You are on page 1of 121

1

CHAPTER ONE

A Meeting is Called
morning after school, Peter went to find his sister Janet. !e", Janet# he said. $ m calling a %ecret %e&en meeting for tomorrow morning. Jac' s (ncle has gi&en him a lo&el" )resent, and he wants all the %e&en to share it. *hat is it+ as'ed Janet. , game of some sort+ No. -o( ll ha&e to wait and see, said Peter. $t s Jac' s s(r)rise, not mine. *ill "o( write o(t a few notes and tell the others to come . 1/ o cloc' shar). 0han' goodness it s %at(rda" tomorrow.
ONE

2*(ff, said %cam)er the s)aniel. !e lo&ed %at(r. da"s too. !e 'new he wo(ld ha&e Peter and Janet all da" long then. -es, you shall come to the meeting as well, said Janet, )atting his soft golden coat. 3(t do "o( 'now the )assword, %cam)er+ *(ff.w(ff# said %cam)er at once, and the child. ren la(ghed. 4(ite right . the )assword is 5w(ff.w(ff5, said Peter. *hat a good memor" "o( ha&e, %cam)er# %cam)er wagged his tail, and said w(ff.w(ff again. 3etter not sa" it too often, %cam)er, said Janet. Or that awf(l %(sie might hear "o(. %(sie was Jac' s sister, and not one of the %ecret %e&en, tho(gh she 6adl" wanted to 6elong. %he lo&ed to find o(t whate&er )assword the %ecret %e&en were (sing, and it reall" was 7(ite diffic(lt to sto) her. Janet scri66led fo(r cards . one to 8olin, one to 9eorge, one to Pam and one to 3ar6ara. 0here# she said, $ ll ta'e them ro(nd on m" 6i'e. $ don t need to write to Jac', as he s as'ed for the meeting himself. $s he going to 6ring this )resent of his tomorrow, whate&er it is+ -es, said Peter. $ d 6etter tid" () the shed where we meet . and $ ll as' :other what she can s)are for

(s to eat. $ think 8oo'ie is 6a'ing toda", so $ ll go and tell her a6o(t the meeting, too# Ne<t morning Janet and Peter went down to their shed at a 7(arter to ten, carr"ing a good man" things. $ &e tidied it (), said Peter. 9ardener had 6een in and ta'en two of the 6ig flower.)ots we (sed as seats, 6(t $ fo(nd two 6o<es instead. 0he shed.door had on it the two 6ig letters %.%., standing for %ecret %e&en. Janet and Peter loo'ed at them )ro(dl". %ecret %e&en# said Janet. 3est cl(6 in the world# $ shall en=o" a meeting again . it s wee's since we

1/

had one . we &e 6een so 6(s" with school things. $n the" went, and sh(t the door. Now no one wo(ld 6e allowed in (nless the" ga&e the )assword. Peter set down the things he was carr"ing, and loo'ed ro(nd )ro(dl". >idn t $ clean the shed well+ he said. $ e&en cleaned the windows. $t s nice and warm too, isn t it+ 0he shed 6ac'ed on to the hot greenho(se, and so gained some of the heat from there. $t was )leasantl" warm on this cold No&em6er da". Janet 6egan to set o(t some colo(red m(gs, ta'ing them down from the shelf.

11

:other tho(ght we d 6etter ha&e hot cocoa this cold da", she said. $?ll fetch it as soon as e&er"one is here. $ 6et Jac' will 6e first with his wonderf(l )resent, whate&er it is# *here s %cam)er+ $ don t 'now. !e didn t come down with (s. $ e<. )ect he ll t(rn (), said Peter. @ !e s )ro6a6l" chasing his old enem" . the sta6le cat. !e still thin's he can catch her, tho(gh he ne&er will. Aoo' what 8oo'ie s gi&en (s, said Janet, showing Peter a tin f(ll of 6(ns. 8(rrant 6(ns warm from the o&en . and a home.made macaroon for each of (s# 9ood old 8oo'ie# said Peter, sniffing at the warm 6(ns. One of these da"s $ ll 6(" her a medal. 3(c' (), Janet . the others will 6e here in half a min(te. $ ho)e the" ll all remem6er the )assword# Aisten . here comes the first one. $ 6et it s Jac'.

12

CHAPTER TWO

That Awful Susie!


, B$%0 6anged on the door, and Peter called o(t at once. Password, )lease. *(ff.w(ff# said a &oice, rather lo(dl". Enter, said Peter, and >O remem6er not to sa" the )assword so that e&er"one can hear it for a mile aro(nd# %orr"# said 9eorge, coming in at the door, a grin on his face. >id $ so(nd li'e %cam)er+ $ tried to. *ell, "o( didn t, said Janet. -o( so(nded e<actl" li'e "o(rself. %it down, 9eorge. *e tho(ght "o( were Jac'. !e said he d 6e here earl", 6eca(se he has something to show (s. Cnoc'.'noc' . some6od" else had come. Pass. word# "elled Peter, and the answer came at once. *(ff.w(ff# *(ff.w(ff# $n came Pam and 3ar6ara, 6eaming all o&er their faces. !allo# *e re not the last. 9ood# 3ang.6ang# 'That m(st 6e Jac', said Janet, as Peter called o(t Password, )lease# 3(t it wasn t. $t

13

was 8olin. !e marched in and sh(t the door smartl". !allo, e&er"one# $ sa", it s nice and warm in here# *hat s the meeting called for+ ,n"thing s)ecial+ -es, said Peter. Jac' as'ed me to call it. !e has something =oll" interesting to show (s. $ can t thin' wh" he s not here. $t s )ast ten, and he said he d 6e earl". $ 6et it s that awf(l sister of his who s sto))ing him coming, said Pam. 3(t how co(ld she 'now a6o(t o(r meeting+ said Peter. Jac' wo(ldn t tell her, $ m s(re. !ere s Jac', said 3ar6ara, as more footste)s

14

came down the )ath to the shed. %omeone ga&e the door s(ch a 6ang that the" all =(m)ed. 3efore Peter co(ld call o(t Password a &oice sho(ted it lo(dl". *DBB.*DBB. Enter# cried Peter, s(re it was Jac' s &oice. 0he door flew o)en . and there stood %(sie, Jac' s sister# %he grinned ro(nd at them. 0han's for in&iting me to "o(r meeting, she said, and sh(t the door 6ehind her. %he sat down on a 6o< 6efore an"one co(ld sto) her. %(sie# !ow dare "o(# sho(ted Peter and Janet together. Peter threw the door o)en. 9o awa"# he said. -o( 'now "o( &e no right here. -o( don t 6elong to the %ecret %e&en. *ell, "o( d 6etter let me 6elong then, said %(sie. 3eca(se m" mother sa"s that the )resent Jac' had from o(r Dncle 3o6 is to 6e shared 6etween (s# ,nd

15

as he s 6ringing it here to show "o( toda", I've come to share it too. %omeone else came down the )ath, carr"ing something o&er his sho(lder . something long and straight. 0here was a lo(d 'noc' on the door, and the )assword was said &er" clearl". *(ff.w(ff, said Jac' s &oice. $t was e<actl" li'e %(sie s, so no wonder e&er"one had tho(ght she was Jac'# Enter# called Peter. Jac' came in, carr"ing his load caref(ll". !e glared angril" at %(sie. !ow did she 'now o(r )assword, Jac'+ as'ed Peter, sternl". >id "o( tell her+ No, he didn t. $ =(st hid in a 6(sh o(tside and listened, said %(sie. -o( needn t glare at me li'e that, Jac'. :other said $ co(ld share that )resent, "o( 'now she did. 8an t we t(rn her o(t+ said Pam, who didn t li'e %(sie at all. %he alwa"s tries to s)oil e&er"thing# -o( =(st try to t(rn me o(t# said %(sie, fiercel", I don t want to come to "o(r sill" old meetings . 6(t $ tell "o(, $ m going to share Jac' s )resent as m(ch as an" of you are. Peter loo'ed at her in des)air. *hat co(ld "o( do

16

with a girl li'e %(sie+ $f the" tried to t(rn her o(t she wo(ld )ro6a6l" sho(t and "ell, and 6ring his mother down to see what was the matter . and :other might e&en agree that %(sie sho(ld sta" and hear what Jac' said a6o(t his )resent. 0omorrow 3in'ie, m" friend, is coming to sta" with me, said %(sie. ,nd $ &e said she can share the )resent too . m" half of it, $ mean. Binkie - that awf(l little ra66it.face+ said 9eorge, in horror. 0hat sill" giggler . that. . . E&er"one groaned. %(sie alone was 6ad eno(gh, 6(t when she and 3in'ie were together the two girls were im)ossi6le. *ell . what are "o( going to do+ as'ed %(sie. ,ll r(sh on me together and throw me o(t+ Or let me sta" here at the meeting+ Peter made () his mind 7(ic'l". On NO acco(nt co(ld %(sie attend one of the %ecret %e&en meetings. On the other hand the" co(ldn t throw her o(t. %he wo(ld ma'e s(ch a f(ss# Eer" well then . he m(st declare the meeting ended, and sa" that there wo(ld 6e no )ro)er meeting, 6(t =(st a tal' a6o(t Jac' s )resent, whate&er it was. $ declare this %ecret %e&en meeting ended, he said, in a lo(d &oice. *e will all go indoors and see

17

Jac' s )resent in o(r )la"room. $ will NO0 ha&e strangers )resent at o(r secret meetings. !e got (), and all the others stood too . e<ce)t %(sie. ,ll right, all right . "o( win, she said. -o(r mother wo(ld 6e cross with me, $ 'now, if $ go in. doors with "o(. %he ll thin' $ &e interfered. 3(t =(st "o( listen for a min(te, and hear my side of the 7(estion#

