e& ,0ut on the li"ht&-

The %hildren lau"hed& It #as funny the #ay 7i)i so(eti(es said #hat sounded to +e a very

sensi+le senten%e&

,Let.s find a +ran%h or so(ethin"'- said /a%)& o they #ent out of the (usty$s(ellin" *assa"e'

and hunted for so(ethin" to use as a +rid"e a%ross to the #indo# of the %astle&

But there #as nothin" to +e found at all& True' 0hili* found a dead +ran%h' +ut it #as so dead

that it #ould have %ra%)ed at on%e under anyone.s #ei"ht& It #as i(*ossi+le to +rea) off fro( a treea +ran%h +i" enou"h to +e any use&

,Blo#!- said /a%)& ,Any#ay' let.s "o +a%) and see if #e %an %li(+ u* o**osite the #indo#& If

#e thin) #e could "et in the #ay Tassie su""ests' #e (i"ht %o(e u* to(orro# #ith a *lan)&-

,Yes' it #ould +e +etter to leave it till to(orro#' really'- said Dinah' tryin" to see the ti(e +y her

#at%h& ,It.s "ettin" rather late no#& Let.s %o(e u* to(orro# #ith your %a(era' /a%)&-

,All ri"ht& But #e.ll 4ust see if it.s *ossi+le to %li(+ in at that #indo# first'- said /a%)& He tried

to %li(+ u* the %liff$side' +ut it #as very stee*' and he )e*t sli**in" do#n& Then 0hili* tried' and'

+y (eans of holdin" on ti"htly to so(e of the stron"est of the %ree*ers' he *ulled hi(self u* a little

#ay&

But the %ree*er +ro)e' and do#n he %a(e' (issin" his footin" at the +otto(' and rollin" over

and over& Fortunately' e2%e*t for a fe# +ruises' he #asn.t hurt&



,I.ll "o'- said Tassie& And u* she #ent li)e a (on)ey& It #as e2traordinary the #ay she %ould

%li(+& he #as far +etter than either of the +oys& he see(ed to )no# 4ust #here to *ut her feet'

and 4ust #hi%h %ree*ers to hold on to&

oon she #as o**osite the slit #indo#& The %ree*ers "re# very thi%)ly on the %liff$side there'

and she held on to the( #hilst she *eered a%ross at the #indo#&

,I +elieve I %ould al(ost 4u(* a%ross to the sill'- she %alled to the others&,Don.t you do anythin" of the sort'- shouted +a%) 0hili* at on%e& ,Little don)ey! You.d +rea)

+oth your le"s if you fell! What %an you see5-

,Nothin" (u%h!- %alled +a%) Tassie' #ho still see(ed to +e %onsiderin" #hether or not to 4u(*

a%ross and %han%e it& ,There.s the #indo#1very narro#' of %ourse& I don.t )no# if #e %ould

s6uee8e throu"h& And *ast the #indo# I %an see a roo(' +ut it.s so dar) I %an.t see if it.s +i" or

s(all or anythin"& It loo)s very 6ueer&-

,I +et it does!- said /a%)& ,Co(e on do#n' Tassie&-

,I.ll 4ust lea* a%ross and have a try at s6uee8in" in'- said Tassie' and *oised herself for a 4u(*&

But a roar fro( 0hili* sto**ed her&

,If you do that #e.ll never let you "o #ith us a"ain& Do you hear5 You.ll +rea) your le"s!-

Tassie thou"ht +etter of her idea& The threat of never +ein" allo#ed to "o a+out #ith the %hildrenshe so (u%h li)ed and ad(ired filled her #ith horror& he %ontented herself #ith one (ore loo)

a%ross at the #indo#' and then she %li(+ed do#n li)e a "oat' landin" deftly +eside the #aitin"

%hildren&

,It.s 4ust as #ell that you did as you #ere told'- said 0hili* "ri(ly& ,u**ose you had "ot a%ross

1and s6uee8ed inside1and then %ouldn.t "et out a"ain! You.d have +een a *risoner in that %astle

for ever and ever!-

Tassie said nothin"& he had "reat faith in her *o#ers of %li(+in" and 4u(*in"' and she thou"ht

0hili* #as (a)in" a fuss a+out nothin"& 7i)i' hearin" 0hili*.s stern voi%e' 4oined in the s%oldin"&

,Ho# (any ti(es have I told you to shut the door5- she said' flyin" on to Tassie.s shoulder&

Tassie lau"hed and s%rat%hed 7i)i.s *oll&

,Only a+out a hundred ti(es'- she said' and the others lau"hed too& They (ade their #ay out of

the dar) tunnel$li)e *assa"e' and #ere "lad to +e in the sun a"ain&

,Well' #e )no# #hat to do' any#ay'- said /a%)& ,We.ll find a *lan) or so(ethin" to +rin" u*

here to(orro#' and #e.ll send Tassie u* #ith it' and she %an *ut it a%ross fro( the %liff$side to the

#indo#& We.ll "ive her a stron" ro*e too' so that she %an )not it to so(e of that %ree*er u* there'

and #e %an *ull on it to hel* ourselves u*& We.re not all as "oat$footed as Tassie&-

,No' she.s (arvellous'- said Lu%y$Ann' and Tassie "lo#ed #ith *leasure& They (ade their #ay

do#n the hillside a"ain' findin" it a little easier to %li(+ do#n than u*' es*e%ially as Tassie too)

the( a "ood #ay she )ne#&

,It.s really "ettin" very late'- said /a%)& ,I ho*e your (other #on.t +e an2ious' 0hili*&-

,Oh no'- said 0hili*& ,he.d )no# one of us #ould run do#n for hel* if anythin" ha**ened&-All the sa(e' 3rs& 3annerin" had +een #onderin" #hat had +e%o(e of the %hildren and she

#as very "lad to see the(& he had su**er ready for the(' and Tassie #as as)ed to stay too& he

#as thrilled' and tried to #at%h ho# the others ate and dran) at ta+le' for she had no (anners at all&

7i)i sat on /a%).s shoulder' and fed on tit+its that /a%) and the others handed her' (a)in" odd

re(ar)s fro( ti(e to ti(e a+out *uttin" the )ettle on' and usin" hand)er%hiefs& Button %urled u* on

0hili*.s )nee and #ent sound aslee*& He #as tired after his lon" #al)' thou"h 0hili* had %arried

hi( a "ood #ay&

,You )no#' I half thou"ht Button (i"ht run off #hen #e too) hi( out on the hillside he )no#s

so #ell'- said 0hili*& ,But he didn.t& He didn.t even see( to thin) of it&-

,He.s a darlin"'- said Lu%y$Ann' loo)in" at the slee*in" fo2$%u+' #ho had %urled his shar* little

nose into his +i" tail& ,It.s a *ity he.s a +it s(elly&-



,Well' he.ll "et #orse'- said 0hili*& ,o you (i"ht as #ell "et used to it& Fo2es do s(ell& I

e2*e%t #e s(ell 4ust as stron" to the(&-

,Tassie (i"ht' +ut I.( sure we don.t'- thou"ht Lu%y$Ann& ,Oh dear' ho# slee*y I a(!-

They #ere all slee*y that ni"ht& The lon" %li(+ in the sunshine had tired the( out& ,Let.s "o to

+ed'- said 0hili* #ith su%h a loud ya#n that Button #o)e u* #ith a 4u(*& ,We.ve "ot an e2%itin"

day to(orro#' #ith a lot of %li(+in" a"ain& Don.t for"et to loo) out your %a(era' /a%)&-,Oh yes1I si(*ly must ta)e a sna* of the ea"les!- said /a%)& ,:olly' #e.ll have so(e fun

to(orro#!-

Then u* they #ent to +ed' ya#nin"& 7i)i ya#ned the loudest1not that she #as tired' +ut it #as

su%h a lovely noise to %o*y!

Chapter

INIDE THE CATLE OF AD?ENT9RE

THE ne2t day Button #o)e 0hili* +y li%)in" the +are sole of his foot' #hi%h #as sti%)in" out fro(the +ed$%lothes& 0hili* #o)e #ith a yell' for he #as very ti%)lish there&

,to* it' /a%)!- he shouted' and then loo)ed in sur*rise a%ross the roo(' #here /a%) #as 4ust

o*enin" startled eyes& ,Oh1it.s all ri"ht1it.s only Button& Button' you are never to li%) the soles

of (y feet!-

/a%) sat u*' "rinnin"& He ru++ed his eyes and stret%hed& Then his "lan%e fell on his fine %a(era'

#hi%h he had *ut ready to ta)e u* the hill #ith hi( that day' and he re(e(+ered #hat they had

*lanned&

,Co(e on1let.s "et u*'- he said to 0hili*' and 4u(*ed out of +ed& ,It.s a "or"eous day' and I.(

lon"in" to "o u* to the %astle a"ain& I (i"ht "et so(e #onderful *i%tures of those ea"les&-

0hili* #as al(ost as interested in +irds as /a%) #as& The +oys +e"an to tal) a+out ea"les as they

dressed& They +an"ed at the "irls. door as they #ent do#n& 3rs& 3annerin" #as already u*' for she#as an early riser& A s(ell of fryin" +a%on arose on the air&

,Lovely!- said /a%)' sniffin"& ,7i)i' don.t sti%) your %la#s so hard into (y shoulder& I "ot

sun+urnt yesterday and it hurts&-

,What a *ity' #hat a *ity!- said 7i)i' in sorro#ful tones& The +oys lau"hed&

,You.d al(ost thin) she really did understand #hat you say'- said 0hili*&

,he does!- said /a%)& ,I say' #hat a+out "ettin" a *lan) or so(ethin" no#' #hilst #e.re #aitin"

for +rea)fast1you )no#' to *ut a%ross to the #indo#$sill of the %astle&-

,Ri"ht'- said 0hili*' and they #andered out into the sunshine' still sniffin" the deli%ious s(ell of

fryin" +a%on' to #hi%h #as no# added the fra"ran%e of %offee& Button trotted at 0hili*.s heels'

ni++lin" the( "ently every ti(e the +oy sto**ed& He did not dare to "o near /a%)' for if he did 7i)i

s#oo*ed do#n on hi( in a fury' and sna**ed her %urved +ea) at hi(&The +oys #ent into the shed #here the %ar #as )e*t& They soon found 4ust #hat they #anted1a

stout *lan) lon" enou"h to rea%h fro( the %liff #all to the sill& ,:olly! It #ill +e *retty heavy to

%arry!- said /a%)& ,We.ll all have to ta)e turns at it& It #ouldn.t do to have a s(aller one1it 4ust

(i"ht not rea%h&-

The "irls %a(e out and the +oys sho#ed the( #hat they had found& In the ni"ht Lu%y$Ann had

(ade u* her (ind she #ouldn.t do any *lan)$%li(+in" or %astle$e2*lorin"' +ut no#' in the #ar(

"olden sunshine' she altered her (ind' and felt that she %ouldn.t *ossi+ly +e left out of even a s(all

adventure&

,3other' %ould #e "o off for the #hole day this ti(e5- said 0hili*& ,/a%).s "ot his %a(era ready&

We.re *retty %ertain #e )no# #here those ea"les are no#' and #e shall *erha*s +e a+le to ta)e

so(e "ood *i%tures of the(&-



,Well' it.s a lovely day' so it #ould do you "ood to "o off *i%ni%)in"'- said his (other& ,Oh' do

sto* 7i)i ta)in" the (ar(alade' /a%)! Really' I shan.t have that +ird at the ta+le any (ore' if you

%an.t (a)e it +ehave& It ate half the ras*+erry 4a( at tea yesterday&-

,Ta)e your nose out of the (ar(alade' 7i)i'- said /a%) sternly' and 7i)i sat +a%) on his

shoulder' offended& he +e"an to i(itate 3rs& 3annerin" %run%hin" u* toast' eyein" her +alefully

the #hole ti(e' annoyed at +ein" ro++ed of the (ar(alade& 3rs& 3annerin" had to lau"h&,You.re not "oin" on that land$slide' are you5- she said' and the %hildren shoo) their heads&

,No' 3other& Tassie sho#ed us another #ay& Hallo' here she is& Tassie' have you had your

+rea)fast5-

Tassie #as *ee*in" in at the )it%hen #indo#' her eyes +ri"ht under their tan"le of hair& 3rs&

3annerin" si"hed& ,I (i"ht as #ell not have +othered (yself to "ive her a +ath'- she said& ,he.s

4ust as dirty as ever& I did thin) that she #ould li)e feelin" %lean&-

,he doesn.t'- said Dinah& ,All she li)ed #as that dreadful s(ell of %ar+oli%' 3other& If you

#ant to (a)e Tassie #ash herself' you.ll have to *resent her #ith a +ar of stron" %ar+oli% soa*!-

Tassie' it a**eared' had had her +rea)fast so(e ti(e +efore& he %li(+ed in at the #indo# and

a%%e*ted a *ie%e of toast and (ar(alade fro( 0hili*& 7i)i at on%e ed"ed over to her ho*efully& he

li)ed toast and (ar(alade& Tassie shared it #ith the *arrot&The five %hildren set off soon after +rea)fast& Dinah %arried the )na*sa%) of food& Lu%y$Ann

%arried /a%).s *re%ious %a(era& Tassie %arried 7i)i on her shoulder' very *roudly indeed& The t#o

+oys %arried the *lan) +et#een the(&

,Ta)e us the shortest #ay you )no#' Tassie'- +e""ed /a%)& ,This *lan) is so a#)#ard to %arry& I

say' 0hili*' did you thin) to +rin" a ro*e too5 I for"ot&-

,I.ve tied one around (y #aist'- said 0hili*& ,It.s lon" enou"h' I thin)& Button' don.t "et under

(y feet li)e that' and don.t as) to +e %arried #hen I.ve "ot to ta)e this tireso(e *lan) u* the hill!-

With (any rests' the little *arty #ent u* the stee* hill to#ards the %astle& /a%) )e*t a loo)$out

for the ea"les' +ut he didn.t see either of the(& 7i)i fle# off to have a fe# #ords #ith so(e roo)s

they (et' and then fle# +a%) a"ain to Tassie.s shoulder& he %ouldn.t understand #hy Tassie %arried

shoes round her ne%)' and *e%)ed %uriously at the la%es' tryin" to "et the( out of the shoes&

At last they all arrived at the %astle' and (ade their #ay round the "reat #all to the +a%)' #here

the #all of the %astle ran level #ith the side of the hill&

,Here #e are at last'- said /a%)' *antin"' and *ut the *lan) do#n than)fully& ,You "irls %o(in"

into the *assa"e$#ay to #at%h us #hilst #e *ut the *lan) in *la%e' or not5-

,Yes' rather'- said Dinah& They all #ent into the tunnel$li)e *assa"e' #hi%h s(elt (ustier than

ever' after the %lean heathery s(ell outside&

They %a(e to #here they had %li(+ed u* the day +efore& ,Tassie' you "o u* first' and tie this

ro*e fir(ly to a stout %ree*er ste('- said 0hili*' "ivin" her the ro*e' #hi%h he had untied fro( his

#aist& ,Then #e %an all *ull ourselves u* +y it #ithout sli**in"&-

Tassie %li(+ed u* the %ree*er$%lad #all easily& he sto**ed o**osite the slit #indo# of the%astle& he tied the ro*e fir(ly round a stron" %ree*er ste(' and then tested it +y leanin" for#ard

#ith all her #ei"ht on it&

,Loo) out' silly!- shouted 0hili*& ,If that ro*e "ives you.ll fall on to* of us&-

But it didn.t "ive& It #as 6uite safe& Tassie "rinned do#n at the( and then slid do#n' holdin" the

ro*e' and landed +eside the( on her toes&

,You ou"ht to +e in a %ir%us'- said /a%)& But Tassie loo)ed +lan)& he had no idea #hat a %ir%us

#as&

0hili* had another' shorter *ie%e of ro*e& ,That.s to haul u* the *lan) #ith'- he said& ,No#' let.s

tie the *lan) fir(ly #ith this ro*e' and I.ll dra" it u* after (e as I %li(+ u*& Here "oes!-

Holdin" #ith one hand on to the ro*e that no# hun" do#n fro( the %ree*er' and #ith the other

to the ro*e that dra""ed the *lan)' 0hili* started u* the stee* %liff #all& But he needed +oth hands tohel* hi(self u*' and had to slide do#n a"ain&



,Tie the *lan) to (y #aist'- he said to /a%)& ,Then I %an have +oth hands to hel* (yself u*

#ith' and the *lan) #ill %o(e u* +ehind (e +y itself&-

o the *lan) #as tied to his #aist' and then the +oy #ent u* a"ain' this ti(e *ullin" hi(self #ith

+oth hands on the ro*e& His feet sli**ed' +ut he #ent on u*#ards' feelin" the dra" of the heavy

*lan) on his #aist&

At last he #as o**osite the %astle #indo#& He %ould see nothin" inside the #indo# at all' e2%e*t +la%) dar)ness& He +e"an to try and %lear a *la%e to fi2 in one ed"e of the *lan)&

,Loo) out1I.( %o(in" u* too to hel*'- %alled /a%) fro( +elo#' and u* he %a(e' *ullin" on

Tassie.s ro*e& Then' +et#een the(' they (ana"ed to haul u* the *lan)' and lift it so that it al(ost

rea%hed the #indo#$sill&

,A +it (ore over1that.s ri"ht1no# a +it (ore to the ri"ht!- *anted /a%)1and then' #ith a

thud' the *lan) at last rested on the sill of the narro# slit #indo#& The other end rested fir(ly on a

(ass of tan"led %ree*er roots' and on so(e stout ivy ste(s&

/a%) tested the *lan)& It see(ed 6uite fir(& 0hili* tested it too& Yes' it see(ed safe enou"h&

,Have you really fi2ed it5- shouted Dinah' in e2%ite(ent& ,/olly "ood! Loo) out' there "oes

7i)i!-

ure enou"h' 7i)i' #ho had +een #at%hin" everythin" in the "reatest sur*rise' had sailed u* inthe air and #as no# sittin" on the *lan)' raisin" her %rest and (a)in" a %hortlin" noise& Then she

#al)ed %lu(sily a%ross to the #indo# and ho**ed on the sill& he *o)ed her +ea) inside the

o*enin"& There #as no "lass there' of %ourse&

,7i)i al#ays li)es to *o)e her nose into everythin"!- said Lu%y$Ann& ,Can #e %o(e u* no#'

0hili*5-

,We.re 4ust (a)in" a flat *la%e a(on" all these roots and thin"s' so that you %an stand here

safely till #e %an hel* you a%ross'- said 0hili*' sta(*in" on the %ree*ers around& ,The %liff #all

"oes in a +it 4ust here1you %an al(ost sit do#n' if I (ess the %ree*ers a+out a +it&-

,I.ll "o a%ross the *lan)'- said /a%)& But a shout fro( Lu%y$Ann sto**ed hi(&

,No' /a%)& Wait till I.( u* there& I #ant to see you *ro*erly! I %an only see your le"s fro( do#n

here&-

oon all three "irls #ere u* +y the +oys& It #as easy to "o u* +y the ro*e& They #at%hed /a%) sit

astride the *lan)' and "radually ed"e hi(self a%ross in that *osition& The *lan) #as as fir( as %ould

+e& /a%) felt 6uite safe&

He "ot to the #indo#$sill& He stood u* on the *lan) and %lut%hed the stone sides of the narro#

#indo#& He stood in the o*enin"&

,:olly' it.s narro#!- he shouted a%ross the *lan)' to #here the others #ere #at%hin" hi(

+reathlessly& ,I don.t +elieve I %an s6uee8e throu"h!-

,Well' if you %an.t' %ertainly shan.t +e a+le to'- said 0hili*& ,:o on1try& You.re not as fat as

all that' surely!-

/a%) +e"an to s6uee8e throu"h the narro# stone #indo#& It %ertainly #as a s6uash& He had tohold his tu((y in hard' and not +reathe at all& He #ri""led throu"h "radually' and then suddenly

4u(*ed to the floor the other side& He yelled +a%)&

,Hurrah' I.( throu"h! Co(e on' everyone& I.( in a *it%h$+la%) roo(& We.ll have to +rin"

tor%hes ne2t ti(e&-

Dinah #ent ne2t' hel*ed +y 0hili*& /a%) hel*ed her do#n the other side& he hadn.t (u%h

diffi%ulty in "ettin" throu"h the #indo#& Then %a(e Tassie' then Lu%y$Ann' then 0hili*' #ho had

as (u%h diffi%ulty as /a%) in s6uee8in" throu"h&

,Well' here #e are!- he said' ,inside the %astle of adventure!-

Chapter "90 IN THE TOWER



,THE %astle of adventure!- e%hoed Lu%y$Ann in sur*rise& ,What (a)es you say that5 Do you thin)

#e shall have an adventure here5-

,Oh' I don.t )no#!- said 0hili*& ,I 4ust said it1+ut it.s "ot a 6ueer feelin"' this %astle' hasn.t it5

3y #ord' isn.t it dar)5-

A (ournful +ar)in" %a(e fro( +elo#& It #as Button' left +ehind& 0hili* stu%) his head out of the#indo#& ,It.s all ri"ht' Button& We.re %o(in" +a%)!-

7i)i stu%) her head out too' and "ave a rail#ay$en"ine s%ree%h& ,That.s 4ust to tell *oor Button

she.s u* here' and he.s not!- said Dinah& ,7i)i' you do li)e to %ro# over *oor Button' don.t you5-

It #as very dar) in the roo( they had 4u(*ed into& But "radually they %ould see +etter as their

eyes "ot used to the dar)ness& The %hildren +lin)ed and tried to see their surroundin"s&

,It.s 4ust a +i" +are roo('- said /a%)' rather disa**ointed& He didn.t 6uite )no# #hat he had

e2*e%ted to see& ,I su**ose the #hole %astle.s li)e this1full of +i"' +are' %old roo(s& Co(e on1

let.s do a +it of e2*lorin"&-

They (ade their #ay to the door' #hi%h o*ened into a lon" %orridor& They #ent do#n this and

%a(e to a li"hter roo(' lit +y one slit #indo# and one #ide one' evidently added (u%h later& This

roo( had a +i" fire*la%e and there #ere still old "rey ashes there& The %hildren loo)ed at the(&,Funny to thin) that *eo*le on%e sat round that fire!- said Dinah& They #ent into the ne2t roo('

#hi%h a"ain #as very dar)' +e%ause it had only a slit #indo# to li"ht it& Dinah #andered to the

#indo#' and suddenly "ave su%h a s%rea( that everyone 4u(*ed violently&

,Dinah! What is it5- %ried 0hili*&

Dinah ran +a%) to hi( so 6ui%)ly that she +u(*ed into hi(& ,There.s so(ethin" in this roo(!-

she %ried& ,It tou%hed (y hair& I felt it& Co(e out 6ui%)ly&-

,Don.t +e silly'- +e"an 0hili*' and then he sto**ed suddenly& o(ethin" had tou%hed his hair

too! He s#un" round +ut there #as nothin" there& His heart +eat fast& Was there really so(ethin" in

the roo(' tou%hin" the(' +ut invisi+le5

Then a ray of sunli"ht une2*e%tedly %a(e slantin" in throu"h the slit #indo#' and 0hili* "ave a

sudden lau"h& ,Ho# silly #e are!- he said& ,It.s %o+#e+s1loo)' han"in" do#n fro( the %eilin"!

They (ust +e years old!-

Everyone #as very (u%h relieved' +ut Dinah #ouldn.t stay in the roo( one (o(ent (ore& he

#as s%ared1and the very idea of %o+#e+s tou%hin" her (ade her (ore s%ared still& he shuddered

#hen she thou"ht of the s*iders that (i"ht dro* on her fro( the %o+#e++y %eilin"!

,Co(e out #here it.s sunshiny'- she +e""ed' and they all #ent into a #ide %orridor' #here the

sun *oured in at (any #indo#s& Tassie #al)ed %lose to 0hili*' #ith s%ared eyes& he +elieved in

the old villa"e tales' and half e2*e%ted the #i%)ed old (an to a**ear fro( so(e#here and ta)e

the( all *risoner! But #here 0hili* #ent she (eant to "o too&

,Loo)1this #ay leads a%ross one of the +attle(ented #alls to the eastern to#er!- %ried /a%)&

,Let.s "o alon" to the to#er1#e.ll "et a (a"nifi%ent vie# fro( there&-,I feel li)e an old$ti(e soldier (ar%hin" round the %astle #all'- said 0hili*' as they (ade their

#ay alon" to the to#er& ,Here #e are& :oodness' it.s 6uite +i"' isn.t it5 Loo)' there.s a roo( at the

+otto( of the to#er' flush #ith this #all1and there.s a #indin" stone stair that leads to the to* of

the to#er& Co(e on' u* #e "o!-

And u* they #ent' deter(ined not to loo) at the vie# till they "ot to the hi"hest *oint& The stone

stair t#isted a#)#ardly round and round' and led the( strai"ht into another roo(' out of #hi%h a

very narro# stair led the( to the very roof of the to#er itself&

They #ent u* the tiny stair and found the(selves on the to* of the to#er' its +attle(ented ed"e

risin" a fe# feet all round&

They all "as*ed' and "a8ed do#n in silen%e& Not one of the( had ever +een so hi"h u* +efore'

nor had they seen su%h a #ide and (a"nifi%ent vie#& It see(ed as if the #hole #orld lay s*read out



+efore the(' s*ar)lin" in the sunshine& Belo#' far' far +elo#' lay the valley' throu"h #hi%h %urved

the silver river' li)e a "lea(in" sna)e& What houses they %ould see loo)ed li)e toy ones&

,Loo) at those hills o**osite'- said /a%)& ,There are hills +ehind those1and hills +ehind those

too1and hills +ehind those!-

Tassie #as a(a8ed& he had never thou"ht the #orld #as so +i"& Fro( the vanta"e$*oint of the

hi"h to#er the #hole %ountry #as s*read li)e a livin" (a* +efore her& It #as so +eautiful that for so(e e2traordinary reason Lu%y$Ann felt li)e %ryin"&

,What a #onderful *la%e this (ust have +een for a loo)$out!- said 0hili*& ,Any sentry here

%ould see ene(ies %o(in" (iles and (iles a#ay& Loo)1is that *rin" Cotta"e ri"ht do#n there'

a(on" those trees5-

It #as' loo)in" li)e a doll.s house' half$#ay do#n the hill& ,I #ish #e %ould +rin" 3other u*

here'- said Dinah& ,Ho# she #ould love this vie#!-

,Loo)! Loo)! There are the ea"les a"ain!- said /a%)' and he *ointed u* in the air' #here t#o

"reat ea"les soared to the %louds& ,I say1shall #e have our lun%h here' on the to* of this to#er' and

see this (arvellous vie# all the ti(e' and #at%h (y ea"les5-

,Oh yes!” said everyone' in%ludin" 7i)i& he al#ays 4oined in any %horus&

,0oor little Button'- said 0hili*& ,I #ish #e %ould have +rou"ht hi( too& But it #as too ris)ya%ross that *lan)& I e2*e%t he.s feelin" very lonely no#& I ho*e he #on.t run off&-

,You )no# he #on.t'- said Dinah& ,No ani(al ever runs a#ay fro( you' #orse lu%)& Oh' #hilip

1you haven.t +rou"ht that a#ful toad #ith you' have you5 Yes' you have! It.s *ee*in" out of your

ne%)! I 4ust #on.t sit u* here #ith a toad %ra#lin" round&-

,No# for "oodness. sa)e don.t start a 6uarrel u* on the to* of the to#er'- said /a%)' in real

alar(& ,That stone ed"in" #on.t sto* anyone fro( fallin" if they start foolin" a+out& Dinah' sit

do#n&-

,Don.t order (e a+out'- said Dinah' +e"innin" to flare u*&

,Where.s the food5- said Lu%y$Ann' ho*in" to %han"e the su+4e%t& ,Dinah' you.ve "ot it& :et it

out' +e%ause I.( dyin" of hun"er!-

7ee*in" as far a#ay fro( her +rother as she %ould' Dinah undid the )na*sa%)& There #ere t#o

+i" *a%)ets inside' one (ar)ed ,Dinner- and one (ar)ed ,Tea&-

,0ut the tea *a%)et +a%)'- said /a%)' ,or #e (i"ht "o++le that u* too! I feel hun"ry enou"h to

eat all you.ve "ot there&-

Dinah divided out sand#i%hes' %a)e' +is%uits' fruit and %ho%olate& Then she *resented everyone

#ith a %ard+oard %u* of le(onade fro( a +ottle&

,We.ve had *lenty of *i%ni%s in our ti(e'- said 0hili*' +itin" hu"ely into a thi%) sand#i%h of e""

and ha(' ,+ut never one in su%h an e2traordinary *la%e as this& It al(ost (a)es (e "iddy' loo)in"

out at that enor(ous vie#&-

,It.s lovely to sit here and eat' loo)in" at those hills' and that #indin" river do#n in the valley'-

said Lu%y$Ann %ontentedly& ,I +elieve that old (an Tassie told us a+out (ust have +ou"ht this%astle for the vie#! I #ould' I )no#' if I had enou"h (oney&-

They ate and dran) ha**ily& 7i)i shared the sand#i%hes' #hi%h she li)ed i((ensely& Then she

#ent e2*lorin" alon" the stone %o*in" at the ed"e of the to#er' %li(+in" u*side$do#n no# and

a"ain&

The %hildren #at%hed her' eatin" their %a)e& uddenly 7i)i "ave an alar(in" s%ree%h' lost her

+alan%e and fell ri"ht off the to#er! he disa**eared +elo#' and the %hildren lea*t u* in horror&

Then they sat do#n a"ain' s(ilin" and feelin" rather foolish1for' of %ourse' as soon as she fell'

7i)i s*read out her #in"s and soared into the air!

,Idiot' 7i)i!- said Dinah& ,You "ave (e 6uite a s%are! Well' has everyone nearly finished5 If so'

I.ll %lear u* the *a*er and the %ard+oard %u*s and *ut the( +a%) into the )na*sa%)&-



/a%) had +een #at%hin" the ea"les' #hi%h' all the ti(e they #ere at lun%h' had +een soarin" hi"h

in the air' loo)in" li)e +la%) s*e%)s& No# they #ere %o(in" do#n a"ain' "lidin" in lar"e %ir%les'

their "reat #in"s s*read out to %at%h the s(allest %urrent of air&

There #as *lenty of #ind u* on the to* of the hill& It +le# steadily on the to#er' and the

%hildren.s hair #as +lo#n +a%) all the ti(e' as they sat fa%in" the +ree8e& They #at%hed the ea"les

"o lo#er and lo#er&Belo# the( and +ehind the( lay the inner %ourtyard of the %astle& It #as entirely over"ro#n

#ith "rass and *at%hes of heather& :orse$+ushes "re# there' and a fe# +ir%h$trees& The hillside had

%o(e into its o#n a"ain there' and the old *avin"$stones had +een *ushed u* +y stron"$"ro#in"

+ushes' #hi%h had for%ed their #ay +et#een the(&

,I +elieve the ea"les have their nest in that %lu(* of trees over there' in the %orner of the

over"ro#n %ourtyard!- said /a%) e2%itedly& ,It.s the sort of %ra""y *la%e they (i"ht %hoose! hall

#e "o and see5-

,Are you sure they.re not dan"erous5- said 0hili* dou+tfully& ,They.re a#fully +i" +irds1and I

ha$e heard stories of the( atta%)in" (en&-

,Yes'- said /a%)& ,Well1as soon as they fly off a"ain' I.ll "o and loo)& Any#ay' #e (i"ht as

#ell "o do#n no# and have a loo) round& 7i)i' %o(e here!-7i)i fle# to his shoulder' and ni++led his ear "ently' tal)in" her usual nonsense& The %hildren

"ot u* and #ent do#n the t#o stone stair#ays& Both the to* and +otto( roo(s of the to#er #ere

%o(*letely e(*ty& Co+#e+s hun" in the %orners' and dust lay thi%)ly on the floor and led"es'

e2%e*t #here the #ind +le# in stron"ly&

,Ho# do #e "et do#n to the %ourtyard5- #ondered 0hili*& ,We.ll have to "o +a%) alon" the

#all and into the %astle itself' I su**ose& There (ust +e a stair#ay do#n to the roo(s +elo#&-

o +a%) they #ent' and %a(e to the (ain +uildin" of the %astle a"ain& They loo)ed into roo(

after roo(' all e(*ty& Then at last they %a(e to a very #ide stone stair#ay that led do#n and do#n&

They %lattered do#n it and %a(e into a +i" hall& It #as dar)&

o(ethin" suddenly hurled itself a"ainst 0hili*.s le"s and he lea*t in fri"ht' "ivin" a loud

e2%la(ation& Everyone stood still&

,What is it5- said Lu%y$Ann' in a #his*er&

It #as Button' the fo2$%u+! ,No# ho# in the #orld did he "et to us!- %ried 0hili*' *i%)in" the

little %reature u*& ,He (ust have found so(e hole' I su**ose' and s%ra(+led throu"h it to find us&

Button' you.re a (arvel! But (y #ord' you did "ive (e a fri"ht!-

Button "ave so(e of his little +ar)s as he %uddled a"ainst 0hili*.s %hest& 7i)i addressed a fe#

s%ornful re(ar)s to hi( a+out shuttin" the door& he #as the only one sorry to see his arrival!

,No# let.s "et into the %ourtyard and e2*lore round there a +it'- said /a%)& ,Loo) out for the

ea"les' all of you!-

Chapter %

THE EA:LE. NET

THE %hildren *i%)ed their #ay over the +i"' over"ro#n %ourtyard& It #as an a+solute #ilderness

no#' thou"h #ith a little i(a"ination they %ould *i%ture #hat it (ust have +een li)e in the old days

1a vast stone$*aved *la%e' he#n out of the hillside itself' #ith %ra""y *ie%es to#erin" u* at the far

ends&

,It.s in one of those %ra""y *la%es that I thin) the ea"les have "ot their nest'- said /a%)' as they

*i%)ed their #ay a%ross the hot %ourtyard& ,Tassie' ta)e 7i)i for (e' #ill you' and han" on to her& I

don.t #ant her interferin" 4ust no#&-



Tassie *roudly too) 7i)i' and stood still #hilst the others #ent to#ards a to#erin" *ie%e of ro%)'

%lothed here and there #ith heather' that rose u* at one end of the %ourtyard& Lu%y$Ann didn.t

*arti%ularly #ant to "o too near to the ea"les' +ut she #anted to +e #ith /a%)&

,You "irls stay do#n at the +otto( of this %ra"'- said /a%)& ,I.( "oin" to %li(+ u* #ith 0hili*& I

don.t thin) the ea"les #ill atta%) us' 0hili*' in fa%t I.( *retty sure they #on.t= +ut loo) out' in

%ase&-The +oys #ere 4ust +e"innin" to %li(+ #hen a loud' yel*in" s%rea( (ade the( sto* and %lut%h

at one another in fri"ht& The "irls 4u(*ed violently& Button ran into the nearest ra++it$hole and

stayed there& Only 7i)i did not see( to +e fri"htened&

Into Tassie.s (ind 4u(*ed the thou"ht that the s%rea( (ust +e fro( one of the #i%)ed (an.s

*oor *risoners! 0erha*s he #asn.t dead' *erha*s he #as still there so(e#here& The other %hildren

#ere not so foolish as to thin) thin"s li)e this' +ut the s%rea( %ertainly (ade their +lood run %old!

,What #as it' /a%)5- #his*ered Lu%y$Ann& ,Co(e +a%)& Don.t "o u* there& The s%rea( %a(e

fro( there&-

It %a(e a"ain' (ore loudly1a %urious' al(ost yel*in" noise& 7i)i %leared her throat to i(itate it&

What a fine noise to %o*y!

he "ave a re(ar)a+ly "ood i(itation of the s%rea( and (ade everyone 4u(* a"ain& Tassieal(ost fell over' for 7i)i #as on her shoulder&

,Bad +ird! Nau"hty +ird!- said /a%) fier%ely' in a lo# voi%e& 7i)i loo)ed at hi(& Fro( her throat

%a(e the s%rea( a"ain1and al(ost at the sa(e (o(ent a "reat ea"le' #hi%h (ust have +een

so(e#here on the ro%)y %ra"' rose u* in the air on enor(ous #in"s' and soared over the little

%o(*any' loo)in" do#n in a(a8e(ent to see #ho had (ade su%h a noise&

And then' fro( the ea"le.s o#n throat' there %a(e a"ain the yel*in" s%rea( the %hildren had

heard!

,:osh1it #as the ea"le s%rea(in"' that.s all!- said /a%)' in relief& ,Why didn.t I thin) of that5

I.ve never heard one +efore& That sho#s their nest (ust +e so(e#here u* here& Co(e on' 0hili*&-

The ea"le did not s#oo* do#n to the %hildren' +ut "lided a+ove the(' loo)in" do#n& Its interest

#as %entered on 7i)i' #ho' feelin" rather thrilled at havin" found su%h a "ood ne# noise' yel*ed

a"ain&

The ea"le ans#ered and fle# lo#er& 7i)i #ent u* to (eet it' loo)in" very s(all %o(*ared #ith

the +i" ea"le& The %hildren %ould *lainly see the lon" yello#ish feathers on the na*e of its ne%)'

shinin" +ri"ht "old in the sunli"ht&

,It is a "olden ea"le'- said Lu%y$Ann& ,/a%) #as ri"ht& Loo) at those "olden feathers! Oh dear1

I ho*e it doesn.t %o(e any lo#er&-

All the five %hildren #at%hed 7i)i and the ea"le& 9sually +irds #ere either *u88led and afraid of

7i)i' or an"ry& But the ea"le #as neither& It see(ed intensely interested' as if #onderin" ho# it #as

that this 6ueer$loo)in" little +ird' so unli)e an ea"le' %ould (a)e ea"le$noises!