11

CHAPTER THREE

Jack's Present
6efore %(sie co(ld go on, footste)s )attered () to the shed.door, and someone scra)ed at the 6ot. tom. Password# sho(ted Peter, and a dogg" &oice answered at once, *DBB.*DBB.*DBB# Enter, %cam)er, said Peter. 3(t "o( said too man" w(ffs# 8le&er dog, to remem6er the )assword# 0hat made them all la(gh, e&en %(sie. %cam)er trotted in and lic'ed e&er"one in delight. 0hen he la" down at Peter s feet, )anting. -o( re late, %cam)erF said Peter. 3(t it doesn t matter 6eca(se $ &e declared the meeting ended. %(sie, if "o( &e an"thing to sa", sa" it, and go. ,ll right, said %(sie. 50hat thing Jac' has
3D0

1;

6ro(ght is a )resent from o(r Dncle 3o6, who was once a sailor. $t s a telesco)e . and a =oll" fine one, too# , telescoped said e&er"one, e<cited. -es . now the" co(ld see that it was. Jac' 6egan to ta'e off the wra))ings s(l'il", as %(sie went on tal'ing. *ell, Jac' s idea was to 6ring it down here and gi&e it to the %ecret %e&en, said %(sie. 3(t :other said Dncle 3o6 meant me to share it . and $ didn t see wh" "o( %ecret %e&en sho(ld ha&e it all. $ 'new $ d ne&er see it once it was installed in this shed. %o $ arg(ed with Jac' . . . %ho(ted the )lace down, "o( mean# said )oor Jac'. ,nd :other heard, and she came, and she said Jac' was to share the telesco)e with me, tho(gh she was )leased that the %ecret %e&en co(ld loo' thro(gh it too. ,nd Jac' said he didn t care what :other said, he wasn t going to let me share an" of it . so $ shot off 6" m"self and came to the meeting to tell "o( all this. ,nd left me 6ehind with :other in a real rage, said Jac'. $ m so sorr", e&er"one. $ meant to lea&e the telesco)e here in the shed, so that we co(ld all (se it, and loo' at all sorts of things in the distance .

2/

the different cars going along the hillside road . the castle on the hill . the herons on the old )ond . it wo(ld ha&e 6een s(ch f(n. -es . f(n for you - 6(t not for me# said %(sie. ,nd what a6o(t 3in'ie+ You want to share the telesco)e with Peter and Janet and the rest, don t "o( . well, I want to share it with 3in'ie# $ sho(ldn t thin' 3in'ie 'nows what a telesco)e G# said Jac'. !er head s f(ll of wool, not 6rains# She won t want to (se a telesco)e. Now listen, said Peter, ma'ing () his mind 7(ic'l". -o( ll have to share with %(sie, Jac', if "o(r mother sa"s so. 3(t wh" sho(ldn t we 'ee) it down here in the shed, so that any of (s can (se it at an" time+ Not at a s)ecial meeting or an"thing li'e that. *e d ha&e to 'ee) the shed loc'ed, then, said Jac'. 0his telesco)e is 7(ite &al(a6le, Dncle said. 3(t that means that %(sie will ha&e to 'now where the 'e" is# *ell . as long as she doesn t tr" to come to an" of o(r meetings again and s)oil them as she has s)oilt toda" s, $ don t see wh" she sho(ldn t 'now where the 'e" is, said Peter. *e &e got to 6e fair a6o(t this, Jac'. $ 6et my mother wo(ld sa" $ d got to

21

share with Janet if someone ga&e me something fine li'e this telesco)e. Aet s 6e fair. ,ll right, said Jac', gloomil". 'Be fair. 3(t don t 6lame me if %(sie and 3in'ie s)" on (s and find o(t all o(r secrets and )asswords and e&er"thing. Aet s ha&e something to eat and drin', said Janet. *e ll all feel 6etter then. -o( d 6etter ha&e some too, %(sie. 3eing cross alwa"s ma'es )eo)le h(ngr". *ell, $ m not h(ngr", said %(sie, getting (). 3(t than' "o( all the same, Janet. $ 'now when $ m not wanted. $ onl" came to sa" $ m going to share the telesco)e. *ait a 6it, said 8olin, seeing that %(sie was near tears, for all her 6oldness. 3efore "o( go we d 6etter arrange where the 'e" is to 6e hidden. 0hen "o( ll 'now where to loo' for it. 0ell Jac', and he can tell me, said %(sie, stal'ing o(t of the door. 9ood6"e, st(c'.()s# *ait till $ tell 3in'ie a6o(t this# %he slammed the door so hard that %cam)er =(m)ed and 6egan to 6ar'. Jac' loo'ed ro(nd at the others, feeling ashamed of his sister. %(sie s got s(ch a tem)er, he said. $ m so sorr" a6o(t this. Aet s not tal' a6o(t %(sie, said Janet. %he

22

didn t go off 6eca(se she didn t want to share o(r food . she went 6eca(se she was afraid she was going to cr". ,nd $ can =(st imagine how awf(l she d feel if she did . in front of all of (s#

%o no6od" said another word a6o(t %(sie, 6(t t(c'ed into c(rrant 6(ns and macaroons and hot cocoa. %cam)er had his share, and thoro(ghl" en=o"ed himself. !e went to sniff all ro(nd the 6ig, strange. loo'ing )arcel that Jac' had 6ro(ght into the shed. No one seems interested in m" telesco)e e<ce)t %cam)er, said Jac', in a forlorn &oice. ,nd $ was so &er" e<cited a6o(t it. Peter cla))ed him on the sho(lder. %o are we# 8ome on . let s see this wonderf(l )resent#
23

CHAPTER FOUR

The Wonderful Telescope


wra))ings were soon off . and the %e&en crowded ro(nd as Jac' )(t the 6ig telesco)e together, and showed them how the long t(6e co(ld 6e stretched o(t e&en longer. -o( &e no idea how far the telesco)e s e"e can see, he said. *hen $ loo'ed thro(gh it this morning 6efore $ came, $ co(ld see the scarecrow in the field half a mile from o(r ho(se . and what is more $ co(ld see a s)arrow or some 6ird sitting on his hat# >o let s loo' thro(gh it, said Janet, e<cited. Aet s ta'e it o(t into the garden, and train it on something far awa". %o the" carried it o(t into the garden, and set it on its little stand on the 6road to) of the low garden wall. Jac' was &er" cle&er at ad=(sting the lens so that it foc(sed )ro)erl", and made e&er"thing as clear as co(ld 6e.
0!E

24

Now that s e<actl" right, said Jac', loo'ing thro(gh the telesco)e. $ &e trained it on that little cottage o&er on the slo)e there. 3efore "o( loo'

thro(gh the telesco)e tell me what "o( can see with "o(r 6are e"es. *ell . the cottage, of co(rse, said Pam. ,nd something in the garden, $ can t see what. ,nd some6od" on the )ath. 0hat s a6o(t all, said 3ar6ara. Hight. *ell, loo' thro(gh the telesco)e and "o( ll see a whole lot more# said Jac'. -o( first, Peter . "o( re o(r leader. %o Peter loo'ed thro(gh the long telesco)e, and immediatel" ga&e a lo(d cr". Jac'# $t s mar&ello(s# $ can see :rs !addon as if she was =(st o&er o(r wall . and $ can e&en see the =(g she is carr"ing. ,nd that s a
25

)ram in the garden . and $ can see the 6a6" s tedd" 6ear sitting () at the end of it# ,nd . . . Aet me ha&e a t(rn, said Janet, itching to ha&e a loo'. 9ood gracio(s# I can see something stic'ing o(t of the chimne"# $t m(st 6e a swee) s 6r(sh. -es, it is# ,nd there s a cat sittingI =(st inside the window# Oh Jac' . it s as if $ &e magic e"es that can see for miles# Oh, aren t "o( l(c'" to ha&e a telesco)e li'e this + *hat f(n we ll ha&e# Jac' was &er" )leased at the e<citement his telesco)e ca(sed, as one after another the %ecret %e&en )eered thro(gh it. *e can ha&e great f(n with it, he said, )ro(dl". *e can watch the 6irds and see
26

e&er"thing the" do. *e can e<amine e&er" aero)lane that comes o&erhead. *e can . . . 8hildren# *hate&er are "o( doing standing still o(t in the cold for so long+ s(ddenl" cried a &oice. -o( ll get colds, all of "o(# *hat s that "o( &e got+ $t s a telesco)e, :other, called Janet. $t 6elongs to Jac'. !e s sharing it with (s. !ow lo&el"# 3(t do "o( 'now how late it s get. ting+ called her mother. *ell, we ll )(t the telesco)e awa" now, said Jac'. $ m s())osed to get home to an earl" l(nch. 8ome on . hel) me with it, 8olin. %oon the telesco)e was safel" in the shed, wra))ed () &er" caref(ll". $t s =oll" good of "o( to share it with (s, said Peter, and to sa" we can all (se it when we li'e. 3(t $ thin' we d 6etter sa" that $ or Janet m(st 6e told when an"one comes to 6orrow it . we ll 6e responsible for it, see+ $s that (nderstood, e&er"one+ Oh "es# *e ll come and tell "o( when we want to loo' thro(gh it, said 9eorge, and the others agreed. 3(t s())ose "o( re o(t+ *e d 6etter 'now where the 'e" of the shed is to 6e 'e)t, Peter. Oh . of co(rse, said Peter. Aet s thin' now .

27

somewhere fairl" eas" to get . 6(t "et well hidden. *hat a6o(t (nder this flat stone here, =(st 6" the shed+ %cam)er, "o( re the onl" one not allowed to to(ch the stone or the 'e". Dnderstand+ *(ff, said %cam)er solemnl" and wagged his tail. !e watched while Peter caref(ll" slid the 'e" (nder the stone. $ ll ha&e to tell %(sie where it is, said Jac', in rather a small &oice. $ 'now. *e )romised that, said Peter. %he will have to go into o(r shed, 6(t we ll 6e caref(l not to lea&e an" %ecret %e&en secrets a6o(t# 0ell her where the 'e" is . and sa" she :D%0 )(t it 6ac' (nder the stone if she e&er (ses it. Hight, said Jac'. Er . what a6o(t a new )ass. word, Peter+ %(sie 'nows o(r last one. 9ood gracio(s, "es. $ d forgotten that, said Peter. *ell, $ thin' it s 7(ite o6&io(s what we ll ha&e# 0he ne<t )assword, mem6ers, is . 0EAE%8OPE# 0hen off the" all went, and Peter and Janet carried e&er"thing caref(ll" 6ac' to the ho(se. %cam)er fol. lowed them, wagging his tail. *(ff.w(ff# he said, and Peter la(ghed. No . that s o(r old )assword, %cam)er. -o( ll ha&e to remem6er the new one#

21

CHAPTER FIVE

Through the Telescope


telesco)e was a great s(ccess. 0he %ecret %e&en fo(nd it a most fascinating )astime to )eer thro(gh it at all 'inds of things, and there was m(ch coming and going at the meeting.shed. 0m writing an essa" on g(lls in wintertime, said 9eorge, arri&ing one dinner ho(r, com)lete with sandwiches to eat. $ tho(ght $ d set () the telesco)e and watch the g(lls on "o(r father s fields, Peter .
0!E

2;

there are alwa"s so man" there, at this time of "ear. %o there sat 9eorge, solemnl" chewing ham sand. wiches, and )eering thro(gh the telesco)e at the e<. cited g(lls foraging in a newl" )lo(ghed field. No wonder he had ten o(t of ten for his essa"# 8olin wanted to see the 6ig =et.liners that flew steadil" on their wa" o&erhead. $ co(ld almost see what the )eo)le in it were ha&ing for dinner, he told an astonished Janet. 3(t she wasn t interested in )lanes . she lo&ed to swing the telesco)e ro(nd on its stand, and watch the )eo)le wal'ing or riding on the distant road. $t s almost as if the" were in the garden, she said. @ Peter, $ saw old :rs Cing riding on her tric"cle, and $ co(nted the onions in her net.6ag . twel&e she had. ,nd $ saw that horrid little !arr" Jones ride 6" the greengrocer s cart and 7(ic'l" ta'e an orange off it as he went. -o( ll t(rn into a )ee)ing 0om if "o( don t loo' o(t, said Peter. $ 6et "o(ng !arr" wo(ld 6e horrified if he 'new "o( were watching him across doJens of fields# 0he telesco)e was (sed at night too, and the %e&en mar&elled at the wa" in which it 6ro(ght the moon so close to them. 0he" had to ta'e the telesco)e

3/

indoors for that, 6eca(se Peter s mother said it was too cold to sta" o(tside with it. %(sie came to (se it too, of co(rse, with her friend 3in'ie, who was =(st as giggl" as e&er. 0he" fo(nd the 'e" and went into the shed. 0he" too' the telesco)e into the garden and rested it on the wall. Peter saw them there, and went o(t to them. Oooh, r(n, %(sie . here s Peter# giggled 3in'ie, )retending to 6e scared. Oh, don t eat (s, will "o(, Peter# Oooh, $ m frightened of "o(. $ onl" came to see that "o( 'new how to (se the telesco)e, said Peter, coldl". $ tho(ght %(sie might want hel). %(sie was 6(s" loo'ing thro(gh the telesco)e. %he had it trained on a ho(se some wa" off . then she sw(ng it to another ho(se. 50here s :r Honeo )ainting his greenho(se, she said. 0he ladder s awf(ll" wo66l". ,nd now $ can see :iss Bellows cleaning her window from inside. Now $ m loo'ing at the roof of that 6ig old ho(se .1 can see it stic'ing () a6o&e the trees. 0here s a s'"light set in the roof . it s 6eing o)ened . someone s clim6ing o(t# Oh# O!# O!# !er s(dden lo(d screaming made Peter =(m) in fright. *hat s the matter+ *hat s ha))ening+ he

31

demanded. Aet me see. 3(t %(sie fended Peter off and 'e)t her e"e gl(ed to the telesco)e. %omeone else has clim6ed o(t on the roof now# she cried. ,nd he s chasing the first man. Oh, he s fallen off the roof# Peter, what shall we do+ *e d 6etter tell "o(r mother, and get hel). :other s o(t, said Peter, worried. $?ll r(sh off m"self and see what $ can do. 0here s a doctor who li&es o))osite that old ho(se. $ co(ld get him if he s there. :" word, what a 6it of l(c' "o( ha))ened to loo' thro(gh the telesco)e =(st then# !e tore off down the garden . 6(t when he came to the gate, he heard a noise that made him )a(se. $t was the so(nd of delighted giggling# !e sto))ed at once . and then strode 6ac' angril". *hat are "o( la(ghing at, 3in'ie+ %(sie, did "o( reall" see a man fall off the roof . or not+ *ell . he might not ha&e fallen off, said %(sie. $ ll loo' again. %he )(t her e"e to the telesco)e and )eered thro(gh it once more. $ can still see him# !e s got his foot ca(ght in the roof g(tter now . oh, POOH man, he s hanging ()side.down 6" one foot. Now here comes the other man, he . . . $diot# said Peter, angril". ,ll made (), of co(rse# $ might easil" ha&e gone off to that ho(se

32

and ta'en the doctor too, and h(nted for an imaginar" man down in the garden. $ s())ose "o( thin' that s f(nn"+ Oh we do, we do# said %(sie, with tears of la(ghter in her e"es. $t s awfully f(nn", Peter . "o( sho(ld =(st ha&e seen "o(r face of horror. 0his is a most wonderf(l telesco)e. $ wonder what $ ll see ne<t. You ha&e a t(rn, 3in'ie, and see if "o( can s)ot an"thing interesting too. -o( can 6oth clear off, said Peter, and too' firm hold of the telesco)e. $f this is the 'ind of thing "o( re going to (se a telesco)e for, $ shall loc' it (). GO HOME, BOTH OF YOU!' ,nd dear me, he loo'ed so fierce, and %cam)er 6egan to 6ar' so lo(dl" that %(sie and 3in'ie act(all" o6e"ed him, and fled for their li&es#

33

CHAPTER SIX

A Face at the Window!


wasn t (ntil Janet tho(ght she wo(ld t(rn the telesco)e on to the 6ig hill where the r(ined old castle of 0orling stood, that an"thing reall" e<citing t(rned (). 0he castle wasn t m(ch more than a few standing walls, and one great r(ined tower in which =ac'daws nested. Janet li'ed the =ac'daws. 0he" sometimes flew down to the farm, and )ec'ed a6o(t with the hens, tal'ing all the time in their chatter" &oices. 8hac'.chac'.chac'# the" called to one another. Jac' and Pam were with Janet the last time she had gone to watch the =ac'daws in the fields, and Jac'
$0

34

had made them la(gh 6" sa"ing that he 'e)t wanting to sa" -es, sir# e&er" time a =ac'daw called 8hac'# $t so(nds e<actl" as if the" re "elling at me, said Jac', =(st li'e o(r games master does at foot6all# 8hac'# 8hac'# called a 6ig =ac'daw at once, coc'ing his head on one side and loo'ing () at Jac'. 0here# !e heard what $ said, said Jac', and the" all la(ghed. 0he =ac'daws nested in the r(ins of the old tower, 6(t now that it was No&em6er their "o(ng ones were grown, and were fl"ing with them. 0he little colon" m(st ha&e n(m6ered at least a h(ndred. Janet co(ld see them from her 6edroom window, and had often wished the old tower was nearer the farm, so that she co(ld watch the antics of the 6irds more closel". ,nd now $ caw# she tho(ght. *e &e got that lo&el" telesco)e that 6rings e&er"thing so near# *h" didn t $ thin' of watching the =ac'daws 6efore# %he went to fetch it, first telling Peter in case he wanted it himself. $t s reall" too cold to sit o(t in the o)en air with it toda", he said, as he too' the 'e" o(t from (nder the stone. 3etter ta'e the telesco)e indoors, Janet. $ ll carr" it in for "o(. *e

35

co(ld )(t it () in the 6o<room at the to) of the ho(se . "o( d 6e o(t of the wa" then . and the 6ig window there loo's right () the hill to the castle. %oon Janet was sitting in the 6o<room, s(rro(nded 6" all 'inds of =(n', her e"e gl(ed to the 6ottom end of the telesco)e t(6e. %he had trained it caref(ll" on to the to) of the farawa" hill, where the =ac'daws circled ro(nd the tower, a h(ndred small 6lac' dots in the far distance. 3(t now, seen thro(gh the telesco)e the" 6ecame 6irds, not dots . 6irds with o(ts)read wings, circling and rising and falling in the mist" No&em6er da". 0he" )la"ed tric's on one another, chased each other, )retended to t(m6le and then swe)t awa" cr"ing chac'.chac'.chac' as if the" were la(ghing. Janet la(ghed too. ,nd then she s(ddenl" stiffened on her chair. %he was loo'ing at one of the old windows at the to) of the tower, thro(gh which some of the =ac'daws had 6een fl"ing . 6(t now there were no =ac'daws thereK the" had flown awa" as if s(ddenl" scared, when something a))eared in the window.o)ening, )ee)ing ca(tio(sl" o&er the stone window.ledge. *hat is it + tho(ght Janet. $t s not a 6ird. %(rel" it can t 6e a cat+ No . it isn t . m" goodness me, it s

36

a head - a man s head with a hat on . no, a ca). *hat in the world is he doing+ 0he head remained at the window for a few min. (tes, and then disa))eared. Janet 'new that there were dangero(s, 6ro'en ste)s at one side of the tower, leading almost to the to), and she g(essed that whoe&er it was who was there wo(ld now 6e clim6ing down. %he trained the telesco)e downwards . and ca(ght sight of something mo&ing )ast one of the lower windows. 0he man was half.wa" down#