7i)i #as en4oyin" herself& he fle# a+out the ea"le' yel*in" to it' and then suddenly %han"edher (ind and told it to +lo# its nose&

At the sound of an a**arently hu(an voi%e the ea"le sheered off a little' still "a8in" in interest at

7i)i& Finally' ta)in" no noti%e at all of the %hildren' it fle# u*#ards to a hi"h ro%) on the %ra"' and

*er%hed there' loo)in" do#n in a very royal fashion&

,Isn.t it a (a"nifi%ent +ird5- said /a%) in the ut(ost deli"ht& ,Fan%y us seein" an ea"le at %lose

6uarters li)e this! Loo) at its fro#nin" +ro#s' and its *ier%in" eyes! I don.t #onder it.s %alled the

)in" of +irds!-

The ea"le #as a truly s*lendid si"ht' as it sat there li)e a )in"& It #as feathered in dar) +ro#n'

e2%e*t for the "olden strea)s on the na*e of its ne%)& Its le"s #ere %overed in feathers ri"ht to the

toes& It #at%hed 7i)i un+lin)in"ly&

,There.s the se%ond ea"le' loo)!- said Lu%y$Ann suddenly' in a lo# voi%e& The %hildren sa# theother ea"le risin" u* into the air fro( the %ra"' evidently %urious to see #hat #as ha**enin"& It



soared u*#ards' s*readin" out its stron" *inions li)e fin"ers' the #in"$ti*s %urvin" u* as it #ent&

Then' 6uite suddenly' the first ea"le tired of 7i)i' fla**ed its enor(ous #in"s' and 4oined its (ate&

,The first ea"le is the (ale' the se%ond one is the fe(ale'- said /a%) e2%itedly&

,Ho# do you )no#5- as)ed Dinah dis+elievin"ly& he %ouldn.t see any differen%e at all&

,The se%ond one is +i""er than the first'- said /a%)& ,The fe(ale "olden ea"le is al#ays the

+i""er of the t#o= +i""er #in"$s*an too& :olly' I do feel thrilled&-,You ou"ht to have sna**ed that ea"le sittin" on the %ra"'- said 0hili*& /a%) "ave an e2%la(ation

of annoyan%e&

,Blo#! I never even thou"ht of (y %a(era! I #as so a+sor+ed in #at%hin" the +irds& What

(arvellous *i%tures I %ould ta)e!-

The t#o +irds #ere no# only s*e%)s in the s)y' for they had soared u* to an i((ense hei"ht& ,It

#ould +e a 4olly "ood %han%e to e2*lore this %ra" for their nest #hilst they are safely u* there'- said

/a%)& ,It.s funny they don.t see( s%ared of us' isn.t it5 I su**ose they )no# hardly anythin" of

(an' al#ays livin" u* here on this hill$to*&-

,I %an.t i(a"ine #hat.s ha**ened to Button'- said 0hili* an2iously& ,He #ent do#n that hole

and he.s not +a%) yet&-

,0ro+a+ly s%arin" a fa(ily of ra++its out of their senses!- said /a%)& ,He.ll %o(e +a%) all ri"ht&I.( not sur*rised he #ent do#n a ra++it$hole #hen he heard that s%rea(& I.d have "one do#n one

(yself if I %ould! It #as an a#ful noise&-

The +oys +e"an to %li(+ u* a"ain& It #as fairly stiff "oin"' for the little %ra" #as stee* and

ro%)y& Its to* #as al(ost as hi"h as the near+y to#er&

On the #estern side' #ell hidden in a little hollo#' /a%) found #hat he #anted1the ea"les. nest!

,Loo)!- he said' ,loo)! Did you ever see su%h an enor(ous thin"' 0hili*! It (ust +e si2 feet

#ide at the +otto(!-

The +oys loo)ed at the "reat nest on the +road led"e of ro%)& It #as a+out t#o feet hi"h' (ade of

t#i"s and s(all +ou"hs' #ith heather tu%)ed in +et#een& The %u* of the nest #as al(ost a foot and

a half a%ross' and very #ell lined #ith (oss' "rass and +its of heather&

,There.s a youn" one in the nest!- said /a%)' in deli"ht& ,@uite a +i" +ird too1(ust +e (ore

than three (onths old' and ready to fly&-

The youn" +ird %rou%hed do#n in the nest #hen it heard /a%).s voi%e& It #as already so +i" that

0hili* #ould hardly have )no#n it #as a nestlin"& But /a%).s sure eye had noti%ed the #hite +ases

of the feathers' tellin" hi( that this #as a youn" ea"le' and not an old one&

7i)i fle# in6uisitively to the nest& he "ave a yel* li)e the ea"le had (ade& The youn" +ird

loo)ed u* en6uirin"ly' re%o"ni8in" the sound +ut not the (a)er of it&

,Your %a(era' 6ui%)!- #his*ered 0hili*' and /a%) +e"an to ad4ust his %a(era #ith 6ui%)' ea"er

fin"ers&

,@ui%)' the old ea"les are %o(in" +a%)'- #his*ered 0hili*' and /a%) "ave a "lan%e u*#ards& The

ea"les had re(e(+ered their youn" one' and seein" the +oys so near the nest' #ere %o(in" do#n tosee #hat #as ha**enin"&

/a%) sna**ed the %a(era 4ust in ti(e' for 7i)i fle# off al(ost i((ediately to (eet the ea"les'

s%rea(in" a #el%o(e&

,Better "et do#n no#'- said 0hili*' thin)in" that the t#o old ea"les loo)ed *retty fier%e& ,3y

#ord' I #ish #e %ould ta)e *i%tures of that youn" one learnin" to fly& It loo)s as if it #ill ta)e off

fro( the nest any day no#&-

With the t#o ea"les "lidin" not far a+ove the( the +oys %li(+ed do#n as hastily as they %ould&

,Did you "et a sna*5- as)ed Lu%y$Ann ea"erly' and /a%) nodded He loo)ed e2%ited&

,I shall have to %o(e +a%) a"ain'- he said& ,Do you )no#' I (i"ht "et finer %lose$u* *i%tures of

ea"les than anyone has ever "ot +efore5 Thin) of that! I.d (a)e a lot of (oney out of the(' I

daresay' and I.d have the( in all )inds of nature (a"a8ines&-,Oh' /a%)1do ta)e so(e (ore *i%tures then'- said Lu%y$Ann' her eyes shinin"&



,I.d have to al(ost li$e u* here' to ta)e "ood ones'- said /a%)& ,It.s no "ood 4ust %o(in" u* on

the off$%han%e& If only I %ould s*end a fe# days here!-

,Well1I su**ose you %ould' if you #anted to'- said 0hili*& ,I e2*e%t 3other #ould let you' if

you told her a+out the ea"les& It #ould +e 6uite safe u* here' and #e %ould +rin" you food&-

,Can.t #e all %o(e and stay u* here for a fe# days5- said Lu%y$Ann' #ho didn.t #ant her

+rother to +e a#ay fro( the(& ,Why %an.t #e5-,Well1you )no# #e %an.t leave (y (other all alone do#n there'- said 0hili*& ,he.d thin) it

#as 4olly (ean&-

,Oh yes1of %ourse'- said Lu%y$Ann' "oin" rather red& ,I never thou"ht of that& Ho# a#ful of

(e!-

,All the sa(e' I don.t see #hy shouldn.t %o(e u* here for a fe# days'- said /a%)' findin" the

idea (ore and (ore e2%itin" as he thou"ht a+out it& ,I %ould (a)e a hide' you )no#1and & & &-

,What.s a hide5- as)ed Tassie' s*ea)in" for al(ost the first ti(e that (ornin"&

,A hide5 Oh' it.s a *la%e I should ri" u* to hide (yself and (y %a(era in'- said /a%) i(*atiently&

,Then' #hen the ea"les had "ot used to it' I %ould ta)e as (any *i%tures of the( as I #anted to'

#ithout sho#in" (yself or *uttin" the( on their "uard& I should (a)e (y hide so(e#here on this

%ra"' #ithin "ood vie# of that nest& :olly I (i"ht ta)e a #hole set of *i%tures sho#in" the youn"ea"le learnin" to fly!-

,Well' as) 3other if you %an %o(e u*' then'- said 0hili*& ,I.d %o(e u* and +e #ith you' only I

thin) one of us +oys ou"ht to +e do#n at the %otta"e to hel* +rin" the #ood in for the fire and

thin"s li)e that&-

,I %ould do that'- said Dinah' ea"er to "et rid of the toad for a fe# days& he #ouldn.t "o near

0hili* as lon" as he had the toad a+out hi(&

,Well' you %an.t'- said 0hili*& ,/a%) #ill have 7i)i for %o(*any and #e.ll %o(e u* and see hi(

every day& Co(e on' no#1let.s e2*lore the lo#er *art of the %astle a +it (ore&-

o they (ade their #ay +a%) a%ross the yard into the lo#er *arts of the "reat +uildin"' e2*e%tin"

to see the sa(e vast e(*ty roo(s there as they had seen a+ove& But #hat a sur*rise they "ot!

Chapter 1&

A C9RIO9 THIN:

THEY #ent into a "reat door#ay' and #al)ed a%ross the dar) hall' #hi%h e%hoed 6ueerly #ith their

footste*s& Fro( outside %a(e the yel*in" s%rea( of the ea"les a"ain&

,I e2*e%t it #as the s%rea(s of the ea"les that the villa"ers heard year after year u* here'- said

/a%)' as he (ade his #ay to a stout door that led off the hall& He o*ened it1and then stood still in

sur*rise&

This roo( #as furnished! It had on%e +een a )ind of sittin"$roo( or dra#in"$roo(' and the(ouldy old furniture #as still there' thou"h the %hildren %ould not i(a"ine #hy it had +een left!

They stood and stared into the old' for"otten roo( in silen%e& It #as su%h a 6ueer feelin" to "a8e

on this (usty$s(ellin"' 6uiet roo(' li"hted +y four slit #indo#s and one #ide one' throu"h #hi%h

sunli"ht %a(e& It lit u* the layers of dust on the sofas and vast ta+le' and tou%hed the enor(ous

#e+s' and han"in" %o+#e+s that #ere (ade +y s%ores of +usy s*iders throu"h the years&

Dinah shivered& When the others #ent further into the roo(' #al)in" on ti*toe and tal)in" in

#his*ers' she did not follo#& Lu%y$Ann *atted a %hair and at on%e a %loud of dust arose' (a)in" her

%ho)e& 0hili* *ulled at a %over on one of the sofas' and it fell to *ie%es in his hands& It #as 6uite

rotten&

,What a #eird old roo(!- he said& ,I feel as if I #as +a%) a hundred years or so& Ti(e has stood

still here& I do #onder #hy this roo( #as left li)e this&-



They #ent out and into the ne2t one& That #as 6uite e(*ty& But the third one' s(aller' and

evidently used as a dinin"$roo(' #as a"ain furnished& And a"ain the s*iders. #e+s stret%hed

every#here and hun" do#n in lon" "rey threads fro( the hi"h %eilin"s& There #as a "reat side$

+oard in the roo(' and #hen the %hildren %uriously o*ened one of the doors' they sa# old %hina and

*ie%es of silver there1or #hat (ust have +een silver' for no# the %ruets and sau%e+oats #ere so

terri+ly tarnished that they (i"ht have +een (ade of anythin"&,Curiouser and %uriouser!- said Lu%y$Ann' 6uotin" 'lice i( Wo(derla(d & ,Why have these

roo(s +een left li)e this5-

,I e2*e%t the #i%)ed old (an Tassie told us a+out 4ust lived in a fe# roo(s' and these #ere the

ones'- said /a%)& ,3ay+e he #ent a#ay' (eanin" to %o(e +a%)' and never did& And no+ody dared

to %o(e here1or *erha*s no+ody even )ne# the roo(s had +een left furnished& It.s a (ystery!-

The little fo2$%u+ #ent sniffin" round all the roo(s' raisin" %louds of dust' and %ho)in" no# and

a"ain& 7i)i did not see( to li)e the roo(s& he stayed on /a%).s shoulder' 6uite silent&

They %a(e to the )it%hen& This #as a si(*ly enor(ous *la%e' #ith a "reat %oo)in"$ran"e at the

+a%)& Iron sau%e*ans and an iron )ettle #ere still there& 0hili* tried to lift one' +ut it #as i((ensely

heavy&

,Coo)s (ust have had very stron" ar(s in the old days!- he said& ,Loo)1is that a *u(* +y theold sin)5 I su**ose they had to *u(* their #ater u*&-

They %rossed over to the sin)& The old$fashioned *u(* had a handle' #hi%h had to +e #or)ed u*

and do#n in order to +rin" u* #ater fro( so(e dee*$do#n #ell&

0hili* stared at it in a *u88led (anner' his eyes "oin" to a *uddle on the floor' 4ust +elo# the

*u(*&

,What.s the (atter' 0hili*5- said /a%)&

,Nothin" (u%h1+ut #here did that #ater %o(e fro(5- said 0hili*& ,ee' it.s in a *uddle1it

%an only have +een there a day or t#o' or it #ould have dried u*&-

/a%) loo)ed u* to the dar) old %eilin"' as if he e2*e%ted to see a lea) in the roof there& But there

#as none' of %ourse! He loo)ed do#n at the *uddle a"ain' and he too felt *u88led& ,Let.s *u(* a

+it and see if #ater %o(es u*'- he said' and stret%hed out his hand& ,3ay+e the thin" is out of order

no#&-

Before he %ould rea%h the handle 0hili* )no%)ed his hand aside' #ith an e2%la(ation& /a%)

loo)ed at hi( in sur*rise&

,ee here' Fre%)les'- said 0hili*' fro#nin" in +e#ilder(ent' ,the handle of the *u(* isn.t

%overed #ith dust li)e everythin" else is& It.s ru++ed %lean 4ust #here you.d ta)e hold of it to

*u(*&-

Dinah felt a little *ri%)le of fri"ht "o do#n her +a%)& Whatever did 0hili* (ean5 Who %ould

*u(* u* #ater in an old e(*ty %astle5

They all stared at the *u(*$handle' and sa# that 0hili* #as ri"ht& Button +e"an to la* u* the

*uddle of #ater on the stone floor& He #as thirsty&,Wait' Button& I.ll *u(* you so(e fresh #ater'- said 0hili*' and he too) hold of the *u(*$

handle& He #or)ed it u* and do#n vi"orously' and fresh' %lear #ater *oured in "ushes into the hu"e

old sin)& o(e of it s*lashed out in to the *uddle already on the floor&

,That.s ho# that *uddle #as (ade'- said /a%)' #at%hin" %arefully& ,By the s*lashes of the #ater

fro( the sin)& But that (eans so(eone (ust have *u(*ed u* #ater here in the last fe# days!-

Tassie.s eyes "re# +i" #ith fri"ht& ,The #i%)ed old (an.s still here!- she said' and loo)ed

fearfully over her shoulder as if she e2*e%ted hi( to #al) into the )it%hen&

,Don.t +e so silly' Tassie'- said 0hili* i(*atiently& ,The old (an.s dead and "one years and

years a"o& Do you )no# if any of the villa"ers ever %o(e u* here5-

,No' oh no!- said Tassie& ,They are afraid of the %astle& They say it is a +ad *la%e&-

The five %hildren %ertainly felt that it had a 6ueer' +roodin" air a+out it& They felt that they#anted to "o out into the sunshine& 7i)i suddenly "ave a (ournful "roan that (ade the( all 4u(*&



,Don.t' 7i)i!- said /a%) %rossly& ,0hili*' #hat do you (a)e of this5 Who.s +een *u(*in" u* the

#ater5 Can there +e anyone in the %astle no#5-

,Well' #e haven.t seen si"ns of anyone at all'- said 0hili*& ,And #hy should anyone +e here'

any#ay5 There.s nothin" for the( to live on1no food or anythin"& I thin) (yself that *ro+a+ly

so(e ra(+ler %a(e u* here in %uriosity' #andered a+out' and "ot hi(self a drin) of #ater fro( the

*u(* +efore he #ent&-This see(ed the (ost li)ely e2*lanation&

,But ho# did he "et in5- said Dinah' after a (o(ent or t#o&

That #as a *u88ler& ,There (ust +e so(e #ay'- said /a%)&

,There isn.t'- said Tassie& ,I.ve +een all round the %astle' and I )no#& There isn.t any #ay of

"ettin" in&-

,Well' there (ust +e'- said 0hili*' and dis(issed the su+4e%t' feelin" that they #ould all +e +etter

to +e out in the o*en air' havin" their tea& ,Co(e on1let.s find a %o(forta+le *la%e in the %ourtyard

and have our tea& I.( 4olly hun"ry a"ain&-

They #ent into the hot and sunny %ourtyard& There #as little +ree8e there' for it #as en%losed +y

the hi"h #alls& They sat do#n and Dinah undid the tea *a%)et& There #as *lenty there for everyone

1+ut all the le(onade had +een drun) at dinner$ti(e&,I.( so thirsty I si(*ly must have so(ethin" to drin) #ith (y sand#i%hes'- said Lu%y$Ann&

,3y ton"ue #ill han" out li)e a do".s in a (inute&-

Everyone felt the sa(e1+ut no+ody *arti%ularly #anted to "o into that +i"' lonely )it%hen and

+rin" +a%) #ater in the %ard+oard %u*s&

,I )no#1#e.ll see if the s*rin" that runs do#n to our %otta"e is any#here a+out'- said 0hili*&

,It.s su**osed to +e"in in this %ourtyard' I )no#& It should +e so(e#here do#n at the +otto( of it&-

He "ot u* and Button #ent #ith hi(& It #as Button #ho found the s*rin"& It "ushed out near the

#all that ran round the %astle' al(ost at the foot of the to#er at the to* of #hi%h the %hildren had

had their dinner& It #as not a +i" s*rin"' +ut the #ater #as %old and %lear& Button la**ed it ea"erly&

0hili* filled t#o %u*s and %alled to /a%) to +rin" (ore& /a%) and Tassie %a(e u* #ith the other

%u*s& /a%) loo)ed #ith interest at the +u++lin" s*rin"& It "ushed out fro( a hole in the ro%)' and

then disa**eared a"ain under a tan"le of +ra(+les' into a )ind of little tunnel that ran +elo# the

to#er&

,I su**ose it "oes ri"ht underneath the to#er' and %o(es out a"ain further on do#n the hillside'-

thou"ht the +oy& ,It %olle%ts (ore and (ore #ater on the #ay' fro( the inside of the hill' and +y the

ti(e it rea%hes *rin" Cotta"e it is 6uite a +i" s*rin"' ready to +e%o(e a *ro*er little strea(&-

The %hildren en4oyed the i%y$%old #ater& They finished all the tea' and lay +a%) in the sun'

#at%hin" the "olden ea"les' #ho #ere on%e (ore soarin" u*#ards on #ide #in"s&

,This has +een an e2%itin" sort of day'- said 0hili* la8ily& ,What do you feel no# a+out

s*endin" a fe# days here' /a%)1#on.t you +e too lonely5-

,I.ll have 7i)i and the ea"les'- said /a%)& ,And all the ra++its round a+out too!-,I #ouldn.t li)e to +e here all alone no#'- said Dinah& ,Not until I )ne# #ho *u(*ed that

#ater! I should feel %ree*y all the ti(e&-

,That.s nothin" ne#'- said 0hili*& ,You feel %ree*y if you even see the ti* of a #or( %o(in" out

of a hole& Life (ust +e nothin" +ut %ree*iness to you& No# if only you.d "et used to havin" toads

%ra#lin" over you' or a hed"eho" in your *o%)et' or a +eetle or t#o' you.d soon sto* feelin"

%ree*y&-

,Oh don.t!- said Dinah' shiverin" at the thou"ht of +eetles %ra#lin" over her& ,You.re an a#ful

+oy& /a%)' you #on.t really stay here +y yourself' #ill you5-

,I don.t see #hy not'- said /a%)' #ith a lau"h& ,I.( not s%ared& I thin) 0hili*.s ri"ht #hen he

says it #as *ro+a+ly only so(e ra(+ler #ho *u(*ed hi(self a s*ot of #ater& After all' if #e.re

%urious enou"h to (a)e our #ay in here other *eo*le (ay +e too&-,Yes' +ut how did they %o(e5- *ersisted Dinah&



,a(e #ay as old Button %a(e in' I e2*e%t'- said 0hili*&

Dinah stared at hi(& ,Well1ho# did )utto( "et in5- she said& ,Find out that' and #e don.t need

to use the *lan) every ti(e!-

,Oh1do#n a ra++it$hole' I should thin)' and u* another'- said 0hili*' refusin" to ta)e her

seriously& Dinah "ave an an"ry e2%la(ation&

,Do tal) sense! Button %ould "o u* a ra++it$hole all ri"ht' +ut a (an %ouldn.t& You )no# that6uite #ell&-

,Of %ourse1#hy didn.t I thin) of that +efore5- said 0hili* a""ravatin"ly' and dod"ed as Dinah

thre# a %lod of earth at hi(&

,Here! o(e of that #ent in (y eye'- said /a%)' sittin" u*& ,7ee* your te(*er' Dinah& I )no#

#hat #e.ll do& We.ll leave old Button +ehind here #hen #e "o a%ross the *lan)' and #e.ll #at%h

and see #here he %o(es out& Then #e %an use his entran%e' if it.s *ossi+le' the ne2t ti(e #e %o(e!-

,Yes1that.s a "ood idea'- said Lu%y$Ann' and Tassie nodded too& The little "irl #as *u88led to

)no# ho# Button had "ot into the %astle& he felt so %ertain that there #as no #ay in +esides the

t#o doors' and the #indo# throu"h #hi%h they the(selves had %o(e&

,Co(e on1ti(e to "o ho(e'- said /a%)' and they all "ot u*& ,I.ll +e +a%) here to(orro#' I

ho*e!-

Chapter 11

AN 9NE0ECTED 3EETIN:

THEY #ent +a%) into the %astle and u* the #ide stone stair& Dinah felt a little un%o(forta+le and

)e*t %lose to the others& o did Tassie& They #ent do#n the #ide %orridor and loo)ed into roo(

after roo( to find the one #ith the *lan)&

,:olly! Don.t say it.s "one!- said /a%)' after they had loo)ed into a+out si2 roo(s& ,This is

6ueer& I.( sure the roo( #asn.t as far alon" as this&-But it #as1for in the very ne2t roo( they sa# the ed"e of their *lan) on the stone sill& They

hurried over to it& It #as dar) in that roo(& They all #ished heartily they had a tor%h' and

deter(ined to +rin" +oth tor%hes and %andles #ith the( ne2t ti(e!

/a%) #ent a%ross first' #ith 7i)i %lut%hin" his shoulder' (ur(urin" so(ethin" a+out *uttin" the

)ettle on& He "ot a%ross safely' and then %au"ht hold of the ro*e on the other side& He hel*ed Lu%y$

Ann a%ross' then Dinah and then Tassie& Lu%y$Ann sli**ed hurriedly do#n the %liff$side' follo#ed

+y Dinah& Tassie lea*t do#n li)e a "oat' #ithout even tou%hin" the ro*e&

Then %a(e 0hili*' and *oor little Button #as left +ehind' yel*in" shrilly&

,You "o your o#n #ay and 4oin us outside the %astle!- %alled +a%) 0hili*& Button 4u(*ed u* to

the sill +ut )e*t fallin" +a%)& He %ould not rea%h it& The %hildren heard hi( +ar)in" a#ay +y

hi(self as they (ade their #ay do#n the tunnel$li)e *assa"e into the sunshine&,I (ay have to "o +a%) for Button' you )no#' if he doesn.t %o(e after us'- said 0hili*& ,I

%ouldn.t really leave hi( +ehind& But fo2es are so shar*1I +et he.ll %o(e rushin" after us in a

(inute&-

,7ee* a "ood loo)$out then'- said /a%)' ,+e%ause #e #ant to )no# #here he "ets in and out' so

that #e %an use the *la%e ourselves&-

But it #asn.t any "ood )ee*in" a loo)$out' for suddenly Button #as at their heels' lea*in" u* at

0hili*' (a)in" yel*in" sounds of ha**iness and love& No+ody sa# hi( %o(e& No+ody )ne# ho#

he had "ot out of the %astle!

,Ho# annoyin"!- said /a%)' #ith a lau"h& ,Button' ho# did you "et out5-

Button %ouldn.t tell the(& He )e*t so %lose to 0hili*.s heels all the #ay ho(e that 0hili* %ould

feel his shar* little nose the #hole ti(e& Button #as li)e a little shado#!



They #ere all so tired #hen they "ot in that they %ould hardly tell their adventures& When 0hili*

told a+out the *uddle of #ater +elo# the *u(*' 3rs& 3annerin" lau"hed&

,Trust you %hildren to i(a"ine so(ethin" to s%are yourselves #ith!- she said& ,0ro+a+ly the

*u(* lea)s a +it on its o#n& It.s funny a+out those old furnished roo(s thou"h& It sho#s ho# the

villa"ers fear the %astle' if no$one has interfered #ith the furniture! Even thieves' a**arently' #ill

not venture there&-3rs& 3annerin" #as intensely interested in the "olden ea"les& he and 0hili* and /a%) tal)ed

a+out the( till dar)ness fell& 3rs& 3annerin" #as 6uite #illin" for /a%) to try and ta)e *i%tures of

the youn" ea"le #ith its *arents&

,If only you %an (a)e a "ood hide'- she said' ,and "et the +irds used to it' so that you %an lie

there and ta)e #hat *i%tures you *lease' it #ould +e (arvellous& 0hili*.s father used to do thin"s

li)e that&-

,Can I "o #ith /a%)' *lease' 3rs& 3annerin"5- as)ed Lu%y$Ann' #ho %ouldn.t +ear to let /a%)

"o off +y hi(self for even a day or t#o&

,No' you %an.t' Lu%y$Ann'- said /a%) de%idedly& ,I.( the only one to +e there' +e%ause if you or

the others start (essin" a+out too' #e shall s%are the +irds and I shan.t "et any de%ent *i%tures at

all& I shan.t +e "one lon"! You %an.t han" on (y a*ron$strin"s all the holidays&-Lu%y$Ann said no (ore& If /a%) didn.t #ant her' she #ouldn.t "o&

,You %an %o(e u* ea%h day and +rin" (e food' if you li)e'- said /a%)' as he sa# Lu%y$Ann.s

fa%e& ,And I %an al#ays si"nal to you fro( that to#er& You )no# #e %ould see this house fro( that

to#er' so' of %ourse' you %an see the to#er fro( this house&-

,Oh yes1you si"nal "ood$ni"ht to us ea%h ni"ht'- said Lu%y$Ann' %heerin" u*& ,That #ould +e

fun& I #onder #hi%h roo( is +est to see the to#er fro(&-

It so ha**ened that it #as her o#n +edroo( that #as the +est& :ood! he %ould #at%h the to#er

fro( +ed' even& ,/a%)' #ill you slee* in the to#er5- she said& ,Then I shall loo) at the to#er #hen I

#a)e' and )no# you.re there& I.ll #ave a #hite han)y fro( (y #indo# #hen I see you #avin"

one&-

,Oh1I don.t )no# #here I.ll slee*'- said /a%)& ,The to#er #ould +e too drau"hty& I.ll %url

(yself u* in the ru" in a #ar( %orner so(e#here1or (ay+e %lear a *la%e on one of those +i" old

%ou%hes' if I %an "et the dust off!-

Tassie %ouldn.t i(a"ine ho# anyone %ould *ossi+ly dare to slee* alone in the old %astle& he

thou"ht /a%) (ust +e the +ravest +oy in the #orld&

,Ti(e for you to "o ho(e' Tassie'- said 3rs& 3annerin"& ,:o alon"& You %an %o(e +a%)

to(orro#&-

Tassie disa**eared' runnin" off to her tu(+le$do#n %otta"e and her s%oldin"' untidy (other& The

others hel*ed 3rs& 3annerin" to %lear the su**er a#ay' and the t#o "irls #ashed u*' half aslee*&

They #ent to +ed' to drea( of the old deserted %astle' of stran"e %o+#e++y roo(s' hi"h to#ers'

s%rea(in" ea"les1and a *uddle on the floor +elo# the *u(*!,That.s really a *u88le'- said 0hili* to hi(self' as he fell aslee*& ,But I.( too tired to thin)

a+out it no#!-

The ne2t day #as rainy& :reat %louds s#e*t over the hillside' (a)in" it (isty and da(*& The sun

hardly sho#ed all day lon"& The little s*rin" suddenly +e%a(e t#i%e as full' and (ade 6uite a noise

as it "ur"led do#n the "arden&

,Blo#!- said /a%)& ,I did #ant to "o u* to the %astle today& I feel that that youn" ea"le (ay fly at

any ti(e no#' and I don.t #ant to (iss its first fli"ht&-

,Have you "ot *lenty of fil(s for your %a(era5- as)ed 0hili*& ,You )no# ho# you )ee*

runnin" out of the( 4ust #hen you +adly #ant the(&-

,Well' it #ouldn.t +e (u%h "ood #antin" the( if I had(*t "ot enou"h!- said /a%)& ,I %ouldn.t

+uy the( in that tiny villa"e& There.s only one sho*&-



,You %ould ta)e the train and "o off to the nearest +i" to#n'- said 3rs& 3annerin"& ,Why don.t

you do that' instead of stayin" here %oo*ed u* all day5 I %an see Dinah is lon"in" to s6ua++le #ith

so(eone!-

Dinah lau"hed& he did hate +ein" ,%oo*ed u*- as 3rs& 3annerin" said' and it did (a)e her

irrita+le& But Dinah #as learnin" to %ontrol herself a little (ore no# that she #as "ro#in" older&

,Yes' it #ould +e fun to ta)e the train and "o off sho**in"'- she said& ,Let.s do it! We.ve 4ust "otti(e to %at%h the one and only train that leaves the station' and #e.ll %o(e +a%) +y the one and only

train that returns!-

o they *ut on (a%)s and sou.#esters and hurried to %at%h the train& But they needn.t have

hurried' really' for the leisurely little %ountry train al#ays #aited for any+ody %o(in" alon" the

road&

It #as t#enty (iles to the nearest to#n& It too) the train a #hole hour to "et there' and the

%hildren en4oyed runnin" throu"h the valleys in +et#een the ran"es of hi"h hills& On%e they sa#

another %astle on the side of a hill' +ut they all a"reed that it #asn.t a *at%h on theirs&

Button had +een left +ehind #ith Tassie' (u%h to his dis(ay& The %hildren had offered to ta)e

Tassie #ith the(' +ut the little "irl #as terrified of the train& he shran) +a%) #hen they su""ested

it& o they "ave Button to her #ith stri%t in4un%tions not to let hi( #orry 3rs& 3annerin"&7i)i' of %ourse' #ent #ith /a%)& But then she #ent every#here #ith hi(' (a)in" her re(ar)s'

and %ausin" a "reat deal of a(use(ent and interest& he al#ays sho#ed off in %o(*any and

so(eti(es +e%a(e very %hee)y&

The %hildren had left the train and #ere #al)in" do#n the street' #hen suddenly a voi%e hailed

the(' and (ade the( 4u(*& ,Hallo' hallo! Whoever #ould have thou"ht of seein" you here!-

The %hildren turned round at on%e and 7i)i let out a deli"hted s6ua#)&

,Bill (u"s!- %ried the %hildren' and ran to the ruddy$fa%ed' t#in)lin"$eyed (an #ho had

hailed the(& Lu%y$Ann "ave hi( a hu"' Dinah s(iled in deli"ht' and the t#o +oys +an"ed Bill

(u"s on the +a%)&

Bill (u"s #as not his real na(e& It #as a na(e he had told the %hildren the year +efore' #hen

they had %o(e a%ross hi( tryin" to tra%) so(e %lever for"ers& He had not #anted the( to )no#

#ho he #as nor #hat he #as really doin"1+ut althou"h they no# )ne# his real na(e' he #as still

Bill (u"s to the(' and al#ays #ould +e&

,Co(e and have lun%h #ith (e'- said Bill (u"s& ,Or have you any other *lans5 I really (ust

)no# #hat you are doin" here& I thou"ht you #ere at ho(e for the holidays&-

,What are you doin" here5- as)ed 0hili*' his eyes shinin"& ,On the tra%) of for"ers a"ain5 I +et

you.re on so(e sort of e2%itin" 4o+&-

,3ay+e' (ay+e not'- said Bill' s(ilin"& ,I shouldn.t tell you' any#ay' should I5 I.( *ro+a+ly

holidayin"' 4ust as you are& Co(e on1#e.ll "o to this hotel& It loo)s a+out the +est one this to#n

%an *rodu%e&-

It #as an e2%itin" lun%h& Bill (u"s #as an e2%itin" *erson& They tal)ed ea"erly a+out thethrillin" adventure he had had #ith the( the year +efore' #hen they had all "ot (i2ed u* #ith

%o**er$(ines and for"ers' and had +een in very "reat dan"er& They re(inded ea%h other of the

ti(es they had shivered and tre(+led!

,Yes' that %ertainly #as an adventure'- said Bill' hel*in" hi(self to a**le$tart and %rea(& ,And

no#' as I said +efore1you really (ust tell (e #hat you are doin" in this *art of the #orld!-

The %hildren told hi(' interru*tin" ea%h other in their ea"erness' es*e%ially /a%)' #ho #as

lon"in" to tell hi( every detail a+out the ea"les& Bill listened and ate solidly' "ivin" 7i)i tit+its

every no# and a"ain& he had +een deli"hted to see their old friend too' and had told hi( at least a

do8en ti(es to o*en his +oo) at *a"e ;' and *ay attention&

,What a *ity you.re t#enty (iles a#ay or (ore'- said Bill& ,I.( stu%) here in this distri%t for a

ti(e' I.( afraid' and %an.t leave& But if I %an I.ll %o(e over and see you& 3ay+e your (other #ould



*ut (e u* for a day or t#o' then I %an %o(e u* to this #onderful %astle of yours and see the

ea"les&-

,Oh yes' do %o(e!- they all %ried& ,We aren.t on the tele*hone'- added 0hili*' ,+ut never (ind'

4ust %o(e1#e are sure to +e there& Co(e at any ti(e! We.d love you to&-

,Ri"ht'- said Bill& ,I (i"ht +e a+le to sli* over ne2t #ee)' +e%ause it doesn.t loo) as if I.(

"oin" to do (u%h "ood here& Can.t tell you any (ore' I.( afraid1+ut if I don.t (a)e any head#ay#ith #hat I.( su**osed to +e doin"' I.ll have a +rea)' and %o(e alon" to see you and your ni%e

(other& :ive her (y )ind re"ards' and say Bill (u"s #ill %o(e and *ay his res*e%ts if he *ossi+ly

%an&-

,We.ll have to "o'- said /a%) re"retfully' loo)in" at his #at%h& ,There.s only the one train +a%)

and #e.ve "ot a +it of sho**in" to do& :ood$+ye' Bill' it.s +een "rand to +u(* into you li)e this&-

,:ood$+ye& ee you soon' I ho*e!- said Bill' #ith his fa(iliar "rin& And off they ran to %at%h

their train&

Chapter 12

/AC7 I LEFT AT THE CATLE

3R& 3ANNERIN: #as deli"hted to hear that they had +y %han%e (et Bill (u"s a"ain' for she felt

very "rateful to hi( for the hel* he had "iven the %hildren in their a(a8in" adventure the year

+efore&

,If he %o(es' I #ill slee* in #ith you "irls and he %an have (y roo('- she said& ,:ood old Bill!

It #ill +e ni%e to see hi( a"ain& He (ust lead an interestin" life' al#ays huntin" do#n %ri(inals

and #i%)ed *eo*le&-

,I +et he.d have +een after the #i%)ed old (an #ho used to live in the %astle!- said Lu%y$Ann&

,It #ill +e fun to ta)e hi( u* there& /a%)' I ho*e it #on.t +e rainin" to(orro# a"ain&-

But it #as& /a%) felt very disa**ointed& He #as so afraid that the old ea"les (i"ht ta)e the youn"one a#ay& But it #as no "ood "oin" u* the hill in this *ourin" rain& For one thin"' the %louds #ere

so lo# that they sailed round the hillside itself' +i" *at%hes of (ovin" (ist& He #ould "et lost if he

tried to "o u*&

,I su**ose Tassie %ould find her #ay u* even in the (ist'- he said& Tassie #as there& he raised

her +ri"ht +la%) eyes to hi( and nodded&

,Yes'- she said& ,I #ill ta)e you no# if you li)e&-

,No'- said 3rs& 3annerin" fir(ly& ,Wait till to(orro#& I thin) it #ill +e fine then& I.( not "oin"

to have to send out sear%h$*arties for you and Tassie!-

,But' 3other' Tassie %an find her #ay u* this hillside +lindfold' I.( sure she %ould!- said 0hili*&

Ho#ever' 3rs& 3annerin" didn.t +elieve in Tassie and her *o#ers as (u%h as the %hildren did& o

/a%) had to #ait for the ne2t day&Lu%)ily it #as fine& The sun rose out of a %lear s)y' and not even the s(allest %loud sho#ed

itself& The hillside "listened and "lea(ed as the sun dried the (illions of raindro*s left on t#i" and

leaf& It #as a really lovely day&

,We.ll all %o(e u* #ith you' /a%)'- said 0hili*' ,and hel* to %arry #hat you #ant& You.ll need a

%ou*le of thi%) ru"s' and so(e food1a %andle or t#o and a tor%h1and your %a(era and fil(s' of

%ourse&-

They all de%ided to have a day u* at the %astle a"ain' and leave /a%) +ehind #hen they %a(e

+a%) in the evenin"& o' a+out eleven o.%lo%)' #ith the (ornin" sun +la8in" hotly do#n on their

+a%)s' they +e"an the %li(+ u* the hill&

Button %a(e' of %ourse' and 7i)i& 7i)i #as to stay #ith /a%)& The ea"les evidently didn.t (ind

her& In fa%t it #as 6uite *ossi+le that they (i"ht (a)e friends #ith her' and /a%) (i"ht "et so(e

interestin" *hoto"ra*hs&



Carryin" various thin"s' the little *arty set off on%e (ore& Dinah #as "lad to feel her tor%h safely

in her *o%)et& he didn.t (ean to stand in dar) roo(s a"ain and feel %o+#e+s %lut%hin" at her hair!

They %li(+ed in throu"h the #indo# as +efore& Button a"ain a**eared in the %ourtyard fro(

so(e#here' thou"h still no$one )ne# #here& 7i)i fle# to the %ra" on #hi%h the ea"les had their

nest' yel*in" her ea"le$s%rea( in #hat #as *lainly (eant to +e a )indly "reetin"&

The startled ea"les rose u* in sur*rise' and then seein" the stran"e and tal)ative +ird a"ain'%ir%led round her& @uite %learly they didn.t (ind her in the least& They *ro+a+ly too) her to +e so(e

sort of stran"e ea"le$%ousin' as she s*o)e their lan"ua"e!

It #asn.t lon" +efore /a%) %li(+ed u* to see if the youn" ea"le #as still in the nest& It #as! The

(other had 4ust +rou"ht it a dead ra++it' and the youn" ea"le #as +usy on the (eal& When it sa#

/a%) it stood over the ra++it #ith #in"s held over it' as if afraid that /a%) #ould ta)e it&

,It.s all ri"ht'- said the +oy "ently& ,Eat it all& I don.t #ant any& I only #ant a *i%ture of you!-

He loo)ed around for a *la%e to (a)e a "ood hide in& There #as one s*ot that loo)ed ideal& It

#as a thi%) "orse$+ush' al(ost on a level #ith the ea"les. led"e& /a%) thou"ht he %ould *ro+a+ly

s6uee8e into the hollo# (iddle of it' and (a)e an o*enin" for his %a(era in the *ri%)ly +ran%hes&

,The only thin" is1I.ll "et terri+ly *ri%)ed'- he thou"ht& ,Never (ind& It #ill +e #orth it if I "et

so(e "ood *i%tures! I +et the ea"les #ill never )no# #hether I.( hidin" in that +ush or not!-He told the others' and they a"reed #ith hi( that it #ould +e a s*lendid *la%e' if a +it *ainful&

The +ush #as 6uite hollo# in the (iddle' and on%e he #as there he %ould (ana"e not to +e *ri%)ed&

It #as the "ettin" in and out that #ould +e un*leasant&

,You.ll have to #ra* this ru" round you'- said Lu%y$Ann' holdin" u* the thi%) ru" she had

+rou"ht& ,If you %ree* in #ith this round you' you.ll +e all ri"ht&-

,:ood idea'- said /a%)&

They #ent u* to the to#er$to* and had their dinner there a"ain' seein" the %ountryside s*read

out +elo# on%e (ore in all its +eauty&

,I.d li)e Bill (u"s to see this'- said /a%)& ,We (ust +rin" hi( u* here #hen he %o(es&-

,Where do you thin) you #ill slee* toni"ht' /a%)5- as)ed Lu%y$Ann an2iously& ,And #ill you

#ave your han)y fro( the to#er +efore you "o to slee*5 I.ll #at%h for it&-

,I.ll #ave (y #hite shirt'- said /a%)& ,You *ro+a+ly #ouldn.t noti%e anythin" so s(all as a

han)y' thou"h you %ould +orro# (y old field$"lasses and loo) throu"h the(' if you li)e& They.re in

(y roo(&-

,Oh yes' I #ill'- said Lu%y$Ann& ,I shall easily see your shirt& I ho*e you #on.t +e too lonely'

/a%)&-

, .Course not& I.ll have 7i)i& No+ody %ould *ossi+ly +e lonely #ith that old %hatter+o2 of a

+ird'- said /a%)' s%rat%hin" 7i)i.s feathered *oll&

,0o* "oes the #easel'- said 7i)i' and ni++led at /a%).s ear&

,You haven.t said #here you.ll slee*' /a%)'- said Lu%y$Ann& ,You #on.t really slee* on one of

those old sofas' #ill you5-,No' I don.t thin) so& 3ore li)ely in a sandy %orner of the %ourtyard'- said /a%)& ,There.s a

sandy +it over there' loo)1it.ll +e #ar( #ith the sun& If I %url u* there and #ra* the ru"s all round

(e' I.ll +e very snu"&-

,I.d rather you sle*t out in the %ourtyard so(eho#' than in the stran"e old %astle!- said Lu%y$

Ann& ,I don.t li)e those (usty' dusty' fusty roo(s!-

,3usty' dusty' fusty!- san" 7i)i' deli"hted& ,3usty' fusty' dusty' (usty' fusty & & &-

,hut u*' 7i)i'- said everyone= +ut 7i)i loved those three #ords' and #ent to re*eat the( over

and over a"ain to Button' #ho sat listenin"' his ears %o%)ed' and his little fo2y head on one side&

,It.s ti(e for us to "o'- said 0hili* at last& They had tried in vain to find the *la%e #here Button

had "ot in and out' and had #andered on%e (ore all over the %astle' s#it%hin" on their tor%hes' and

e2*lorin" even (ore thorou"hly than +efore& Only the three roo(s they had seen +efore #erefurnished1the sittin"$roo(' the dinin"$roo( and the )it%hen& There #as no +edroo( furnished'



#hi%h' as 0hili* *ointed out' #as rather a *ity' as /a%) %ould *ro+a+ly have (ade hi(self

%o(forta+le in a +i" old four$*oster +ed!

/a%) said "ood$+ye to the( all as they #ent a%ross the *lan)& He held Button in his ar(s' 6uite

deter(ined to follo# hi( and find out #here he #ent' #hen he "ot out of the %astle& He #as not

"oin" to set hi( free till the others had "one& One +y one they %rossed the *lan) and disa**eared&

Their voi%es died a#ay& /a%) #as alone&He #ent do#n the #ide %orridor' do#n the stone stair#ay that led to the dar) hall' and out into

the %ourtyard' #here the last rays of the sun still shone& When he %a(e to the yard' he set the

#ri""lin" fo2$%u+ do#n&

,No# you sho# (e #here you "o'- he said& Button darted off at on%e1far too 6ui%)ly for /a%)!

By the ti(e the +oy had run a fe# ste*s after hi(' the fo2$%u+ had disa**eared' and there #as no

tra%e of hi(&

,Blo#!- said /a%)' annoyed& ,I did (ean to dis%over the #ay you #ent' this ti(e1+ut you.re so

4olly ni**y! I su**ose you have already 4oined the others no#&-

/a%) #ent to try and arran"e his %a(era safely in the "orse$+ush& He had a very fine %a(era

indeed' "iven to hi( last Christ(as +y Bill (u"s& In his *o%)et #ere (any rolls of fil(& He ou"ht

to +e a+le to ta)e a fine series of *i%tures of those ea"les&He #ra**ed the thi%) ru" round hi(' as Lu%y$Ann had su""ested' and +e"an to s6uee8e throu"h

the *ri%)ly +ran%hes& o(e of the *ri%)les rea%hed his flesh even throu"h the thi%) ru"& 7i)i sat

+eside the +ush' #at%hin" /a%) in sur*rise&

,What a *ity' #hat a *ity' #hat a *ity!- she said&

,It is a *ity that I.( +ein" *ri%)ed li)e this!- "roaned /a%)& But he %heered u* #hen he sa# #hat

a fine vie# of the ea"les. nest he had1and of the led"e #here the ea"les sat to loo) out at the

surroundin" %ountry& The distan%e #as *erfe%t' and /a%) re4oi%ed&

By (a)in" an o*enin" in the +ush on the side #here the nest #as' he (ana"ed to *oint his

%a(era in e2a%tly the ri"ht dire%tion' and lod"ed it very fir(ly on its tri*od le"s& He loo)ed throu"h

it to see #hat )ind of a *i%ture he #ould "et&

,0erfe%t!- thou"ht the +oy 4oyfully& ,I #on.t ta)e one no#' +e%ause the li"ht is a#)#ard& But

to(orro# (ornin" #ould +e e2a%tly ri"ht& Then the sun #ill +e 4ust #here I #ant it&-

The little ea"le %au"ht si"ht of the %a(era *eerin" out of the +ush& It did not li)e it& It %o#ered

do#n in the nest' afraid&

,You.ll soon "et used to it'- /a%) thou"ht& ,I ho*e the old +irds #ill too& Oh' 7i)i' did you ha$e

to "et into the (iddle of this +ush too5 There.s really only 4ust roo( enou"h for (e!-

,Fusty' (usty' dusty!- #his*ered 7i)i' evidently thin)in" that /a%) #as *layin" a "a(e of hide$

and$see) #ith so(e+ody' and (ustn.t +e "iven a#ay& ,Fusty' (usty' dusty&-

,illy old +ird'- said /a%)& ,No# "et out' *lease& I.( %o(in" out too& It.s %ertainly fusty and

(usty in this "orse$+ush' even if it isn.t dusty!-

7i)i %ra#led *ut and then /a%) for%ed his #ay out' tryin" to *rote%t hi(self fro( the *ri%)lyste(s& He stood u*' stret%hed hi(self' too) the ru" and #ent do#n the %ra" li"htly' leavin" his

%a(era in *osition& It #as %lear that there #ould +e no rain that ni"ht!

The +oy read a +oo) until dayli"ht faded& Then he re(e(+ered a+out #avin" his shirt fro( the

to#er& o u* he #ent' ho*in" he hadn.t left it too late for Lu%y$Ann to see&

He stood on the to* of the to#er' and stri**ed off his #hite shirt& Then he #aved it "aily in the

stron" +ree8e there' loo)in" do#n on the %otta"e far +elo# as he #aved& And fro( the to*(ost

#indo# there %a(e a flash of #hite& Lu%y$Ann #as #avin" +a%)&

,He.s 4ust #aved'- she %alled to Dinah' #ho #as undressin"& ,I sa# the #hite shirt& :ood& No#

I )no# he.s all ri"ht and #ill soon +e %urlin" hi(self u* to "o to slee*&-

,Why you (ust fuss so a+out /a%) I don.t )no#'- said Dinah' 4u(*in" into +ed& ,I never fuss

a+out 0hili*& You.re a +a+y' Lu%y$Ann&-



,I don.t %are'- thou"ht Lu%y$Ann' as she settled do#n in +ed& ,I.( "lad to )no# /a%) is safe&

o(eho# I don.t li)e hi( +ein" all alone in that horrid old %astle!-

Chapter 13

NOIE IN THE NI:HT

/AC7 #ent do#n the stone stair#ays of the to#er' #histlin" softly& 7i)i #histled #ith hi(& If it #as

a tune she )ne#' she #ould #histle it all throu"h #ith /a%)&

They %a(e into the old %ourtyard& There #as no si"n of the ea"les& They #ere *ro+a+ly roostin"

no#& But' at /a%).s %o(in"' there #as a "eneral s%urryin" all around the yard&

,Ra++its!- said /a%)' in deli"ht& ,:olly' #hat hundreds of the(& I su**ose they all %o(e out this

ti(e of the evenin"& I.ll %url (yself u* in that sandy %orner and #at%h the( for a +it& No#' don.t

you fri"hten the(' 7i)i&-

He #ent over to the soft sand' ta)in" #ith hi( the thi%) ru"s and a *a%)et of %ho%olate +is%uits&

He %urled hi(self u*' and lay there' #at%hin" the ra++its %ree*in" out of their holes a"ain&It #as a lovely si"ht to see& There #ere +i" ones and little ones' dar) ones and li"ht ones' serious

ones and *layful ones& o(e ni++led *at%hes of the #iry "rass here and there& Others lea*t a+out

(adly&

/a%) lay there %ontentedly and ni++led his +is%uits' en4oyin" the %ho%olate on the(& He #at%hed

the ra++its in deli"ht& 7i)i #at%hed the( too' (ur(urin" a fe# re(ar)s into /a%).s ear no# and

a"ain&

,I +et the ea"les %at%h a "ood fe# of those ra++its'- thou"ht /a%)' suddenly feelin" slee*y& He

finished his last +is%uit' and *ulled the ru" (ore %losely around hi(& He felt a little %hilly no#& The

sand didn.t feel 6uite so soft as it had done +efore' either& /a%) ho*ed he #asn.t "oin" to +e

un%o(forta+le& 0erha*s it #ould have +een +etter to have %hosen a *at%h of heather&

,Well' I.( too slee*y to %han"e (y +ed no#'- he thou"ht& ,3u%h too slee*y& 7i)i' (ove u* a +it& Your %la#s are di""in" into (y ne%)& You.d +etter "et off (e and *er%h so(e#here else&-

But +efore 7i)i %ould (ove' /a%) #as aslee*& 7i)i stayed #here she #as& The ra++its "re#

+older and *layed nearer to the slee*in" +oy& A half$(oon %a(e out of the evenin" %louds and

li"hted u* the drea(in" %ourtyard&

What #o)e /a%) he never )ne#& But so(ethin" #o)e hi( u* #ith a 4u(*& He o*ened his eyes

and lay there' loo)in" u* into the ni"ht s)y' full of sur*rise& For a (o(ent or t#o he had no idea

#here he #as&

9sually #hen he #o)e he sa# the %eilin" of his roo(1no# there #ere stars and %louds& Then

he suddenly re(e(+ered& Of %ourse1he #as in the %ourtyard of the old %astle& He sat u* and 7i)i

a#o)e too' "ivin" an annoyed little s6ua#)&

,I #onder #hat #o)e (e5- thou"ht /a%)' loo)in" round the shado#y yard& The (oon %a(e outand he sa# a fe# ra++its here and there& Behind rose the "reat dar) +ul) of the %astle&

/a%) felt a+solutely %ertain that so(ethin" had a#a)ened hi(& o(e noise *erha*s5 Or had a

ra++it run over hi(5 He listened intently' +ut he %ould hear nothin" save the hoot of an o#l on the

hillside> ,Hoo$hoo$hoo$hoo! Hoo$hoo$hoo$hoo!- Then he heard the hi"h s6uea) of a +at' %at%hin"

+eetles in the ni"ht air&

He "lan%ed u* at the to#er fro( #hi%h he had #aved his #hite shirt1and he suddenly stiffened

in sur*rise& urely that #as a li"ht he sa# flashin" there5

He stared intently' #aitin" for it to %o(e a"ain& It had see(ed rather li)e the sudden flash of a

tor%h& But it didn.t %o(e a"ain&

/a%) sat and thou"ht hard& Was it a flash5 Had so(eone #al)ed alon" the +attle(ented #all to

the to#er' and #as it their footste*s that had a#a)ened hi(5 Was there so(eone in the %astle after

all5



It see(ed rather #eird& /a%) #ondered #hat to do& He didn.t really feel in%lined to "et u* and

find out #hat the flash #as1if it had +een a flash& He #as +e"innin" to dou+t that it #as no#& If

only it #ould %o(e a"ain' he #ould )no#&

He de%ided that it #as %o#ardly to stay in his +ed 4ust +e%ause he felt a +it s%ared& He had +etter

"et u* and (a)e his #ay to the to#er to see if anyone #as there& That #ould +e the +rave thin" to

do&,I don.t feel at all +rave'- thou"ht /a%)' ,+ut I su**ose a *erson is really +ravest #hen he does

so(ethin" althou"h he is fri"htened& o here "oes!-

Warnin" 7i)i to +e 6uite 6uiet' he (ade his #ay very %arefully a%ross the yard to the entran%e of

the %astle' )ee*in" in the +la%)est shado#s& The feel of 7i)i.s feet on his shoulder #as so(eho#

very %o(fortin"&

He #ent into the vast hall and listened& There #as not a sound to +e heard& He s#it%hed on his

tor%h' %autiously %overin" it #ith his hand)er%hief& The hall #as e(*ty& /a%) #ent u* the #ide

stone stair#ay' and found his #ay to the #all that led to the to#er& He #al)ed 6uietly alon" it'

)ee*in" %lose to one ed"e' and soon %a(e to the to#er&

,hall I "o u* or not5- #ondered the +oy& ,I don.t #ant to in the least& If there.s anyone there

they %an.t +e u* to any "ood& +id I i(a"ine that flash5-He s%re#ed u* his %oura"e and stole u* the to#er stair#ay& There #as no$one in the to#er roo(&

He %re*t u* the stair#ay that led to the very to*' and *ut his head %arefully out& The (oon.s li"ht

#as enou"h to sho# hi( that there #as no+ody there either&

,Well1I 4ust (ust have i(a"ined it'- thou"ht the +oy& ,Ho# silly of (e! I.ll "o +a%) to +ed

a"ain&-

Do#n he #ent on%e (ore' 7i)i still on his shoulder& As he %a(e into the #ide hall' he suddenly

sto**ed still& He had heard a sound& What %ould it +e5

It sounded li)e a (uffled %lan)in"1and then surely that #as the s*lash of #ater5

,Is it so(e+ody in the )it%hen1so(e+ody "ettin" a drin) of #ater a"ain5- #ondered /a%)'

feelin" a *ri%)le of *ani% "o do#n his +a%)& ,:olly' I don.t li)e this& I #ish the others #ere here&-

He stood 6uite still' #onderin" #hat to do& Then' over%o(e +y fear' he fled out of the hall and

into the (oonlit yard' )ee*in" in the shado#s& He #as tre(+lin"& 7i)i +ent to his ear' (ur(urin"

so(ethin" su**osed to +e %o(fortin"& he )ne# he #as fri"htened&

In a (inute or t#o he #as asha(ed of hi(self& ,Why a( I runnin" a#ay5- he thou"ht& ,This

#on.t do& /ust to sho# (yself that I.( no %o#ard I.ll #al) into that )it%hen and see #ho.s there!

It.s a tra(*' I e2*e%t' #ho )no#s the #ay in& He.ll +e far (ore fri"htened to see (e than I shall +e

to see hi(!-

Boldly' +ut very 6uietly' the +oy #ent +a%) into the dar)' +roodin" %astle& Throu"h the hall he

#ent' and (ade his #ay softly to the )it%hen entran%e& He sli**ed inside the door#ay' and then

#ent +ehind the door' #here he #aited' listenin" and #at%hin" to see if any li"ht #as sho#n&

But there #as dead silen%e& There #as no %lan) of the *u(*& There #as no s*lash of #ater& /a%) #aited for t#o or three (inutes' #ith 7i)i' *erfe%tly silent&

He %ould not even hear anyone +reathin"& The )it%hen (ust +e e(*ty&

,I.ll s#it%h on (y tor%h very 6ui%)ly' flash it round the )it%hen' and see if there.s anyone

standin" 6uietly there'- he thou"ht& ,I %an easily run out of the door if there is&-

o he too) his tor%h fro( his *o%)et' and suddenly *ressed do#n the s#it%h& He flashed it to the

sin)' #here the *u(* stood& There #as no$one there& He flashed it all round the )it%hen& It #as

6uite e(*ty& There #as no si"n of anyone at all&

/a%) heaved a si"h of relief& He #ent a%ross to the sin) and e2a(ined the floor +eside it& There

#as a"ain a *uddle there1+ut #as it a freshly$(ade one fro( the sin)$s*lashes1or #as it the

sa(e one they the(selves had (ade #hen they used the *u(*5

/a%) %ouldn.t tell& He loo)ed %losely at the *u(*' +ut that told hi( nothin"' of %ourse&



,It.s a *u88le'- /a%) said to 7i)i' in a #his*er& ,I su**ose the %lan) and the s*lashin" #ere all

(y silly i(a"ination& I #as fri"htened' and *eo*le al#ays i(a"ine thin"s then& I i(a"ined that

flash in the to#er' and I i(a"ined the %lan)in" noise and the s*lashin"& 7i)i' I.( a +i""er +a+y

than Lu%y$Ann1I really a(&-

till feelin" a +it *u88led' +ut rather asha(ed of all his fears and alar(s' /a%) #ent +a%) to his

+ed in the %ourtyard&It see(ed un%o(forta+ly hard no#& Also he #as a +it %old& He *ulled the ru"s round hi( and

tried to "et %o(forta+le& He shut his eyes and told hi(self to "o to slee*& The (oon see(ed to have

"one no#' and everythin" #as *it%h$+la%)& Whatever he heard or sa#' /a%) #as deter(ined he #as

not "oin" to leave his +ed a"ain that ni"ht& Let *eo*le flash li"hts all they li)ed' and *u(* #ater all

ni"ht lon" if they #anted to! e #ouldn.t +other a+out it!

He #as #ide a#a)e& He si(*ly %ouldn.t "o to slee*& He didn.t feel fri"htened any (ore& He

only felt annoyed +e%ause slee* #ouldn.t %o(e to hi(& He +e"an to thin) a+out his ea"les' and

*lanned so(e fine %a(era #or) for the ne2t day&

He %ould feel 7i)i *er%hed on his shoulder$+one& He )ne# she had her head under her #in"' and

#as slee*in"& He #ished she #as a#a)e and #ould tal) to hi(& He #ished the other %hildren #ere

#ith hi(& Then he %ould tell the( #hat he had i(a"ined he sa# and heard&At last he fell aslee*' 4ust as the da#n #as (a)in" the eastern s)y silvery& He didn.t see it turn

"old and *in)' nor did he see the first soarin" fli"ht of the t#o ea"les& He sle*t soundly' and so did

7i)i& But she a#o)e at the first yel*in" s%rea( of one of the ea"les' and ans#ered it #ith one of her

(arvellous i(itations&

That #o)e /a%) #ith a 4u(*' and he sat u*& 7i)i fle# off his shoulder' #aited till he %alled her'

and fle# +a%) a"ain& /a%) ru++ed his eyes and ya#ned&

,I.( hun"ry'- he said to 7i)i& ,Are you5-

,Fusty' (usty' dusty'- said 7i)i' re(e(+erin" the three #ords she had so (u%h li)ed the day

+efore& ,Fusty' (us & & &-

,Yes' I heard you the first ti(e'- said /a%)& ,I say' 7i)i' do you re(e(+er ho# #e "ot u* in the

(iddle of the ni"ht and #ent to the to#er and to the )it%hen5-

7i)i a**arently did& he s%rat%hed her +ea) #ith one of her feet and loo)ed at /a%)& ,What a

*ity' #hat a *ity!- she re(ar)ed&

,Yes1I thin) it was a *ity #e distur+ed ourselves so (u%h'- said /a%)& ,I #as an idiot' 7i)i&

No# that it.s +road dayli"ht' and I.( #ide a#a)e' I +e"in to thin) I (ust have drea(t or i(a"ined

all that ha**ened in the ni"ht1not that anythin" (u%h did ha**en' any#ay&-

7i)i listened #ith her head on one side& /a%) un#ra**ed hi(self fro( the ru"& ,I tell you #hat'

7i)i1#e #on.t either of us (ention that flash in the to#er' or the (ysterious %lan)in" or s*lashin"

#e thou"ht #e heard' see5 The others #ould only lau"h at us1and Lu%y$Ann and Tassie (i"ht +e

fri"htened& I.( sure it #as all (y i(a"ination&-

7i)i a**eared to a"ree #ith every #ord& he hel*ed /a%) to "et +is%uits out of a *a%)et' and fruitout of a +a"' and #at%hed hi( ta)e the to* off a +ottle of "in"er$+eer&

,I #onder #hat ti(e the others #ill +e u*'- said /a%)' +e"innin" his +rea)fast& ,We.ll try and

ta)e a fe# *i%tures +efore they %o(e' shall #e' 7i)i5-

Chapter 14

/AC7 :ET A HOC7

AFTER he had had his +rea)fast /a%) #ent to his hide& It #as a lovely sunny day& He %ould ta)e

so(e fine *i%tures if only the ea"les #ere there&

He #ra**ed the thi%)est ru" around hi( and %ra#led in throu"h the *ri%)ly ste(s of the "orse&

7i)i re(ained outside this ti(e&



When he #as in the hollo# %entre of the +ush /a%) e2a(ined his %a(era to (a)e sure that it #as

all ri"ht& It #as& He loo)ed throu"h the shutter to see if he had it trained e2a%tly on to the nest&

,0erfe%t!- he thou"ht& ,That youn" ea"le a**ears to +e aslee*& I (i"ht "et a "ood *i%ture #hen it

#a)es u*& I su**ose the other +irds are soarin" (iles hi"h into the s)y&-

It #as +orin"' #aitin" for the ea"le to #a)e u*& But /a%) didn.t (ind& Both he and 0hili* )ne#

that the a+ility to )ee* a+solutely still and silent for a lon" ti(e on end #as essential to the study of +irds and ani(als in their natural surroundin"s& o /a%) settled +a%) in the "orse$+ush' and #aited&

7i)i #ent off on errands of her o#n& he fle# to the to* of the nearest to#er and loo)ed do#n

on the %ountryside& he fle# do#n to the %ourtyard and loo)ed inside a *a*er +a" there' ho*in" to

find a for"otten +is%uit& he sat on the +ran%h of a +ir%h$tree' *ra%tisin" 6uietly to herself the

+ar)in" noise that Button the fo2$%u+ (ade& o lon" as /a%) #as so(e#here near she #as ha**y&

He #as safe in that "orse$+ush& 7i)i didn.t )no# #hy he had %hosen su%h a *e%uliar restin"$*la%e'

+ut /a%) #as al#ays #ise in her eyes&

The youn" ea"le suddenly a#o)e and stret%hed out first one #in" and then another& It %li(+ed to

the ed"e of the nest and loo)ed out over the led"e' #aitin" for its *arents to %o(e +a%)&

,Fine!- #his*ered /a%)' and *ressed the tri""er of the %a(era to ta)e the ea"le.s *i%ture& The

youn" +ird heard the %li%) and %o#ered do#n at on%e1+ut the sna* had +een ta)en!oon the +ird re%overed fro( its fri"ht and %li(+ed u* a"ain& Then' #ith yel*s' the t#o "ro#n

ea"les %a(e "lidin" do#n on outs*read #in"s' and the youn" one "reeted the( "ladly' s*readin"

out its #in"s and 6uiverin" the(&

One of the ea"les had a youn" hare in its %urved +ea)& It dro**ed it into the nest& At on%e the

youn"ster %overed the food #ith its +i" #in"s' %o#ered over it' and +e"an to *ull at it hun"rily #ith

its *o#erful +ea)&

/a%) sna**ed it& All three +irds heard the %li%) and loo)ed to#ards the "orse$+ush sus*i%iously&

The (ale ea"le "lared and /a%) felt un%o(forta+le& He ho*ed the +ird #ouldn.t *oun%e at the

"lea(in" %a(era lens and s(ash it&

But 7i)i saved the situation +y flyin" do#n in a (ost %o(radely (anner to the ea"les' and

salutin" the( in their o#n yel*in" lan"ua"e&

They a**eared to +e 6uite *leased to see her a"ain' althou"h the youn" ea"le %overed the dead

hare threatenin"ly #ith its #in"s as if to )ee* 7i)i off&

,O*en your +oo)s at *a"e ;'- said 7i)i *leasantly& The ea"les loo)ed startled& They had not yet

"ot used to the *arrot tal)in" in hu(an lan"ua"e& he +ar)ed li)e Button' and they loo)ed rather

alar(ed&

The fe(ale ea"le +ent herself for#ard' o*ened her %ruel +ea)' and (ade a %urious snarlin"

noise' #arnin" 7i)i to +e %areful& he at on%e s*o)e in ea"le lan"ua"e a"ain' and "ave su%h a fine

s%rea( that +oth ea"les #ere satisfied& The youn" one fell u*on its (eal and ate till it %ould eat no

(ore& Then it san) +a%) into the +i" nest&

The fe(ale ea"le finished the dead hare in a very short #hile& /a%) "ot another #onderful sna*#hilst it #as tearin" u* its food&

This ti(e' e2%e*t for an en6uirin" loo) in the dire%tion of the %li%)' the ea"les too) no noti%e&

,:ood'- thou"ht /a%)& ,They #on.t (ind the %li%) soon or the "lea(in" eye of the %a(era!-

He s*ent a *leasant (ornin"' usin" u* the rest of his fil(' deli"hted to thin) of the #onderful

*i%tures he %ould develo*& He i(a"ined the( in nature (a"a8ines' #ith his na(e under the( as

*hoto"ra*her& Ho# *roud he #ould feel!

7i)i suddenly "ave a (ost e2%ited s6ua#)' (a)in" the t#o "ro#n ea"les rise in the air in alar(&

he fle# into the air' and (ade for the #all that ran round the %ourtyard& /a%)' *eerin" throu"h the

+a%) of his hidin"$*la%e' sa# her fly ri"ht over the #all' and disa**ear&

,No# #here.s she "one5- he thou"ht& ,I #as 4ust "oin" to ta)e a *i%ture of her and the t#o

ea"les to"ether&-



7i)i #as "one for a+out half an hour +efore /a%) sa# her a"ain& Then she %a(e into the

%ourtyard on Tassie.s shoulder! he had heard the other %hildren %o(in" u* the hillside and had

flo#n to (eet the(& They had "ot into the %astle in the usual #ay' and #ere no# loo)in" for /a%)&

The ea"les soared into the air #hen they heard the %hildren %o(in" to#ards their %ra"& /a%) "ave

a hail fro( the inside of his hide&

,I.( here! Hallo' it.s "ood to see you& Wait a se% and I.ll +e out&-He %ra#led out #ith the ru" round hi( and #ent do#n to the others& Lu%y$Ann eyed hi(

an2iously' and #as relieved to see hi( loo)in" %heerful and #ell& o he hadn.t (inded his lonely

ni"ht at the %astle after all&

,We.ve +rou"ht a fine dinner'- said 0hili*& ,3other (ana"ed to "et so(e %oo)ed ha( and a fine

fruit %a)e in the villa"e&-

,:ood!- said /a%)' realisin" that he #as terri+ly hun"ry& ,I.ve only had +is%uits and fruit for (y

+rea)fast' #ashed do#n #ith "in"er$+eer&-

,We.ve "ot so(e (ore "in"er$+eer too'- said Dinah& ,Where shall #e have our dinner5 On the

to* of the to#er a"ain or #here5-

,Here' I thin)'- said /a%)' ,+e%ause the li"ht is *erfe%t for ta)in" *i%tures this (ornin"' and if

those ea"les %o(e +a%) I #ant a fe# (ore sna*s of the(& I.ve an idea they are "oin" to (a)e thatyoun" one fly soon& The fe(ale ea"le tried to ti* it off the ed"e of the nest this (ornin"&-

,7i)i %a(e to (eet us'- said Tassie& ,Did you see ho# Button %a(e in this (ornin"' /a%)5 We

left hi( outside' +ut he.s here a"ain&-

,No' I didn.t'- said /a%)& ,I %an.t see (u%h fro( the inside of that "orse$+ush' you )no#& We

shall never find out ho# Button "ets in1I +et it.s do#n an old ra++it$hole& He #on.t +e a+le to do

that #hen he "ets a +it +i""er& Has he +een "ood5-

,Not very'- said 0hili*' ,He so(eho# "ot into the larder and "o++led u* all 3other.s sausa"es&

he #asn.t at all *leased& I %an.t i(a"ine ho# he %an eat anythin" else at the (o(ent& He (ust

have eaten a *ound and a half of sausa"es&-

,:reedy *i"'- said /a%)' "ivin" Button half his ha( sand#i%h& ,You don.t deserve this +ut

you.re so s#eet I %an.t hel* s*oilin" you&-

,It.s a *ity he s(ells so stron"'- said Dinah' #rin)lin" u* her nose& ,You #on.t +e a+le to )ee*

hi( #hen he.s "ro#n a +it (ore' 0hili*1he.ll s(ell too (u%h&-

,That.s all you )no#!- said 0hili*& ,I shall *ro+a+ly )ee* hi( till he dies of old a"e&-

,Well' you.ll have to #ear a "as$(as) then'- said /a%)' "rinnin"& ,Another sand#i%h' *lease'

Dinah& :olly' these are "ood&-

,What sort of a ni"ht did you have' /a%)5- as)ed Lu%y$Ann' #ho #as sittin" as %lose to /a%) as

she %ould&

,Oh' very "ood'- said /a%) airily& ,I #o)e u* on%e and too) so(e ti(e to "o to slee* a"ain&-

He #as deter(ined not to say anythin" a+out his alar(s and fears in the ni"ht& They see(ed so

silly no#' in the full sunshine #ith *eo*le all round hi(&,You should have seen the ra++its in the late evenin"'- he said to 0hili*& ,You.d have loved

the(& They #ouldn.t %o(e to (e' of %ourse' +ut I daresay you.d have "ot the( all over you! They

see(ed as ta(e as anythin"&-

The four %hildren stayed #ith /a%) till after tea& Ea%h %re*t into his hide to #at%h the ea"les&

They #ent u* to the to#er a"ain' and /a%) %autiously loo)ed round to see if there #as anythin"

different a+out the to#er1a %i"arette$end' a s%ra* of *a*er1+ut there #as nothin" at all&

,Won.t you %o(e +a%) #ith us toni"ht' /a%)5- as)ed Lu%y$Ann&

,Of %ourse not'- said /a%)' thou"h se%retly he felt that he would rather li)e to& ,Is it li)ely' 4ust

as I.( %ertain that youn" ea"le is "oin" to learn to fly5-

,All ri"ht'- said Lu%y$Ann' #ith a si"h& ,I don.t )no# #hy I hate you +ein" here alone in this

horrid old %astle' +ut I 4ust do&-,It.s not a horrid %astle'- said /a%)& ,It.s 4ust old and for"otten' +ut it.s not horrid&-



,Well' thin) it is'- said Lu%y$Ann& ,I thin) horrid' #i%)ed thin"s have +een done here in the

*ast1and I thin) they (i"ht +e done a"ain in the future&-

,You.re 4ust +ein" silly'- said /a%)' ,and you.re fri"htenin" *oor Tassie& It.s only an old e(*ty

*la%e for"otten for years' #ith no+ody in it at all e2%e*t (e and the ea"les' +ats and ra++its&-

,It.s ti(e to "o'- said 0hili*' "ettin" u*& ,We +rou"ht you another ru"' /a%)' in %ase you felt

%old& Co(in" to see us off at the #indo#5-,Yes' of %ourse'- said /a%)' and they all #ent inside the %astle' their footste*s e%hoin" on the

stone floor& They #ent to the roo( #here the *lan) rea%hed to the #indo#$sill' and one +y one they

"ot a%ross&

Lu%y$Ann %alled a fare#ell to /a%)&

,Than) you for #avin" your shirt to (e last ni"ht!- she %alled& ,And oh' /a%)' I sa# you

flashin" your tor%h fro( the to#er later on' too! I #as in +ed' +ut I #as a#a)e and I sa# the flash

of the tor%h three or four ti(es& It #as ni%e of you to do that& I #as "lad to see it and to )no# you

#ere a#a)e too!-

,Co(e on' Lu%y$Ann' for "oodness. sa)e!- %alled Dinah& ,You )no# 3other said #e #eren.t to

+e late toni"ht&-

,All ri"ht' I.( %o(in"'- said Lu%y$Ann' and slid do#n the %ree*ers to the "round& Everyone%alled "ood$+ye and then they #ere "one&

But /a%) #as left feelin" (ost *u88led and un%o(forta+le! o there had +een so(eone in the

to#er last ni"ht flashin" a tor%h! He hadn.t drea(t it or i(a"ined it& It #as true&

,Lu%y$Ann sa# it' so that *roves I #asn.t (ista)en as I thou"ht'- said the +oy to hi(self as he

#ent +a%) to the %ourtyard& ,It.s terri+ly (ysterious& That %lan)in" I heard and the s*lashin" (ust

have +een real too& There is so(eone else here1+ut #ho1and #hy5-

He #ished no# that he had told the others the ha**enin"s in the ni"ht& But it #as too late' they

#ere "one& /a%) no# lon"ed to +e "one #ith the(! u**ose he heard noises a"ain and sa# flashes5

He didn.t li)e it& It #as #eird and eerie and alto"ether un*leasant&

,hall I "o after the others and 4oin the(5- he thou"ht& ,No' I #on.t& I.ll #ait and try and find

out #ho.s here& Fan%y Lu%y$Ann seein" those flashes! I a( "lad she told (e!-

Chapter 15

THE HIDDEN ROO3

/AC7 #andered +a%) to his hide& He felt safe there& He #as sure no$one #ould ever thin) of loo)in"

in the very (iddle of a *ri%)ly' thi%) "orse$+ush for anyone& As evenin" fell he felt slee*y& hould

he try and "o to slee* no#' and )ee* a#a)e later on5 Could he *ossi+ly "o to slee* in the hollo#

"orse$+ush5

He %urled u* in the thi%)est ru" and (ade a *illo# of another one& 7i)i %ra#led in +eside hi(and *er%hed un%o(forta+ly on his )nees' her head +ent to avoid a *ri%)ly +it of "orse& The ea"les

#ere not to +e seen& The youn" one #as do#n in the nest& Any#ay' the li"ht #as no# too +ad to

+other a+out *hoto"ra*hs&

/a%) (ana"ed to fall aslee*& He snored a little' for he had his head in an un%o(forta+le *osition&

7i)i i(itated the snore *erfe%tly for a little #hile' and then' as /a%) (ade no re(ar) a+out it to her'

*ut her head under her #in" and sle*t too&

/a%) sle*t till (idni"ht& Then he a#o)e suddenly' feelin" dreadfully un%o(forta+le& He stret%hed

out' #onderin" #here he #as' and #as i((ediately and *ainfully *ri%)ed +y the "orse& He dre#

his le"s in a"ain hastily&

,I.( in the "orse$+ush' of %ourse'- he said to hi(self& ,I (ust have +een aslee* for a"es& What.s

the ti(e5-

He loo)ed at the *hos*hores%ent hands of his #at%h and sa# that it #as ten *ast (idni"ht&



,H('- said /a%)' ,4ust a+out the ti(e that so(eone in the %astle starts to #a)e u*! I su**ose' if I

a( "oin" to do any tra%)in"' I.d +etter "et out of here and #at%h and listen&-

He %re*t *ainfully out of the +ush' distur+in" 7i)i' #ho *rotested loudly till he (ade her +e

silent& ,I.ll leave you +ehind if you (a)e a ro# li)e that!- #his*ered /a%) furiously& 7i)i fell silent&

he al#ays )ne# #hen /a%) #anted her to +e 6uiet&

No# he #as out of the +ush' %li(+in" silently do#n the %ra"' "lad of the faint li"ht of the (oon'no# a little +i""er than the ni"ht +efore& He %a(e into the yard and stood listenin"&

There #as no sound to +e heard e2%e*t the #ind +lo#in" fairly hard& And then /a%) thou"ht he

heard the far$off sound of #ater s*lashin" a"ain1and the %lan) of the *u(*$handle!