37

Aoo' at that# she said, o(t lo(d, astonished. %omeone s hiding in that old tower# *hate&er for+ $t s r(ined and t(m6le.down and deserted . and dangero(s too, 6eca(se it s grad(all" s(6siding# $ m(st tell Peter# %he "elled for him and he came () to the 6o<room. Janet told him what she had seen, and he too loo'ed thro(gh the telesco)e at the old castle. 3(t he co(ld see nothing mo&ing there, e<ce)t the =ac'daws, who were now once more settling here and there on the castle walls. *hoe&er it was has gone into hiding down 6e@ low, said Janet, 6eginning to feel e<cited. %o the =ac'daws aren t frightened an" longer. *ho can it 6e, Peter+ 8an t imagine# said her 6rother, )(JJled. No. 6od" e&er goes there in the winter . and an"wa", it s s())ose to 6e dangero(s now. %ome stones fell down this s)ring, "o( 'now . right off the to) of the tower# ,re "o( 7(ite sure "o( saw a face at the window+ *hich window was it+ Janet told him, and Peter gaJed at it thro(gh the telesco)e, mo&ing it downwards to other o)enings. !e ga&e a s(dden e<clamation. -es# 0here is someone there# $ saw something

31

mo&ing down 6elow . on the gro(nd floor. $ m s(re someone )assed 7(ic'l" across the doorwa", =(st inside# No wonder the =ac'daws 'ee) fl"ing () in fright# *e m(st tell the %ecret %e&en, said Janet, e<. cited. -o( ne&er 'now, Peter . this might 6e some. thing m"sterio(s, something that. . . Peter la(ghed. $t s )ro6a6l" =(st some tram) loo'ing for shelter# %till, we ll tell the others and see what they thin'#

3;

CHAPTER SEVEN

Susie is Ver Anno ing


da", when Peter wal'ed home with Jac' and 9eorge after school, he told them what he and Janet had seen thro(gh the telesco)e. Janet saw a face .the head of a man wearing a ca), he said. ,nd $ distinctl" saw someone mo&ing 6ehind the great doorwa" of the castle. $ thin' there s a man hiding () there. *ell, if he were hiding, s(rel" he wo(ldn t gi&e himself awa" 6" )eering thro(gh windows and wal'. ing across o)en doorwa"s# o6=ected Jac'. $ e<)ect it was =(st a chance &isitor. Aoo', Jac' . an"one hiding () there wo(ld ne&er, ne&er imagine that an"6od" co(ld possibly s)ot him in the castle, far awa" from e&er"where, at the to) of that hill# said Peter. $t was onl" 6eca(se we were
NEL0

4/

(sing "o(r )owerf(l telesco)e that that man was seen# !e co(ld ne&er 6e s)otted with the na'ed e"e. -es . "o( re right there, said 9eorge. $ didn t thin' of that. 0he castle is so lonel" and deserted on the to) of that stee) hill that an"one might =(dge it safe to hide there in the wintertime. 3(t it m(st 6e =oll" cold# *here does he slee), do "o( thin'+ >own in the old d(ngeons+ s(ggested Peter, with a shi&er. !a&e "o( e&er seen them+ -o( go down a6o(t a h(ndred ste)s into a cold, dar', echoing )lace . rather li'e a most enormous cellar# !(ndreds of "ears ago )risoners were 'e)t down there. !ow horri6le )eo)le m(st ha&e 6een in those da"s# said 9eorge. $ co(ldn t e&en 'ee) a dog or cat down in a cellar# *hat a6o(t (s going () to the old castle and ha&ing a snoo) ro(nd+ said Jac'. $ &e ne&er 6een there. *ell, it s rather dangero(s now, m" dad sa"s, said 9eorge. 3(t the dangero(s )laces ha&e warning notices (), so $ dare sa" we d 6e all right. ,fter all, we re )rett" sensi6le, or Peter wo(ldn t allow (s to 6elong to the %ecret %e&en# 0hat made the others la(gh. 4(ite right, said Peter. No fatheads allowed in the %.%. 8l(6# *ell,

41

what a6o(t it . shall we go () to the castle+ *e co(ld 6i'e or wal', whiche&er "o( li'e. 3i'e, said Jac'. $t s tr(e we ll ha&e to wal' () most of the castle hill, it s so stee) . 6(t it will 6e f(n to coast down. Hight. %at(rda" morning, then, said Peter. *e ll as' 8olin if he d li'e to come, 6(t not the girls . the hill wo(ld 6e a 6it stee) for them. 3(t the three girls had 7(ite other ideas a6o(t that. 0oo stee) indeed# snorted Janet, when Peter told her what he and the other 6o"s had )lanned. $ 6et $ co(ld ride right () that hill and get to the to) 6efore "o( did# *e re all coming, see+ Pam and 3ar6ara, too. 0his is a %ecret %e&en thing, and we ll all 6e in it. ,n"wa", F disco&ered there was someone hiding in the castle, not "o(# ,ll right, all right, all right,' said Peter, 6ac'ing awa". >on t 6ite m" nose off. $ ll ring () Jac' and tell him it s to 6e a %ecret %e&en o(ting. *e ll all wear o(r 6adges. %o he rang () Jac', and told him that Janet in. sisted on the three girls coming. *hat a n(isance# said Jac'. $t s 7(ite a wa" to the castle . and we ll ha&e to 6i'e slowl" or the girls won t 'ee) () with (s.

42

*hat s this "o( re )honing a6o(t+ said %(sie, s(ddenl" a))earing at the door of the room in which Jac' was )honing. ,re "o( going on a s)ree or something+ $ d li'e to come too. $t wo(ld 6e a treat for 3in'ie. *ell, "o( re not coming# said Jac'. $t s a %ecret %e&en o(ting. ,nd do sh(t () a min(te. 8an t "o( see $m )honing+ !e t(rned 6ac' to the tele)hone. %orr", Peter. %(sie came 6arging in =(st then. %he said she wanted to come too, with 3in'ie# *hat a tr(l" horri6le idea# said Peter into the )hone. 50he" can t, of co(rse. $ won t ha&e them. !a&e "o( s)otted that fellow again, hiding in the

43

castle+ as'ed Jac', thin'ing that %(sie had gone o(t of the room. >on t tal' a6o(t that on the )hone, said Peter, 7(ite cross. ,n"one might hear# $t s our secret# %orr", said Jac', h(m6l". ,ll right, then . we all of (s meet at a 7(arter to ten, %at(rda" morning, o(tside "o(r front gate. $s %cam)er coming+ No. 0oo long a r(n for him, said Peter. 9ood6"e for now# %(sie )o(nced on Jac' as soon as he had finished. %he had 6een hiding 6ehind an arm.chair, listening# Jac' glared at her in rage. -o( &e 6een listening I *ell, a fat lot of good it will do "o(# ,nd he stal'ed o(t of the room. *ho s hiding in the old castle+ ,nd wh" are the" there, do "o( thin'+ as'ed %(sie, following Jac' o(t of the room. 9o on . tell me. !ow do "o( know an"one s there+ $t s too far to see )eo)le in the castle. $ don t 6elie&e it# -o( forget that we ha&e a telesco)e, :iss 8le&er# said Jac', coldl", and ran () the stairs. %(sie made a r(de face 6ehind his 6ac'. *ell, we re coming too, 3in'ie and $, she said. *e ll 6e the %ecret Nine, instead of the %ecret %e&en# %o there#

44

CHAPTER EIGHT

!p at the Castle
'new )erfectl" well that %(sie wo(ld 'ee) her word, and that she and 3in'ie wo(ld follow the %e&en on their =o(rne" to the old castle. !e 'ic'ed himself for not ha&ing made certain that his anno"ing sister was o(t of the room 6efore he finished )honing. *ith a sigh he went to see Peter, not daring to tele)hone him again, in case %(sie was a6o(t. !e told him of %(sie s threat. *ell . fanc" letting o(t what o(r )lans were, with Susie in the room# said Peter, in disg(st. -o( reall" are a m(tt# Ne&er mind. *e ll sim)l" start half an ho(r later . 6(t for goodness sake don t let her g(ess that# %o, at 7(arter )ast ten on %at(rda" morning, the %ecret %e&en assem6led o(tside Peter s front gate. ,ll of them had their 6ic"cles with them, and in the 6as'ets were 6ottles of lemonade, and 6isc(its. 0his was Janet s idea, and e&er"one tho(ght it a &er" good one.
J,8C

45

Jac' was the last to arri&e, and he )edalled () in a h(rr". %orr" $ m late, he said. $ had to ma'e s(re that %(sie and 3in'ie weren t l"ing in wait somewhere, meaning to come with me# *here are the"+ demanded Peter. $ don t 'now. 3(t their 6i'es are still in the shed, so we re safe, said Jac', than'f(ll". $ as'ed :other where the" were, and she said she heard them tal'ing a6o(t going sho))ing . so that s all right# ,ll the same . we ll 'ee) a loo'.o(t till we re safel" on the wa", said Peter. $ will not ha&e those two messing () o(r )lans.

46

0he" saw no sign whate&er of %(sie or 3in'ie and soon forgot a6o(t them. ,fter all, if their 6i'es were in the shed, the" co(ldn t go far# *hen the" came to the stee) road that wo(nd () ro(nd the castle hill, the" )anted and )(ffed . and one 6" one lea)t off to wal'. $t reall" was too stee) to ride (). 0he road did not go to the castle, 6(t )assed 6" it some wa" off. , foot)ath o&er a stile led to the old r(in, and when the" came to this the %e&en )iled their 6ic"cles on to) of one another in the hedge, and were soon o&er the stile. 0he" carried their lemonade and 6isc(its with them, )lanning to eat and drin' in the shelter of the castle. $t was still some wa" off () the hill. 0he" all 'e)t a shar) loo'.o(t for signs of an"one loo'ing o(t of the windows, 6(t co(ld see nothing at all. 0he =ac'daws circled o&erhead all the time, calling lo(dl", dist(r6ed at seeing so man" children. 8hac', chac'# the" called. 8hac', chac'# ,nd Jac' answered at once. 9lad "o( 'now me# !ow are "o( all+ ,ss# said Peter, la(ghing. :" word . what an enormo(s n(m6er there are# Now, what shall we do first+ Aoo' ro(nd the old )lace . go down into the d(ngeons and snoo) aro(nd+ Eat o(r 6isc(its+

47

Aet s go inside and eat there, said 3ar6ara. 0he wind s =oll" strong o(t here, and $ m cold. $ m h(ngr", too. *e can snoo) ro(nd afterwards.

%o the" all troo)ed () the 6ro'en ste)s, and in at the great entrance to the castle, where once enormo(s gates had h(ng. 0he" sto))ed in the &ast hall inside, and stared in s(r)rise. $t was )iled high at one side with twigs of all 'inds and siJes# *ho )(t those here+ said Jac', )(JJled. Oh, of co(rse . the =ac'daws# 0he" nest in the tower chimne", and these twigs m(st ha&e fallen down from their nests for "ears and "ears#

41

0he" loo'ed () the tower. 0he" co(ld see the s'" thro(gh a s7(are hole at the to) where smo'e once rose from the enormo(s stone fire.)lace far 6elow,

in the hall. 0his was almost com)letel" hidden 6" the fallen twigs, which had s)read o(t on to the hall floor as well. 0he" crac'ed lo(dl" as the children trod on them. , 6ig wooden notice, with >,N9EH )ainted on it, was )laced f(rther down the hall, in a car&ed stone doorwa". 0he children )eered thro(gh it, and saw a 6ig room, with one wall cr(m6ling dangero(sl". $t loo'ed as if it might fall at an" time. *e can t go in there, said Peter, at once. $ sho(ldn t thin' an"one wo(ld hide in that room .$ imagine it wo(ld 6e a )rett" dangero(s hiding.)lace# %h# said Janet, in a low &oice. >on t tal' a6o(t hiding.)laces . if an"one is hiding here, the" ll hear "o(. -o( re right, said Peter. Aet s go f(rther down the hall . we ll find )lent" more old rooms, $ e<)ect, all cr(m6ling awa"# 8ome on . and loo' o(t for an" signs of )eo)le hiding# he added, in a whis)er. Bollow me#

4;

CHAPTER NINE

An "#citing Ti$e!
wasn t (ntil the" came to what seemed to 6e a dar' 'itchen.li'e )lace, with a h(ge stone sin' in one corner, that the" fo(nd an"thing at all e<citing. Jac' s(ddenl" sto))ed and )ointed. 0he others loo'ed, and saw what a))eared to ha&e 6een a fire, made of stic's, half.6(rnt thro(gh. Pam ga&e a little cr" as she 6ent o&er them.
$0
5/

*h" . the stic's are still warm# $t s not long since this fire was lighted# %h# said e&er"one, loo'ing o&er their sho(lders, feeling that whoe&er had lighted that fire, might still 6e a6o(t. Peter felt the twigs. -es, the" were certainl" still warm . and what was more, it loo'ed as if someone had stam)ed o(t the little fire in a h(rr", for it was c(rio(sl" flattened# 0al' in lo(d &oices a6o(t ordinar" things, com. manded Peter, in a whis)er. ,nd 'ee) "o(r e"es o)en. 0he" followed Peter here and there, and () some ste)s to a stone 6ench in a cr(m6ling recess in the wall. , news)a)er had 6een left there, and the" )o(nced on it. *hat date is it+ $t might tell (s whether an"one has 6een here recentl", said 8olin. !e shoo' it o)en. No . no (se, he said. Aoo' . it s dated %e)tem6er 16.ages ago# Aeft 6" some &isitor, )ro6a6l" . ma"6e tri))ers were still &isiting the castle then, said Peter. 8ome on . let s ha&e another loo' ro(nd. 0o their great disa))ointment the" co(ld find nothing of an" (se at all. , few cigarette ends . one or two dead matches . a )a)er 6ag that had once held

51

sweets. No . $ can t sa" that these are an" hel), said Peter. $ &ote we sit down and ha&e o(r 6isc(its, said 9eorge, at last, tired of h(nting in e&er" corner. 0m filth" dirt" . =(st loo' at m" hands#

$ sa" . do "o( s())ose these ste)s go down to the d(ngeons+ called 3ar6ara. E&er"one t(rned to see where she was. %he stood 6elow a 6ig hand.)rinted notice. $t said 0!E >DN9EON%. DN%,BE. >E%8EN0 BOH3$>>EN. -es. Aoo' at the notice, ass, said Peter. *ell .we don t go down those ste)s, that s certain# $ don t )artic(larl" want an old wall to fall on to) of me# Aet s ha&e o(r 6isc(its sitting on the old stone 6ench here, said Jac'. $t will =(st a6o(t ta'e (s all. *hat a castle# 0he things that m(st ha&e ha))ened here# 0he" all sat down, crowding on to the (ne&en old seat. $t felt &er" cold and hard# %oon the" were m(nching their 6isc(its, and drin'ing their lemonade o(t of the little 6ottles. >o "o( reall" thin' an"one s here 6esides (s .hiding somewhere+ said Pam, in a whis)er. 4(ite li'el", answered Peter, also in a whis)er. Pro6a6l" down in the d(ngeons# No6od" in their
52

sense wo(ld go down there, with that danger notice ()# $ don t li'e to thin' of someone hiding down in that horri6le dar' d(ngeon, said 3ar6ara, a )ict(re of a dreadf(l dam), smell", 6lac' )lace coming into

her mind. $ do ho)e to goodness we don t hear an" noises coming from there. >on t 6e a fathead, said 9eorge. No6od" s down there . wh" sho(ld . .. !e sto))ed &er" s(ddenl", as a c(rio(s noise s(d. denl" came to his ears. E&er"one heard it, and stiffened in fright. $t so(nded a little li'e a &er" (nha))" owl. Ooo. oo# it wailed. Ooo.oo.OOOOOOO# Pam cl(tched 3ar6ara and made her =(m). *hat is it+ >id "o( hear+

53

%h(t (), said Peter, shar)l". Aisten, e&er"one. %omeone s down in those d(ngeons. Oooh.ah.oooh.eeeee# wailed the &oice. Pam ga&e s(ch a shrie' that e&er"one lea)t to their feet. %he t(m6led down from the seat and ran howling down the stone )assage to the hall. Jac' went after her, and the others were =(st col. lecting their 6ags and 6ottles when another noise made them =(m). $t, too, came from the d(ngeons. 2 3ang# 3ang.6ang# 3ang# 4(ic' . r(n# sho(ted Peter, cl(tching Janet, and )(shing her in front of him. 3ac' to o(r 6i'es#

54

$s that someone shooting+ as'ed 3ar6ara, fear. f(ll", as the" ran, hearing a few more 6angs coming from the d(ngeons. 9oodness 'nows# said Peter. 9osh, loo' how scared the =ac'daws are now . and what a row the" are ma'ing# *hate&er can 6e going on in that castle+

CHAPTER TEN

Another Meeting
the" had reached their 6ic"cles safel", the" )a(sed to )(t their 6ags and 6ottles into the 6as'ets. Peter was 6eginning to feel a 6it ashamed of their h(rried flight.
*!EN
55

>o "o( thin' we 6o"s o(ght to go 6ac' and find o(t what those 6angs were+ he said. $ mean . $ don t think the" were g(n.shots, "o( 'now . the" weren t lo(d eno(gh. -o( go if "o( want to. Tm not r(shing into dan. ger, said 8olin. %omething s certainl" going on there. 0ell the )olice if "o( li'e . and lea&e them to deal with it. *hat with that half.warm, stam)ed.o(t fire of twigs . and those howls and 6angs . it s eno(gh to scare grown.()s, let alone us!" Aet s ha&e a meeting a6o(t it# said 9eorge. *e o(ght to decide what we re going to do. *e know there s some6od" there . so wh" is he hiding+ ,nd what s he doing down in the d(ngeons, )o))ing awa" li'e that+ $s he tr"ing to scare (s off+ !as he something to hide+ Aet s ha&e a meeting as soon as we get 6ac', said Janet. $ can t. $ &e a m(sic lesson at 7(arter )ast twel&e, said Pam. Please, )lease don t ha&e a meeting witho(t me. *ell, three o cloc' this afternoon, then, said Peter. ,nd mind "o( remem6er the )assword .telesco)e . and wear "o(r 6adges. $ can t come then, said Jac', and neither can 9eorge. *e &e got foot6all )ractice. :a'e it to. morrow e&ening.

56

,ll right. 0omorrow e&ening then . si< o cloc' .and 6e )(nct(al, said Peter. ,nd if $ &e got time $ ll ta'e a loo' at that castle thro(gh the telesco)e this afternoon. 0here reall" is something going on there# 0he" rode home rather gloomil", all the 6o"s now wishing the" had gone into the d(ngeons . or at least )ee)ed down . to see what was going on. %till, we hadn t an" torches, said Peter. *e co(ldn t ha&e seen a thing. $t so(nded awf(ll" li'e owls, didn t it . 6(t it co(ldn t ha&e 6een. Owls hoot 6(t the" don t ma'e 6ang.6ang noises# Jac' rode home, ho)ing that %(sie and 3in'ie were o(t still and wo(ldn t as' him 7(estions a6o(t his morning. !e )ee)ed into the shed and saw that

the girls 6i'es were still there. 9ood# 0he" m(st still 6e o(t doing their %at(rda" sho))ing# ,s soon as Peter was home, he fetched the tele. sco)e from the shed, while a delighted %cam)er danced ro(nd him. 0he s)aniel had not 6een at all )leased at 6eing left 6ehind that morning, and had lain 6" the fire, s(l'ing . 6(t now he was so glad to see Peter and Janet again that he co(ld hardl" 'ee) still# Peter too' the telesco)e to the 6o<room and set it (). %cam)er sniffed at the 6ottom end with m(ch interest.
57

-o( loo' () it with "o(r e"e, not "o(r nose# said Peter. !e set his right e"e to the telesco)e, and trained it on the castle . good gracio(s, was that someone standing in the great doorwa"# 3(t 6efore he co(ld see )ro)erl", %cam)er =(m)ed () to lic' him . and o&er went the telesco)e# $diot# said Peter, crossl", and h(rriedl" )ic'ed it (). $t seemed 7(ite all right. !e set it () again and )eered thro(gh it e<citedl". 3(t now the doorwa" was em)t". No one stood there. Peter felt reall" &e<ed. 8o(ldn t "o( ha&e waited a 6it to lic' me+ he said to %cam)er. Oh goodness . now there s $other calling me . and 6"

the time $ get 6ac' to the 6o<room, it ll 6e too late to s)ot whoe&er it was# !is mother 'e)t him 6(s" for the rest of the morning, and in the afternoon he had to do his homewor'. !e longed to go () and loo' thro(gh the telesco)e. %o did Janet. 0here was nothing interesting to 6e seen when at last the" managed to )eer thro(gh it. $n disa))oint. ment the" too' it down to the shed again, and loc'ed it there as (s(al.