He stood listenin"& After a #hile he felt sure he heard 6uiet footste*s on stone so(e#here1#as

it so(eone #al)in" on the %astle #all1"oin" to the to#er to flash a tor%h a"ain5

,Well' if he.s "one to the to#er' he.s safely out of the %astle'- thou"ht /a%)& ,I.ll "o in and see if

I %an dis%over any si"ns of hi(1#here he hides' for instan%e& He (ust live so(e#here! But it

didn.t loo) as if anyone had "one into any of those furnished roo(s in the %astle& o #here in the

#orld does he hide5 And #hat a+out food5 :osh' it.s a (ystery!-

The +oy stole 6uietly into the %astle' 7i)i on his shoulder& He #as too e2%ited to feel fri"htened

toni"ht& No# that he #as %ertain so(eone else #as in the %astle +esides hi(self he #as too an2iousto find out a+out the( to feel any real fears&

He #ent into the hall of the %astle1and at on%e so(ethin" stru%) hi( #ith sur*rise1there #as

a li"ht %o(in" fro( so(e#here! A di( li"ht %ertainly' +ut a li"ht& /a%) stared round hi(' *u88led&

Then he sa# #here it %a(e fro(& It %a(e fro( the floor1or rather' underneath the floor of the

hall! The +oy ste**ed for#ard %autiously& He %a(e to a hole in the floor of the hall1there #as no

tra*$door= it loo)ed e2a%tly li)e a hole' and yet /a%) #as sure it had never +een there +efore1and

u* fro( this hole %a(e the li"ht&

/a%) loo)ed do#n& tone ste*s #ent do#n into #hatever #as +elo#1%ellar or dun"eon' he

didn.t )no#& He ran s#iftly to the front entran%e of the %astle to see if anyone #as in the to#er& If

there #as' there #ould +e ti(e for hi( to sli* do#n the ste*s and e2*lore&

He sa# a flash fro( the to#er& :ood& Whoever #as there #as si"nallin" a"ain& It #ould +e a

(inute or t#o +efore they %a(e +a%)& There #ould +e ti(e to e2*lore this %urious o*enin"& In a

flash /a%) #as do#n the stone ste*s and then loo)ed around hi( in the very "reatest sur*rise&

He see(ed to +e in a )ind of (useu(! He #as in a lar"e' under"round roo(' #ith ta*estries on

the stone #alls' and a thi%) %overin" on the floor& Round the roo( stood suits of ar(our' 4ust as

there often is in a (useu(& Old heavy %hairs stood here and there' and a lon" narro# ta+le' #ith

%ro%)ery and "lass set on it' ran the len"th of the roo(&

/a%) stared round in the ut(ost astonish(ent& Everythin" #as old1+ut it #as *lain that this

roo( #as not ne"le%ted and deserted as the other furnished roo(s #ere& There #ere no %o+#e+s

here' no dust&

In the %orner #as a +i" old four$*oster +ed' hun" #ith heavy ta*estries& /a%) #ent over to it& Ithad o+viously +een sle*t in' for the *illo#s #ere dented' and the sheets hurriedly thro#n +a%) as if

so(eone had lea*t out in a hurry&

There #as a *it%her of i%e$%old #ater on the ta+le& ,:ot fro( the *u(*' I su**ose!- thou"ht

/a%)& ,o that.s #hy there are al#ays *uddles on the floor there& o(eone "oes for #ater ea%h

ni"ht&-

7i)i fle# to a suit of ar(our and stood on the hel(et' loo)in" in throu"h the visor as if she

e2*e%ted to "li(*se so(eone inside& /a%) "i""led a little& Evidently 7i)i thou"ht the suits of

ar(our #ere real *eo*le and %ouldn.t understand the( at all&

At this (o(ent he thou"ht he heard a noise' and in sudden fri"ht he darted u* the stone ste*s to

the to*' ta)in" 7i)i #ith hi(& He ho**ed out 4ust in ti(e' and fled to the dar) shado#s at the +a%)

of the hall& Then' fearin" that the *erson #ho #as %o(in" (i"ht see hi( +y the li"ht of the tor%h he#as usin"' he #ent into one of the furnished roo(s1the old dra#in"$roo(&



But in "oin" inside he fell over a stool and %a(e to the "round& The footste*s outside sto**ed

suddenly& The tor%h$li"ht #ent out& Evidently the *erson #as standin" *erfe%tly still and listenin"

hard& He had heard the noise&

With his heart +eatin" fast /a%) sli**ed round the %orner of an old %ou%h' and )nelt there' #ith

7i)i on his shoulder& Both #ere as 6uiet as they %ould +e' +ut /a%) %ouldn.t hel* feelin" %ertain that

the (an #ho #as listenin" (ust +e a+le to hear the +eatin" of his heart!The +oy heard a %autious footste* %o(in" into the roo(& Then there #as silen%e a"ain& Then

another footste* sounded' a little nearer& /a%).s hair +e"an to *ri%)le on his s%al* and stand u*

strai"ht& If the (an %a(e round the %ou%h and s#it%hed on his tor%h' he #ould +e +ound to see

/a%)&

The +oy.s heart *ounded a#ay' and his forehead felt suddenly #et& 7i)i %lun" to his shoulder'

feelin" the fri"ht of her (aster& he %ouldn.t +ear it any lon"er&

he suddenly rose into the air and fle# at the head of the unseen (an' and "ave one of the

yel*in" s%rea(s she had *i%)ed u* fro( the ea"les& He uttered a startled e2%la(ation' and tried to

+eat off the +ird& His tor%h %lattered to the floor& /a%) ho*ed fervently that it #as +ro)en&

7i)i s%ree%hed a"ain' this ti(e li)e an e2*ress train' and the (an lashed out at her& He %au"ht a

feather and ri**ed it out& 7i)i found /a%) on%e (ore' and *er%hed on the %rou%hin" +oy' "ro#lin"li)e a do"&

,:ood heavens' this *la%e is full of +irds and do"s!- said so(eone' in a dis"usted voi%e' dee*

and hoarse& The (an felt over the floor for his tor%h and at last found it&

,Bro)en!- he said' and /a%) heard the %li%) as he tried to s#it%h it on& ,One of those ea"les' I

su**ose& What does it #ant to %o(e indoors for5-

3utterin"' the (an #ent out& /a%) heard a %urious "ratin" sound and then there #as %o(*lete

silen%e& He did not dare to "et u* for a lon" ti(e' +ut %rou%hed +ehind the enor(ous old sofa& 7i)i

a**eared to have "one fast aslee* on his shoulder&

At last he "ot %autiously u* and ti*toed to the door' "lad of his ru++er shoes& He *ee*ed out&

There #as no# no li"ht to +e seen shinin" u* di(ly fro( under"round& All #as dar)ness and

silen%e& /a%) stared at the +a%) of the hall& o(e#here over there had +een a stran"e o*enin"'

leadin" to a hidden roo(1an old roo(' so full of stran"e thin"s that it loo)ed li)e a (useu(&

3ay+e it #as the very roo( #here the #i%)ed old (an had hidden his "uests and starved the( so

that they #ere never heard of a"ain! /a%) didn.t li)e the thou"ht at all&

Without tryin" to see #hat had ha**ened to the %urious o*enin"' he ran into the %ourtyard and

(ade his #ay +a%) to the old "orse$+ush& He felt safe there& He %ra#led in' a%%o(*anied +y "roans

and *rotestations fro( 7i)i' and tried to settle do#n to "o to slee* a"ain&

But he %ouldn.t& His (ind #as full of that stran"e roo(' and he )e*t shudderin" #hen he

re(e(+ered ho# nearly he had +een %au"ht& If it hadn.t +een for old 7i)i he #ould %ertainly have

+een dis%overed& Another ste* or t#o and the (an' #hoever he #as' #ould al(ost have trodden on

hi(!He #ished that the others #ere #ith hi(& He lon"ed to tell the(& Well' they #ould +e u*

to(orro#' so he (ust #ait in *atien%e& There didn.t see( any li)elihood of the hidden (an %o(in"

out in the dayti(e& He #as )ee*in" #ell hidden for so(e reason& He #ouldn.t e2*ose his hidin"$

*la%e +y day and %o(e out&

,Ho# did he "et food5- /a%) #ondered& It #as easy to "et #ater fro( the *u(*& But #hat a+out

food5 Well' *erha*s that #as #hat he si"nalled a+out fro( the to#er& His tor%h sent (essa"es to

friends& In that %ase other *eo*le (i"ht %o(e& Ho# in the #orld did they "et in5

,I +elieve this is an adventure!- said /a%) suddenly' and a funny feelin" %re*t u* his +ody& ,Yes'

it is& It.s the sa(e feelin" I had last year1#hen #e sailed a#ay to the Isle of :loo(' the Island of

Adventure' #here so (any thin"s ha**ened to us& :olly' #hat #ill the others say #hen I tell the(

#e.ve 4u(*ed strai"ht into the (iddle of an adventure a"ain! The Castle of Adventure! 0hili* #asri"ht #hen he %alled it that&-



After an hour or t#o of thin)in" and #onderin"' /a%) at last fell aslee* a"ain& He a#o)e to find

little fin"ers of sunli"ht %o(in" throu"h the "orse$+ush' and #as "lad to find that the day had

%o(e& He re(e(+ered the ni"ht$ti(e ha**enin"s' and #ondered if that %urious (useu($li)e roo(

%ould have +een real&

,Well' I %ertainly %ouldn.t have drea(t a roo( li)e that'- thou"ht /a%)' ti%)lin" 7i)i to #a)e

her& ,It #ould +e i(*ossi+le!-He %ra#led out of the +ush and +rea)fasted on +is%uits and *lu(s' #hi%h the others had +rou"ht

to hi( the day +efore& He sat and loo)ed thou"htfully at the %astle& Who #as hidin" there5

uddenly he #ent stiff and loo)ed in a(a8e(ent at t#o (en #al)in" throu"h the %ourtyard&

They #ere "oin" to#ards the %astle& Ho# in the #orld had they "ot in5 There si(*ly must +e so(e

#ay in1or had the (en )eys to one of the +i" "ates or doors5

The (en #ent into the %astle& Evidently' unli)e the hidden (an' they did not fear +ein" seen in

dayli"ht& ,Will the hidden (an tell the( he thou"ht there #as so(eone a+out last ni"ht5- thou"ht

/a%) in a *ani%& ,Will they %o(e and loo) for (e5-

Chapter 16 THIN: BE:IN TO HA00EN

/AC7 %ra#led hurriedly +a%) into the +ush a"ain' not #aitin" to #ra* hi(self u* in the ru"' and

"ettin" terri+ly s%rat%hed& When he #as inside he re(e(+ered that he had left so(e *a*er +a"s in

the %ourtyard +elo#' #ith so(e a**le %ores in the(&

,Dash!- he thou"ht& ,If those are found they.ll )no# there.s so(eone here +esides the(selves&-

He #aited in the +ush for an hour or so' ta)in" *ee*s at the ea"les. nest no# and a"ain& He

didn.t )no# #hether to ho*e the others #ould %o(e soon' so that he #ould no lon"er +e alone' or

#hether to ho*e that they #ould +e late' to "ive the (en a %han%e to "o off a"ain #ithout seein"

the(&,If they.ve %hosen this for a safe hidin"$*la%e for so(e+ody' they #on.t +e too *leased to )no#

that #e are here'- thou"ht /a%) uneasily& ,I su**ose #e really ou"htn.t to have %o(e to the %astle at

all& I su**ose it does +elon" to so(eone1those (en *erha*s!-

He heard the sound of voi%es and *ee*ed +et#een the *ri%)ly +ran%hes to see #ho it #as& It #as

the t#o (en a"ain& The hidden (an #as evidently not "oin" to ris) %o(in" out of his hidin"$*la%e&

/a%) *ee*ed at the(& They #ere "reat hul)in" (en' one of the( #ith a +la%) +eard& He didn.t

li)e their fa%es at all& As they %a(e near he tried to hear #hat they said' +ut they #ere not tal)in"

any lan"ua"e he )ne#& That so(eho# (ade thin"s all the 6ueerer&

uddenly they sto**ed' and #ith an e2%la(ation the +earded (an *i%)ed u* /a%).s *a*er +a"s&

He sa# the a**le %ores inside' and sho#ed the other (an& The %ores #ere still (oist' and /a%)

"uessed that the (en )ne# they had not +een there very lon"! He s6uee8ed hi(self hard into thehollo# of the "orse$+ush' "lad that it #as so thi%)&

The (en then *ro%eeded to se*arate and (a)e a thorou"h sear%h of the %astle' the to#ers' the

#alls and the %ourtyard& /a%) #at%hed the( throu"h a %hin) in the +ush& 7i)i #as a+solutely 6uiet&

Then the (en 4oined u* and %a(e a%ross to the %ra" #here the ea"les nested& It #as *lain they

#ere "oin" to %li(+ u* and e2*lore that *la%e too' in %ase anyone #as hidin" there&

/a%) %rou%hed as still as a (ouse #hen an o#l is near& His heart +e"an to +eat *ainfully a"ain&

The (en %a(e ri"ht u* the %ra"' and "ave a %ry of a(a8e(ent #hen they sa# the ea"les. nest #ith

the youn" one in&

Evidently they did not )no# the #ays of ea"les' for they #ent 6uite near to the nest and one of

the (en *ut out his hand&

There #as a #hirr of (i"hty #in"s and the fe(ale ea"le see(ed to dro* li)e a stone fro( the

s)y on to the (an.s head& He turned a#ay' #hilst the other (an +eat off the an"ry +ird& The



atta%)ed (an *ut his ar( a%ross the to* of his head to *rote%t hi(self' and loo)ed u* at the (ale

+ird' s%ared' for that too #as dro**in" 6ui%)ly do#n#ards&

/a%) %ould see all this' and an idea %a(e to hi(& He had a (arvellous vie# of the first (an the

ea"le had atta%)ed1he #as still loo)in" u*' sho#in" the #hole of his fa%e' and his ne%) in an

o*en$%ollared shirt& /a%) *ressed his %a(era release& Cli%)! The (an.s *hoto"ra*h #as ta)en'

thou"h unfortunately the other (an #as +y then loo)in" a#ay' and his fa%e #as hidden&Both (en heard the %li%) of the %a(era' and loo)ed *u88led& Then' as the fe(ale ea"le %a(e at

the( a"ain they hurriedly des%ended the %ra" and ran do#n into the %ourtyard& They #ere not "oin"

to e2*lore u* there any (ore& In any %ase they +oth de%ided that no+ody %ould *ossi+ly hide u*

there #ith fier%e +irds li)e that around!

/a%) #aited in the +ush' #at%hin" the ea"les' #ho had +een (u%h u*set +y the visit of the t#o

(en& oon it #as *lain to /a%) that they (eant to ta)e the youn" +ird a#ay fro( the nest& It (ust

learn to fly! It %ould no lon"er +e left in safety if t#o$le""ed %reatures %a(e ri"ht u* to the nest&

The +oy for"ot his fears in his interest at the efforts of the t#o ea"les to (a)e the youn" one fly&

They *ersuaded it to the ed"e of the nest' and then' #ith a *ush' dislod"ed it on to the led"e on

#hi%h the nest #as +uilt& The youn" +ird tried to "et +a%) a"ain' +ut the fe(ale ea"le fle# round

and round it' yel*in"' tryin" to tell it in all the ea"le #ords she )ne# that it (ust "o #ith her& Theyoun" one listened' or see(ed to listen' then turned its head a#ay' +ored&

Then' for no reason that /a%) %ould see' it suddenly s*read out its #in"s& They #ere enor(ous&

The +oy had +een ta)in" sna* after sna*' and no# he too) a s*lendid *i%ture of the youn" ea"le

tryin" out his #in"s&

The youn"ster fla**ed his #in"s so hard that he dan%ed a+out on ti*toe1and then' (ost

su*er+ly' he too) off fro( the led"e' and rose into the air' #ith his *arents s%rea(in" on either side

of hi(& He %ould fly!

,3arvellous!- said /a%)' and %autiously too) the roll of fil( fro( his %a(era& ,I #onder if

they.ll %o(e +a%)& It doesn.t (atter (u%h if they don.t' +e%ause I.ve "ot the (ost #onderful set of

*i%tures no#& Better than any anyone else has ever "ot!-

As he sli**ed the roll of ne# fil( into his %a(era' he heard the voi%es of the other %hildren& He

#as very "lad1+ut #here #ere those (en5

He %re*t out fro( the +ush' hardly feelin" the *ri%)les' and %li(+ed do#n to 4oin the(& They

sa# +y his fa%e that he had ne#s for the(& Lu%y$Ann ran to hi(&

,Has anythin" ha**ened' /a%)5 You loo) very serious! What do you thin)! We.ve %o(e u* #ith

*iles of thin"s' +e%ause 3rs& 3annerin" says #e %an stay for t#o or three days! he.s "ot to "o to

Dinah.s Aunt 0olly' #ho has +een ta)en ill a"ain' +ut she.ll +e +a%) soon&-

,And she thou"ht #e (i"ht as #ell 4oin you u* here if #e #anted to!- said Dinah& ,But you

don.t loo) very thrilled a+out it' /a%)!-

,Well' listen'- said /a%)& ,There.s so(ethin" 6ueer here& Really 6ueer& I don.t )no# if you ou"ht

to %o(e& In fa%t' as I.ve really ta)en all the sna*s I need to ta)e of the ea"les' I honestly thin) it#ould +e +etter if #e all #ent ho(e&-

,:o +a%) to *rin" Cotta"e!- said 0hili*' in sur*rise& ,But #hy! @ui%)' tell us everythin"'

/a%)&-

,All ri"ht& But first' #here.s Tassie5- said /a%)' loo)in" round for the little "y*sy "irl&

,Her (other #ouldn.t let her %o(e'- said Lu%y$Ann& ,When Tassie told her #e #ere all "oin" to

stay u* at the old %astle #ith you' her (other nearly had a fit& he.s li)e the villa"ers' you )no#1

thin)s there.s so(ethin" +ad and %ree*y u* here& he a+solutely refused to let Tassie %o(e& o #e

had to leave her +ehind&-

,he #as in an a#ful te(*er #ith her (other'- said 0hili*= ,#orse than any Dinah "ets into& he

fle# at her (other and +an"ed her hard& And her (other too) hold of her and shoo) her li)e a rat& I

thin) Tassie.s "ot an a#ful (other& Any#ay' she %an.t %o(e& But "o on1tell your story&-



,I su**ose1I su**ose you didn.t +y any %han%e (eet anyone %o(in" do#n the hill' did you5-

said /a%) suddenly' thin)in" that *erha*s the t#o (en had "one&

,We sa# #hat loo)ed li)e three (en in the distan%e'- said 0hili*& ,Why5-

,What #ere they li)e5 Did one have a +la%) +eard5- as)ed /a%)&

,We %ouldn.t *ossi+ly see #hat they #ere li)e' they #ere too far a#ay' "oin" do#n another *ath

alto"ether'- said 0hili*& ,They (i"ht have +een she*herds or anythin"& That.s #hat we thou"ht they#ere' any#ay&-

“Three (en'- said 0hili* thou"htfully& ,That loo)s as if the hidden (an #ent too' then&-

,What are you tal)in" a+out5- %ried Dinah i(*atiently&

/a%) +e"an his story& The others listened in astonish(ent& When he des%ri+ed the hidden

under"round roo(' Lu%y$Ann.s eyes nearly fell out of her head!

,An under"round roo(1#ith so(eone livin" there! Oh' I )no# #hat Tassie #ould say1she.d

say it #as that #i%)ed old (an still there!- %ried Lu%y$Ann& ,he.d say he #ould li)e to %at%h us

and i(*rison us' so that no$one ever heard of us a"ain!-

,Don.t +e silly'- said /a%)& ,The thin" is1 somethin" is "oin" on here' and #e ou"ht to find out

#hat& I #ish old Bill (u"s #as here& He.d )no# #hat to do&-

,We don.t even )no# his address'- said 0hili*& ,All #e )no# is that he.s in a to#n t#enty (ilesa#ay& And no# 3other is a#ay too' so #e %an.t as) her advi%e either&-

,Well' #hether she is a#ay or not' I thin) #e ou"ht to "o +a%) to *rin" Cotta"e'- said /a%)'

so+erly& ,We have dealt #ith dan"erous (en +efore' and it #asn.t *leasant& I don.t #ant to +e

(i2ed u* in anythin" dan"erous #hilst #e.ve "ot the "irls to loo) after& We.d +etter all "o +a%)&-

,Ri"ht'- said 0hili*& ,I a"ree #ith you& But' seein" that you thin) all three (en are out of the

#ay' #hat a+out havin" a s6uint at that hidden roo(5 We (i"ht find so(ethin" there to tell us #ho

uses it and #hy&-

,All ri"ht'- said /a%)& ,Co(e on& 7i)i' %o(e alon" too& Where.s Button' 0hili*5-

,I left hi( #ith Tassie' to %o(fort her for not %o(in" #ith us'- said 0hili*& ,he #as so

(isera+le& Any#ay' she.ll +e *leased to see us +a%) a"ain so soon&-

They all #ent into the vast hall' and the +oys s#it%hed on their tor%hes& ure that there #as no$

one +ut the(selves in the %astle' they (ade no effort to +e 6uiet' +ut tal)ed and lau"hed in their

usual #ay& /a%) led the( to the +a%) of the hall' and loo)ed at the floor&

There #as no hole to +e seen at all& It had "one %o(*letely& The %hildren loo)ed a+out for a tra*$

door in the floor' +ut there #as none& 0hili* +e"an to #onder if /a%) had drea(t it all&

Then his shar* eyes sa# a s*i)e (ade of iron set dee*ly in the #all at the +a%) of the hall& It

shone as if it had +een (u%h handled& 0hili* too) hold of it&

,Here.s so(ethin" 6ueer!- he +e"an' and *ulled hard& The s*i)e (oved s(oothly in so(e sort

of "roove' and suddenly there #as a "ratin" noise al(ost at Lu%y$Ann.s feet& he lea*t +a%) #ith a

startled %ry&

The "round #as o*enin" at her feet! A +i" stone there #as disa**earin" do#n#ards in so(e(ysterious fashion' and then s#un" itself s(oothly to one side' e2*osin" a short fli"ht of stone

ste*s' leadin" do#n into the hidden roo( that /a%) had seen the ni"ht +efore& The %hildren "as*ed&

,It re(inds (e of Ali Ba+a and the Forty Thieves or Aladdin and his %ave!- said Dinah& ,hall

#e "o do#n5 Do let.s! This is (ost e2%itin"&-

There #as an oil la(* left +urnin" on the lon" narro# ta+le +elo#' and +y the li"ht of this the

%hildren sa# the roo(& 0hili*' Lu%y$Ann and Dinah #ent ea"erly do#n the ste*s to e2a(ine

everythin"& They sa# the ta*estries on the #alls' de*i%tin" old huntin" s%enes' they sa# the 6ueer

old suits of ar(our standin" round the roo(' and the +i"' heavy %hairs that loo)ed as if they #ere

(ade for "iants' not (en&

,Where.s /a%)5- said 0hili*&

,:one to "et 7i)i'- said Dinah& ,Oh' loo)' 0hili*' here.s another s*i)e in the #all' 4ust li)e theone u*stairs& What ha**ens #hen you *ull it5-



he *ulled it1and #ith a "ratin" noise the stone s#un" u* and into *la%e' i(*risonin" the three

%hildren do#n +elo#!

Chapter 1

THIN: :O ON HA00ENIN:

THE three %hildren #at%hed the "reat stone slide into *la%e li)e (a"i%& It #as an e2traordinary

si"ht& But 0hili* suddenly felt #orried&

,Dinah! Let (e have that s*i)e& 3ove a#ay& I ho*e to "oodness it #ill (ove the stone +a%)

a"ain!-

The +oy *ulled at it' +ut it re(ained fi2ed& He tried to (ove it the other #ay& He 4er)ed it& It

#ould not (ove at all&

,It %loses the hole in the floor' +ut it doesn.t o*en it'- he said& He loo)ed round for another s*i)e

or lever or handle1anythin" that he thou"ht (i"ht o*en the hole to allo# the( to "et out1+ut he

%ould see nothin"&,There (ust +e somethin"!- he said' ,or the (an that hides here #ouldn.t +e a+le to %o(e out at

ni"ht& There (ust +e somethin"!-

The t#o "irls #ere s%ared& They didn.t li)e +ein" shut u* li)e this in an under"round roo(&

Lu%y$Ann felt as if all the suits of ar(our #ere #at%hin" her and en4oyin" her fri"ht& he didn.t

li)e the(&

,Well' 0hili*' /a%) #ill +e alon" soon'- said Dinah' ,and he.ll see the hole is shut and #ill #or)

the s*i)e u*stairs in the hall to o*en it a"ain& We needn.t #orry&-

,I su**ose he #ill'- said 0hili*' loo)in" relieved& ,You are an idiot' Dinah' (essin" a+out #ith

thin"s +efore you )no# #hat they do&-

,Well' you.d have done the sa(e thin" yourself'- retorted Dinah&

,All ri"ht' all ri"ht'- said 0hili*& He +e"an to loo) all round the 6ueer roo(& The suits of ar(our interested hi(& He #ished he %ould *ut one on' 4ust for fun!

An idea %a(e to hi(& ,I say' I.ll *lay a tri%) on /a%)!- he said& ,I.ll "et inside one of these suits

of ar(our' and hide& Then #hen /a%) o*ens the hole and %o(es do#n don.t you tell hi( #here I a(

1and I.ll suddenly ste* off one of these *edestals the ar(our is on' #ith a fri"htful %lan)in" noise'

and s%are hi( stiff!-

The "irls lau"hed& ,All ri"ht'- said Lu%y$Ann& ,Hurry u*& Do you )no# ho# to "et into one5-

,Yes& I.ve tried one +efore' #hen #e had one at s%hool to e2a(ine'- said 0hili*& ,It.s 6uite easy

#hen you )no# ho#& You %an hel* (e&-

Before lon" 0hili* #as in the suit of ar(our& He had the hel(et on his head' and the visor over

his fa%e& He %ould see 6uite #ell throu"h the visor' +ut no+ody #ould )no# there #as anyone

inside the ar(oured suit! He "ot +a%) on the *edestal #ith a lot of %lan)in"& The "irls "i""led&,Won.t /a%) "et an a#ful sho%)! I #ish he.d %o(e'- said Lu%y$Ann&

,Are you %o(forta+le' 0hili*5- as)ed Dinah' loo)in" at her ar(oured +rother standin" 6uite still

on his #ooden *edestal' loo)in" for all the #orld e2a%tly li)e the others around&

,Fairly'- said 0hili*& ,But "olly' I #ouldn.t (u%h li)e to "o to #ar in this1I.d never +e a+le to

#al) (ore than a fe# yards! Ho# they fou"ht in the(' those old$ti(e soldiers' I really don.t

)no#!-

The "irls #andered round the roo(& They loo)ed at the ta*estry s%enes& They sat in the

enor(ous old %hairs& They fin"ered the an%ient #ea*ons that #ere arran"ed here and there& It

%ertainly #as a %urious roo(&

,What is /a%) doin"5- said Lu%y$Ann' at last' +e"innin" to feel an2ious& ,He.s +een si(*ly

a"es& Oh' Dinah1you don.t thin) those (en have %o(e +a%)' do you1and %a*tured hi(5-



,I shouldn.t thin) so'- said Dinah' also +e"innin" to feel #orried& ,I %an.t i(a"ine #hat he.s

doin"& After all' he.d only "ot to %all 7i)i' #ait for her to %o(e to hi( and then follo# us!-

,You )no#'- said a hollo# voi%e fro( inside the suit of ar(our' ,you )no#' I don.t +elieve

those (en #e sa# were the (en fro( this %astle& I.ve suddenly thou"ht1they %ouldn.t +e!-

,What do you (ean5- %ried +oth "irls' starin" in dis(ay at the *la%e #here 0hili*.s fa%e #as'

+ehind the visor&,Well' thin) #here #e sa# the('- said 0hili*& ,We sa# the( a "ood #ay do#n the hill' 4ust

a+ove the far(' didn.t #e5 We )no# there.s no *ath u* to the %astle there& And no# I thin) the

(atter over %arefully' I.( *retty %ertain they #ere (en +elon"in" to the far(& One #as that

enor(ously tall fello# #e so(eti(es see #hen #e fet%h e""s&-

The "irls thou"ht hard& Yes' that #as #here the (en had +een seen14ust a+ove the old far(&

,I +elieve you.re ri"ht' 0hili*'- said Lu%y$Ann' s%ared& ,And any#ay' if they didn.t #ant to +e

seen' it #ould +e silly for the( to ta)e the far( *ath' #ouldn.t it5 All the far( do"s #ould +ar) at

the(' and the far(er #ould loo) out&-

,Yes1and the do"s #ere (ot +ar)in"' or #e #ould have heard the('- said 0hili*& ,o that

rather *roves our *oint& Dash! I don.t +elieve those #ere /a%).s (en' after all& It.s 6uite li)ely they

never left the %astle' and are still so(e#here a+out&-,I do #onder #hat /a%) is doin"'- said Dinah& ,I do #ish he.d %o(e&-

/a%) #as %ertainly a lon" ti(e %o(in"1+ut he %ouldn.t hel* it! He had "one after 7i)i' #ho had

flo#n into the furnished roo( in #hi%h they had +oth hidden the ni"ht +efore1and suddenly' fro(

the #indo#' he had seen the three (en in the %orner of the yard!

,:olly!- thou"ht the +oy& ,0hili* #as #ron"1the (en he sa# #eren.t the ones fro( the %astle!

They (ust have +een far( la+ourers seein" to the shee* or so(ethin"& 3y #ord' I ho*e they.re not

"oin" to that hidden roo(!-

The +oy darted +a%) into the hall' and #ent to the *la%e #here the hole should +e& But it #as

"one' and a stone no# %overed the entran%e to the roo(& He #as sur*rised& He had no idea' of

%ourse' that Dinah had found the lever +elo# and used it' %losin" the entran%e&

He de+ated #hat to do& hould he o*en the hole and see if the others #ere do#n there5 Would

the (en %o(e into the hall 4ust as he #as doin" it5 He %ould hear their voi%es 6uite %learly no#&

/a%) darted +a%) into the furnished roo( and' a%%identally tou%hin" a %hair as he #ent' raised a

%loud of dust at on%e& He ran to the #ide #indo# and hid +ehind a lon" ta*estry %urtain there& He

did not dare to tou%h it' +e%ause he felt sure it #ould fall to *ie%es in his hands&

The (en #ere evidently still #orried a+out the +a" of a**le %ores& It #as o+vious that they )ne#

so(eone #as there +esides the(selves1and then' to /a%).s dis(ay' he sa# that they had also

found the *ile of thin"s the others had +rou"ht u* #ith the( that (ornin"!

They had +rou"ht the( fro( the %ourtyard and had s*read the( out at the entran%e to the %astle'

loo)in" throu"h the( %arefully& /a%) %au"ht one or t#o #ords' +ut he %ouldn.t understand the(&

,We shall have to "et out& of here the very first (o(ent *ossi+le'- thou"ht the +oy& ,We (ay "etinto serious trou+le& I #ish the "irls #eren.t here& If only I %ould "et the( u* into the roo( #ith the

*lan)!-

T#o of the (en no# se*arated and #ent off into the %astle' evidently to (a)e another "ood

sear%h& The third (an stood at the "reat door#ay' *uffin" at a %i"arette and a**arently )ee*in" a

#at%h over the %ourtyard&

It #as i(*ossi+le for /a%) to o*en the #ay to the hidden roo(' for the (an at the door#ay

#ould see and hear hi(& There #as nothin" to do +ut #ait' and ho*e for a %han%e to do it +efore

any of the (en did it the(selves&

o the +oy stood +ehind the %urtain' #at%hin" and #aitin"& He #ished Bill (u"s #as there!

Bill al#ays )ne# #hat to do #hen thin"s #ere a#)#ard1+ut then Bill #as a "ro#n$u*' and

"ro#n$u*s )ne# ho# to handle thin"s in the ri"ht #ay' so(eho#&



The (an at the door#ay finished his %i"arette& He did not thro# the end a#ay +ut %arefully

stu++ed it out a"ainst a %oin he too) fro( his *o%)et' and *ut it into a little tin +o2& Evidently he

#as not "oin" to leave any si"ns a+out that #ould tell anyone he #as livin" there&

He turned and %a(e into the hall& /a%) heard his feet e%hoin"' and held his +reath& Was he "oin"

+a%) to the hidden roo(5

He #as! He #al)ed to the +a%) of the hall' and felt a+out in the #all there for the s*i)e& /a%)'fearin" that he #as doin" this' %re*t to the door of the roo( he #as hidin" in' and *eered throu"h

the %ra%)& Fro( there he %ould see #hat ha**ened&

The (an *ulled at the s*i)e' and the stone (oved #ith a "ratin" sound' first do#n#ards and

then to the side& It #as a (arvellous *ie%e of (e%hanis(' very old' +ut still in *erfe%t #or)in"

order&

/a%).s heart al(ost stood still& No# #hat #as "oin" to ha**en5 What #ould the (an say #hen

he sa# the other three5

Dinah and Lu%y$Ann heard the "ratin" noise of the stone as it (oved' and loo)ed u*& 0hili*

*eered throu"h his visor' ho*in" /a%) #as %o(in" at last& But to their horror a (an stood on the

ste*s' loo)in" at the( in the "reatest astonish(ent and an"er!

He %ould only see Dinah and Lu%y$Ann' of %ourse& The t#o "irls stared at hi( and tre(+led& Hisfa%e #as not a *leasant one& He had an enor(ous nose' narro# eyes and the thinnest li*s

i(a"ina+le& ha""y eye+ro#s hun" over his eyes' al(ost li)e a shee*$do".s hair&

,o!- said the (an' and narro#ed his eyes still (ore& ,o! You %o(e here' and you "o to (y

roo(& What is the (eanin" of this5-

The "irls #ere terrified' and Lu%y$Ann +e"an to so+& /a%)' listenin"' lon"ed to *ush the (an

do#n the ste*s and +rea) his ne%)! ,Hateful fello#' fri"htenin" *oor Lu%y$Ann li)e that!- thou"ht

the +oy an"rily' #ishin" he dared to sho# hi(self and %o(fort her&

Then he heard the footste*s of the other t#o (en returnin" fro( their hunt& The first (an heard

the( too and #ent +a%) u* the stairs to the to*& He %alled to the others in a lan"ua"e /a%) did not

understand' evidently tellin" the( to %o(e and see #hat he had found&

0hili*' still hidden in the suit of ar(our' too) the o**ortunity of #his*erin" instru%tions to the

"irls& ,Don.t +e fri"htened& They.ll *ro+a+ly only thin) you.re t#o silly "irls visitin" the old %astle&

You tell the( that& Don.t say a #ord a+out (e or /a%)' or #e shan.t +e a+le to hel* you& /a%).s u*

there so(e#here' #e )no#' and he.ll loo) out for you and "et you a#ay& I.ll stay do#n here till I

%an es%a*e (yself& They #on.t )no# I.( in the ar(our&-

He %ouldn.t say any (ore' +e%ause all three (en no# %a(e do#n the ste*s and into the hidden

roo(& One (an had a dense +la%) +eard' the other #as %lean$shaven' +ut the (an the "irls had

already seen #as the u"liest of a really u"ly trio&

Lu%y$Ann +e"an to %ry a"ain& Dinah #as very s%ared' +ut she #ould not %ry&

,What are you here for5- as)ed the sha""y$+ro#ed (an& ,No#1you tell us everythin"1or you

(ay +e very very sorry!-

Chapter 1"

0RIONER IN THE CATLE

,WE only %a(e to have a loo) at the %astle'- said Dinah' tryin" to )ee* her voi%e fro( tre(+lin"&

,Does it +elon" to you5 We didn.t )no#&-

,Ho# did you find this roo(5- de(anded the +earded (an' s%o#lin"&

,By a%%ident'- said Dinah& ,We #ere so sur*rised& 0lease let us "o& We.re only t#o "irls' and #e

didn.t (ean any har(&-

,Does anyone outside this %astle )no# #e are here' or anythin" a+out that roo(5- as)ed the

sha""y (an&



,No' no+ody'- said Dinah truthfully& ,We have never seen you +efore this (o(ent' and #e only

found the roo( today& 0lease' do let us "o!-

,I su**ose you.ve +een (essin" a+out here for so(e days'- said the (an& ,We found your

thin"s& Interferin" little tres*assers!-

,We didn.t )no# the %astle +elon"ed to anyone'- said Dinah' a"ain& ,Ho# %ould #e )no#5 No$

one ever %o(es here& The villa"ers are all too s%ared of the *la%e&-,Is anyone #ith you5- as)ed the +earded (an' sus*i%iously&

,Well' you %an see that for yourselves'- said Dinah' ho*in" fervently that none of the (en #ould

thin) of loo)in" into the suits of ar(our standin" round the roo(&

,We.ve loo)ed all over the *la%e'- said the third (an to the sha""y one& ,There.s no$one else

here' that #e do )no#!-

,0lease let us "o'- +e""ed Dinah& ,We #on.t %o(e here a"ain' #e *ro(ise&-

,Ah1+ut you #ill "o ho(e and you #ill tell a+out thin"s you have found here and seen here'

isn.t that so5- said the +earded (an' in a horrid' s(ooth )ind of voi%e& ,No' little (issies1you

(ust stay here till our #or) is done& Then' #hen it no lon"er (atters' (ay+e #e shall let you "o& I

said may +e! It de*ends on ho# you +ehave&-

0hili* tre(+led #ith an"er inside the suit of ar(our& Ho# dared these (en s*ea) li)e that to thet#o terrified "irls5 But the +oy did not dare to sho# hi(self& That (i"ht only (a)e thin"s #orse&

,Well'- said the +earded (an' ,#e have +usiness to dis%uss& You (ay leave this roo(' +ut do not

"o +eyond our %all&-

To the "irls. intense relief the (en allo#ed the( to "o u* the stone ste*s into the hall& Then the

hole %losed on%e (ore' and they #ere left alone&

,We (ust es%a*e'- #his*ered Dinah' ta)in" Lu%y$Ann.s hand& ,We (ust "et a#ay i((ediately

and +rin" hel* to 0hili*& I daren.t thin) #hat #ould ha**en to hi( if those (en found hi(&-

,Where.s /a%)5- so++ed Lu%y$Ann& ,I #ant hi(&-

/a%) #as not far a#ay& As soon as he heard the stone %lose the hole u*' and re%o"nised the "irls.

voi%es' he darted out of the old dra#in"$roo(& Lu%y$Ann sa# hi( and ran to hi( "ladly&

He *ut his ar(s round her' and *atted her& ,It.s all ri"ht' Lu%y$Ann' it.s all ri"ht& We.ll soon +e

out of here' and #e.ll "et hel* to res%ue 0hili*& Don.t #orry& Don.t %ry any (ore&-

But Lu%y$Ann %ouldn.t sto* %ryin"' thou"h no# she %ried (ore fro( relief at havin" /a%) a"ain

than fro( fri"ht& The +oy "uided her to the #ide stone stairs that led to the u**er roo(s of the

%astle&

,We.ll "et a%ross the *lan) in no ti(e'- he said& ,Then #e.ll +e safe& We.ll soon res%ue 0hili*

too& Don.t +e afraid&-

9* they #ent and u*' then alon" the lon" %orridor' lit di(ly +y its slit #indo#s& They %a(e to

the roo( they used for the *lan)&

Dinah ran "ladly to the #indo#' ea"er to sli* a%ross to safety& But she *aused in dis(ay& There

#as no *lan)&,We.re in the #ron" roo(!- she said& ,Oh' 6ui%)' /a%)' find the ri"ht one!-

They ran out and into the ne2t roo(1+ut there #as no *lan) on the sill there either& Then into

the roo( further on they #ent1+ut a"ain there #as no *lan)&

,This is li)e a +ad drea('- said Dinah' tre(+lin"& ,We shall "o into roo( after roo(' and the

*lan) #ill never +e there! Oh' /a%)1is this a ni"ht(are5-

,It see(s li)e one'- said the +oy& ,Co(e no#1#e.re u*set and e2%ited1#e.ll +e"in at the

+otto( of the %orridor and #or) our #ay alon" ea%h roo(1then #e shall find the ri"ht one&-

But they didn.t& Roo( after roo( had no #el%o(e *lan) on its sill& At the last roo( the %hildren

*aused&

,I.( afraid'- said /a%)' ,I.( very (u%h afraid that the (en dis%overed ho# #e "ot in1and

re(oved the *lan)!-



,Oh dear!- said Dinah' and sat do#n suddenly on the dusty floor& ,3y le"s #on.t hold (e u*

any (ore& I su**ose the (en #ould never have let Lu%y$Ann and (e out of the hidden roo( unless

they had found our #ay in' and (ade it i(*ossi+le for us to es%a*e that #ay&-

,Yes1if #e.d sto**ed to thin) for a (o(ent #e.d have "uessed that ourselves'- said /a%)'

"loo(ily& He also sat do#n on the floor to %onsider thin"s& ,I #onder #here they *ut the *lan)& It

(i"ht +e a "ood idea to loo) for it&-,They.ve *ro+a+ly 4ust ti**ed it off the sill and left it lyin" on the "round'- said Dinah' 4ust as

"loo(ily&

,No' they #ouldn.t do that' in %ase anyone else did ha**en to )no# that #ay in'- said /a%)&

,We.d +etter loo) for it&-

o they hunted all over the *la%e' +ut there #as no si"n of the *lan) at all& Wherever it #as' it