51

8heer (), Peter, said Janet. *e re ha&ing a meeting tomorrow night, and $ &e a 6o< of toffees# $t will 6e f(n to tal' a6o(t o(r morning at the castle. On %(nda" e&ening e&er"one arri&ed 7(ite )(nc. t(all", and the )assword was rattled o(t fi&e times. 0elesco)e# ,s 9eorge said, it wo(ld 6e easier to remem6er that )assword than forget it# 0he" settled down in the warm shed, all se&en of them. Peter glanced ro(nd to see if the" were wearing their 6adges. -es . e&er"one had the %.%. on their coats. Janet handed ro(nd the toffees, and the" 6egan to tal' a6o(t the )re&io(s morning. %omeone s hiding at the castle, for some reason, that s certain, 6egan Peter. ,nd that someone

doesn t want an"one else to 'now he s there . and scared (s awa". $ feel sill" now . $ m s(re the man who s hiding there 'new we were 'ids and wo(ld r(n for o(r li&es if he made scar" noises# -es. $ &e 6een thin'ing that too, said Jac'. Oh, 6(t the" so(nded so awf(l,1 said Pam, and she ga&e a little sh(dder. $ wo(ldn t go there again if "o( ga&e me a tho(sand )o(nds.

5;

*ell, we re not offering "o( an"thing li'e that, said Peter. %o sto) sh(ddering, and tal' sense. $ thin' now that we were rather cowardl". 3(t those 6angsE said 3ar6ara. 0he" so(nded so lo(d and frightening. ,nd those moans and howls# Now let s 6e sensi6le, said Peter. $ don t s(). )ose . . . ,nd then he sto))ed &er" s(ddenl" indeed, for from o(tside the shed came two or three mo(rnf(l "owls e<actl" li'e those the %e&en had heard "ester. da" morning# Ooo.oo.OOOO# E&er"one =(m)ed &iolentl", and %cam)er 6ar'ed and ran to the door, scratching it angril". 0here was a dead silence in the shed, e<ce)t for %cam)er. 0he moaning s(ddenl" sto))ed. 0hen the 6angs 6egan# Po)# Po).)o)# )o)#

$?m scared, whis)ered Pam, and cl(tched at 3ar6ara, ma'ing her =(m). Ooo.ooo# Po).6ang.)o)# 0hen came a most familiar so(nd . a giggle, hastil" sto))ed midwa". Jac' and Peter ga&e cries of f(r" and r(shed to the door. s(sie# 6in'ie# "o( 6easts#

6/

0he door was fl(ng o)en so s(ddenl" that the two giggling girls o(tside were ta'en 6" s(r)rise. Jac' lea)t o(t and ca(ght %(sie. 3in'ie ran, 6(t came

6ac' to hel) %(sie and was ca(ght too. 0he" were 6oth dragged into the shed and set down with a 6(m) on two 6o<es. ,nd now will "o( =(st tell (s the meaning of all this# said Peter, so angr" that he co(ld hardl" get the words o(t of his mo(th.

61

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Susie's Tale

62

2$ %!,N 0 sa" a word if "o( sho(t at me, said %(sie. ,nd 3in'ie and $ will "ell the )lace down if "o( re (n'ind to (s. Dn'ind# DNC$N># *ell, what a6o(t "o( and 3in'ie# cried Janet. $nterfering in all o(r )lans# $t was you down in that d(ngeon, wasn t it ."owling and . and . well, what were "o( doing to ma'e those 6angs+ 0he" weren t 6angs . the" were lo(d )o)s, said %(sie, with a s(dden giggle. 50he same as we made down in that d(ngeon. Aoo' . $ ll show "o(# ,nd to the great disg(st of the %ecret %e&en she too' a small 6(ndle of colo(red r(66er o(t of her )oc'et and 6lew hard into it. $t swelled () into a tr(l" colossal 6alloon# %(sie held it awa" from her

and 3in'ie )rom)tl" =a66ed it with a large )in. )o)# 0hat?s what scared "o( awa" . 6alloons )o))ing . and "owls# said 3in'ie, gi&ing them a wic'ed grin, and )(tting the 6ig )in 6ac' (nder her coat la)el. >id o(r hoots and "owls so(nd awf(l coming () those old stone ste)s+ -o( d no right to go down into those d(ngeons, said Peter, se&erel". >idn t "o( see the notice+ >on t tell me you )(t that notice there# No, we didn t. 3(t it wasn t there when $ went () to see the castle with some friends in the s(mmer, said 3in'ie, so $ g(essed it co(ldn t 6e very dangero(s to go down# $t was onl" )rinted 6" hand too
63

. not )ro)erl", li'e the other notices. %o it was, said Jac', remem6ering. $ sa" . do "o( s())ose that whoe&er is hiding there wrote o(t that notice himself, to sto) )eo)le )r"ing in the d(ngeons+ 2,nd sto) them finding something he had hidden there# e<claimed 9eorge. $t s =(st li'e %(sie to dis. o6e" warnings. '%id you see an"thing hidden there+ said Peter. 0ell (s at once. -es, we did, said %(sie. 3(t (nless "o( as' me )olitel", $ shan t tell "o( an"thing.

Peter glared at her. E<as)erating, irritating girl# %he grinned chee'il" at him. %a" 5)lease, %(sie5, she said. ,nd )oor Peter had to do as he was told# !e =(st had to 'now what was down in the d(ngeons. Please, %(sie, he said, 7(ite fiercel". Not li'e that. Heall" politely,'' said %(sie.

64

$ ll sha'e "o( to 6its if "o( go on li'e this# said Jac' s(ddenl". $ m ashamed of "o( .tal'ing to Peter li'e that. $ ll . $ ll . . . ,ll right, all right. $ ll tell "o( what we saw, said

%D%$E#

%(sie, hastil", 'nowing 7(ite well that her 6rother wo(ld certainl" gi&e her a reall" good sha'ing if she was chee'" m(ch longer. Aisten, all of "o(. E&er"one listened
65

intentl" as %(sie told what had ha))ened to her and 3in'ie "esterda" morning. 3in'ie sat 6eside her, nodding her head e&er" now and then as %(sie related her stor". *ell, 6egan %(sie, we 'new "o( were all going () there, of co(rse, and we 'new "o( tho(ght there was someone hiding in the castle, 6eca(se we heard what Jac' said on the )hone. %o we tho(ght we d go too, and get there 6efore "o(, so that we co(ld )la" a few tric's. -es . 6(t how did "o( get there+ -o(r 6i'es were in the shed. $ saw them, said Jac'. !a&e "o( forgotten that there are s(ch things as 6(ses+ said %(sie. *e =(st ca(ght the 6(s that goes () the hill and sto)s at the to). *e ho))ed off and made o(r wa" o&er the fields to the castle . to the 6ac' of it, not the front, in case "o( came earl". 3(ses# *h" didn t we thin' of that# groaned Jac'. %o "o( were there a long time 6efore (s+ 2 Oh "es . and when we came () to the 6ac' of the castle, &er" 7(ietl", =(st in case an"one was there, we saw someone sitting on an old stone, )ainting the castle. Painting a, picture of it, she means, )(t in 3in'ie, seeing that some of the %e&en loo'ed rather astonished.
66

9oodness . she =(m)ed li'e an"thing when we came () 6ehind her, 6eca(se she hadn t heard (s coming o&er the grass. >id "o( tal' to her+ as'ed Peter. &e tho(ght it was a man there, not a woman. 0he )erson $ saw thro(gh the telesco)e seemed to ha&e a man s ca) on. Oh, this woman had no ca) . 6(t she wears her hair sort of )iled () on to) of her head. $ s())ose it loo'ed li'e a ca), in the distance, said %(sie, who was now en=o"ing herself thoro(ghl". *ell. . .

67

%cam)er s(ddenl" growled and ran to the door. %omeone s coming# said Peter. *ho is it+ 0here was a 'noc' at the door, and then came 8oo'ie s cheerf(l &oice. $ won t come in, $ 'now "o( re tal'ing secrets . 6(t $ m lea&ing a )late of =am. tarts o(t here. %e&en . is that right + No, nine . ten, co(nting %cam)er# called %(sie, chee'il", 6efore an"one else co(ld sa" a word. $t s a %ecret '(ine :eeting tonight# *ell, one of "o( m(st come and fetch two more then, said 8oo'ie s &oice, and off she went, 6ac' to the ho(se. %ecret (ine indeed# said Janet, &er" cross. %he frowned angril" at %(sie. -o( certainl" won't get an" tarts# Hight. *e ll sa" good6"e and go home then, said %(sie. 8ome on, 3in'ie# ,nd the two of them got () and went to the door#

61

CHAPTER TWELVE

Susie has Plent to Sa !


groaned. !e 'new when he was 6eaten# ,ll right . "o( win# he said. 8ome 6ac' and sit down. 8olin, go and get three more =am.tarts . old %cam)er can ha&e one then. 8olin de)arted, with %cam)er at his heels. 0he rest of the %e&en sat and loo'ed at %(sie in disg(st. *hat a girl# %he smiled chee'il" all ro(nd. 0his certainl" was !er E&ening# ,ha# %he was teaching those st(c'.() %e&en a lesson# 8olin came 6ac' at once with the tarts, and the" all 6egan to eat them, %cam)er too.
PE0EH
6;