#as too #ell hidden for the %hildren to find& They "ave it u* after a +it&

,Well' #hat are #e "oin" to do' no# that #e %an.t es%a*e5- said Dinah& ,Do sto* sniffin"' Lu%y$

Ann& It doesn.t do any "ood&-

,Don.t +other her'- said /a%)' #ho felt sorry for his s(all sister& ,This is *retty serious& Here #e

are' stu%) in this old %astle #ith no #ay of es%a*e1and 0hili* do#n +elo# in the hidden roo( in

"reat dan"er of +ein" dis%overed& He.s only "ot to snee8e or %ou"h' you )no#!-Lu%y$Ann *ondered this state(ent in alar(& he at on%e i(a"ined *oor 0hili* tryin" to stifle

snee8e after snee8e&

,We.ve a**arently fallen headlon" into so(e 6ueer (ystery'- said /a%)& ,I %an.t (a)e head or

tail of it& Why these (en #ant to hide u* here' I don.t )no#& But they are u"ly %usto(ers1nasty

fello#s' ea%h one of the(& They (ust +elon" to a "an" of so(e sort' u* to so(e (is%hief& I.d li)e

to *ut a sto* to it' +ut it.s i(*ossi+le as thin"s are& The only "ood thin"s a+out the #hole affair are

that the (en don.t )no# *m here' and they don.t )no# that 0hili* is hidden in their se%ret (eetin"$

*la%e!-

,If only #e %ould "et out!- si"hed Lu%y$Ann& ,I )no# 3rs& 3annerin" is a#ay' +ut #e %ould

"et hold of the far(er or so(eone&-

,I don.t see ho# #e %an *ossi+ly "et out' no# that our one and only #ay of "ettin" in is "one'-

said /a%)& ,I don.t thin) even Tassie #ill %o(e u*' no# that her (other has threatened her #ith a

hidin" if she does&-

,We (ustn.t let the (en )no# you.re here too' /a%)'- said Dinah& ,Where #ill you hide for

safety5-

,In the (iddle of (y "orse$+ush'- said /a%)& ,That.s as safe as any#here& You "irls "o do#n to

the hall and see if that roo( is still shut1if it is' I.ll sli* do#n and "o u* the %ra" to (y "orse$

+ush& You %an sit a+out the ro%)s there' and #his*er to (e #hat "oes on&-

,I #ish #e )ne# #here Button "ot in and out'- said Lu%y$Ann& ,If #e did #e (i"ht try his #ay&

Only I su**ose if it.s a ra++it$hole it #ould +e far too narro# for us&-

They (ade their #ay to the hall& The stone #as still in *la%e over the hidden roo(& They +e%)oned /a%) do#n' and he s*ed a%ross the hall' out of the "reat door#ay' a%ross the %ourtyard

and u* the %ra""y' "orse$"ro#n ro%) in the %orner to the safety of his hidin"$*la%e& He %ra#led in'

and the +ush %losed round hi(&

The "irls %li(+ed u* the ro%)s to +e near hi(& Fro( there they had a "ood vie# of everythin" to

do #ith the %astle& They undid a *a%)et of food and +e"an to have a (eal' thou"h Lu%y$Ann %ho)ed

over al(ost every (outhful& They handed /a%) so(e food throu"h the *ri%)ly +ran%hes of the +ush&

,:ood thin" #e +rou"ht u* su%h sta%)s of food'- said Dinah& ,If #e are "oin" to +e *risoners for

a"es it.s 4ust as #ell!-

,Of %ourse' if your (other hadn.t "one a#ay' she #ould have "ot #orried #hen #e didn.t "et

ho(e' and have sent a sear%h$*arty u* to the %astle'- said Lu%y$Ann& ,It.s +ad lu%) she should have

"one a#ay 4ust no#! No$one #ill (iss us at all&-,h! Here are t#o of the (en!- said Dinah& ,Don.t say a #ord (ore' /a%)&-



The (en "ave a loud shout for the t#o "irls& Dinah ans#ered sul)ily& They +e%)oned to the( to

%o(e do#n fro( the %ra"&

,And did you find your little *lan)5- en6uired the +earded (an *olitely' and the other (an

sni""ered&

,No& You too) it a#ay'- said Dinah sullenly&

,Of %ourse& It #as su%h a "ood idea of yours1+ut #e didn.t li)e it'- said the (an& ,No#' you%annot "et a#ay' you )no# that& o you (ay stay here unhar(ed in the %ourtyard' and at ni"ht you

(ay slee* *ea%efully in the +i" +ed do#nstairs' for #e have #or) to do that #ill ta)e us else#here&

But #e for+id you to "o u* to the to#ers' or u*stairs at all& We are not "oin" to have you si"nallin"

for hel*& You understand that if you diso+ey us you #ill +e very sorry1and you #ill *ro+a+ly +e

*ut do#n into a dun"eon #e )no# of' #here rats and (i%e and +eetles live&-

Dinah let out a s%rea(& The very idea filled her #ith horror&

,o you +e "ood "irls and o+edient' and no har( #ill %o(e to you'- said the +earded (an&

,Al#ays +e #here #e %an see you' so(e#here in this %ourtyard' and %o(e #hen #e %all& You have

*lenty of food' #e )no#& And there is #ater in the )it%hen' if you *u(* it&-

The "irls did not ans#er& The (en #al)ed off and disa**eared on%e (ore into the %astle&

,What.s ha**enin" to 0hili*5- said Lu%y$Ann' after a *ause& ,Will he starve do#n there5 I #ish#e %ould res%ue hi(&-

,He #on.t starve& There.s *lenty of food on the ta+le' if only he %an ste* off his *edestal and "et

it'- said Dinah& ,If only #e %ould send #ord to Tassie! he (i"ht "et hel*& But there is no #ay of

sendin" #ord&-

,I su**ose 7i)i #ouldn.t "o' #ith a note tied to her le"' li)e *i"eons have in #ar$ti(e5- said

Lu%y$Ann& ,No' I.( sure she #ouldn.t leave /a%)& he.s an a#fully %lever and sensi+le +ird' +ut it

#ould +e too (u%h to e2*e%t her to +e%o(e a (essen"er for us&-

Ho#ever' a (essen"er did turn u*1a (ost une2*e%ted one' +ut a very #el%o(e one indeed!

Chapter 1%

L9CY HA AN IDEA

ALL that day the "irls hun" a+out the %ourtyard' never )ee*in" very far fro( the %ra"' so that they

%ould tal) to *oor +ored /a%) in his hidin"$*la%e& They #ondered ho# 0hili* #as "ettin" on do#n

in the hidden roo(& Had he +een dis%overed5

,It.s a "reat *ity those (en tal) to"ether in so(e lan"ua"e #e don.t understand'- said Dinah& ,If

they tal)ed to"ether in En"lish 0hili* (i"ht learn 6uite a lot of se%rets' standin" there so %lose

+eside the(' #ithout the( )no#in"!-

,Yes' he (i"ht'- said Lu%y$Ann& ,I #ish he #asn.t do#n there thou"h& I should feel so s%ared if

it #as (e' hidden in ar(our that (i"ht %rea) or %lan) if I (oved 4ust a little +it&-,Well' 0hili* #on.t feel s%ared'- said Dinah& ,He is hardly ever s%ared of anythin"& I e2*e%t he.s

6uite en4oyin" hi(self&-

But Lu%y$Ann didn.t +elieve that for one (o(ent& he thou"ht Dinah #as silly to say su%h a

thin"& But then' Dinah #asn.t as fond of her +rother as she' Lu%y$Ann' #as& It #as +ad enou"h to

have /a%) +ein" %o(*elled to hide in that horrid "orse$+ush1+ut it #ould have +een far #orse to

have hi( do#n in the hidden roo( #ith the (en' li)ely to +e dis%overed at any (o(ent!

,Cheer u*!- #his*ered /a%)' fro( the "orse$+ush' seein" her "loo(y fa%e& ,This is an

adventure' you )no#&-

,I only li)e adventures after#ards'- said Lu%y$Ann& ,I don.t li)e the( #hen they.re ha**enin"&

I didn.t #ant this adventure at all& We didn.t loo) for it' #e 4ust see(ed to fall into the (iddle of

it!-

,Well' never (ind& It.ll turn out all ri"ht' I e2*e%t'- said /a%) %o(fortin"ly&



But *oor Lu%y$Ann %ouldn.t see ho#& It #as 6uite %lear that they %ouldn.t es%a*e fro( the

%astle' and e6ually %lear that no$one %ould res%ue the(&

They had tea on the %ra"' the "irls *assin" food to /a%)' #ho #as no# feelin" very %ra(*ed

indeed' and lon"in" to "et out and stret%h his le"s& But he didn.t dare to& When ni"ht %a(e he

#ould' +ut not till then&

The sun #ent do#n& 7i)i' +ored #ith her lon" i(*rison(ent' +e%a(e very tal)ative& The "irlslet her tal)' )ee*in" a shar* loo)$out in %ase the (en %a(e and heard her&

,0oor old 7i)i' #hat a *ity' #hat a *ity! 0ut the )ettle on' :od save the 7in"! No#' no#' no#'

no#' attention *lease! it u* strai"ht and don.t loll& Ho# (any ti(es have I told you to *o* the

#easel5-

The "irls "i""led& 7i)i #as very funny #hen she tal)ed and tal)ed' for she +rou"ht into her

%hatterin" all the #ords and senten%es she )ne#' runnin" the( one into another in a (ost

+e#ilderin" #ay&

,:ood old 7i)i!- said /a%)' s%rat%hin" her ne%)& ,You.re +ored' aren.t you5 Never (ind' you

shall have a fine fly round #hen it.s dar)& No# don.t start your e2*ress$en"ine s%ree%h' or you.ll

+rin" our ene(ies u* here at a run!-

The sun #ent do#n& Lon" shado#s lay a%ross the %ourtyard and then the #hole of it #ent intot#ili"ht& The stars %a(e out one +y one' *ri%)in" the s)y here and there&

The (en %a(e u* the yard' t#o of the( to"ether& They %alled the "irls&

,Hey' you t#o "irls! You.d +etter %o(e do#n and "o to +ed&-

,We don.t (ind the dar)& We.ll stay a +it lon"er'- shouted +a%) Dinah' #ho #anted to #al)

round the yard #ith /a%)' +efore she and Lu%y$Ann retired to the hidden roo(&

,Well' %o(e do#n in half an hour'- shouted the +earded (an& ,It #ill +e 6uite dar) then' and

you.d +e +etter inside&-

They disa**eared& Dinah sli**ed do#n fro( her *er%h and #ent silently after the(& he sa#

the( "oin" do#n the ste*s of the hidden roo(& Then she heard the no# fa(iliar "ratin" noise as

the entran%e$hole #as %losed +y the slidin" stone&

he ran +a%) to /a%)& ,Co(e on' /a%)'- she #his*ered& ,The (en are safe in the hidden roo('

and it.s al(ost dar) no#& You.ll +e safe if you %o(e out&-

?ery "lad to %o(e fro( his un%o(forta+le hidin"$*la%e' /a%) s6uee8ed out of the +ush& He stood

u* than)fully' and stret%hed his ar(s hi"h a+ove his head&

,:olly' I.( stiff!- he said& ,Co(e on' let.s "o for a ni%e shar* #al) round the %ourtyard& It.s too

dar) for (e to +e seen no#&-

They set off' lin)in" their ar(s to"ether& They hadn.t "one (ore than half$#ay +efore so(ethin"

hurled itself a"ainst the( out of the shado#s' and al(ost )no%)ed /a%) over& He sto**ed' startled&

,What.s that5 Where.s (y tor%h5-

He fli%)ed it on 6ui%)ly' and then off a"ain' in %ase the (en #ere a+out& He "ave a lo# %ry&

,It.s Button! Dear little old Button1 how did you "et here5 I am "lad to see you!-Button (ade ha**y noises in his throat' rolled over li)e a *u**y' li%)ed the "irls and /a%)' and

"enerally +ehaved as if he #as (ad #ith deli"ht& But he )e*t "oin" off to the side and +a%) a"ain'

and it #as soon %lear to the others that he had %o(e to find 0hili*' his (aster&

,You %an.t "et to 0hili*' old +oy'- said /a%)' fondlin" the little fo2$%u+& ,You.ll have to (a)e do

#ith us& 0hili* isn.t here&-

The fo2$%u+ (ade a +ar)in" noise' and 7i)i' #ho #as sittin" on /a%).s shoulder' evidently

rather dis"usted to see Button a**ear a"ain' i((ediately i(itated the +ar)in"& Button 4u(*ed u*'

tryin" to rea%h her' +ut he %ouldn.t& 7i)i (ade a 4eerin" noise' #hi%h #ould have +een (ost

infuriatin" to Button if he had understood it' +ut he didn.t&

,/a%)! I.ve "ot an idea!- said Lu%y$Ann' suddenly %lut%hin" her +rother.s ar(&

,What5- said /a%)' #ho never thou"ht very (u%h of Lu%y$Ann.s "ood ideas&





,The #orst of it #as (y toad %ouldn.t +ear +ein" in here #ith (e and he "ot out throu"h a

%ra%)' and ho**ed and %ra#led a+out for all he #as #orth'- said 0hili*& ,The (en sa# hi( and

#ere a#fully sur*rised&-

Dinah loo)ed a+out at on%e for the toad& he ho*ed it #asn.t any#here near her&

,0oor old 0hili*'- said Lu%y$Ann' "oin" to his hel*& ,You (ust have had an a#ful day&-

,I have1+ut I #ouldn.t really have (issed it for #orlds!- said 0hili*& ,3y #ord' I.ve learnt afe# thin"s' I %an tell you! For instan%e' there.s a se%ret #ay out of this roo(1+ehind the ta*estry

so(e#here!-

,Oooh'- said Lu%y$Ann' loo)in" at the ta*estry' as if she e2*e%ted to see a se%ret #ay o*enin"

+efore her eyes& ,Is there really5 Ho# do you )no#5-

,I.ll tell you all a+out it' on%e I "et out of this a#ful ar(our'- said 0hili*& ,3y #ord' I ho*e I

never #ear it a"ain! You #ouldn.t +elieve ho# hot I "ot inside it& There1I.( out' than) "oodness!

No# to stret%h (yself a +it!-

,And then tell us #hat ha**ened in here today'- said Dinah' ea"er to hear& ,I +et you.ve "ot

so(e e2%itin" thin"s to tell us!-

he #as ri"ht& 0hili* %ertainly had!

Chapter 2&

0HILI0 TELL A @9EER TORY

,WE.D +etter "et on the +ed' in %ase those a#ful (en %o(e +a%)'- said Dinah& ,What #ill you do if

they do' 0hili*5-

,I shall hear the "ratin" noise the stone (a)es #hen it (oves' and I.ll ho* out of the +ed and "et

underneath it'- said 0hili*& ,I don.t really thin) the (en #ill sus*e%t there is anyone here +ut you1

they.re not li)ely suddenly to (a)e a sear%h in the (iddle of the ni"ht!-

There #as *lenty of roo( for the( all on the enor(ous old +ed& There #as an eiderdo#n(attress' #hi%h the three %hildren san) into& 0hili* #as *leased& After the hardness of the suit of

ar(our' it #as *leasant to feel so(ethin" so soft&

He sat u* and told his story&

,Well' you re(e(+er #hen you #ent u* the ste*s +y yourselves and left (e there5- he said& ,I

#as a#fully an"ry to thin) those (en should tal) to you li)e that' +ut I %ouldn.t do anythin" a+out

it' of %ourse& Any#ay' I 4ust stayed *ut for a"es' and after so(e ti(e all three (en %a(e do#n' shut

u* the entran%e$hole' and sat round the ta+le&-

,Could you understand their tal)5- as)ed Lu%y$Ann&

,No' (ore.s the *ity' I %ouldn.t'- said 0hili*& ,They had (a*s out' and #ere tra%in" thin"s on

the(' +ut I %ouldn.t see #hat& I al(ost over$+alan%ed (yself' tryin" to see&-

,:ra%ious! What a sho%) you.d have "iven those (en if you had to**led over #ith a %rash'- saidDinah' #ith a lau"h& ,:ood thin" you didn.t' thou"h&-

,Well' they sat a+out for a lon" ti(e' tal)in" and *orin" over their (a*s'- said 0hili*' ,and then

they had a 4olly "ood (eal& They o*ened sta%)s of tins& It (ade (y (outh #ater to see the(&-

,0oor 0hili*1have you had anythin" to eat5- as)ed Lu%y$Ann&

0hili* nodded& ,Don.t #orry& The very ne2t ti(e the (en disa**eared u* the stone ste*s and

shut the hole' I %lan)ed off (y *edestal' and finished u* (ost of #hat they had left& I had to ho*e

they #ouldn.t noti%e it #as "one& But I #as so hun"ry and thirsty I didn.t %are& It #as funny to see

all the other suits of ar(our standin" round' loo)in" at (e& I half e2*e%ted the( to #al) u* and 4oin

(e in (y (eal!-

,Don.t say thin"s li)e that!- said *oor Lu%y$Ann' loo)in" 6uite s%ared& he "a8ed #ith #ide

eyes at the suits of ar(our standin" so silently on their *edestals' and i(a"ined the( suddenly

#al)in" off the(' #ith a %lash and a %lan)&



0hili* lau"hed' and "ave Lu%y$Ann a *at& ,It #as a#fully diffi%ult to drin)'- he said& ,I %ouldn.t

ti* (y head +a%) *ro*erly in that ar(our& I *oured half of it do#n the inside of it' and I #as

terrified I.d have *uddles %o(in" out of (y feet' #hen I #ent +a%)&-

The "irls %ouldn.t hel* lau"hin"& 0hili* al#ays told a story very #ell' (a)in" the( see every

detail of it&

,Well' I "ot +a%) to (y *edestal' feelin" a #hole lot +etter' and hadn.t +een there (ore thant#enty (inutes or so #hen the (en %a(e +a%) a"ain& And then an e2traordinary thin" ha**ened&-

,What5- said the "irls to"ether' holdin" their +reath&

,ee that ta*estry over there1the one #ith the do"s and the horses on5- said 0hili*' *ointin"&

,E2a%tly o**osite #here (y suit of ar(our stands5 Well' +ehind there is a se%ret door!-

He *aused and the "irls "a8ed first at the ta*estry and then at 0hili*& ,The (en tal)ed a +it' and

then one of the( #ent to that *ie%e of ta*estry& He lifted it u* and hun" it +a%) on that nail you %an

see& I %ould see everythin" *erfe%tly throu"h (y visor& Well' at first I %ouldn.t (a)e out #hat the

(an #as doin"' +e%ause the #all loo)ed as if it #as (ade of solid stone all alon"&-

,And #asn.t it5- said Lu%y$Ann' in e2%ite(ent&

,No'- said 0hili*& ,0art of it is only a thin sla+ of stone' not i((ensely solid and thi%) li)e the

rest of the #alls here' and that thin *ie%e slides ri"ht +a%)! Then #hen it had (oved +a%)' the (anste**ed into the s6uare hollo# *la%e left and felt a+out there& On one side of the hollo# *la%e #as a

door of so(e )ind' #hi%h he o*ened1and all three (en disa**eared inside the door!-

,:ra%ious!- said Dinah& ,Where did they "o5-

,I don.t )no#'- said 0hili*& ,But I.d dearly li)e to! There.s so(e se%ret here' so(e +i" (ystery&

Those (en are u* to so(e (is%hief& Why should forei"ners1+e%ause t#o of the( are forei"ners'

you %an tell that +y their a%%ent1#hy should forei"ners %o(e to a lonely *la%e li)e this' and hide

and have (eetin"s' and use se%ret roo(s and doors5-

,hall #e see #here that door leads to5- said Dinah' over%o(e #ith %uriosity&

,No' don.t let.s'- said Lu%y$Ann' #ho had had 6uite enou"h e2%ite(ent for one day&

,You.re a +a+y'- said Dinah s%ornfully&

,No' she.s not'- said 0hili*& ,he.s 4ust not so tou"h as you' Dinah& Any#ay' I thin) it #ould +e

a (ista)e to (ess a+out +ehind that ta*estry 4ust no#& If the (en ha**ened to %o(e +a%) and sa#

that #e had found their se%ret' "oodness )no#s #hat they.d do& We (i"ht never +e heard of a"ain!-

Dinah #as silent& he lon"ed to e2*lore +ehind that ta*estry1+ut she )ne# 0hili* #as ri"ht&

They (ust #ait and ta)e their ti(e& Dinah +e"an to tell 0hili* a+out their day #ith /a%) in the

%ourtyard' and all that had ha**ened& He #as very "lad that /a%) hadn.t +een %au"ht&

,Well' that.s t#o *eo*le those (en have no idea are here'- he said& ,That.s "ood& As lon" as they

thin) it.s only a %ou*le of "irls they.ve "ot to deal #ith' they #on.t +e very (u%h on their "uard&-

Then Dinah told hi( a+out sendin" Button #ith a (essa"e to Tassie& He listened thou"htfully'

and then (ade a re(ar) that sent their hearts do#n into their +oots&

,It #as a fine idea'- he said' ,+ut it #on.t +e a +it of "ood' I.( afraid& You.ve for"otten thatTassie %an.t read or #rite!-

The t#o "irls stared at one another in the "reatest dis(ay& They had for"otten that& Of %ourse1

Tassie #ouldn.t +e a+le to (a)e head or tail of the note& What a +lo#! Lu%y$Ann loo)ed very

#oe+e"one to thin) that her "ood idea shouldn.t have +een so very "ood after all&

0hili* *ut his ar( round her and "ave her a friendly hu"& ,Never (ind& 0erha*s Tassie #ill have

the %o((on sense to sho# the note to so(e+ody #ho ca( read! Cheer u*&-

This e2%han"e of ne#s too) a lon" ti(e& The "irls +e"an to feel slee*y& Lu%y$Ann lay do#n on

the soft +ed and shut her eyes& Dinah and 0hili* tal)ed a little lon"er and then lay do#n too& 0hili*

#as tired #ith his lon" day in the suit of ar(our' and fell sound aslee* al(ost at on%e&

Dinah #as a#a)ened suddenly' t#o or three hours later' +y the sound of the entran%e$hole +ein"

o*ened& At first she did not re%o"nise the noise1then' very suddenly' she )ne# #hat it #as& In arush it all %a(e +a%) to her&



0hili* and Lu%y$Ann did not a#a)e& Dinah shoo) the +oy des*erately& ,0hili*!- she #his*ered

ur"ently& ,Wa)e u*! @ui%)' "et under the +ed! They.re here!-

Half aslee*' 0hili* rolled off the +ed' and underneath it' 4ust as the first (an %a(e do#n the

ste*s& Dinah lay still as if she #as aslee*& Lu%y$Ann did not stir&

The (an' hearin" the noise of 0hili* fallin" off the +ed' stared sus*i%iously over into the %orner

#here the four$*oster +ed stood& He turned u* the #i%) of the oil la(*' #hi%h had +urned do#n'and #ent over to the +ed&

His toe al(ost tou%hed 0hili* #ho #as %rou%hin" underneath& The (an *ulled +a%) the heavy

%urtains around the old +ed and loo)ed do#n at the "irls& Dinah felt sure he )ne# she #as a#a)e&

He stared do#n at the t#o of the( for a fe# se%onds and then *ulled the %urtains +a%) a"ain&

A**arently he #as satisfied that the "irls #ere really aslee*& He did not drea( that a third %hild #as

there' hidden safely under the +ed!

Dinah' loo)in" +et#een her eyelashes' sa# that there #ere five (en there' t#o that she had not

seen +efore& They s*o)e in a lan"ua"e she %ould not understand& One of the (en she )ne#

unlo%)ed a +i" dra#er in a %hest' and too) out a roll of (a*s' #hi%h he thre# on the ta+le&

Then' one after another' the (a*s #ere s*read out and a**arently dis%ussed& Finally they #ere

*ut +a%) a"ain' and the dra#er lo%)ed& Then' to Dinah.s e2%ited deli"ht' the sha""y$+ro#ed (anthre# +a%) a *ie%e of ta*estry fro( the #all' and e2*osed the *la%e #here the se%ret door #as

hidden&

One of the (en laid his hand on his ar(' sayin" so(ethin" in a lo# voi%e' and noddin" to#ards

the +ed in the further %orner&

Then he #al)ed s#iftly a%ross to the +ed and dre# the thi%) %urtains so %losely round it that

Dinah %ould see nothin" (ore& Ho# annoyin"! he did not dare to *ee*' +e%ause she )ne# if she

did' she #ould *ro+a+ly +e seen&

After that she %ould only lie and listen' #onderin" #hat #as ha**enin"& he heard a slidin"

noise' a %li%)' a little thud' and the sound of a )ey turnin" in a lo%)& Then she heard voi%es a"ain&

After that she heard (en "oin" u* the stone stair' and *ee*ed 6ui%)ly to see #ho they #ere& They

#ere the three she )ne#& Evidently the others had "one throu"h the se%ret door' to #herever that led

to& It #as all (ost (ysterious&

There %a(e the fa(iliar "ratin" noise1and then silen%e& Dinah *ee*ed out& There #as no$one in

the roo(& The ta*estry #as re*la%ed' and hun" do#n over the #all a"ain&

he %alled softly to 0hili*' and he %a(e out fro( under the +ed& ,Don.t #a)e Lu%y$Ann' or

she.ll +e s%ared and #on.t "o to slee* a"ain'- said 0hili* in a lo# voi%e& ,Did you see (u%h'

Dinah5-

,Lots'- said Dinah' and told hi( everythin"& 0hili* listened intently&

,Five (en no#'- he said& ,I do #onder #hat they.re all u* to& You see' Dinah' it #as (u%h the

#isest thin" not to "o (essin" a+out tryin" to find that se%ret door toni"ht& We.d have +een

*ro*erly %au"ht if #e had!-,Yes' #e should'- said Dinah& ,0hili*' #hat are these (en u* to5-

,I don.t )no#'- said 0hili*& ,If #e #ent throu"h that hidden door' and found out #here it led to'

#e (i"ht learn their se%ret& But #e (ust #ait and ta)e our %han%e' not 4ust rush in #ithout

thin)in"&-

,I shouldn.t thin) they.ll %o(e +a%) a"ain' #ould you5- said Dinah' lyin" do#n& ,Do you thin)

you.d +etter slee* under the +ed' in %ase5 You (ade an a#ful noise rollin" off&-

,0erha*s I.d +etter'- said 0hili*& He too) one of the +lan)ets off the +ed and #ent underneath it'

arran"in" hi(self as %o(forta+ly as he %ould&

,Are you "oin" to stand in that suit of ar(our a"ain to(orro#5- as)ed Dinah suddenly&

,No' rather not! I.ll hide under the +ed& I.( sure the (en #on.t drea( of loo)in" for so(eone

they don.t )no# is there!- said 0hili*& ,I feel as if I never #ant to see a suit of ar(our a"ain in (ylife! Beastly' un%o(forta+le thin"!-



They fell aslee* a"ain' and this ti(e nothin" distur+ed the( till the (ornin"& It #as i(*ossi+le

to tell #hether it #as (ornin" or not in the hidden roo(' +ut Dinah.s #at%h sho#ed her that it #as

half$*ast seven&

The sha""y (an %a(e do#n into the roo(& ,You %an %lear out for the day'- he said& ,But )ee*

#ithin si"ht and %all as I told you1or (ost un*leasant thin"s (i"ht ha**en!-

Chapter 21

ANOTHER DAY :OE BY

/AC7 felt lonely #hen the "irls had "one do#n the ste*s to the hidden roo( for the ni"ht& He #as

left u* in the %ourtyard #ith 7i)i' and he felt +ored&

,I ho*e the "irls #ill +e all ri"ht'- he thou"ht& ,Oh' hallo' Button' are you still here5 Why don.t

you "o +a%) to Tassie5 You #on.t +e a+le to "et to 0hili*' you )no#&-

The fo2$%u+ #hined and ru++ed his head a"ainst /a%)' as)in" hi( as *lainly as a fo2$%u+ %ould

to ta)e hi( to his +eloved 0hili*&,Listen& You "o +a%) to Tassie #ith that note'- said /a%)' still for"ettin" that Tassie %ouldn.t read

a #ord& ,:o on' Button& On%e you "et to Tassie' thin"s #ill +e easier for us' +e%ause #hen she

reads that note' she #ill "et hel*&-

Button stayed in the %ourtyard #ith /a%) al(ost all ni"ht lon"& He didn.t "ive u* ho*e of findin"

0hili*' and )e*t "oin" off to hunt for hi(& 7i)i #as very s%ornful of hi( +ut Button too) no noti%e

of her&

The (oon %a(e u* and li"hted the %ourtyard 6ueerly& An o#l hooted' and 7i)i at on%e

(i(i%)ed it *erfe%tly& The o#l %a(e into the yard on silent #in"s' to loo) for the one #ho had

ans#ered& 7i)i #as deli"hted& he )e*t hootin" softly fro( one *la%e and another' and the o#l #as

astonished to find #hat see(ed to hi( to +e a *erfe%t host of o#ls all over the *la%e' %allin" first

fro( one s*ot and then another&/a%) en4oyed the fun& Then suddenly he sa# the three (en standin" in the (oonli"ht' and felt

"lad that he had not +een #anderin" a+out' for he #ould %ertainly have +een seen&

He sli**ed a#ay into the shado#s of the "reat #all' and %a(e near to the enor(ous door that

stood fa%in" #hat had on%e +een the road to the %astle& He sat do#n +y a +i" +ush' )no#in" that it

#ould hide hi( %o(*letely&

uddenly he 4u(*ed violently' and stared as if he %ould not +elieve his eyes& The +i" door #as

o*enin"! It s#un" slo#ly +a%) #ithout a sound' and #here it had +een #as no# a (oonli"ht s*a%e'

"ate#ay to the outer #orld!

/a%) half rose1+ut san) +a%) a"ain& T#o (en entered the %astle yard' and then the "reat solid

door %losed silently +ehind the(& There #as a loud %li%)' and then the t#o (en *assed 6uite %lose

to /a%)& They did not see hi(' for he #as in +la%) shado#& He %rou%hed do#n li)e a toad a"ainstthe earth&

The (en *assed and soon 4oined the other t#o& Then they all disa**eared into the %astle& /a%)

i(a"ined they #ere "oin" do#n to the hidden roo(1as indeed they #ere&

He #aited till they had "one' and then (ade his #ay as 6ui%)ly as he %ould to the +i" door in the

hi"h #all& If only he %ould o*en it! If only he %ould "et out' and "o do#n the hillside' even if he

had to #al) over the trea%herous landslide! After all' those (en (ust have %o(e u* that #ay&

He felt a+out for the handle of the door& It #as a lar"e iron rin"& /a%) t#isted it this #ay and that'

+ut the door did not o*en&

,That %li%) I heard (ust have +een the (en lo%)in" it!- he thou"ht an"rily& ,It.s i(*ossi+le to

"et out& Blo# it! 3ay+e if I.d +een near enou"h I %ould have sli**ed out as they sli**ed in! It

#ouldn.t have (attered if they had seen (e +e%ause I %ould have run do#n the hillside +efore they

%ould sto* (e!-



He sat and +rooded near the door& ,I.ll #ait here in the shado#s till they %o(e +a%)& Then I.ll

dash out #ith the(& They.ll +e so ta)en +y sur*rise that (ay+e they #on.t even *ut out a hand to

(e!-

o /a%) sat there hour after hour' al(ost fallin" aslee*& But the (en did not return& Dinah %ould

have told hi( #hy! They had "one throu"h the se%ret door under the ta*estry in the hidden roo(&

The other three #ere so(e#here in the %astle&When the eastern s)y +e"an to turn silver /a%) )ne# it #as ti(e to return to his "orse$+ush& 7i)i

#as fast aslee* on his shoulder' havin" tired of the o#l hours sin%e& Button too had vanished&

/a%) had not seen hi( "o& He had for"otten a+out the little fo2$%u+ in the e2%ite(ent of seein"

the %astle door o*en& He #ondered #here he had "one&

,I ho*e he.s "one +a%) to Tassie'- he thou"ht& ,We %an e2*e%t hel* so(eti(e today if he has&

A+out ti(e tool I.( fed$u* #ith +ein" here& Not an ea"le left no#' and the t#o "irls in dan"er' to

say nothin" of *oor old 0hili*& I #onder ho# he has "ot on& 0erha*s the "irls #ill tell (e today&-

The "irls %a(e out of the hidden roo( a+out ei"ht o.%lo%)& The three (en had "one do#n there

and turned the( out& Dinah had +e""ed 0hili* to "et +a%) into the suit of ar(our +efore the (en

returned' +ut he #ouldn.t&

,No' I.d rather +e under the +ed'- he said fir(ly& ,One day in that horri+le stiff suit is enou"h for (e& I.d rather +e %au"ht than stand there all day a"ain& You *ut (e so(e food and drin) under the

+ed' "irls' and I.ll stay here& I %an al#ays #ander a+out and stret%h (y le"s #hen the (en are not

here&-

,Well1fortune favours the +old!- said Dinah' #ho thou"ht that she #ould have felt the sa(e if

she had +een 0hili*& ,It.s a +old thin" to do' to lie in hidin" under the very +ed the (en (ay slee*

on today1+ut (ay+e you.ll +e all ri"ht there& Don.t snee8e' thou"h!-

A**arently it #as the (en.s intention to slee* the day a#ay on the +i" four$*oster& They %a(e

do#n into the roo( and ordered the "irls out& The +earded (an flun" hi(self on the +ed& All the

(en loo)ed tired' and the unshaven fa%es of the other t#o #ere not ni%e to see&

,We.ll %all you do#n toni"ht'- said the +earded (an' fro( the +ed' and he ya#ned& ,Ta)e #hat

food you #ant fro( that *ile of tins& There.s a tin$o*ener on the ta+le& No# %lear out and leave us&

Cou*le of little nuisan%es!-

The "irls "ra++ed a tin of sardines' a tin of sal(on' one of *ea%hes and one of a*ri%ots' and fled

u* the stairs& No sooner had they rea%hed the to* than the hole #as %losed +y the stone&

,lee* #ell!- said Dinah (o%)in"ly' and then the t#o "irls #ent in sear%h of /a%)& He #as under

his "orse$+ush' #ishin" they #ould %o(e&

,/a%)! Are you all ri"ht5 You %an %o(e out for a +it +e%ause the (en are safe do#n in the

under"round roo(!- said Lu%y$Ann& ,Do you #ant so(e sardines1or *ea%hes5 We.ve "ot +oth&-

,Hallo!- said /a%)' deli"hted to see the(& ,Is it really safe for a +it5 All ri"ht' I.ll %o(e out and

#e.ll s6uat +ehind this ro%) here& I.( lon"in" for so(ethin" to eat& Didn.t you +rin" +is%uits #ith

you #hen you %a(e yesterday5-Dinah found the tin of +is%uits' and they had a %o(i% +rea)fast of sardines' +is%uits and *ea%hes'

#ashed do#n +y "in"er$+eer& till' they all en4oyed it thorou"hly' and e2%han"ed their ne#s

ea"erly&

/a%) #as intensely interested to hear all that 0hili* had told the(& ,A se%ret #ay +ehind that

ta*estry!- he e2%lai(ed' his eyes "lea(in"& ,But where does it lead to5-

,:oodness )no#s1into the hillside so(e#here' I su**ose'- said Dinah' di**in" a +is%uit into

*ea%h$4ui%e and su%)in" it&

,Wait no#1#hat side of the hidden roo( is the se%ret door in the #all5- as)ed /a%)& ,Oh1

o**osite #here 0hili* stood at the +a%)1#ell' let (e see1that (eans that the door #ould lead

into the hill at the +a%) of the %astle& At the -ac. of the %astle! Ho# funny! I #onder if there are

dun"eons there or so(ethin"5-



,Oh dear1do you thin) the (en are )ee*in" *eo*le *risoners and *erha*s starvin" the( to

death5- said Lu%y$Ann' at on%e& ,Li)e that #i%)ed old (an did& Oh /a%)' you don.t su**ose that

old (an is still alive' do you' livin" li)e an old s*ider in his %astle' still doin" #i%)ed thin"s5-

,Of %ourse not' silly'- said /a%)& ,Haven.t I told you he.s dead and "one years and years a"o5

Don.t "et su%h silly ideas into your head' Lu%y$Ann& No# let (e thin) a +it& Don.t interru*t&-

He ni++led his +is%uit and *ondered a"ain& ,Yes' I thin) I.( ri"ht'- he said& ,That door under theta*estry (ust lead under"round throu"h the hill at the +a%) of the %astle& I.d li)e to "o do#n that

*assa"e and see #hat is there! I +et 0hili* #ill sooner or later!-

,I ho*e he.ll +e sensi+le and )ee* under the +ed'- said Lu%y$Ann& ,With (en #anderin" in and

out of se%ret doors and thin"s' he (i"ht easily +u(* into one of the( and +e %au"ht&-

,Did Button leave you last ni"ht5- said Dinah suddenly& ,Where is he5-

,Yes' he #ent at last'- said /a%)& ,But #here I don.t )no#& I only ho*e he.s found Tassie +y no#'

and she has seen the note&-

,0hili* says it #on.t +e any "ood' that note'- said Lu%y$Ann (ournfully& ,We for"ot that Tassie

%an.t read&-

,Blo#!- said /a%)& ,Of %ourse she %an.t& What silly$+illies #e are!-

,illy$+illy' silly$+illy' silly$+illy'- at on%e %hanted 7i)i' *leased& ,0o* "oes the silly$+illy!-,You.ll "o *o* in a (inute if you eat any (ore *ea%hes'- said /a%)& ,Is the tin e(*ty' Dinah5 0ut

it a#ay fro( 7i)i' for "oodness. sa)e& he.s +een tu%)in" in li)e anythin" #hile #e.ve +een

tal)in"&-

,0oor old silly$+illy'- said 7i)i "loo(ily' as Dinah re(oved the tin and ta**ed her s(artly on

the +ea)&

,What are #e "oin" to do today5- said Lu%y$Ann&

,Well' #hat ca( #e do e2%e*t #ait5- said /a%)&

,And ho*e that Tassie has the sense to sho# our note to so(eone'- said Dinah& ,urely she

#ould do that5 he )no#s she %an.t "et to us herself1or she would )no#' if she %a(e' and sa# the

*lan) #as "one!-

The day *assed slo#ly& There #as nothin" to do' not even an ea"le to #at%h& ,Wish I %ould do a

s*ot of develo*in"'- si"hed /a%)' feelin" in his shorts *o%)et for his *re%ious rolls of fil(& ,But I

%an.t& I.( 4ust lon"in" to see ho# the ea"les have %o(e out&-

There #as nothin" to read& The "irls #andered round a +it and #ondered #hether they dared to

"o u* into the to#er' and try to si"nal fro( there& But #ho #ould see5 No$one +ut Tassie' and she

#ould not )no# #hat to (a)e of the si"nals&

,Any#ay' if you did "o u* into the to#er' you (i"ht +e +adly *unished +y any of those (en'-

said /a%)& ,It.s not #orth ris)in" it& We (ust 4ust #ait in *atien%e for Tassie to send hel*&-

The day *assed at last and ni"ht %a(e& The (en yelled for the t#o "irls to "o do#n into the

se%ret roo( a"ain& They said a hurried "ood$ni"ht to /a%) and #ent& There #as no 6uestion of

diso+eyin" the (en& All the %hildren #ere afraid of the(&/a%) did not hide in his "orse$+ush& When it #as dar) enou"h he #ent do#n to the s*rin" near

the +otto( of the #all' to "et a drin)& He dared not "o into the )it%hen for one' in %ase he +u(*ed

into one of the (en' or they heard the *u(* %lan)in"&

He +ent do#n to the s*rin"1and then listened in a(a8e(ent& A (ost %urious noise #as %o(in"

fro( the little tunnel into #hi%h it disa**eared&

,Ooo*h! O#! Oooo*h!- A s%ra*in"' dra""in" noise %ould +e heard too& o(ethin" #as %o(in"

u* the tunnel& /a%) ste**ed +a%) in "reatest alar(& Whatever %ould it +e5

Chapter 22

TAIE I ?ERY BRA?E



THEN /a%) heard the un(ista)a+le sound of Button yel*in"' and he )ne# that *art of the noise (ust

+e (ade +y the fo2$%u+& He +ent over the tunnel' and flashed his tor%h on to see do#n its narro#

(outh&

He sa# a #hite fa%e starin" u* at hi(' and he 4u(*ed& It #as Tassie.s! he #as lyin" still for the

(o(ent' +ut +e"an to #ri""le a"ain #hen the li"ht flashed on her&

,Tassie! What are you doin"5 Tassie!- said /a%)' in a lo# +ut (ost astonished voi%e&Tassie didn.t ans#er& he s6uee8ed herself u* a +it (ore' until her head and shoulders #ere

outside the tunnel& Then /a%) "ave her a *ull and she %a(e out at on%e& Button follo#ed' loo)in"

very forlorn& Tassie had hi( on a lead' and he %ouldn.t "et a#ay&

Tassie sat do#n and "as*ed *ainfully& he *ut her head over her )nees' #hi%h #ere dra#n u*'

and see(ed 6uite una+le to s*ea) a #ord& /a%) flashed his tor%h over her& he #as soa)in" #et and

uns*ea)a+ly dirty& 3ud strea)ed her fa%e and ar(s and le"s&

he #as shiverin" #ith %old and fri"ht& /a%) (ade her "et u* and "o #ith hi( to the %ra"& He *ut

her +ehind a ro%)' and fet%hed the ru"s& He (ade her stri* off the soa)ed dress she #ore' and %over

herself fro( head to foot #ith a %ou*le of ru"s& Then the +oy sat %lose to her to #ar( her& 7i)i

*er%hed on her shoulder and *ressed a"ainst her %old %hee)& oon Tassie.s +reath "re# (ore even'

and she turned to loo) at /a%)' tryin" to su((on u* a faint s(ile&,Where.s 0hili*5- she #his*ered at last&

,With the "irls'- said /a%)' not #antin" to tell her everythin" at on%e& ,Don.t #orry for a (inute

or t#o& :et your +reath +a%)& You.re e2hausted&-

He sat #ith his ar( round her' feelin" the *oundin" of her heart sha)in" her +ody& 0oor Tassie!