*ell, a6o(t this artist woman, said %(sie, with her mo(th f(ll. %he said we d 6etter not go into the castle 6eca(se it was dangero(s, so we than'ed her for her warning . 6(t, of co(rse, we meant to go witho(t her seeing (s# -o( wo(ld# said Jac'. *e sto))ed and tal'ed a 6it, =(st to see if she had an"thing interesting to sa", said %(sie. 3(t she hadn t, reall". %he =(st said she lo&ed the old castle, and was )ainting it, ho)ing to sell the )ict(re. %he said she 'e)t her )aints and things inside, 6eca(se no6od" e&er came in the winter, so the" were 7(ite safe. 0his loo's as if all o(r s(s)icions were sill", said Peter, feeling rather small. %he was awf(ll" interested in (s, too, went on %(sie. *asn t she, 3in'ie+ Oh "es . she as'ed (s a lot of 7(estions . and she la(ghed li'e an"thing when %(sie said Jac' and the others were coming () to h(nt a man hiding in the castle. -o( told her that I' cried Peter, angril". !ow dare "o(+ -o( d no right to gi&e o(r )lans awa". *ell, the" were sill" )lans, so it didn t reall" matter, said %(sie. %he as'ed me how in the world "o( co(ld see an"one in the castle from this farm .we told her "o( li&ed here, Peter . and she was very

7/

interested to hear a6o(t the telesco)e we 'ee) down in this shed, and how easil" we co(ld see the castle with it. %D%$E# -o( s(rel" didn t gi&e that awa" too .how could "o(+ Now she ll 'now we re watching what s ha))ening, groaned Peter. !onestl", "o( m(st 6e a nitwit to =a66er li'e that to a stranger. ,nd "o( m(st 6e a nitwit to thin' an"thing )ec(liar is going on () at the castle, said %(sie. J(st a woman artist )ainting a

71

)ict(re# No one s hiding there. %he said that she goes down to slee) in the &illage on the other side of the castle each night . and e<ce)t for (s, not a so(l has 6een to the castle since she came. !a ha . what a6o(t "o(r m"ster" now+ 0he %ecret %e&en felt &er" small indeed . and &er" angr". $t had all 6een so e<citing . and now %(sie had interfered, and there was nothing left# >id "o( see an"thing at all in the d(ngeons+ as'ed Peter, after a )a(se. Onl" things that $ s())ose 6elonged to the artist, said %(sie. Aet s see . what was there, 3in'ie+ Pict(res, said 3in'ie. Pict(res witho(t frames. Hather dar' and (gl", $ tho(ght. $ s())ose the artist had )ainted them. 0he" were all co&ered (), of co(rse. *e =(st )ee)ed at them. 0here was a )ile of r(gs too, and some tins. 0he artist said she d ta'e another da" or two to finish the )ict(re, and when it rained she went into the castle for shelter, said %(sie. 0hat s how it was "o( saw her )ee)ing o(t of that window, $ e<)ect. %he has all her meals there too, e<ce)t 6rea'fast and s())er. %he =(st o)ens a tin. B(nn" sort of life, said 9eorge. *ell . that s that# $f onl" we d gone 6ehind the castle we d ha&e

72

seen her too. *e =(st went straight in at the front. -o( were watching o(t for (s, $ s())ose, and shot down into the cellar to 6low () "o(r st()id 6alloons. *e nearl" died of la(ghing when we heard "o( "elling with fright, and listened to "o( racing o(t of the castle, said 3in'ie, and went off into one of her giggling fits. Oh do sh(t (), said Jac', tired of 6oth 3in'ie and %(sie. 9o home. 9et o(t of o(r sight. *e tho(ght we d li'e to (se the telesco)e, if "o( don t mind, said %(sie, )(tting on a most )olite &oice. 0he moon s rather good tonight. No. 0his meeting is ending, said Peter, firml". %coot, "o( two girls. $ thin' "o(r 6eha&io(r was disgracef(l. -o( so(nd li'e :iss 8(mmings, o(r form mis. tress, said %(sie, in delight. >o sa" all that again# Oh clear o(t# said Peter, at the end of his )atience. ,nd don t attem)t to do an"thing f(nn" with o(r telesco)e tonight. $ for6id "o( to# 3(t it doesn t 6elong to "o(, said %(sie, flaring () at once. $t s half mine. $ onl" let "o( (se m" half. share in it, $ . . . %D%$E# 3e 7(iet, and come home with me, said

73

Jac', and he too' his sister s arm &er" firml" indeed. $ m ashamed of "o(# !e dragged her o(t of the shed, and 3in'ie fol. lowed. Peter hea&ed a sigh of relief. 0han' goodness, we &e got rid of them# &hat a )air# *ell, let s ho)e that s the last we ll hear of them for some time#

74

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The Telescope Again


and 3in'ie were angr" with Jac' for ha(ling them awa". *e wanted to loo' thro(gh the telesco)e again, com)lained %(sie. No, "o( didn t . "o( were =(st 6eing anno"ing, said Jac', fiercel". Aet go m" arm, said %(sie. $ want to wal' 6" m"self. *ell, =(st 6eha&e "o(rself then, said Jac', 7(ite relie&ed to let s(ch a wriggler go. 0he two girls darted off at once, and Jac' saw them racing () the road towards home. !e hea&ed a sigh of relief. *hat 8ODA> an"one do with a sister li'e %(sie+ 3(t %(sie and 3in'ie didn t go home. No . %(sie was 7(ite determined to ha&e her wa" and ta'e o(t the telesco)e that night. %he didn t really want to .it was =(st o6stinac". %he had as'ed for it . had 6een ref(sed . and that had made her determined to get her own wa". J(st li'e %(sie# %o, instead of going ro(nd the corner and home, the two girls sli))ed into a gatewa", waited till Jac'
%D%$E

75

had gone )lodding )ast, and then raced 6ac' to Peter s again. $n a trice the" were down at the shed. $t was in dar'ness now, and well and tr(l" loc'ed. 0he girls fo(nd the 'e" (nder the stone, and (nloc'ed the wooden door. 0he" each had torches, and it was not diffic(lt to set () the telesco)e on the low garden wall as (s(al. *e ll =(st ha&e a 7(ic' loo' at the moon, so that we can sa" we saw it thro(gh the telesco)e, said %(sie. ,nd then we ll )(t it awa". *on t the %ecret %e&en 6e wild to thin' we got o(r wa" after all# 0he" were soon loo'ing thro(gh the long t(6e of the 6ig telesco)e. 0he moon was not at all o6liging, and sta"ed 6ehind clo(ds, so that the night was dar', instead of light. %wing the telesco)e ro(nd a 6it and loo' at the old castle, s(ggested 3in'ie. 0hen we can sa" we saw that too. %o %(sie trained the telesco)e on to the castle, far awa" on its stee) hill. $t was =(st a great dar' shadow in the night, onl" &isi6le 6eca(se of the light from the half.hidden moon. 0here, said %(sie, now we can . . . oooh M $ sa". 3in'ie, there s a light in the castle# $n the castle) *hat do "o( mean+ Aet we see#

76

said 3in'ie, and gl(ed her e"e to the 6ottom of the telesco)e. -es# 0here is a light. $t s somewhere on the gro(nd floor . is it shining o(t of the entrance+ $ don t 'now. :ight 6e one of the downstairs windows, said %(sie, )(shing 3in'ie aside. -es, there it is . 7(ite clear# *hat does that mean, do "o( s())ose+ 0hat woman said she ne&er sle)t in the castle . she went down to her lodgings for tea and sta"ed there# $t s a signal to someone, $ sho(ld thin'.

77

-es . that m(st 6e it. Perha)s there is something going on, after all# 9ood gracio(s# Aet s go and tell Peter then, said 3in'ie, e<cited. Or shall we 'ee) it to o(rsel&es+ No . we ll tell Peter, said %(sie. !e ll be furious to thin' we &e disco&ered something else# 8ome on# %o off the" went to find Peter and Janet. 0he" were () in their )la"room, doing =igsaws, and were reall" amaJed to see 3in'ie and %(sie again# Aoo' here# 6egan Peter angril", 6(t %(sie sto))ed him. *e &e got news# she said. 0here s someone () at the castle, signalling with a light# *e saw it# *e loo'ed thro(gh the telesco)e. 8ome and see. 3(t Peter onl" la(ghed, and sat down to his =ig. saw again. '*nother of "o(r sill" =o'es, he said. $ wonder "o( re not tired of them. $f "o( thin' we re going to 6e ta'en in again, "o( re mista'en. Now, if "o( don t clear o(t and keep o(t, $ ll call :other. *e &e had eno(gh of "o( 6oth for tonight. 3(t Peter . we loo'ed thro(gh the . . . 6egan 3in'ie, and was )rom)tl" )(shed o(t of the room 6" Peter and Janet, and %(sie was h(stled off too. 0he )la"room door 6anged, and the two girls heard the 'e" 6eing t(rned in the loc'.