Ho# had she (ana"ed to "et so e2hausted5

But she soon re%overed' as her +ody "re# #ar(& he *ressed a"ainst /a%)& ,I.( so hun"ry'- she

said&

/a%) fed her #ith +is%uits and sal(on fro( the tin& Then she dran) the rest of the *ea%h$4ui%e'

#hilst 7i)i %o*ied the "ul*in" noises she (ade&

,No# I feel +etter'- she said& ,What has +een ha**enin"' /a%)5-

,Well' su**ose you tell (e a fe# thin"s first'- said the +oy& ,And )ee* your voi%e lo#& There are

ene(ies a+out&-

This #as ne#s to Tassie& Her eyes #idened and she loo)ed round' s%ared& ,Is it that #i%)ed old

(an5- she #his*ered&

,Of %ourse not'- said /a%)& ,Tassie' did Button ta)e you our note5-

,Yes'- said Tassie& ,But' /a%)' I "ave (y (other the sli* and %a(e u* here yesterday to s*end a

fe# hours #ith you1and oh' /a%)' the *lan) #as "one& Where.s it "one5-

,That.s 4ust #hat should li)e to )no#!- said /a%) "ri(ly& ,Well' #hat did you do then5-

,I #ent +a%) ho(e'- said Tassie& ,And I #as #orried a+out you& Then' this (ornin" Button

%a(e to find (e' and I sa# his strin" %ollar' and the letter so(eone had tied to it&-

,:o on'- said /a%)&,Well1I %ouldn.t read it'- said Tassie' #ith tears in her voi%e& ,And there #as no+ody to as)&

3y (other #as an"ry #ith (e' and your (other had "one a#ay& I didn.t li)e to "o to the far( #ith

it1so I suddenly thou"ht I #ould (a)e a lead for Button' and #hen ne2t he #ent u* to the %astle to

loo) for 0hili*' I #ould "o #ith hi(' and find the #ay he #ent&-

,:ood "irl!- said /a%) ad(irin"ly& Tassie felt *leased&

,o I found an old do"$lead'- she said' (ore %heerfully' ,and I fastened it to his %ollar' and I

#ent #herever he #ent that day& He #as a#fully an"ry a+out it& He )e*t tryin" to +ite the lead' and

he al(ost tried to +ite (e too!-

/a%) *atted the little fo2$%u+ #ho #as lyin" 6uietly +eside the(& ,He didn.t understand #hat

#as ha**enin"'- he said& ,Well1he +rou"ht you u* here at last' I su**ose5-





,I #ish Button had found so(e +etter #ay of "ettin" into the %astle and out!- thou"ht the +oy&

,Ho# could Tassie have %ra#led u*' #ith the #ater s*lashin" into her fa%e half the ti(e5 he.s

really a heroine!-

When he had "ot do#n so(e #ay' the rather earthy tunnel "ave #ay to hard ro%)& /a%) thou"ht

he (ust +e under the #all +y no#& The tunnel #idened out %onsidera+ly' and the +oy sat on a led"e

to rest& He #as #orried a+out his rolls of fil(& He had #ra**ed the( u* very %arefully in asou.#ester one of the %hildren had +rou"ht u* to the %astle' and had tied the strin"s round ti"htly& It

#ould +e too si%)enin" if his *re%ious fil(s #ere s*oilt&

He +e"an to shiver #ith the %old' for he #as no# soa)ed throu"h& As lon" as he #as dra""in"

hi(self alon" the tunnel' he #as #ar(' for it #as very hard #or)1+ut as soon as he sto**ed' the

%old "ot hi(' and he shoo) li)e a leaf&

He #ent on a"ain& It #as 6uite dar)' and he %ould only feel his #ay alon"& He #ent on #ri""lin"

do#n the #atery *assa"e' "lad #hen it #as #ide and hi"h' an2ious #hen it %losed in on his +ody'

and (ade it diffi%ult for hi( to "et alon"&

It see(ed hours +efore he rea%hed the outlet' +ut at last he #as there! He dra""ed hi(self out'

and sat *antin" on a *at%h of soft heather& He ho*ed that never in his life a"ain #ould he have to

%ra#l throu"h a tunnel li)e that! He #as sure that the "irls #ould have "ot stu%) #ith fri"ht' and#ould not have +een a+le to "o either u* or do#n' after a #hile& It #as 4ust as #ell that he had

de%ided they (ust not use this #ay of es%a*e&

He +e"an to shiver' and he stood u*' his )nees sha)in" after his lon" ordeal under"round& He

#as not as e2hausted as Tassie' +ut he #as al(ost tired out&

,I shall "et an a#ful %hill if I don.t "et #ar('- he thou"ht' and he set off do#n the hill' "lad of

the +ri"ht (oonli"ht&

He stu(+led alon"' loo)in" ea"erly for a si"ht of *rin" Cotta"e as he at last dro**ed do#n into

the lane that led to it& Yes1there it #as' +la%) #ith the (oonli"ht +ehind it' its roof silvered and

shinin"&

Then suddenly /a%) sto**ed& He had seen so(ethin" that stru%) hi( as 6ueer&

,There.s s(o)e1s(o)e %o(in" fro( the %hi(ney!- he said to hi(self' and he leaned a"ainst a

tree& ,What does that (ean5 Can 3rs& 3annerin" +e +a%)5 No' Tassie #ould have )no#n& Well

then1#ho has li"hted the )it%hen fire5 Who is there5 Oh' surely one of those #ret%hed (en hasn.t

"one there to find out so(ethin" a+out the "irls5-

He %re*t near to the %otta"e& He %a(e to the little "arden& There #as a li"ht shinin" out of one of

the #indo#s!

/a%) ti*toed to the #indo#' an2ious and *u88led& He loo)ed %autiously in& o(eone #as sittin"

in a tall$+a%)ed ar(%hair that had its +a%) to /a%)& Was it 3rs& 3annerin"5

A %loud of s(o)e suddenly %a(e fro( the %hair1thi%) +lue *i*e$s(o)e!

,It.s a (an'- #his*ered /a%) to hi(self& ,Whoever %an it +e5-

Chapter 23

A FEW 9R0RIE

/AC7 stayed at the #indo#' shiverin"& If only that (an #ould "et u*1then he %ould see if it #as

one of the (en he )ne# at the %astle& But ho# dare he "et into the house li)e that!

/a%) (ade u* his (ind to %ree* into the house and *ee* throu"h the %ra%) in the )it%hen door&

Then he #ould +e a+le to see #ho it #as sittin" in the ar(%hair& o' still shiverin"' as (u%h #ith

e2%ite(ent as #ith fri"ht' he stole round to the other side of the house' #here his +edroo( #indo#

#as& If it #as o*en' /a%) )ne# he %ould %li(+ the tree near+y and sli* inside&



It was o*en14ust a %ra%)& But /a%) re(e(+ered that the %at%h #as very loose' and he %ould

*ro+a+ly *ut in his hand and 4i""le it off the iron *e" that held it do#n& It #as a %ase(ent #indo#'

and #ould o*en very #ide to let hi( in&

He stu(+led over a *ail or so(ethin" outside a door' and sto**ed still' #onderin" if the (an

inside had heard anythin"& Then on he #ent to the tree' and %li(+ed it 6ui%)ly&

He sli**ed his hand inside the %ra%) of the #indo# and 4i""led the %at%h& It dro**ed' and the#indo# s#un" o*en& /a%) %autiously %li(+ed inside' and stood there' hardly darin" to +reathe&

He (ade his #ay into the dar) little *assa"e +et#een the +edroo(s' and stood there' #aitin" for

a (o(ent +efore he ventured do#n the rather %rea)y' #indin" stairs& Then he +e"an to "o do#n'

one ste* at a ti(e' ho*in" to "oodness they #ouldn.t %rea) too loudly&

There #as a +end in one *la%e' and /a%) (eant to stand there 6uietly +efore he #ent on1+ut no

sooner had he "ot there than so(eone lea*t on hi(' %au"ht his ar(s' and 4er)ed hi( violently do#n

the last four stairs! He fell' and all the +reath #as +u(*ed out of his +ody&

Whoever had 4u(*ed on hi( stood u* and then *ulled hi( rou"hly to his feet& Then he #as

*ro*elled s#iftly into the li"hted )it%hen' and he loo)ed at on%e to the ar(%hair to see #ho #as

there&

But it #as e(*ty! Whoever had sat there (ust have heard hi(' and lain in #ait for hi(& /a%) turned to fa%e his %a*tor' #ri""lin"' fully e2*e%tin" to see one of the (en fro( the to#er&

The t#o stared at one another in the very "reatest sur*rise' and ste**ed +a%)#ards in

a(a8e(ent&

,Bill (u"s!-

,/a%)! What on earth are you doin"' %ree*in" in li)e this5 I thou"ht you (ust +e a +ur"lar!-

,:olly! You.ve +ruised (e *ro*erly'- said /a%)' ru++in" hi(self& He +e"an to shiver violently

a"ain& Bill loo)ed at his soa)in" %lothes and *ale fa%e' and *ulled hi( to the fire' on #hi%h a )ettle

#as +oilin" (errily&

,What ha$e you +een u* to5 You.re dri**in" #et! You.ll "et a fri"htful %hill& Where are the

others5 When I arrived today to as) 3rs& 3annerin" if she %ould *ut (e u* for a ni"ht or t#o' the

house #as shut' and there #as no$one here!-

,Well' ho# did you "et in' then5- as)ed /a%)' en4oyin" the #ar(th of the fire&

,Oh' I have (y #ays'- said Bill& ,I thou"ht you (ust all have "one *i%ni%)in"' so I #aited and

#aited for you to %o(e +a%)1+ut you didn.t& o I de%ided to s*end the ni"ht here +y (yself' and

(a)e en6uiries so(e#here to(orro# to see #hat had ha**ened to you all& Then I heard (ysterious

sounds' de%ided it #as a +ur"lar1and %au"ht you!”

,Well' I loo)ed in at the #indo#' and %ouldn.t see #ho #as sittin" in that %hair' so I thou"ht I.d

%ree* in and have a s6uint round'- said /a%)& ,Oh' Bill' I.( "lad to see you& We.re in dan"er!-

,What do you (ean5- said Bill' astonished& ,Where are the "irls5 And 0hili*5-

,It.s a lon" story' +ut I (ust tell you fro( the very +e"innin"'- said /a%)& ,What a+out a hot

drin) #hilst #e are tal)in"' Bill5 I %ould do #ith one& That )ettle.s 4ust on the +oil&-,I #as a+out to (a)e the sa(e re(ar) (yself'- said Bill& ,Hot %o%oa and +is%uits for you' I

thin)! I.( "lad you.ve sto**ed shiverin"& By the #ay' #here.s 3rs& 3annerin"5 Don.t tell (e

she.s in dan"er too5-

,Oh no1she.s "one off to loo) after 0hili*.s Aunt 0olly' #ho is ill a"ain'- said /a%)& ,he.s all

ri"ht&-

Bill (ade a 4u" of hot %o%oa and (il)' found so(e +is%uits' and "ave the( to /a%)' #ho #as

no# feelin" a lot #ar(er& He had stri**ed off his #et thin"s' and #as sittin" in a dressin"$"o#n&

,I don.t feel I ou"ht to #aste ti(e li)e this' really'- he said' ,as the others are in dan"er& But I.ll

have to tell you the #hole story' and then leave it to you #hat to do&-

,:o ahead'- said Bill&

o /a%) +e"an' and Bill listened in the "reatest interest and astonish(ent& He +urst into lau"hter at 0hili*.s idea of hidin" in the suit of ar(our&



,/ust li)e old 0hili*! What a "ood idea! The (en #ould never "uess anyone #as hidin" there&-

He "re# serious as the tale #ent on& He *ulled at his *i*e and )e*t his eyes fi2ed on /a%)& His

ruddy fa%e "re# even redder in the fire$li"ht' and the +ald to* of his head "lea(ed and shone&

,This is an e2traordinary tale' /a%)'- he said at last& ,There is a lot (ore in this than you )no#&

What #ere those (en li)e5 Des%ri+e the(& Was there a (an #ith a s%ar ri"ht a%ross his %hin and

ne%)5-,No'- said /a%)' thin)in"& ,Not one of the( as far as I )no#& I too) a 4olly "ood sna* of one

(an' thou"h1#hen they #ere at the ea"les. nest& You )no# I told you I had (y %a(era *o)in" out

of the "orse$+ush to sna* the ea"les& Well' I sna**ed hi( #hen one of the ea"les fle# at hi(& I

sna**ed +oth (en' as a (atter of fa%t' +ut one unfortunately had his fa%e turned a#ay&-

,Have you "ot those sna*s5- said Bill ea"erly&

,I.ve "ot the fil(s'- said /a%)' and he *ointed to the ti"htly rolled$u* sou.#ester on the ta+le&

,They.re in there& They.re not develo*ed yet' Bill&-

,Well' #hilst you have a "ood slee*' I.ll develo* the('- said Bill& ,I see you.ve "ot a little dar)$

roo( fi2ed u* for yourself off the hall there' #here you (eant to do develo*in"1you.ve "ot

everythin" ne%essary there' haven.t you5-

,But1+ut1ou"htn.t #e to "o ri"ht +a%) and res%ue the "irls5- as)ed /a%)&,I shall have to drive over to the to#n #here you (et (e the other day'- said Bill' ,and %olle%t a

fe# (en' and arran"e a fe# thin"s& If these (en are doin" #hat I thin) they are' then #e stand a

"ood %han%e of ro*in" the( all in to"ether& I don.t thin) they #ill har( the "irls at all&-

,What are the (en doin"5- as)ed /a%) %uriously& ,Are they anythin" to do #ith the 4o+ you said

you #ere on' Bill5-

,Can.t tell you yet'- said Bill& ,I hardly thin) so1+ut I shall soon )no#&- He *aused and loo)ed

at /a%)&

,What %hildren you are for fallin" headlon" into adventures!- he said& ,I never )ne# anyone li)e

you for that! It see(s to (e I.d +etter sti%) %lose to you all the year round' and then I shall have a

"ood %han%e of sharin" the(!-

He *ut /a%) on the sofa' arran"ed ru"s over hi(' turned do#n the la(*' and #ent off into the

little dar)$roo( #ith the fil(s& /a%) had sho#n hi( #hi%h roll %ontained the sna* of the (an&

/a%) sle*t *ea%efully' for he #as tired out& Ho# lon" he sle*t he didn.t )no#' +ut he #as

a#a)ened +y Bill %o(in" into the roo( in the "reatest e2%ite(ent' holdin" a fil(&

,orry to #a)e you' /a%)1+ut this is a (arvellous thin"!- he said' and held u* the fil( to the

dayli"ht' #hi%h #as no# %o(in" in at the #indo#& ,You have sna**ed this (an *erfe%tly1every

detail is as %lear as dayli"ht& He.s the (an #ith the +eard1+ut 4ust loo) here! He is holdin" his

head u*' and the #hole of his ne%) is e2*osed fro( %hin to %hest' +e%ause his %ollar has fla**ed

o*en& What %an you see5-

,A (ar)1li)e a lon" s%ar'- said /a%)' sittin" u*&

,@uite ri"ht!- said Bill& He too) out a note$+oo) fro( his *o%)et' sli**ed a sna* fro( it andsho#ed it to /a%)& ,Loo) there1see that s%ar on that (an.s %hin and ne%)5-

/a%) sa# a %lean$shaven (an in the *hoto"ra*h' his %hin and ne%) disfi"ured +y a terri+le s%ar&

,That.s the sa(e (an' thou"h you #ouldn.t thin) it' +e%ause in your sna* he #ears a +la%)

+eard' #hi%h he has *ro+a+ly "ro#n lately& But the s%ar on the ne%) still "ives hi( a#ay' if his

%ollar ha**ens to +e o*en1and it #as' in your sna*! No# I )no# for %ertain #hat those (en in the

%astle are u* to& I.ve +een loo)in" for this fello# for si2 (onths!-

,Who is he5- as)ed /a%) %uriously&

,His na(e' his real na(e is 3annhei('- said Bill' ,+ut he is )no#n as %ar$Ne%)& He is a very

dan"erous s*y&-

,:olly!- said /a%)' starin"& ,Were you after hi(5-

,Well' I #as detailed to )ee* an eye on hi( and #at%h his (ove(ents'- said Bill& ,I #asn.t to%a*ture hi( +e%ause #e #anted to )no# #hat he #as u* to this ti(e' and #ho his friends #ere&



Then #e ho*ed to ro*e in the #hole lot& But %ar$Ne%) is a very %lever fello# #ith an a+solute "ift

for disa**earin"& I tra%ed hi( to the to#n #here you (et (e1and then I lost hi( %o(*letely&-

,He #ent to the %astle!- said /a%)& ,What a #onderful hidin"$*la%e!-

,I should rather li)e to )no# the real history of that %astle'- said Bill thou"htfully& ,I (ust

en6uire into its o#nershi*& Do you )no# #hat is on the other side of the hill' /a%)5-

,No'- said /a%)' *u88led& ,We.ve never +een there& Why5-,I 4ust #ondered if you had heard anyone tal)in"'- said Bill& ,I %an.t tell you any (ore no#& 3y

#ord' I am "lad I +u(*ed into you the other day' and %a(e on here to loo) you u*!-

,o a( I' Bill'- said /a%)& ,I si(*ly didn.t )no# #hat I #as "oin" to do' really& No# you.re

here' and I %an leave the #hole thin" to you&-

,You %an'- said Bill& ,No# I.( off in the %ar to the to#n' to do a little re*ortin" on the tele*hone

there' and to %olle%t a fe# friends' and one or t#o ne%essary thin"s& You "o to slee* a"ain till I

%o(e +a%)& I *ro(ise you I #on.t +e a (inute lon"er than I %an hel*&-

/a%) settled +a%) on the sofa a"ain& ,I don.t thin) I.ve %au"ht a %hill after all'- he said& ,What a

lu%)y thin" for (e you had a fire' Bill!-

,Well' there #as nothin" else to +oil a )ettle #ith!- said Bill& ,o I had to li"ht one& No' I don.t

thin) you.re "oin" to "et a %hill either& You.ll +e a+le to "o u* to the %astle #ith (e #hen I %o(e +a%)' and sho# (e the #ay&-

,But ho# #ill #e "et in5- %alled /a%)' as Bill #ent out to "et his %ar& There #as no re*ly e2%e*t

the sound of the %ar +ein" started u*&

,I %an leave everythin" to Bill'- thou"ht /a%)& ,:olly' I #onder #hat #ill ha**en no#!-

Chapter 24

7I7I :I?E A 0ERFOR3ANCE

90 in the %astle %ourtyard Tassie had *assed an e2%itin" ni"ht& he had tried to "o to slee* in the(iddle of the "orse$+ush' and had fallen into a do8e' #hen 7i)i +e"an to "et restless& he du" her

%la#s into Tassie' and #o)e her u*&

,Don.t' 7i)i'- said Tassie slee*ily& ,7ee* still' do!-

But 7i)i #as #aitin" for /a%)' and %ouldn.t (a)e out #hy he hadn.t %o(e +a%)& he +e"an to

(ur(ur to herself' and Tassie rea%hed out a hand and ta**ed her on the +ea)&

,Be 6uiet' 7i)i! Do "o to slee*! Button is as "ood as "old&-

There #as a sound in the %ourtyard outside& 7i)i *ut her head on one side' and listened& he

thou"ht it #as /a%)&

,0ut the )ettle on!- she %ried 4oyfully' and s%ra(+led out fro( the +ush& ,0ut the )ettle on!-

There #as an astonished silen%e in the yard +elo#& Then a tor%h #as s#it%hed on' and its

*o#erful +ea( s#e*t round& But 7i)i #as +ehind a ro%) and %ould not +e seen&T#o (en #ere do#n in the yard& They had heard 7i)i.s voi%e' and' not )no#in" there #as a

*arrot a+out' they thou"ht it #as so(eone tal)in"&

,Wi*e your feet!- %alled 7i)i& ,Ho# (any ti(es have I told you to #i*e your feet5-

The (en +e"an to tal) to"ether in lo# voi%es' *lannin" to %a*ture #hoever it #as %allin" in su%h

a loud voi%e& 7i)i +e"an to realise that it #as not /a%) do#n there' and she #as disa**ointed and

%ross&

,0o* "oes the #easel'- she said in a (ournful voi%e& One of the (en stoo*ed do#n in the

dar)ness' felt a+out for a stone' and sent it #hi88in" in 7i)i.s dire%tion& The *arrot #ould %ertainly

have +een )illed if the stone had hit it& But it (issed +y a+out an in%h&

7i)i #as startled& No$one had ever thro#n a stone at her in her life& he s*read her #in"s and

fle# u* to the #all +ehind the (en&

,Nau"hty +oy!- she said re*rovin"ly' ,nau"hty' nau"hty +oy!-



The (en "ave %ries of fury' and s#un" round' tryin" in vain to see #ho #as no# on the #all&

They thou"ht there (ust +e t#o *eo*le no#' one u* on the %ra"' and the other on the #all&

,You %o(e do#n'- said one of the (en threatenin"ly& ,We.ve "ot you %overed! We.re not

standin" any (ore of this nonsense!-

,Fusty' (usty' dusty!- %hanted 7i)i' and then fle# do#n into the %ourtyard' 4ust +ehind the (en&

They #ere in dar)ness and so #as she&7i)i "ro#led li)e a do"' and the (en 4u(*ed in fri"ht& The sound #as 4ust +ehind the(&

,There.s a do" a+out too'- said one of the (en& ,Loo) out! hoot' if you li)e!-

The fri"htened (an *ressed the tri""er of the revolver he #as %arryin"' and the sound of a shot

%ra%)ed out in the ni"ht' (a)in" Tassie' in the "orse$+ush' 4u(* al(ost out of her s)in& Button' too'

lea*t #ith fri"ht and ran out of the +ush&

He still had his lead on& He ran do#n into the %ourtyard' and his lead dra""ed after hi(& As he

ran +y the (en the lead tou%hed one of the(' and he fired a"ain& Button yel*ed' thou"h he #as not

hit' and the (an s#it%hed on his tor%h& He %au"ht si"ht of the %u+ slin)in" a#ay&

,Was that the do"5- he said& ,It.s a (i"hty s(all one&-

7i)i #as en4oyin" herself& he fle# to a tree near+y' and +e"an to (e#& he %ould (e# 4ust as

#ell as she %ould +ar)& The (en listened to this ne# sound in the "reatest sur*rise&,Cats no#'- said one& ,I %an.t understand it! There never see(s to +e anythin" here in the

dayti(e& Is it %hildren havin" a 4o)e5-

,:od save the 7in"' silly$+illy' silly$+illy'- said 7i)i fro( the tree' and #ent off into one of her

%a%)lin" lau"hs& Then she %lu%)ed li)e a hen' and finished u* #ith an ea"le.s yel*in" s%rea(& It

#as a very fine *erfor(an%e' +ut the (en didn.t li)e it at all&

,Let.s "o +a%) inside'- said one of the( nervously& ,This *la%e is +e#it%hed& It.s all voi%es and

noises +ut nothin" (u%h to sho# for the(& Let.s "o +a%)&-

7i)i let off one of her e2*ress$train s%ree%hes' and that finished the (en %o(*letely& They ran

for the %astle as if an en"ine #as a+out to run the( do#n! 7i)i lau"hed a"ain' and her %a%)le

sounded very eerie in the dar) %ourtyard& Even Tassie felt fri"htened' thou"h she )ne# it #as only

7i)i&

There #as *ea%e after that& 7i)i' after flyin" round a little #hile to loo) for /a%)' %a(e +a%) to

the old "orse$+ush and stru""led inside to 4oin Tassie&

The little "irl #as "lad of her %o(*any& ,Button.s "one'- she said to 7i)i& ,I e2*e%t he.s "one

do#n that #atery tunnel a"ain& No#' 7i)i' settle do#n and "o to slee*& I.( so very tired&-

This ti(e 7i)i did settle do#n& he *ut her head under her #in"' "ave a little si"h' and #ent to

slee*& Tassie too sle*t' and there #as %o(*lete silen%e e2%e*t for the tri%)lin" noise (ade +y the

s*rin" in the %orner of the yard&

Tassie #as #a)ened +y Dinah and Lu%y$Ann& They had *assed 6uite a *ea%eful ni"ht do#n in

the hidden roo(' undistur+ed this ti(e' #ith 0hili* on the floor under the +ed& He #as "ettin" very

tired of livin" under"round' and #anted to (a)e a dash for it #ith the "irls& But Dinah *ersuadedhi( that that #ould +e dan"erous for hi(' and (a)e thin"s even #orse for the(& o' "ru(+lin"' he

had resu(ed his *la%e under the +i" +ed' #here the "irls had also *ut a "ood su**ly of food&

,/a%)!- said Lu%y$Ann' in a lo# voi%e' as she %a(e to the +ush& ,/a%)! Are you there5-

/a%) #as not there' of %ourse' +ut Lu%y$Ann didn.t )no# that& Tassie a#o)e and sat u*' *ri%)in"

herself a"ainst the +ush&

,/a%)!- said Lu%y$Ann a"ain' and *arted the +ush to see inside& ,Oh1 you, Tassie! Ho# did you

"et here5-

Tassie "rinned& he #as feelin" 6uite all ri"ht a"ain after a ni"ht.s rest& Her fa%e loo)ed

dreadful& It #as (uddy and s%rat%hed' and her hair #as a #ild (ass of (uddy tan"les& he had *ut

on her old dress on%e (ore&



,Hallo'- said Tassie& ,I %a(e to hel* you& I "ot your note' +ut I %ouldn.t read it& o I %a(e u* to

see #hat it #as all a+out& But the *lan) #as "one& o I found out #here Button %a(e in and out'

and %a(e #ith hi(!-

,Did you really5- said Dinah& ,Where did Button "et in' Tassie5-

Tassie told her& The "irls listened in sur*rise& ,Ho# could you %ra#l u* a horrid' #et tunnel li)e

that5- said Lu%y$Ann' shudderin" at the thou"ht& ,Tassie' you are (arvellous' you really are! I%ould never do that' I )no# I %ouldn.t&-

,I don.t +elieve I %ould' either'- said Dinah& ,It #as #onderful of you' Tassie&-

Tassie felt *leased' and s(iled at the t#o "irls& It #as ni%e to +e *raised li)e this&

,But #here.s /a%)5- as)ed Lu%y$Ann&

,:one do#n the tunnel to "et hel*'- said Tassie& ,He said I #as to tell you he #as sorry to "o

#ithout sayin" "ood$+ye' +ut he thou"ht it +est to "o at on%e&-

,Oh'- said Lu%y$Ann' her fa%e fallin" in dis(ay& ,I #ish he hadn.t "one #ithout (e&-

,Well' you )no# you.ve 4ust said that you %ouldn.t *ossi+ly "o do#n that tunnel'- said Dinah&

,I.( 4olly "lad you %a(e u*' Tassie' so that /a%) )ne# the #ay to es%a*e& He.ll "et hel* and +rin"

so(e+ody u* here' I.( sure& That.s "ood!-

,But ho# #ill they "et in5- as)ed Lu%y$Ann&,They %ould +rin" a *lan) a"ain' %ouldn.t they5- said Tassie&

7i)i 4oined in the %onversation& ,Don.t sniff'- she said a(ia+ly& ,Where.s your hand)er%hief5-

,Oh' 7i)i #as so funny last ni"ht!- said Tassie' re(e(+erin"' and she told the t#o "irls #hat

had ha**ened& When she des%ri+ed ho# the (en had shot at 7i)i' Lu%y$Ann loo)ed alar(ed&

,:ra%ious! They are very dan"erous (en!- she said& ,I don.t li)e the(& I #ant to es%a*e too& I

thin) I.ll %ra#l do#n that horrid tunnel after all' Dinah& You %o(e too' and Tassie as #ell& We.ll all

"o&-

,What' and leave 0hili* all alone here!- %ried Tassie indi"nantly& ,You "o if you li)e' +ut I

shan.t&-

,Yes' of %ourse1#e %an.t leave 0hili*'- said Dinah& ,Oh' Tassie' do %o(e and #ash your fa%e&

It.s si(*ly a#ful& You loo) li)e a s#ee*& And your %lothes! :ra%ious' they.re filthy' and all in

ra"s&-

,I %ouldn.t hel* it'- said Tassie& ,It #as a#ful in that tunnel& I )e*t "ettin" %au"ht on thin"s& I.ll

%o(e and #ash if you thin) it.s safe&-

,Well1I su**ose it isn.t' really'- said Dinah' thin)in" a+out it& ,The (en (i"ht %o(e out and

see you' and )no# you.re not one of us t#o& We.ll +rin" you so(e #ater' and you %an %lean

yourself u*' outside the +ush&-

,Then #e.ll all have +rea)fast'- said Lu%y$Ann' #ho #as hun"ry&

It #as diffi%ult to "et Tassie %lean' +e%ause all they had to +rin" +a%) #ater in #as an e(*ty

"in"er$+eer +ottle and a %ard+oard %u*& But +y (eans of a %ou*le of hand)er%hiefs and the #ater'

they did (ana"e to %lean her fa%e and hands a +it& Then they had +rea)fast&7i)i ate +rea)fast #ith the(& Of Button there #as no si"n& They thou"ht he (ust have "one

do#n the tunnel so(eti(e in the ni"ht' and #as *ro+a+ly #ith /a%) a"ain&

,Loo)1there are the ea"les +a%) a"ain!- said Dinah suddenly& Tassie loo)ed round #ith

interest' for she had not seen the( that (ornin"& The three +irds %a(e dro**in" do#n to the led"e'

and sat there' loo)in" re"ally out on the %ourtyard&

,The youn" one flies as #ell as the older +irds no#' doesn.t he5- said Lu%y$Ann' and thre# hi(

a +is%uit& But he didn.t even "ive it a loo)! He %ontinued his i(*assive stare' a**earin" to +e

fro#nin" dee*ly&

,I #ish /a%) #as here& He #ould li)e to sna* the( all to"ether li)e that'- said Lu%y$Ann& ,His

%a(era is still in the +ush' +ut I don.t li)e to use it& I su**ose it.s all ri"ht there if it rains' Dinah5-

,It doesn.t loo) as if it #ill rain'- said Dinah& But Tassie disa"reed&



,It feels stor(y'- she said& ,I thin) there #ill +e a thunderstor(' and (ay+e torrents of rain& I

ho*e #e shan.t +e here' on the to* of the hill' if there is a stor(' +e%ause it #ould +e a fri"htenin"

si"ht& The thunder rolls round and round the to*' and the li"htnin" see(s to run do#n the hillside!-

,I e2*e%t #e.ll all +e res%ued +efore the stor( %o(es'- said Dinah& ,I.( e2*e%tin" to see /a%)

any ti(e no#1+rin"in" us hel* of so(e sort!-

Chapter 25

AT 3IDNI:HT

/AC7 sle*t *ea%efully a"ain for so(e hours& He did not #a)e till Bill returned in the %ar& With hi(

#ere four ,friends&- /a%) thou"ht they loo)ed *retty tou"h& It #as *lain that Bill #as in authority

over the(&

Bill %a(e into the )it%hen' leavin" the (en outside& ,Hallo!- he said& ,A#a)e at last5 Do you

#ant a (eal5 It.s "one one o.%lo%)&-

,:ra%ious' is it!- said /a%)& ,Yes' I feel 4olly hun"ry&-,You "et u* no# and *ut so(e %lothes on'- said Bill' ,and I.ll %all one of (y (en in to fi2 us u*

a (eal& I don.t e2*e%t 3rs& 3annerin" #ill (ind if #e (a)e free #ith her )it%hen today&-

,Are #e "oin" u* to the %astle soon5- said /a%)' "atherin" the dressin"$"o#n round hi(' and

*re*arin" to "o u*stairs to his +edroo(&

,Not till toni"ht'- said Bill& ,The (oon #on.t +e u* till late' and #e *lan to "o 4ust +efore

(idni"ht' #hilst it is still dar)& I.ve no dou+t one or other of those (en )ee*s a loo)out durin" the

dayti(e&-

,Oh1the "irls #ill +e a#fully tired of #aitin" for us' all day lon"'- said /a%)&

,Can.t very #ell hel* it'- said Bill& ,It is (ost i(*ortant that #e "et in #ithout +ein" seen&-

/a%) #ent u* and dressed& It #as terri+ly hot' thou"h the sun #as +ehind sul)y$loo)in" %louds&

He felt out of +reath' thou"h he had done nothin" at all&,Feels li)e a stor('- he thou"ht& ,I ho*e it #on.t %o(e today& It (i"ht fri"hten the "irls' u* there

all alone&-

There #as a s%a(*erin" of %la#ed feet on the stairs' and into his +edroo( %a(e Button' his

+rush #avin" +ehind hi(' his shar* eyes fi2ed on /a%) as if to say ,Well' #ell' ho# you do "et

a+out' to +e sure! I never )no# #hether to find you u* at the %astle or do#n here1+ut I #ish I

%ould find old 0hili*!-

,Loo)in" for Tufty' are you5- said /a%)' *attin" the fo2$%u+' #ho i((ediately rolled over li)e a

do"& ,Hey' Bill1did you see our fo2$%u+5-

,Well' a s(all tornado s#e*t into the )it%hen and u* the stairs'- %alled +a%) Bill' ,+ut I didn.t

see #hat it #as! Co(e on do#n #ith hi(&-

/a%) #ent do#n' %arryin" Button' #ho li%)ed his nose ra*turously all the ti(e& Bill thou"ht he#as fine&

They had a (eal to"ether' and Bill as)ed a "ood (any 6uestions a+out the %astle and the (en'

and the hidden roo(' #hi%h /a%) ans#ered as %learly as he %ould& He #as %ertain that Bill (eant to

enter the %astle so(eho#' and %a*ture the (en1+ut he %ouldn.t see ho# it #as to +e done&

,They loo) *retty dan"erous fello#s'- he said to Bill& ,I (ean1they.re *ro+a+ly #ell ar(ed&-

,Don.t #orry1they #on.t +e the only ones'- said Bill "ri(ly& ,I )no# %ar$Ne%) of old1he

doesn.t usually leave anythin" to %han%e& He (ust have +een *retty fed$u* #hen he found the "irls

in his *re%ious hidden roo(! I "uess their +ein" there has (ade hi( hurry u* his *lans a +it'

#hatever they are&-

/a%) +e"an to feel e2%ited& ,This adventure is +oilin" u*'- he said' in a *leased tone&

,Yes& And so(e+ody is "oin" to "et +adly s%alded'- said Bill&



/a%) develo*ed his other fil(s& The sna*s %a(e out (arvellously! The ea"les stood out #ell'

al(ost every feather sho#in" %learly& The +a+y ea"le #as the star turn& Its *oses #ere *erfe%t&

,Loo) at these' Bill'- said /a%)' thrilled&

,3y #ord1they.re really stri)in"!- said Bill ad(irin"ly& ,You ou"ht to "et those ta)en +y any

first$%lass (a"a8ine' /a%)& They #ould *ay #ell for the( too! You.ll soon (a)e a na(e for

yourself' at this rate&-/a%) felt *roud& If he %ould (a)e a na(e for hi(self throu"h the +irds he loved' he #ould +e

ha**y& He #ondered ho# 7i)i #as "ettin" on #ithout hi(& Ho# dis"usted she #ould +e #hen she

found that he #as "one! Never (ind1Tassie #as there' and she #as very fond of her&

The day dra""ed a little& After tea /a%) felt slee*y' and Bill told hi( to have a na*&

,You had an a#ful ni"ht1and as #e shall #ant your hel* toni"ht' you.d +etter slee* for a fe#

hours& Then you #ill +e #ide a#a)e&-

o /a%) %urled u* on a ru" in the "arden outside and sle*t& It #as hot and sultry there& Bill.s

(en' #ho had sat *layin" %ards #ith one another all day lon"' and had hardly s*o)en a #ord'

re(oved their %oats' and then their shirts& It #as al(ost too hot to +reathe&

/a%) a#o)e a"ain +efore it #as dar)& He #ent to find Bill& ,Ou"htn.t #e to start no#5- he said&

,It ta)es a +it of ti(e to "et u* the hill&-,We.re "oin" as far as #e %an +y %ar'- said Bill& ,These fello#s are tou"h' +ut they don.t li)e

(ountain$%li(+in"! We.ll follo# the road till #e "et to the land$slide' and then %li(+ the rest of the

#ay&-

/ust as it "ot dar) they all *iled into Bill.s +i" %ar and set off u* the hill& The %ar see(ed to (a)e

rather a noise' /a%) thou"ht' +ut Bill assured hi( it #ouldn.t +e heard at the %astle&

,The only thin" that #orries (e a +it is havin" 0hili* do#n in that hidden roo('- said Bill& ,If

there.s a rou"h$house do#n there1and I rather thin) there (ay +e1I don.t #ant )ids (i2ed u* in

it&-

,Well' really1Bill1it #as us )ids #ho "ot you (i2ed u* in this adventure!- said /a%)' (ost

indi"nantly&

,Yes' I )no#'- said Bill' #ith a lau"h& ,But it rather %ra(*s our style to have you around 4ust

no#!-

,Bill' #hat are you "oin" to do5- as)ed /a%)' #ith %uriosity& ,Do tell (e& You (i"ht as #ell!-

,I.( not 6uite sure'- said Bill& ,It de*ends on ho# thin"s turn out& But rou"hly the *lan is this1

to "et do#n into that hidden roo( toni"ht' #hen the "irls are there' #e ho*e' and the (en are

not& & & &-

,et the "irls free!- said /a%)& ,And 0hili* too' %an.t you5-

,Yes1if 0hili* #ill %ondes%end to s%oot off #ith the "irls!- said Bill& ,But #e #ant hi( to sho#

us the se%ret #ay under the ta*estry first' and I have an idea that he #ill #ant to %o(e #ith us

then!-

,I +et he #ill'- said /a%)& ,o shall I' I don.t (ind tellin" you! I.( not "oin" to +e left out of thisno#' if I %an hel* it& If #e %an "et the "irls safely out of the %astle +efore the fun +e"ins' they.ll +e

all ri"ht& And 0hili* and I %an 4oin you&-

,I #ant to find out #here that se%ret door leads to'- said Bill& ,I thin) I )no#' +ut I #ant to (a)e

sure& And I #ant to learn a fe# thin"s #ithout those (en at the %astle )no#in" it& It #as a *ity they

s*o)e in a lan"ua"e 0hili* %ouldn.t understand' or he (i"ht have learnt #hat #e #ant to )no#!-

,Well' ho# are you "oin" to learn it' then5- as)ed /a%)&

,a(e #ay as 0hili* (i"ht have!- said Bill' #ith a lau"h& ,0ut (yself and the (en into those

suits of ar(our' and listen in to the %onversation!-

,:osh!- said /a%)' thrilled& ,I never thou"ht of that& Oh' Bill1do you really thin) you %an do

that5 Can I and 0hili* hide too5-

,We.ll see'- said Bill& ,I thou"ht it #as a (i"hty "ood idea of 0hili*.s' to hide in that ar(our' I(ust say' even thou"h it #as only for a 4o)e at first& No#1here #e are at the land$slide' surely5-



They #ere& They all had to "et out' and /a%) no# had to lead the #ay& He found the narro#

ra++it$*ath they had so often used' and led the (en alon" it' usin" his tor%h as he did so' +e%ause it

#as not easy in the dar)ness to *i%) out the ri"ht *ath&

They all #al)ed in dead silen%e' in o+edien%e to an order fro( Bill& Button the fo2$%u+ ran at

/a%).s heels' suddenly ho*eful of seein" 0hili*& An o#l %alled near+y and (ade the( all 4u(*&

It #as so hot that everyone *anted' and ru++ed #et foreheads& /a%).s shirt stu%) to hi(& There#as a ru(+le of thunder far a#ay in the distan%e&

,I thou"ht there #as a stor( %o(in"'- said /a%) to hi(self' #i*in" his forehead for the t#entieth

ti(e' to sto* the *ers*iration dri**in" into his eyes& ,I ho*e the "irls are safely do#n in that

under"round roo(& Then they #on.t hear the stor(& But I su**ose they.ll have to leave *oor little

Tassie u* in the %ourtyard' +e%ause they #on.t dare to let the (en see her& Or 7i)i& I ho*e they.re

+oth all ri"ht&-

They #ent on u*#ards' and at last %a(e to the "reat %astle #all& /a%) sto**ed&

,Here.s the %astle #all'- he #his*ered& ,Ho# are you "oin" to "et into the %astle' Bill5-

,Where.s that other door you told (e of1not the +i" front door that overloo)s the land$slide'

and #hi%h the (en %a(e in +y1+ut the other' s(aller door' so(e#here in the #all of the %astle5-

as)ed Bill&,I.ll ta)e you to it1+ut I told you it #as lo%)ed'- said /a%)& He led Bill and the others round the

#all' turned a %orner' and %a(e to the door&

It #as very stout and stron"' (ade of solid oa)' set flush #ith the #all& The #all ar%hed a+ove it'

and the door ar%hed too& Bill too) out his tor%h and flashed it 6ui%)ly u* and do#n the door'

%o(in" to a sto* at the lo%)&

He +e%)oned to one of the (en& The fello# %a(e u*' and +rou"ht out an a(a8in" %olle%tion of

+i" )eys fro( his *o%)et& Deftly and silently he fitted first one and then another into the )ey$hole&

Not one of the( turned the lo%)&

,No "ood' sir'- he #his*ered to Bill& ,This isn.t an old lo%)1it.s a s*e%ial one' fitted 6uite

re%ently& I shan.t +e a+le to o*en it #ith any of (y )eys&-

/a%) listened in disa**oint(ent& urely this did not (ean that they #ould have to +atter the door

in5 That #ould %ertainly "ive #arnin" to the (en&

Bill sent for one of the other (en& He %a(e u* #ith a %urious thin" in his hand' rather li)e a

s(all %an #ith a thi%) s*out& /a%) stared at it' #onderin" #hat it #as&

,You.ll have to "et to #or) on it' /i('- said Bill& ,:o ahead& 3a)e as little noise as *ossi+le&

to* if I nud"e you&-

A si88lin" noise %a(e fro( the %an' and a 4et of stron" +lue fla(e shot out fro( the s*out'

(a)in" /a%) 4u(*& The (an *ointed the s*out of fla(e at the door' 4ust a+ove the lo%)&

/a%) #at%hed' fas%inated& The %urious +lue fla(e ate a#ay the #ood %o(*letely! What )ind of

fire they #ere usin" /a%) didn.t )no#' +ut it #as very *o#erful& @uietly the (an #or)ed #ith his

%an of fla(e' holdin" it steadily over the #ood that surrounded the lo%)& The fla(e ate a#ay a "a*at the to* of the lo%)& It ate a#ay the side of it& And then it ate a#ay the #ood +elo# the lo%)&

No# /a%) sa# #hat #as ha**enin" to the door! The (an had (ana"ed to isolate the lo%)

%o(*letely' so that the door #ould s#in" o*en easily' leavin" the lo%) +ehind! The +oy thou"ht it

#as a very %lever idea&

,No# to "o in'- said Bill' as he s#un" the door slo#ly o*en& ,Everyone ready5-

Chapter 26

:OIN: INTO HIDIN:



THEY filed in silently& The last (an shut the door' and #ed"ed in a +it of #ood +y the lo%) to )ee*

it fro( s#in"in"& The %ourtyard #as +e"innin" to "et li"ht' +e%ause the (oon #as risin"' thou"h it

#as +ehind the %louds (ost of the ti(e&

,I.ll 4ust "o and see if Tassie is under (y "orse$+ush'- #his*ered /a%)& ,We.ll have to find out

the latest ne#s fro( her' and she.ll have to es%a*e #ith the "irls too' as soon as *ossi+le& he %an

"uide the( +a%) to *rin" Cotta"e&-The (en #aited in the shado#s #ith Bill #hilst /a%) #ent over to the %ra"& He %li(+ed u* to the

"orse$+ush& A loud voi%e hailed hi(&

,0ut the )ettle on! Ho# (any ti(es have I & & &-

,hut u*' 7i)i'- #his*ered /a%)' in a *ani%& He heard so(eone stirrin" in the +ush and %alled in

a lo# voi%e&

,Is that you' Tassie5 It.s /a%)' +a%) a"ain!-

Tassie %ra#led out of the +ush' full of 4oy' for she had +een feelin" fri"htened and lonely&

,Oh' /a%)! Did you %o(e u* that a#ful #atery tunnel li)e I did5 Did you "et hel*5-

,Yes1Bill (u"s is here1#ith so(e of his (en'- #his*ered /a%)& ,You and the other t#o "irls

are to %lear out' do#n to *rin" Cotta"e& 0hili* and I are "oin" to #ait and see #hat ha**ens1if

Bill #ill let us!-,But ho# %an you "et the "irls5- as)ed Tassie& ,You )no# they are do#n in the hidden roo('

#ith 0hili*&-

,Easy'- said /a%)& ,We.ll 4ust *ull the s*i)e in the #all at the +a%) of the hall' and "et the( out!

Then' Tassie' you and they (ust hurry off as 6ui%)ly as you %an&-

,I.d li)e to stay #ith 0hili*'- said Tassie o+stinately& ,And any#ay' there.s "oin" to +e a

dreadful stor(& I don.t #ant to "o do#n the hillside #ith thunder and li"htnin" all round (e&-

,Well1you.ll have to do as Bill tells you'- said /a%)& ,3ay+e you.ll "et do#n +efore the stor(

%o(es& Are the "irls all ri"ht' Tassie5-

,Yes' +ut very +ored and dull'- said Tassie& ,Oh' /a%)' 7i)i (ade a si(*ly a#ful noise last ni"ht

after you had "one' and the (en heard her1and they shot at her! I #as s%ared stiff!-

,:olly!- said /a%)& ,I.( "lad you #eren.t hit' Tassie! You (i"ht easily have +een #ounded&-

,The "irls #ent do#n into the se%ret roo( #hen the (en %alled out to the( this evenin"'- said

Tassie& ,But they as)ed the( all )inds of 6uestions' in horrid' rou"h voi%es' and (ade Lu%y$Ann

%ry& They %ouldn.t understand 7i)i tal)in" last ni"ht' you see' and thou"ht there (ust +e so(eone

else here that #e hadn.t told the( a+out& o' in the end' Dinah had to tell the( it #as 7i)i the

*arrot1and after that they didn.t #orry the( any (ore&-

,Co(e on1#e (ust "o over to Bill' and tell the( all this'- said /a%)& ,The (en are #aitin"

over there' loo)1Bill.s (en' I (ean' of %ourse!-

The (oon stru""led out as the t#o #ent over to the little "rou* of silent (en' so they )e*t in the

shado#s' fearful of +ein" seen& It #ouldn.t do to "ive the "a(e a#ay to any #at%her 4ust at this

%riti%al (o(ent&,Where are the other (en5- #his*ered /a%) to Tassie& ,Do you )no#5 Are they do#n in the

hidden roo(1or #anderin" a+out the %astle any#here5-

,As far as I )no# they.re not a+out the %astle any#here1or in the %ourtyard'- said Tassie&

,They (ay +e do#n in the hidden roo( thou"h& Won.t you have to loo) out' if you *ress that s*i)e

and o*en the entran%e5-

,Yes' #e shall'- said /a%)& ,No# here.s Bill (u"s' our friend' Tassie& This is Tassie' Bill' the

little "irl I #as tellin" you a+out&-

Bill *ut a fe# 6uestions to Tassie' and she ans#ered the( shyly& It rather loo)ed as if the (en

#ere do#n in the se%ret roo(& Well1they #ould "et a sho%) #hen the stone s#un" +a%)' and they

sa# #ho #ere at the to* of the ste*s!

,No# listen'- said Bill& ,You are to #or) the lever that o*ens the entran%e to the se%ret roo('/a%)& One of (y (en #ill #at%h you' to see ho# you do it' in %ase #e #ant to use it a"ain& As soon



as the entran%e is o*en' I and the others #ill stand at the to* and shout do#n to the (en +elo# to

%o(e u*& We shall' I ho*e' have the( %overed #ith our revolvers!-

,:olly!- said /a%)' a *ri%)le of e2%ite(ent runnin" u* and do#n his +a%)& ,Loo) out for the

"irls' Bill& They (ay +e s%ared stiff!-

,I %an yell to the( to )ee* out of the #ay'- said Bill& ,You leave thin"s to (e& I *ro(ise you the

"irls #on.t "et hurt& We.ll have the( u* the ste*s in no ti(e1and you' Tassie' (ust ta)e the(strai"ht a#ay do#n the hill to *rin" Cotta"e& 9nderstand5-

,I.d li)e to stay #ith 0hili*'- said Tassie o+stinately&

,Well' you %an.t'- said Bill& ,You.ll have 0hili* +a%) #ith you to(orro#& No#1you all

understand #hat.s to +e done5-

Everyone did& @uietly they all (oved for#ard to#ards the "reat +la%) hul) of the %astle' lost in

+la%) shado#s& The (oon #as "one +ehind thi%) %louds& A ru(+le of thunder %a(e on the air

a"ain' still far a#ay&

They ste**ed silently into the hall& Everyone +ut Tassie #as #earin" ru++er shoes1+ut Tassie'

as usual' #as +arefoot& he hadn.t even "ot her shoes tied round her ne%) or #aist this ti(e& he

had hidden the(' for her (other had threatened to ta)e the( a#ay fro( her&

/a%) sli**ed 6uietly to the +a%) of the hall #ith one of the (en& Tassie sho#ed Bill the entran%eto the under"round roo(& He and the others #aited there #hilst /a%) *ulled +a%) the s*i)e in the

#all& A "ratin" noise #as heard1and on%e a"ain the stone s#un" +a%)' and then side#ays' A

ya#nin" hole a**eared' #ith stone ste*s leadin" do#n#ards&

The li"ht fro( the la(* shone u*#ards& Bill stood at the to* of the hole' listenin" intently& There

#as no sound at all fro( +elo#&

/a%) ti*toed u* to hi(& ,3ay+e there are only the "irls and 0hili* there'- he #his*ered& ,0erha*s

the (en have "one off so(e#here' do#n the se%ret #ay +ehind that ta*estry&-

Bill nodded& He sent his voi%e ru(+lin" do#n the hole& ,Who.s do#n here5 Ans#er!-

A terrified voi%e %a(e +a%)& It #as Dinah.s&

,Only us& Who.s that5-

,Dinah! It.s (e and Bill (u"s!- %alled /a%)' +efore Bill %ould sto* hi(& ,Are you alone5-

,Yes'- %a(e +a%) Dinah.s voi%e' lifted in e2%ite(ent& ,Is )ill there5 Oh' "ood!-

/a%) ran do#n the ste*s' and Bill and the others follo#ed' one (an +ein" left at the to* on "uard&

The first thin" Bill did #as to find the s*i)e in the #all do#n +elo#' and %lose u* the hole& He

#aited a (o(ent' and then the (an at the to*' as arran"ed' o*ened it a"ain& Bill #anted to (a)e

sure he %ould "et in and out as he *leased!

Lu%y$Ann fle# to /a%) and hu""ed hi( ti"htly' tears *ourin" do#n her fa%e& Dinah "rinned at

Bill' and tried hard to sto* herself hu""in" hi(& But she %ouldn.t& he too #as so relieved at seein"

the( +oth&

,No ti(e to #aste'- said Bill& ,Where.s 0hili*5-

,Oh' Bill' he.s "one!- said Lu%y$Ann' turnin" to hi( and %lin"in" to his ar(& ,When #e "otdo#n here toni"ht he #as "one! And #e don.t )no# #here or ho#& We don.t )no# if the (en

%au"ht hi(' or if 0hili* #ent off +y hi(self' or #hat& He didn.t leave a note or anythin"& But #e

thin) (ay+e he e2*lored that se%ret #ay under the ta*estry&-

,Bill' the (en are %o(in" +a%) soon'- said Dinah' suddenly re(e(+erin"& ,I heard one of the(

say to another' in En"lish' that they #ere to have their last (eetin" here toni"ht& o they (ay +e

+a%) here any ti(e' +e%ause this is #here they (eet' and #here they )ee* their (a*s' or #hatever it

is they loo) at so %arefully&-

,Where are the (a*s5- as)ed Bill at on%e' and Dinah nodded to#ards the lo%)ed dra#ers&

,In there& But they )ee* the( lo%)ed u*& Bill' #hat are you "oin" to do5 Isn.t this a (ystery5-

,I.( +e"innin" to see dayli"ht'- said Bill "ri(ly& ,No# loo) here' Dinah1you and Lu%y$Ann

are to "o #ith Tassie strai"ht a#ay do#n the hill to *rin" Cotta"e' and you are to stay there till #e



%o(e& Do you understand5 You %an "o out of that side door in the #all' #hi%h is no# o*en& The

(an I have left u*stairs #ill ta)e you there safely and see you out& Then you (ust "o at on%e&-

,But1+ut & & &- +e"an Dinah' not li)in" to "o #ithout 0hili*&

,No +uts'- said Bill& ,I.( in %o((and here' and you do e2a%tly as you.re told! No#1off you

"o! We.ll +e #ith you to(orro#!-

Dinah' Lu%y$Ann and Tassie #ent o+ediently u* the ste*s and out of the entran%e$hole& The (anat the to* #ent off to the door in the #all #ith the(' and sa# the( safely out on the hillside& ,ure

you )no# your #ay5- he (ur(ured' for he #as 6uite sure he #ouldn.t )no# his #ay do#n that

dar) hillside! But Tassie did& he %ould al(ost have found her #ay #ith her eyes shut' she )ne# it

so #ell' and #as so sure$footed&

The "irls disa**eared into the ni"ht& The (an returned to his *ost& The entran%e to the se%ret

roo( #as no# %losed& Belo#' Bill' /a%) and the others #ere hurriedly "ettin" into the suits of

ar(our& Bill (eant to attend the ne2t (eetin" of %ar$Ne%) #ith his (en! /a%) #as "lad to see that

they all had revolvers! The (en said very little& They #ere the least tal)ative *eo*le the +oy had

ever )no#n&

/a%) #as (ade to stand in the suit of ar(our ri"ht at the +a%) of the hidden roo(& Bill didn.t

#ant hi( too near' in %ase' as he said' there #as a really rou"h house! The +oy #as sha)in" #ithe2%ite(ent&

7i)i #as not do#n in the roo(& Tassie had %arried her fir(ly u* the stone ste*s' s%ree%hin" #ith

annoyan%e at +ein" *arted fro( /a%) so soon a"ain& But it #ould not +e *ossi+le to have a tal)ative

*arrot do#n there1she #ould %ertainly "ive the "a(e a#ay&

But Button the fo2$%u+ #as there! No+ody )ne# it' of %ourse& The fo2$%u+ had %urled hi(self

u* under the +ed #here 0hili* had hidden' "lad to s(ell the fa(iliar s(ell of the (aster he loved&

/a%) had for"otten all a+out hi(&

oon all the suits of ar(our #ere standin" on%e (ore on their *edestals round the %urious

(useu($li)e roo(& Only three of the( #ere e(*ty& All the others #ere filled' thou"h one of the

(en' a "reat +i" fello#' %o(*lained +itterly that his didn.t fit hi( at all&

,No#1silen%e'- said Bill& ,Not a #ord fro( anyone& I thin) I heard so(ethin"!-

Chapter 2

THE AD?ENT9RE BOIL 90

B9T it #as not anyone1it #as a *eal of thunder so loud that the noise had *enetrated even do#n to

the under"round roo(&

,I ho*e the "irls #on.t +e fri"htened'- said Bill' thin)in" of the( s%urryin" do#n the hillside in

the dar)ness& ,I #onder if it.s rainin"&-

,They.ll +e all ri"ht #ith Tassie' I thin)'- said /a%)& ,he #ill )no# *la%es to shelter in& he#on.t +e silly enou"h to stand under trees or anythin" li)e that& There are a fe# little %aves here and

there in the hillside& 3ay+e they.ll use those till the stor( is *ast&-

ilen%e a"ain& It #as astonishin" ho# so (any *eo*le' all standin" rather un%o(forta+ly in suits

of ar(our' %ould (ana"e to do so #ithout a sin"le %rea) or %lan)!

One (an %leared his throat' and the sound #as 6ueer in the hidden roo(&

,Don.t do that a"ain' /i('- said Bill& There #as dead silen%e on%e (ore& /a%) si"hed softly& It

#as un+eara+ly e2%itin" to stand hidden in ar(our' #et #ith *ers*iration' al(ost *antin" #ith the

heat' #aitin" for the other (en to %o(e&

Then suddenly' soundin" 6uite loud' there %a(e the noise of a door +ein" unlo%)ed& Then the

ta*estry on one #all shoo)1and so(eone lifted it u* fro( +ehind!

Everyone stiffened inside the suits of ar(our& Eyes *eered throu"h the visors& Who #as %o(in"5



A (an %a(e out fro( +ehind the ta*estry' and folded it +a%)' han"in" one end on a nail' so that

others follo#in" %ould %o(e into the roo( easily& /a%) sa# an o*enin" +ehind' leadin" into the

#all& Fro( it %a(e soft$footed (en' one after the other1and #ith the( they +rou"ht 0hili*!

The sha""y$+ro#ed (an %a(e first& Then %a(e the +earded (an' the one Bill %alled %ar$Ne%)'

dra""in" 0hili*& %ar$Ne%) had the ne%) of his shirt %losed' and /a%) %ould see no si"n of the tell$

tale s%ar&0hili* #as *uttin" on a +old fa%e' +ut /a%) )ne# he #as feelin" s%ared& After hi( %a(e three

(ore (en' all u"ly fello#s' #ith shar* eyes and stern (ouths& They %a(e into the roo(' tal)in"&

They left the se%ret #ay o*en' and /a%) #ondered #here it led to&

0hili*.s hands #ere +ound +ehind his +a%)' so ti"htly that the ro*e +it into his s)in& %ar$Ne%)

flun" hi( into a %hair&

It #as soon %lear that 0hili* had only 4ust +een %a*tured& %ar$Ne%) rounded on hi( al(ost at

on%e&

,Ho# lon" have you +een in this %astle5 What do you )no#5-

,I #as here #ith the "irls'- said 0hili*& ,I hid under the +ed& You never loo)ed there& I #asn.t

doin" any har(& We only %a(e to *lay a+out in this old %astle& We didn.t )no# it +elon"ed to

anyone&-,:et the "irls'- "ro#led %ar$Ne%) to the sha""y (an& ,Brin" the( over here& We.ll %ross$

6uestion the #hole three of the(& To thin) that a *ar%el of )ids should #aste our ti(e li)e this!-

The sha""y$+ro#ed (an #ent over to the +ed' #here' he i(a"ined' the t#o "irls #ould' as

usual' +e slee*in"& But #hen he *ulled +a%) the %urtain' they #ere not there! He stared' and then

rou"hly *ulled off the +lan)ets and ru"s&

,They.re not here!- he said' in an astonished voi%e& The +earded (an turned at on%e&

,Don.t +e a fool! They (ust +e here so(e#here! We )no# they %an.t "et out of this roo( on%e

it.s shut&-

,The +oy (ay have let the( out fro( a+ove'- said the sha""y (an& %ar$Ne%) s#un" round on

0hili*& The +oy #as a(a8ed that the "irls had "one' +ut he #as not "oin" to sho# it&

The sha""y (an hunted under the +ed1+ut it #as *lain to everyone that the "irls had "one&

%ar$Ne%) s*o)e rou"hly to 0hili*&

,Did you let the( out5-

,No'- said 0hili*& ,I didn.t& I #as hidin" here' I tell you' under the +ed& I #asn.t at the to*&-

,Well1#ho let the( out' then5- said the sha""y (an' and his +ro#s )nitted to"ether so that

they al(ost hid his shar* eyes&

,No#1you tell us everythin"!- said %ar$Ne%)' and his voi%e #as suddenly very u"ly and

threatenin"&

0hili* said nothin"' +ut stared defiantly at the (an& %ar$Ne%) lost his te(*er' raised his fist' and

"ave 0hili* su%h a +lo# on the side of the head that the +oy fell off his %hair& He *i%)ed hi(self u*&

/a%)' +eside hi(self #ith an"er' sa# 0hili*.s left ear "lo# +ri"ht s%arlet' and +e"in to s#ell&,No# #ill you tal)5- said %ar$Ne%)' his voi%e "ro#in" thi%) #ith ra"e& The others loo)ed on'

sayin" nothin"&

till 0hili* said nothin"& /a%) felt *roud& Ho# +rave he #as! Then' to his horror' the (an too)

out a revolver and laid it on the ta+le +eside hi(&

,We have #ays of (a)in" sul)y +oys tal)'- he said' and his eyes "lea(ed #ith ra"e&

0hili* didn.t li)e the loo) of the shinin" #ea*on& He +lin)ed a little' and then stared at %ar$

Ne%) a"ain& But still he said nothin"&

What #ould have ha**ened ne2t if there hadn.t +een a sudden and sur*risin" interru*tion'

no+ody )ne#! But suddenly' li)e a stone fro( a %ata*ult' Button' #ho had slun) under a %hair on

the far side of the roo( #hen the (en arrived' shot out and thre# hi(self on 0hili*&

Everyone lea*t to his feet' and %ar$Ne%) %au"ht u* his revolver& When they sa# that the ne#$%o(er #as only a fo2$%u+' they sat do#n a"ain' feelin" an"ry at their sudden fri"ht&



%ar$Ne%) #as furious& He lashed out at the %u+' and sent hi( rollin" to the "round& Button

+ared his s(all #hite teeth&

,Don.t hurt hi('- said 0hili*' in alar(& ,He.s only a %u+& He.s (ine&-

,Ho# did he "et do#n here5 When the "irls "ot out' I su**ose5- "ro#led the sha""y (an&

,I don.t )no#'- said 0hili*' *u88led& ,I tell you' I really don.t )no# ho# the "irls "ot out' nor

ho# the %u+ "ot in& It.s as (u%h a (ystery to (e as to you&-,If this )id is tellin" the truth' #e.d +etter finish u* and "et "oin"'- said the sha""y (an'

soundin" rather an2ious& ,There (ust +e others a+out' thou"h "oodness )no#s #e.ve )e*t a "ood

enou"h #at%h& Let.s settle u* our +usiness and "o&-

A ru(+le of thunder %a(e do#n into the se%ret roo( a"ain& The (en loo)ed at one another

uneasily&

,What.s that5- said the sha""y (an&

,Thunder' of %ourse'- "ro#led %ar$Ne%)& ,What.s the (atter #ith you5 :ettin" nervy 4ust

+e%ause a +un%h of silly )ids are *layin" around5 What they #ant is a "ood +eatin"' and I.ll see this

+oy "ets it +efore #e "o' any#ay' even if those "irls have "one!-

Button %urled u* 6uietly at 0hili*.s feet& He #as afraid of these (en& %ar$Ne%) nodded to one

of the others' and he "ot u*& He #ent to the dra#er #here the do%u(ents #ere )e*t' unlo%)ed it'and dre# out the sheaf of *a*ers there& He *ut the( in front of %ar$Ne%)&

Then +e"an a lon" dis%ussion in a lan"ua"e that 0hili* did not understand& But Bill understood

it! Bill %ould s*ea) ei"ht or (ore different lan"ua"es' and he listened ea"erly to all that #as said&

0hili* sat listlessly on his %hair' his #rists hurtin" hi(' and his left ear no# t#i%e its si8e& He

%ould not even ru+ it +e%ause his hands #ere so ti"htly tied +ehind his +a%)&

Button li%)ed his +are le"& It #as %o(fortin"& 0hili* #ondered #here the "irls had "one& Ho#

had they "ot out5 He #as "lad to )no# they had *ro+a+ly es%a*ed& Had hel* %o(e5 Had /a%)

(ana"ed to find so(eone5 Would they res%ue hi( too5

He #ished he #as standin" safely inside the suit of ar(our he had hidden in +efore& He "lan%ed

round at it' and then stared in the ut(ost a(a8e(ent&

urely eyes #ere "lea(in" +ehind that visor5 0hili* had e2tre(ely "ood eyesi"ht' and it so

ha**ened that the rays of the la(* shone dire%tly into the visor of the ar(our he #as loo)in" at& It

see(ed to 0hili* as if there #ere real eyes +ehind it' not the usual hollo# s*a%e&

He "lan%ed at the ne2t suit of ar(our' and sa# #hat he i(a"ined #ere eyes there too1and the

ne2t one! He felt terri+ly s%ared& Had all these suits of ar(our %o(e alive all of a sudden5 Who #as

inside5 He %ould see that (ost of the( #ere filled& He +e"an to tre(+le&

%ar$Ne%) noti%ed hi( and lau"hed& ,Ah' so you are +e"innin" to +e afraid of #hat (ay ha**en

to +oys #ho interfere in so(e+ody else.s +usiness! 3ay+e you #ill tal) soon!-

0hili* said nothin"& He +e"an to thin) %learly' and it #as soon *lain to hi( that it (ust +e

friends inside the ar(our' and not ene(ies& Ho# silly of hi( to +e s%ared! But it really had +een an

eerie feelin" to see "lea(in" eyes loo)in" at hi( fro( +ehind those visors&,o that.s ho# it is the "irls have "one'- he thou"ht& ,No# I understand& /a%) did "et hel*1and

they.ve had the idea of doin" #hat I did1hidin" in the ar(our to see #hat is ha**enin"! Well' I

(ustn.t "ive the( a#ay' #hatever ha**ens! I #onder if one of the( is old Fre%)les&-

Feelin" very (u%h +etter no#' the +oy "ave another loo) round at the ar(our& He did not dare to

stare too hard' in %ase one of the (en follo#ed the dire%tion of his loo) and sa# #hat he sa#&

Another ru(+le of thunder %a(e do#n into the roo(' louder this ti(e& The air #as al(ost

un+eara+ly hot do#n there' and the (en in the ar(our had hard #or) not to "as*& 0ers*iration ran

do#n their +odies' and they lon"ed to shift their *ositions a little& But they dared not (ove&

Bill #as listenin" intently to all that #as +ein" said' thou"h 0hili* %ould not (a)e out a sin"le

#ord& 0a*ers #ere s*read out on the ta+le' +ut Bill %ould not see #hat they #ere& They loo)ed li)e

+lue$*rints of so(e sort' details of (a%hinery *erha*s& It #as i(*ossi+le for hi( to see&%ar$Ne%) rolled the( u* at last& Then he turned to 0hili*&



,Well' our 4o+ is done& We shall not have the *leasure of seein" you or your friends any (ore&

But +efore #e "o #e shall tea%h you #hat it (eans to s*y on us! Where.s that ro*e5-

,Don.t you dare to tou%h (e!- %ried 0hili*' 4u(*in" to his feet& %ar$Ne%) too) the ro*e&

Then' to his unuttera+le horror' one of the suits of ar(our #al)ed off its *edestal' held u* a stiff

and %lan)in" ar(' at the end of #hi%h shone a #i%)ed$loo)in" revolver' and said>

,The "a(e.s u*' %ar$Ne%)& We.ve "ot you all!-The voi%e sounded hollo#& %ar$Ne%) and the others stared in the ut(ost horror' and then loo)ed

round at other suits of ar(our' #hi%h #ere also %o(in" alive! It see(ed li)e a +ad drea(1+ut a

drea( that had too (any revolvers in it!

,Hands u*!- said Bill.s shar* voi%e&

%ar$Ne%) +e"an to *ut his hands u*1+ut suddenly he turned' too) hold of the oil la(*' and

s(ashed it on the "round& In a (o(ent the roo( #as *it%h$dar)!

Chapter 2"

A TERRIBLE TOR3BILL "ave a %ry of ra"e& Then /a%) heard his voi%e& ,:et under the +ed' /a%) and 0hili*' 6ui%)!

There (ay +e shootin"!-

The +oys did e2a%tly as they #ere told& They dived for the +ed' /a%) %lan)in" in his ar(our&

0hili* lay there *antin"' #ishin" his hands #ere not tied& /a%) "ot stu%) half#ay under the +ed&

What #as ha**enin" in the roo( they didn.t )no#& There #ere shouts and *antin" and "roans1

+ut no+ody did any shootin"& It #as too dar) to ris) that in %ase friend shot friend& It sounded to the

+oys as if (en in ar(our and (en #ithout #ere rollin" on the "round to"ether' for there #as a

tre(endous thuddin" and %lashin"&

uddenly there #as a "ratin" noise' and the +oys )ne# the entran%e a+ove #as +ein" o*ened&

But #ho #as o*enin" it' their side or the other5 0hili* had no idea ho# it #as o*ened fro( +elo#'thou"h he had often tried to find out' for o+viously there (ust +e a #ay&

Then he )ne# that %ar$Ne%) or one of his friends (ust have o*ened it' as a #ay of es%a*e' for

he heard Bill.s voi%e shoutin" u* to the (an he had left a+ove&

,To(! Loo) out! hoot anyone %o(in" u*!-

To( s*ran" to the to* of the ste*s' +ut he %ould see nothin" do#n +elo#& He %ould only hear the

"roans and %lan)s the +oys %ould hear& Then u* the ste*s %re*t one of the (en& To( did not hear

hi(' and suddenly he felt a +lo# that sent hi( s*ra#lin"& It #as %ar$Ne%) tryin" to es%a*e& In the

fi"ht he had lost his revolver or he #ould %ertainly have shot To(&

Before To( %ould "et u* and %at%h hi(' he #as "one1and yet another (an #as on to* of the

sur*rised To(' fallin" over hi(& 0oor To( "ot another +lo#' and his head san"& Then the sha""y$

+ro#ed (an )i%)ed hi( sava"ely and disa**eared too&After that To( didn.t )no# #hat to do1#hether to stand at the to* of the ste*s to *revent

anyone else %o(in" u*' or to "o after the es%a*in" (en& But as he hadn.t the re(otest idea #here

they had "one' he %hose the first %ourse&

Do#n +elo# thin"s #ere "oin" +adly for the three (en left& One of the( #as %o(*letely

)no%)ed out& Another had "iven in +e%ause Bill had sat on to* of hi( so fir(ly that there #asn.t

anythin" else to do& And the third (an had tried to es%a*e do#n the se%ret #ay +ehind the ta*estry'

+ut #as no# +ein" for%i+ly +rou"ht +a%) +y /i(' #ho #as yan)in" hi( alon" #ith (any (uttered

threats&

Bill at last found a tor%h and s#it%hed it on& The oil la(* #as s(ashed +eyond re*air& It #as

fortunate that it had not set the *la%e on fire& By the li"ht of the *o#erful tor%h Bill had a loo)

round&



The (an he had +een sittin" on #as no# in the %har"e of so(eone else' and #as loo)in"

e2tre(ely sorry for hi(self& He had a +la%) eye and a very lar"e lu(* on his head& Bill loo)ed

6ueer& He #as still #earin" his ar(our' +ut he had ta)en off the hel(et so that his +ald head' #ith

the thi%) hair at ea%h side' rose u* startlin"ly&

The t#o +oys %a(e out fro( under the +ell& Bill had to tu" at /a%) to set hi( free& /a%) "ot out

of the hot ar(our as 6ui%)ly as he %ould' and freed 0hili*.s hands&Bill.s fa%e #ore a loo) of utter dis"ust& He %ould see that the t#o (en he (ost #anted to %at%h1

%ar$Ne%) and the sha""y$+ro#ed (an1#ere "one& He %alled u* to To(&

,Are you there' To(5-

,Yes' sir'- %a(e +a%) To(.s voi%e' rather su+dued&

,Have you "ot the t#o #ho %a(e u* the ste*s5- shouted Bill&

,No' sir& orry to say they +o#led (e over and "ot a#ay' sir'- re*lied To(' even (ore su+dued&

Bill (uttered a fe# rude na(es for the unlu%)y To(& ,Co(e on do#n here'- he said& ,What a

fool you are' To(! You had a #onderful *osition u* there1you %ould have sto**ed a #hole ar(y

"ettin" out!-

,Well' it #as so dar)' sir'- said To(' ,I %ouldn.t see a thin"&-

,Well' you.ve let t#o of our (ost i(*ortant (en "o'- said Bill "ri(ly& ,That.s not the #ay to "et *ro(otion' you )no#& I #ish I.d *ut so(eone else u* there no#& I su**ose those fello#s are #ell

a#ay do#n the hill no#& I.ve no dou+t they.ve "ot their o#n *o#erful %ar #ell hidden a#ay

so(e#here' ready for an e(er"en%y' and #ill +e the other side of the %ountry +y to(orro# ni"ht&-

0oor To( loo)ed very shee*ish& He #as an enor(ous fello#' and the +oys thou"ht he ou"ht to

have +een a+le to %a*ture t#o ene(ies sin"le$handed! They #ere in a terri+le state of e2%ite(ent

and #ished that they had +een a+le to %a*ture %ar$Ne%) the(selves&

,Tie u* these fello#s'- said Bill' %urtly noddin" to their %a*tives& /i( +e"an to do it very

effi%iently and soon the (en sat li)e trussed fo#ls' sullen and tousled' fro#nin" into s*a%e&

,No# #e.ll have a loo) at those *a*ers'- said Bill' and one of his (en #ent to s*read the( out

+efore hi(& Bill +ent over the(&

,Yes1they.ve "ot everythin" here they #anted to )no#'- he said& ,That fello# %ar$Ne%) is

a+out the %leverest s*y in any %ountry& I +et he felt (ad to leave these +ehind& They are #orth a

fortune to hi(' and are of untold value to the %ountry he #as s*yin" for&-

One of the (en rolled the( u*& As he did so a terrifi% roll of thunder e%hoed all round& Everyone

loo)ed a little startled&

,What a stor(!- said the (an %alled /i(& ,Was that li"htnin" then5-

It #as' flashin" do#n even to the under"round roo(& It had flashed al(ost at the sa(e (o(ent

as the thunder %rashed&

,tor(.s a+out overhead' I should thin)'- said Bill& ,I don.t thin) #e.ll venture do#n the

hillside ourselves till it.s over&-

,Aren.t you "oin" to see #here that se%ret #ay leads to5- as)ed /a%)' in disa**oint(ent&,Oh yes'- said Bill& ,To( and I #ill "o' #hilst the others ta)e the *risoners do#n the hill1+ut

#e.ll #ait till dayli"ht no#' I thin)&-

The stor( "re# #orse& 0hili* tried to tell Bill #hat had ha**ened to hi( that day +ut he had to

shout at the to* of his voi%e' +e%ause the thunder %rashed so loudly overhead&

,I #as so +ored I thou"ht I.d "o do#n the se%ret *assa"e (yself and see #here it led to'-

shouted 0hili*& ,o #hen the (en had "one u* the stone ste*s after a "ood lon" slee* here' I

sli**ed out fro( under the +ed and #ent into that hole in the #all there& The (en had left it o*en'

4ust as you see it no#' #ith the ta*estry hoo)ed +a%)' and the stone slid fro( the o*enin"& It "oes

ri"ht +a%)' as you %an see& Well' there.s a door in the side of the o*enin"& & & &-

The thunder interru*ted hi( a"ain and he sto**ed& Everyone #as listenin" to hi( #ith interest'

e2%e*t the surly *risoners&



,The door there #as lo%)ed' +ut so(eone had left the )ey in the lo%)'- #ent on 0hili*' #hen the

thunder had died do#n a little& ,o I unlo%)ed it& The door *ushed +a%)#ards and I found (yself in

a narro# *assa"e&-

,Wasn.t it dar)5- as)ed /a%)&

,Yes' +ut I had (y tor%h'- said 0hili*& ,I *ut it on' and sa# (y #ay 6uite #ell& The *assa"e

#ent do#n#ards' at first +et#een #alls of stone1(ust have +een the foundations of the %astle' Isu**ose1and then I sa# that I (ust have %o(e out under the %astle' and #as "oin" throu"h a

tunnel he#n out of the solid ro%)&-

,And I su**ose it led you out on to the hill on the other side5- said Bill& ,And you loo)ed do#n

on so(ethin" rather interestin"5-

,I never "ot as far as that'- said 0hili*& ,I heard one of the (en %o(in" so(e #ay +ehind (e'

and I thou"ht I.d +etter hide& o I %li(+ed u* on to a narro# led"e near the roof of the *assa"e 4ust

there' and lay 6uite 6uiet&-

,:olly!- said /a%)& ,Did he *ass you5-

,Yes& But he #as loo)in" for (e'- said 0hili*& ,You see' I.d for"otten to %lose the door that led

into the se%ret *assa"e' and #hen the (en %a(e +a%)' they noti%ed it' and "ot *u88led& o they sent

so(eone do#n the *assa"e to see #ho had o*ened the door&-,And they found you5- said Bill' +ut his #ords #ere lost in another %rash of thunder&

,When the (an found I #asn.t any#here in the *assa"e he %a(e +a%)'- #ent on 0hili*& ,But

evidently the %hief (an #asn.t "oin" to let (e #ander a+out there' and he and everyone else %a(e

do#n the se%ret #ay then& And' of %ourse' they soon found (e lyin" on that narro# led"e' and

dra""ed (e do#n&-

,What ha**ened to you then5- as)ed Bill& ,You #eren.t ta)en +a%) to the hidden roo(' +e%ause

the "irls #ondered #here you #ere #hen they %a(e do#n that ni"ht&-

,No& They tied (y #rists to"ether' and (y an)les too' and 4ust left (e there in the *assa"e'- said

0hili*& ,They said as I see(ed to have a li)in" for the *assa"e' I %ould stay there till they #ere

ready to +rin" (e +a%) and 6uestion (e& o there I stayed till at last they did fet%h (e& They untied

(y an)les so that I %ould #al)1and +rou"ht (e to the hidden roo(' as you sa#&-

,0oor old 0hili*1a nasty e2*erien%e'- said Bill&

,:olly' I was s%ared #hen I sa# your eyes "lea(in" at (e throu"h the visor of the hel(et' Bill'-

said 0hili*& ,I had the fri"ht of (y life! But I soon realised you (ust +e friends&-

The thunder #as no# so noisy and %ontinual that it #as no use tal)in"& They all sat in silen%e'

thin)in" #hat a tre(endous stor( (ust +e "oin" on outside on the hill&

,I.( 4ust "oin" u* to have a s6uint out of the front door'- said Bill& ,It (ust +e a fine si"ht' this

stor(&-

,We.ll %o(e too'- said the +oys& o u* the stone ste*s they #ent' and do#n the hall to the o*en

front door of the %astle&

They sto**ed in a#e 4ust +efore they "ot there& The #hole %ountryside lay %o#erin" +eneath the#orst stor( they had ever seen& Li"htnin" tore the s)y a*art %ontinually' "reat 4a""ed for)s that ran

u* and do#n fro( the to* of the s)y to the +otto(&

The thunder #as li)e nothin" they had ever heard' it #as so loud and so over#hel(in"& It never

sto**ed! It rolled round and round the hillside' li)e terrifi% "uns +o(+ardin" an ene(y&

And the rain! It *oured do#n as if "reat rivers had +een let loose fro( the s)y& No$one %ould "o

out in that' for they #ould surely +e +attered to the "round!

,It.s a %loud$+urst'- said Bill& ,The s)y has o*ened' and let do#n a delu"e! I.ve never seen

anythin" li)e this' e2%e*t on%e in India& I should thin) %ar$Ne%) and the other fello# are havin" a

*retty +ad ti(e of it out on the hillside&-

,Any#ay the "irls had *lenty of ti(e to "et do#n to *rin" Cotta"e'- said /a%)& ,They.ll +e safe

at ho(e I ho*e& :ood "ra%ious1#hat.s that5-



Chapter 2%

THE ECRET 0AA:E

A /a%) #as s*ea)in"' there %a(e the (ost tre(endous %la* of thunder he #as ever to hear in his

life& It (ade hi( 4u(* violently and %lin" to Bill& It #as the loudest noise he had ever heard&

With it %a(e a flash of li"htnin" that li"hted u* the hills around for (iles u*on (iles& There they

#ere' un+elieva+ly %lear and so(eho# unreal' for half a se%ond& Then they #ent +a%) into *it%h

dar)ness a"ain& But a 6ueer feelin" ran throu"h all three #hen the flash %a(e&

Bill suddenly *ulled the( +a%) a little& ,I thin) the %astle has +een stru%)!- he said& ,Yes' it has

1loo)!-

One of the to#ers' lit u* +y the ne2t flash' #as seen +y the t#o +oys to +e in the a%t of fallin"! In

a se%ond it #as "one as dar)ness %a(e +a%) a"ain& Then' throu"h the insistent thuddin" of the rain'

%a(e the sound of the %rashin" of stone u*on stone' as the to#er fell to the "round&

,The stor( is a+solutely on to* of us!- shouted /a%)& ,Let.s "o +a%) to the hidden roo(' Bill&

I.( afraid& I felt that flash of li"htnin"' I.( sure I did& Bill' the thunder is in the %ourtyard' it is' itis!-

Bill #as al(ost in%lined to +elieve that it #as' as it rolled round in ru(+lin" %rashes& Then

another flash %a(e' and on%e (ore the three felt a 6ueer sho%)' as the li"htnin" see(ed to flash

throu"h the(&

,I +elieve if #e hadn.t "ot ru++er$soled shoes on #e.d have +een stru%) dead!- thou"ht Bill

suddenly& ,:osh' the %astle has +een stru%) a"ain1this ti(e the (ain +uildin"& It #ill +e in ruins if

this "oes on!-

He hustled the +oys +a%) to the ste*s that led to the hidden roo(& Do#n they #ent' and then

*aused in a#e1for no# it see(ed as if the %astle itself #as fallin"!

Hurriedly Bill *ulled at the s*i)e that shut the entran%e& He felt he #ould li)e to have solid stone

+et#een hi( and the stor( no#& With relief he sa# the stone slide side#ays and u*#ards' and theentran%e #as %losed&

Al(ost i((ediately there %a(e a terrifi% sound of fallin" stone' %rashin" on to stone +elo#' and

the roo( shoo)&

,The %astle is fallin" on to* of us!- %ried 0hili*' and he #ent *ale& It really sounded as if it #as&

Bill thou"ht *art of it (ust a"ain have +een stru%) +y li"htnin"' and have fallen in#ards& He

#ondered if #hat they heard #as the floor a+ove fallin" do#n into the hall! It sounded li)e that&

3ore %rashin" noises %a(e' not (ade +y the thunder' and then %o(*arative silen%e& No$one

s*o)e for a #hile&

,I %an see ho# that land$slide ha**ened'- said Bill at last& ,A stor( li)e this %ould easily %ause

under(inin" of the road' and a land$slide #ould result& I shouldn.t +e sur*rised if there #as another

one toni"ht& I should thin) even (ore of the road #ill +e destroyed&-,That rain #as so terrifi%'- said /a%)& ,I.ve never heard anythin" li)e it& I +et the *oor "irls are

s%ared' do#n in the %otta"e +y the(selves&-

,Yes1I #ish #e #ere #ith the('- said Bill& He too) a "lan%e at the %a*tives& They loo)ed very

fri"htened& What they %ould hear of the stor( and the fallin" of the %astle #as evidently fillin"

the( #ith fore+odin"s as to #hat (i"ht +e "oin" to ha**en ne2t!

,You )no#' I.ve 4ust realised that I.( a#fully hun"ry'- said 0hili* suddenly& ,I.ve had nothin"

to eat sin%e I #ent off +y (yself to e2*lore that se%ret *assa"e&-

,You (ust +e fa(ished!- said Bill& ,I feel *retty hun"ry (yself too& There see(s to +e a ni%e

*ile of tins over there& I thin) it (i"ht #hile a#ay the ti(e a +it' and (a)e us for"et this a#ful

stor(' if #e atta%)ed the %ontents&-

/a%) and 0hili* e2a(ined the tins& They %hose one tin of s*i%ed (eat' one tin of ton"ue and t#o

of *ea%hes& They o*ened the(' and *ut "enerous hel*in"s on to the *lates sta%)ed on a side ta+le&



Bill found drin)s& It #as so hot that the +eer he found in +ottles #as (ore than usually #el%o(e

to the (en& The +oys feasted on "in"er$+eer and le(onade' +oth of #hi%h #ere there too&

Everyone felt +etter after the (eal& The stor( see(ed to +e dyin" do#n& Bill "lan%ed at his

#at%h&

,Half$*ast five!- he said' #ith a ya#n& ,I didn.t thin) it #as so late& Well' as the stor( is dyin"'

(ay+e #e %ould "et out into the %ourtyard for a +reath of air& It #ill +e dayli"ht no#& I %an *erha*ssee (y (en off do#n the hillside #ith their *risoners&-

,Yes& I.( dyin" for a +reath of air'- said 0hili*' #hose fa%e #as +ri"ht s%arlet #ith heat& ,Ho#

do you o*en the entran%e' fro( do#n here' Bill5-

,9* there +y the %eilin"'- said Bill' and sho#ed 0hili* ho#& There #as a hidden lever there& He

*ulled at it1+ut it did not (ove& He *ulled a"ain&

,It #on.t +ud"e'- said Bill' sur*rised& ,Here' To(' you try& You.re as stron" as a horse&-

To( too) his turn' +ut he %ould not (ove the lever either& The stone #ould not (ove an in%h

fro( the entran%e' to un+lo%) it&

Then +oth Bill and To( tried to"ether& The stone (oved an in%h or t#o1and then sto**ed& No

further efforts (ade any differen%e& It #ouldn.t (ove any (ore&

Bill #ent u* the ste* as far as he %ould and tried to *eer throu"h the %ra%)' +ut he %ould seenothin" at all& He %a(e +a%)&

,I.( afraid *art of the %astle has fallen in on to* of the entran%e'- he said& ,The lever is stron"

enou"h to (ove that heavy stone' +ut #e are not stron" enou"h to shift #hatever is on to* of it +y

*ullin" hard& We %an.t "et out&-

,We.ll have to use the other #ay then' the *assa"e I #ent do#n yesterday'- said 0hili*' noddin"

his head to#ards the o*enin" +ehind the ta*estry&

,Yes'- said Bill& ,I only ho*e that hasn.t done any sli**in" and slidin" tool till' you said it #as

(ade out of the solid ro%)' didn.t you5 It should +e 6uite all ri"ht&-

It #as steadily "ettin" hotter and hotter in the under"round roo(& Button' #ho had retired under

the +ed durin" the fi"ht' no# %a(e out and rolled over on his side +y 0hili*' his *in) ton"ue

han"in" out li)e a do".s&

,He.s thirsty'- said /a%)& ,:ive hi( a drin)&-

,There.s nothin" e2%e*t "in"er$+eer left'- said 0hili*' and *oured so(e out on a *late& Button

#as so thirsty that he dran) it all u*' then sat do#n and li%)ed his (outh round thou"htfully' as if to

say' ,Well1that #as %ertainly ni%e and #et1+ut #hat a 6ueer taste!-

,We shall all +e %oo)ed if #e don.t (a)e a (ove'- said Bill& ,Co(e on1#e.ll try our lu%) this

#ay& I.ll "o first&-

He #ent into the hole in the #all' and *ushed at the door there& It o*ened& Bill #ent throu"h'

shinin" his tor%h in front of hi(&

The t#o +oys follo#ed& Then %a(e the three (en #ith their %a*tives' #ho #ere no# very

su+dued indeed& They had not uttered a #ord for a very lon" ti(e&The *assa"e #as narro#' +ut fairly strai"ht at first& Bill.s tor%h sho#ed that it #as +uilt in the

stone foundations of the %astle itself&

,It.s li)ely that there are dun"eons +uilt do#n here too'- said Bill& ,It.s a 6ueer old *la%e& There

are *ro+a+ly (ore hidden roo(s as #ell& The old le"ends a+out the *la%e tal) of (ore than one

roo(&-

After a #hile the stone of the tunnel #alls turned to solid ro%)' uneven of surfa%e& The air #as

sur*risin"ly fresh& It #as deli%iously %ool after the oven$heat of the roo( they had left +ehind&

No# the *assa"e #ound a+out a little' as if to follo# the va"aries of the ro%)& Bill thou"ht *art

of the *assa"e #as artifi%ial' and *art natural& It #as *lain that it #ent strai"ht throu"h the to* of the

hill' in a do#n#ard dire%tion&

In so(e *la%es it slo*ed 6uite stee*ly' and they all slithered a little& Then they suddenly heard thenoise of #ater!



They sto**ed& Bill loo)ed +a%) at 0hili*& ,Water!- he said& ,Did you see any +efore #hen you

%a(e do#n here5-

0hili* shoo) his head& ,No'- he said& ,It #as all 6uite dry& We haven.t yet %o(e to the led"e I hid

on&-

They #ent on' *u88led1and suddenly they sa# #hat (ade the noise! The delu"e of rain

soa)in" do#n into the hillside #as tryin" to "et a#ay so(e#here' and #as runnin" do#n in atorrent' under"round& It had found a #ea) *la%e in the #all of the *assa"e' and had *oured do#n

into it& It #as no# runnin" li)e a river do#n the tunnel' (a)in" a roarin"' "ur"lin" noise&

,:oodness!- said /a%)' *eerin" over Bill.s shoulder' and seein" the rushin" #ater +y the li"ht of

his tor%h& ,We %an.t "et do#n there no#!-

,It.s not very dee*'- said Bill' loo)in" at it& ,I +elieve #e shall +e a+le to #ade alon" all ri"ht&

It.s lu%)y for us that the *assa"e "oes do#nhill' not u*hill' or #e should have had the #ater *ourin"

to (eet us!-

He *ut his foot into it' and found that it #as a+out )nee$dee*& The %urrent #as fairly *o#erful'

+ut not enou"h to s#ee* anyone fro( their feet' thou"h the "irls (i"ht have had diffi%ulty in

)ee*in" their +alan%e if they had +een there& Bill #as very than)ful they #ere not&

They all #aded into the torrent& It #as %old and the %oolness #as #el%o(e to the(& *lashin"throu"h the #ater they #ent on their #ay a"ain& Button #as %urled ti"htly round 0hili*.s ne%)& He

hated the #ater&

They #ent on a "ood #ay& Then 0hili* *ointed u* to a ro%)y led"e near the roof of the *assa"e&

,That.s #here I hid'- he said& ,ee5 It #as 6uite a "ood *la%e' #asn.t it5 No+ody #ould have found

(e if they hadn.t really +een loo)in" for (e&-

They #ent on *ast 0hili*.s led"e& The #ater #as a little dee*er no#' and stron"er' +e%ause the

*assa"e slo*ed (ore stee*ly 4ust there& It #as slo# "oin"& /a%)' #ho #as "ettin" very tired' thou"ht

it #ould never %o(e to an end& He li)ed adventures' +ut he +e"an to feel he #ould rather li)e a rest

fro( this one&

All at on%e the *assa"e +e"an to slo*e do#n very stee*ly indeed' so stee*ly that the torrent (ade

6uite a #aterfall! Bill sto**ed&

,Well' I don.t see ho# #e %an "et do#n here' unless #e 4ust slide do#n in the #ater!- he said&

,Ah' +ut #ait a (inute1I +elieve there are stone ste*s leadin" do#n#ards& Yes' there are& We shall

+e all ri"ht if #e don.t let the #ater rush us off our feet!-

He #ent first' very %autiously feelin" for the ste*s #ith his feet& The +oys follo#ed' e6ually

%autiously' /a%) al(ost +ein" rushed off his feet on%e or t#i%e +y a sur"in" fall of #ater&

uddenly Bill *ut his tor%h out1and dayli"ht a**eared in front! The stone ste*s led out on to

the o**osite side of the %astle hill1they #ere there at last!

Bill lea*t out of the #ater and %a(e out of a narro# o*enin" in the hillside' al(ost %o(*letely

%overed +y +ra(+les& ,Well1here #e are!- he said& ,afe after all!-

Chapter 3&

THE OTHER IDE OF THE HILL

THE +oys %a(e out of the hole too' and they all stared at the si"ht +elo# the(& They #ere on a very

stee* hillside' #ith an al(ost sheer dro* +eneath&

Dire%tly +elo# #as #hat loo)ed li)e a far($house' #ith out$+uildin"s on the slo*e of the hill&

All around the *la%e #as +ar+ed #ire' ro#s u*on ro#s of it& There #as *lenty 4ust +elo# #here

they stood' too&

There #as a %o*se of trees +ehind the house' and in the (iddle #as a %lear s*a%e& A %urious$

loo)in" (a%hine stood in the %entre of this %learin"& It #as lar"e and shinin"& To anyone do#n at



the far( or near+y it (ust have +een %o(*letely hidden in the trees1+ut vie#ed fro( a+ove it #as

very *lain to see&

,What is it5- as)ed /a%)' "a8in" at it in the %lear (ornin" sunli"ht&

,Not even I )no# that' /a%)'- said Bill& ,It is one of our o#n %ountry.s se%rets1so(ethin"

+ein" #or)ed on +y our "reatest (ilitary s%ientists&-

,And that.s #hat %ar$Ne%) the s*y #as after5- as)ed 0hili*&,That.s #hat he #as after'- said Bill& ,He "ot #ind of it1found out #here the tests #ere +ein"

%arried out in se%ret1and dis%overed to his deli"ht that there #as an old %astle on the other side of

the hill for sale&-

,:osh! Did he +uy the %astle then5- as)ed /a%)&

Bill nodded& ,Yes& I (ade it (y +usiness to find out #ho the o#ner #as& %ar$Ne%) had not

+ou"ht it in his o#n na(e' of %ourse1he #as far too %lever for that& He +ou"ht it in the na(e of an

En"lish(an1%alled Bro#n& A (an su**osed to +e interested in old +uildin"s& But I soon found out

#ho #as +ehind Bro#n&-

,Aren.t you %lever' Bill5- said /a%) ad(irin"ly&

,No'- said Bill& ,That )ind of thin" is easy in (y 4o+& I )ne# %ar$Ne%) #as *ro+a+ly after this

se%ret of ours' +ut I %ouldn.t for the life of (e see ho# he %ould find out anythin"& As you %an see'it.s very #ell hidden u* here at the +a%) of the old far(1and #ell *rote%ted +y +ar+ed #ire' #hi%h

is 6uite *ro+a+ly (i2ed u* #ith other #ire that is ele%tri%ally %har"ed&-

,Well1ho# did he "et the se%ret then5- said 0hili*&

,By #onderful *hoto"ra*hy' and +y (a)in" a #ay ri"ht under the #ire do#n to the (a%hine

itself' I i(a"ine'- said Bill& ,Loo)1do you see si"ns of di""in" there5 Well' I i(a"ine %ar$Ne%)

and his friends did a +it of +urro#in"' li)e ra++its' ri"ht under the #ire' and %a(e u* safely inside

the en%losure&-

,Wouldn.t anyone see the(5- said /a%)&

,Not fro( this side'- said Bill& ,No+ody #ould "uess anyone #ould try any tri%)s fro( u* here&

It #ould see( i(*ossi+le to "et here' it.s so stee*!-

,And no+ody )ne# a+out the *assa"e in the %astle that led ri"ht to this side of the hill!- said

/a%)& ,Ho# did he find it out5-

,:ot old *lans of the %astle' I e2*e%t'- said Bill& ,The old fello# #ho had this %astle last #as

6uite (ad' as you no dou+t "athered fro( the %urious thin"s he did& He (ade all )inds of hidden

roo(s #ith %urious %ontrivan%es' and lived in a ro(anti% #orld of his o#n& %ar$Ne%) found the

hidden roo( #e )no# e2tre(ely useful' and the se%ret *assa"e a *erfe%t "odsend! It a%tually %a(e

out a+ove the very se%ret he had +een sent to find out!-

,He.s a +rave (an'- said 0hili*&

,Yes1(ost s*ies are +rave'- said Bill& ,But this *arti%ular one is a (ost un*leasant fello#'

heartily disli)ed even in his o#n %ountry& He #ill dou+le$%ross anyone' not e2%e*tin" his dearest

friend& Well1I.( afraid he.s "ot a#ay this ti(e& But than) "oodness he.s left the *lans of our se%ret +ehind hi( in that hidden roo(!-

,o he %an.t do any da(a"e' I su**ose5- as)ed 0hili*&

,Not unless he re(e(+ers everythin" in his head'- said Bill& ,He has a (arvellous (e(ory' of

%ourse' so (ay+e he #ill do us so(e da(a"e' even no#&-

,I ho*e he #on.t'- said 0hili*& ,I do so #ish #e had %au"ht hi(' Bill1and old ha""y too& I

didn.t li)e either of the( at all&-

,These three #e have "ot are only ordinary tou"hs' ready to do anythin" +eastly for (oney'-

said Bill& ,I have let the real %ul*rits sli*1and I shall "et a ra* over the )nu%)les for that! erves

(e ri"ht1I had a #onderful %han%e of %at%hin" the(& I should have thou"ht that %ar$Ne%) (i"ht

s(ash that la(*&-



Everyone had +een "lad of the rest and fresh air& No# Bill "ot u* and loo)ed do#n the hill& Ho#

%ould they "et do#n #ithout +ein" torn to +its +y the +ar+ed #ire5 No$one felt in%lined to #ri""le

do#n the tunnel %ar$Ne%) had (ade +elo# it&

Bill sa# so(eone (ovin" a+out +elo#& He "ave a hail' and the (an loo)ed u*' evidently

over%o(e #ith sur*rise to see so (any *eo*le standin" hi"h u* on the hillside&

,Who are you5- he yelled&,Friends!- shouted +a%) Bill& ,Is Colonel Yar(outh there5 I )no# hi(' and #ould li)e to tal) to

hi(& But I %an.t "et throu"h this #ire&-

,Loo)!- said /a%) suddenly' and *ointed to a +eautiful %a(era standin" under a thi%) +ra(+le&

,That.s ho# they "ot their *i%tures! With that! It.s one of the finest %a(eras I.ve ever seen& It hasn.t

+een hurt +y the delu"e either1it.s "ot a #ater*roof *rote%tion& I e2*e%t that %a(era you "ave (e

is ruined no#' Bill& It #as in that "orse$+ush and had no *rote%tion at all& I left it there'

unfortunately&-

,What a *ity!- said Bill& ,Well1(ay+e I %an arran"e for you to have this one instead1as a

little return for lettin" (e in on your adventure' /a%)!-

/a%).s eyes "lea(ed& What *i%tures he %ould ta)e if he had a %a(era li)e that! It (ust +e one of

the finest in the #orld&Another (an no# %a(e out in the *ie%e at the +a%) of the far($house +elo#& /a%) had e2*e%ted

a %olonel to +e in unifor(' +ut he #asn.t&

,Hi' Yar(outh!- yelled Bill& ,Don.t you )no# (e5-

,Well' I.( +lessed!- floated u* the Colonel.s astonished voi%e& ,I.ll send a %ou*le of (en u* to

(a)e a #ay do#n for you&-

o' in a fairly short ti(e' a #ay #as (ade for the( throu"h the ro#s of +ar+ed #ire' #hi%h #as

*ro(*tly re*aired a"ain +ehind the(& They #ent do#n to the far(house' slitherin" and al(ost

fallin" do#n the stee* des%ent&

The Colonel and Bill disa**eared into the house' to tal)& The others #aited *atiently outside&

/a%) and 0hili* lay do#n on the heather and ya#ned& They +oth fell aslee* at on%e!

After a #hile the Colonel and Bill %a(e out and sna**ed out a fe# orders& Three of his (en too)

a#ay the %a*tives and they #ere *ut into a #hite#ashed roo( near+y' #hi%h loo)ed as if it had

on%e +een a dairy& The door #as shut and *adlo%)ed&

,That.s "ot rid of them!” said Bill' *leased& ,No# #e.ll "et +a%) to *rin" Cotta"e& I.( afraid

#e.ll have to "o do#n to the +otto( of the hill' ta)e the road there' and then (a)e our #ay u* the

other side to the %otta"e& There is a**arently no other #ay to "et there&-

The +oys' a#a)e no#' "roaned& They really didn.t feel li)e any (ore #al)in"& till' it had to +e

done&

,What a+out the (a*s' or #hatever they #ere' #e left +ehind in the hidden roo(5- as)ed /a%)&

,Oh' #e %an easily "et those& One of the Colonel.s (en #ill "o u* throu"h that *assa"e and "et

the( as soon as the #ater has sto**ed'- said Bill& ,And the three *risoners #ill +e sent do#nso(eti(e today under "uard' to +e dealt #ith later&-

,I su**ose the adventure is over5- said 0hili*& ,@uite finished5-

,Well1there are a fe# loose ends to tie u*'- said Bill& ,We (ust 4ust see if #e %an find any tra%e

of %ar$Ne%) and his friend in any of the distri%ts near at hand& %ar$Ne%) #ill *ro+a+ly %ut off his

fine +eard1+ut if he does that he sho#s his s%ar' unless he %an *aint it out& We (ay "et on his tra%)

a"ain and %at%h hi(& That #ould really +e a (ost satisfa%tory finish' #ouldn.t it!-

,We.ll have to "o and "et your %ar too' #on.t #e5- said /a%)' re(e(+erin"& ,We left it at the

+e"innin" of the land$slide&-

,o #e did'- said Bill& ,3y #ord' I ho*e it hasn.t +een s#e*t a#ay +y that delu"e of rain1or

+uried in another land$slide!-

,I #ant to )no# #hat ha**ened to the "irls too'- said 0hili*& ,I.( ho*in" they all "ot +a%) safely +efore the stor( really started& It see(s a"es sin%e I.ve seen the(!-



They #ent on do#n the hillside' "uided +y a (an fro( the far($houses& He #as e2tre(ely

interested in their adventures' +ut he #asn.t told (u%h +eyond that they had "ot %au"ht in the %astle

in the stor(' and had had to find their #ay out throu"h an old *assa"e&

Button #as no# runnin" at 0hili*.s heels' ha**y to +e in the o*en air& Even he had *layed his

*art in the adventure' for he had sho#n Tassie ho# to "et in and out of the %astle #ithout usin"

doors' "ates or #indo#s!They %a(e to the +otto( of the hill and too) the road there& Then they %a(e to the lane that led

u* to *rin" Cotta"e&

,There it is at last!- %ried /a%)' and s*rinted u* to it& ,Hi' "irls' here #e are! Where are you5-

Chapter 31

THE END OF THE CATLE OF AD?ENT9RE

THERE #as a shrie) fro( the %otta"e& It #as Lu%y$Ann of %ourse& he %a(e flyin" out of the door'

her eyes shinin"' and fle# strai"ht at /a%)& he al(ost +o#led hi( over in her 4oy at seein" hi(a"ain&

,/a%)! You.re +a%)! And 0hili*! Wherever did you "et to5 We #ere a#fully #orried a+out you!-

Dinah and Tassie %a(e runnin" out too' e2%lai(in" in *leasure& ,Were you all ri"ht in the stor(5

We "ot so #orried a+out you! Tassie.s +een u* the hill and she says half the %astle has fallen do#n

the hill!-

,Were you all ri"ht in that stor(5- as)ed /a%)' as they all #ent into the little house& ,We #ere

very #orried a+out you three "irls havin" to "o do#n the hill in that a#ful delu"e! Did you "et

ho(e +efore the stor( really +ro)e5-

,Well' the rain had +e"un' and there #as thunder rollin" round nearly all the ti(e' +ut no

li"htnin"'- said Dinah& ,We #ere soa)ed +y the ti(e #e "ot here& Tassie #ouldn.t let us rest for

even a (inute on the hill1she )e*t sayin" that there #ould +e another land$slide1and she #asri"ht!-

,:ood old Tassie'- said /a%)& ,he 4ust "ot you +a%) in ti(e& I si(*ly %an.t +e"in to tell you

#hat it #as li)e u* in the %astle!-

But he did tell the(' of %ourse' and they listened #ith their eyes #ide o*en in horror& What a

ni"ht!

,Where.s 7i)i5- as)ed /a%)' loo)in" all round& ,I thou"ht she #ould +e here to "reet (e&-

,he )ee*s flyin" off to loo) for you'- said Tassie& ,But she %o(es +a%)& he #on.t +e lon"' I.(

sure&-

he #asn.t& In a+out ten (inutes. ti(e she #as +a%)' sailin" throu"h the air' shoutin" loudly to

/a%)&

,Ho# (any ti(es' ho# (any ti(es' ho# (any ti(es' fusty' (usty' dusty' /a%)' /a%)' /a%)!-he fle# to his shoulder and *e%)ed his ear lovin"ly& 0hili* *ut u* his hand to his left ear #hi%h

#as still s#ollen&

,Don.t you fly on to my shoulder and *e%) my ear'- he said to 7i)i& ,It.s not ready for *e%)in"

or ni++lin" yet!-

The "irls "ot +rea)fast for everyone' and tal)ed nineteen to the do8en' ha**y at havin" the +oys

and Bill& Bill sent his three (en u* the road to find his %ar&

,And no#'- said Bill' #hen they had finished eatin"' ,#hat a+out a slee*' +oys5 I.( tired out!-

/a%) #as al(ost aslee* as it #as' and 0hili* )e*t ya#nin"& o the +oys #ent u* to slee* on their

+eds and Bill *ut hi(self on the %ou%h in the )it%hen& The "irls #ent out into the "arden to tal)&

They had to *ut #ater*roofs do#n on the "rass +e%ause it #as so #et& The day #as lovely no#'

#ith not a %loud to +e seen& It #as fresh and %ool& The stor(y heat had %o(*letely "one&



They la8ed there' %hatterin"' #ith 7i)i 4oinin" in no# and a"ain& Button #as aslee* on 0hili*.s

(iddle u*stairs& 7i)i #as not slee*y' so she did not "o #ith /a%)' +ut %ontented herself #ith ta)in"

a loo) at hi( no# and a"ain throu"h the #indo#' to (a)e sure he #as there&

,There.s so(eone %o(in"'- said Dinah suddenly& he sat u* and loo)ed&

,It.s Bill.s three (en'- said Lu%y$Ann' la8ily&

The (en %a(e into the "arden& They loo)ed serious& ,Where.s the Boss5 We #ant hi('- saidone&

,He.s aslee*' so don.t distur+ hi( yet'- said Dinah&

,orry' (issie& But I.( afraid #e (ust distur+ hi('- said the (an& ,We.ve "ot ne#s&-

,What ne#s5- as)ed Lu%y$Ann& ,Have you found the %ar5-

,Yes'- said the (an& ,But #e.ll tell our ne#s to the Boss' (issie&-

,Well' he.s in the )it%hen'- said Dinah&

The (en (oved off to the )it%hen& They #o)e Bill' and the three "irls heard the( tellin" hi(

so(ethin" in ur"ent' serious voi%es& Bill %a(e out' and the "irls loo)ed en6uirin"ly at hi(&

,What.s u*' Bill5- as)ed Dinah& ,Have they found your %ar1and is it s(ashed u*' or

so(ethin"5-

,They.ve found (y %ar all ri"ht'- said Bill' slo#ly& ,And they.ve found so(ethin" else too&-,What5- as)ed the three "irls to"ether&

,Well' a**arently %ar$Ne%) and his friend #ent off over the land$slide 6uite safely' and then

found (y %ar standin" #here #e left it'- said Bill& ,They (ust have "ot into it and turned it round

1and then the delu"e stru%) the(' and another land$slide +e"an!-

,Are they1)illed5- as)ed Dinah&

,Well' I i(a"ine so'- said Bill& ,We don.t )no#& The land$slide %au"ht the %ar and too) it alon"&

It du(*ed it u*side$do#n in a "ully' #here these (en found it1#ith %ar$Ne%) and the other

fello# inside&-

,Can.t they "et the( out then5- as)ed Dinah' rather *ale&

,The doors are 4a((ed'- said Bill& ,Have you "ot a #ire to#$ro*e' or any "ood stron" ro*e that

#on.t +rea)5 If you have' #e.ll ta)e it and try to "et the %ar the ri"ht #ay u*& Then #e (ay +e a+le

to o*en the roof and "et the (en out&-

Dinah fet%hed so(e #ire ro*e fro( the shed& he "ave it to Bill in silen%e& None of the "irls

as)ed to "o #ith the (en& This see(ed a terri+le endin"' even to t#o +ad (en&

They #aited i(*atiently for the +oys to a#a)e' and #hen at last they %a(e do#n' ya#nin" and

%o(*lainin" of feelin" hun"ry a"ain' the "irls ran to tell the( the ne#s&

,:olly!- said /a%)' startled& ,Fan%y the( findin" the %ar li)e that! They (ust have thou"ht it

#as a +it of lu%)& And then another land$slide %at%hes the(1#hat a fri"htful sho%) they (ust have

had!-

Bill %a(e +a%) so(e hours later& The %hildren ran to (eet the(&

Bill #as s(ilin"& ,Neither of the (en is dead'- he said& ,%ar$Ne%) has %on%ussion and is 6uiteun%ons%ious and rather +adly hurt& The other fello# has a +ro)en le"' and #as stunned too& But he.s

%o(e round&-

,o you.ve %a*tured the( +oth after all!- said 0hili*& ,Well done' Bill!-

,What a+out the %ar5- as)ed Dinah&

,Loo)s #re%)ed to (e'- said Bill& ,But I don.t (ind that& I re%)on I shall +e handed out a ne#

%ar #hen (y %hief )no#s I.ve "ot %ar$Ne%) and his friend to *ass over to hi(& It.s 6uite a s%oo*

for (e1thou"h I.d never have stu(+led on to their se%ret if it hadn.t +een for you %hildren!-

,Well' #e.d have +een in a *retty *i%)le if you hadn.t turned u*'- said /a%)& ,Whatever #ill 3rs&

3annerin" say #hen she %o(es +a%) and hears all that has ha**ened sin%e she has +een "one5-

,he.ll say she %an.t turn her +a%) for a day or t#o #ithout us all "ettin" into (is%hief!- said

0hili*' #ith a "rin& ,Where are the (en' Bill5-



,I sent To( do#n to the villa"e for hel*' instead of ta)in" hi( +a%) to the %ar #ith (e'- said

Bill& ,And they sent u* a %ou*le of stret%hers and a do%tor #ho ha**ened to +e do#n there1so

they #ill +e on their #ay to hos*ital +y no#' I i(a"ine1and #hen they #a)e u*' they.ll ea%h find

a ni%e +urly *oli%e(an sittin" +y the side of their +ed!-

,Oh' Bill1#hat an adventure!- said Dinah& ,I never drea(t #e.d *lun"e into all this #hen #e

first %a(e here1and it.s all ha**ened so 6ui%)ly& I ho*e #e shall have ni%e *ea%eful holidays for the rest of the ti(e& I.ve had enou"h adventures to last (e for a year!-

,I #ant to stret%h (y le"s'- said /a%)& ,What a+out #al)in" u* the hillside' Bill' and havin" a

loo) to see #hat has ha**ened to the %astle5-

,Ri"ht'- said Bill' so they set off u* the road to the %astle& But they %ould not "o nearly so far as

usual' +e%ause the land$slide had %o(e a "ood deal farther do#n' and the hillside #as a terri+le'

4u(+led (ass of #et ro%)s' hea*s of soil' u*rooted trees and runnin" strea(s1a desolate$loo)in"

re"ion' indeed&

,It.s horrid'- said Lu%y$Ann& Then she turned to "a8e at the fro#nin" %astle' hi"her u*& ,The

%astle loo)s different& o(ethin".s ha**ened to it& Let.s %li(+ u* and see&-

o they %li(+ed u* hi"her' ta)in" the little ra++it$*ath they al#ays used& What a differen%e they

found as they %a(e near the %astle!,T#o of the to#ers have "one' and (ost of the #all'- said Lu%y$Ann' a#ed& ,We %an #al) ri"ht

into the %ourtyard no#' over the ru++le of stones& What a noise they (ust have (ade #hen they

fell!-

,And loo) at the %astle! The (iddle *art of it has fallen in! It.s not (u%h (ore than a shell

no#!- said /a%)' starin"&

It loo)ed al(ost a ruin& 0hili* stared hard at it& ,The (iddle *art (ust have %rashed do#n into

the +i" hall'- he said& ,No #onder you %ouldn.t (ove that entran%e stone' Bill& There (ust +e tons

of fallen +oulders on to* of it!-

Bill loo)ed rather sole(n& He %ould see #hat a narro# es%a*e fro( death they had all had& If

they had +een any#here in the %astle or %ourtyard they #ould have +een %rushed and +uried& Bein"

do#n in the hidden roo( had saved their lives!

,:ood$+ye to (y %a(era and all our ru"s and thin"s'- said /a%)&

,I.ll re*la%e everythin" you have lost'- *ro(ised Bill' #ho' no# that he had a%tually %a*tured

%ar$Ne%)' #as ready to *ro(ise the #hole #orld to anyone! ,And I.ll "ive you all a fine *resent

ea%h for lettin" (e share su%h a "rand adventure!-

,3e too5- said Tassie' at on%e& he li)ed Bill&

,You too'- said Bill& ,What #ould you li)e' Tassie5-

,Three *airs of shoes all for (yself'- said Tassie sole(nly' and the others lau"hed& They )ne#

Tassie #ouldn.t #ear the(& he #ould 4ust )ee* the( and love and ad(ire the(1+ut she #ould

never #ear the(& Funny little Tassie!

,Let.s "o +a%)'- said Lu%y$Ann& ,I don.t #ant to loo) at that ruin any (ore&-,Nor do I'- said Dinah' ,+ut so(eho# I feel as if it.s +etter as a ruin' o*en to anyone #ho %ares

to e2*lore it' than as a %astle o#ned +y #i%)ed old (en' or s*ies li)e %ar$Ne%)& I li)e it +etter

Documents

Blyton, Enid - Adventure 02 - The Castle of Adventure