71

,ll right# -o( ll 6e sorr"# sho(ted %(sie. -o( ll 6e EEH- sorr" tomorrow that "o( didn t listen to (s# ,nd down the stairs the" went, almost cr"ing with rage. 0here was someone signalling in that castle, there was)

7;

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

A %orrid Shock
morning Janet and Peter went down to their shed after 6rea'fast to clear () the things left there the e&ening 6efore. *e &e twent" min(tes 6efore we need to start for school, said Peter, loo'ing for the 'e" (nder the stone. !allo . the 'e" s not here# *hat s ha))ened to it+ %(sie m(st ha&e ta'en it# said Janet, frowning. J(st to s)ite (s. 0he little n(isance# 0he" went to the shed.door to see if %(sie had torn off the green letters %.%. that were alwa"s there. 9ood . the" were still there . 6(t as the" t(rned awa" from the shed, Janet ga&e a cr" of s(r)rise. Peter# 0he 'e" s in the lock! %(sie forgot to hide
NEL0

1/

it . the idiot# ,n"one might 6rea' into the shed and ta'e things if it isn t loc'ed. 0he" went in, feeling cross. E&er"thing seemed all right . and then Janet frowned. %omething was missing, s(rel" + *hat was it+ 0he telescoped she cried, s(ddenl". Peter .where s the telesco)e+ $t s gone# %(sie s ta'en it# said Peter, so angr" that he stammered o&er the words. J(st 6eca(se $ said she wasn t to (se it, and 6eca(se we wo(ldn t 6elie&e her sill" stor" last night a6o(t someone signalling in the castle# $ m going to tele)hone Jac'. Jac' was horrified when he heard Peter s news. !e fetched %(sie at once. -o( =(st go to the )hone and tell Peter where "o( &e hidden the telesco)e# he said. $t s not in the shed. 3(t we )(t it 6ac' safel", said %(sie, so(nding so amaJed that Jac' felt she m(st 6e s)ea'ing the tr(th. *e did, reall". >id "o( loc' the door+ said Jac'. %(sie loo'ed at 3in'ie . and then she went &er" red. Oh Jac' . no, $ don t thin' $ did. $ was so cross 6eca(se Peter wo(ldn t 6elie&e me, that $ =(st sho&ed the telesco)e into the shed, slammed the door . and

11

ran off with 3in'ie. $ can t remem6er loc'ing it, or hiding the 'e". *e forgot, said 3in'ie, in a &er" small &oice. -es, we forgot. Oh that lo&el" telesco)e, Jac'# !as it 6een stolen+ $ e<)ect so, said Jac', going 6ac' to the tele. )hone. Of all the idiots# One of these da"s, %(sie, "o( ll get into serio(s tro(6le. $t s a =oll" good thing it s our telesco)e, not an"one else s. !e told Peter that %(sie and 3in'ie had )(t 6ac' the telesco)e, 6(t had forgotten to loc' the door. Peter was &er" angr". %o an" )r"ing thief snoo)ing ro(nd the shed at night co(ld get in, he said. ,nd of co(rse he d ta'e the telesco)e . it wo(ld 6e the most &al(a6le thing there# $ ll ha&e to tell m" dad, Jac'. Oh not =(st "et# 6egged Jac'. %(sie wo(ld get into s(ch tro(6le. $ 'now she s an awf(l girl, 6(t she is m" sister, and . well . "o( 'now how $ feel. Hight, Jac'. *e ll wait till tonight, and see if an"thing t(rns (), said Peter. 3etter ha&e a meeting . half.)ast fi&e, shar). 3(t >ON 0 tell %(sie. $ won t. 3(t she s so worried and ()set that $ reall" don t thin' she d e&en think of tr"ing an" tric's# said )oor Jac'. $ m awf(ll" worried too.

12

$ 'now it loo's as if %(sie and 3in'ie too' the telesco)e themsel&es, o(t of s)ite . 6(t %(sie doesn t tell lies, "o( 'now, howe&er anno"ing she is in other wa"s. $ 'now she doesn t, said Peter. ,ll right. Bi&e. thirt" tonight. $ ll tell the others. %o at half.)ast fi&e that night a rather s(6d(ed %e&en met once more down in the old shed. %cam)er co(ldn t think what was the matter with them, and ran a6o(t wagging his tail and tr"ing to cheer them (). $t was a &er" serio(s meeting. E&er"one alread" 'new a6o(t the telesco)e, 6eca(se Janet had told the girls in 6rea' at school, and Jac' and Peter had told 9eorge and 8olin. Now . what was to 6e done+

13

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"#citing Plans
J,8C . "o( d 6etter sa" a few words to e&er"one a6o(t %(sie, said Peter. %o Jac' e<)lained how %(sie had forgotten to loc' the door, and was &er", &er" sorr", and as'ed the %e&en to forgi&e her and 3in'ie. %he sa"s the" ll do ,N-0!$N9 to hel) (s get it 6ac', finished Jac'. $ m most awf(ll" sorr" m"self . and =oll" than'f(l that it 6elonged to me and %(sie. $ d ha&e felt dreadf(l if it had 6elonged to an"one else. *e re sorr" too, Jac', said Peter. ,nd we do 6e. lie&e "o( when "o( sa" that %(sie didn't ta'e the telesco)e. $ thin' we o(ght also to 6elie&e her tale of the light that she said she and 3in'ie saw in the castle last night, when the" loo'ed thro(gh the telesco)e, said Jac', earnestl". $ 'now %(sie is reall" most anno"ing, 6(t honestly, %ecret %e&en, $ ha&e ne&er, ne&er once 'nown %(sie to tell a lie. %he )la"s =o'es, $ 'now, and ma'es (s 6elie&e sill" things . 6(t she ne&er tells a th(m)ing fi6 . and if she sa"s she saw a light in the castle last night, then she did'

14

$ see, said Peter. *ell, what do the others sa"+ >o we 6elie&e it or not+ $ 6elie&e it, said Pam. %(sie s a fathead and a n(isance, 6(t $ &e ne&er 'nown her to tell e&en a small fi6 at school to get herself o(t of tro(6le. %he s too )ro(d to do that. %he d rather ta'e her )(nishment. %he s more li'e a 6o", reall", said 3ar6ara, which made all the 6o"s loo' scornf(ll" at her. *ell, "o( 'now what $ mean, she went on. %he s 6ra&e . and 6old, and don t.care.ish . and she doesn t cr" if she h(rts herself, and she ll stic' 6" her friends thro(gh thic' and thin. $f she were a 6o" $ d li'e her awf(ll" . 6(t as she s a girl, she s =(st a n(isance. 0his rather remar'a6le s)eech 6" the 7(iet 3ar6ara s(r)rised e&er"one. $ 'now what "o( mean, 3ar6ie, said Janet. Aet s forgi&e %(sie . and let her hel) if she wants to. 3(t the 6o"s drew the line at that. No . the" didn t want %(sie s hel). %ecretl" the" felt that she might 6e a 6it too cle&er for them# *ell . to come 6ac' to the )oint, said Peter, we ll sa" that we 6elie&e what %(sie said a6o(t seeing a light in the castle . and that means that the woman artist she saw wasn t telling the tr(th when

15

she said she didn t sta" there at night . and it does seem to mean, too, that the light m(st ha&e 6een a signal# ,ll right . to whom was she signalling . and wh"+ $ thin' we 6o"s o(ght to go () to the castle to. night and ha&e another snoo) ro(nd, said 8olin. $ feel ashamed now that we ran awa" as we did# $ d feel 6etter a6o(t it if we went () again, and tried to find o(t what reall" is going on. 0he other 6o"s nodded. 0he" felt the same. 3(t no girls, said Peter, firml", seeing that Janet was a6o(t to s)ea'. NO 9$HA%. @ 0here s one thing we ha&en t tried to sol&e, said 9eorge. ,nd that is . who on earth stole the tele. sco)e# 0he ordinar" thief wo(ldn t want a thing li'e that . diffic(lt to sell, and no real (se to him# $ sho(ld ha&e tho(ght he d ha&e ta'en the r(g off the floor, or o(r lam) . something li'e that. -es, "o( re right, said Peter. 0hen the" all =(m)ed as Jac' sla))ed his 'nee and ga&e a cr". Aisten# $ 6et $ 'now who stole o(r telesco)e# &hoever is hiding in the castle took it) %(sie told that wo. man artist a6o(t the telesco)e, and how we co(ld see the castle with it, and e&en saw someone at the window . and if there is an" f(nn" 6(siness going

16

on () there, that woman wo(ld 'now that o(r telesco)e wo(ld show it to an" of (s down here . if we ha))ened to loo' thro(gh it at an aw'ward moment for them#

%o someone )o))ed down here last night, fo(nd the shed.door (nloc'ed, went in and stole the tele. sco)e so that we co(ldn t s)" on them# finished Peter. 0oo eas" for words# 3low %(sie# $f onl" she d loc'ed the shed, $ 6et the" wo(ldn t ha&e got in. 0he thing is . what sort of f(nn" 6(siness co(ld

17

6e going on, () in the old castle+ wondered Janet. 0he" all frowned and tho(ght hard. $t wo(ld ma'e an awf(ll" good hiding.)lace for an"thing stolen, s(ggested Pam. 0hose d(ngeons wo(ld 6e fine for that. 3(t %(sie said there was nothing there 6(t )ic. t(res witho(t frames, said 8olin. $ s())ose that woman had )ainted them, and was storing them there till she co(ld get them framed. >on t 6e an ass, said Jac'. $f there were a lot there, it wo(ld ha&e ta'en an"one weeks to )aint them. 3(t $ tell "o( what the" might 6e# +ld )ict(res . &al(a6le ones # *ell, the" wo(ld 6e framed, if so, said 3ar6ara. Not if the" were stolen, said Jac'. Nothing easier than to ta'e )ict(res o(t of their frames, roll them (), and s)irit them awa"# $ thin' that s rather far.fetched, o6=ected Janet. !onestl" $ do. ,ll right, said Jac'. 0here s onl" one thing to do, as far as $ can see . and that s to go () there tonight, and watch. %(sie said that woman m(st ha&e 6een signalling with a light last night. Hight . she was )res(ma6l" signalling to someone - )ro6a6l" telling them that the goods were there . the" co(ld

11

come and fetch them . or something li'e that. $n which case . . . Somebody might go for them tonight# said 9eorge and Jac' together. 0here was a silence, and e&er"one tho(ght hard. 0hen Peter s)o'e firml". 0his is what $ thin' o(r )lan sho(ld 6e. *e fo(r 6o"s will 6i'e () there again after s())er tonight. *e will snoo) ro(nd and see what we can find o(t. $ 6et o(r telesco)e s hidden () there# $f we thin' we need hel), or that >ad o(ght to 'now and get 6(s" too, we ll signal with one of o(r 6i'e lam)s. *a&e it () and down# Oooh . this is e<citing# said Pam. !ow man" times will "o( wa&e+ 0wice if e&er"thing s O.C., and we can t find an". thing wrong. Bo(r times if we d li'e >ad to come (). :ore than fo(r times if it s reall" urgent' 9ot that+ -es, said e&er"one, fer&entl", their e"es shining with e<citement. Pam and 3ar6ara, "o( come ro(nd after s())er and watch with me, said Janet. 3(t wait a min(te, Peter . how can we see "o(r signals+ *e ha&en t the telesco)e now, remem6er, and we can t see an" signals witho(t that. 0he castle is too far awa".

1;

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

After Supper
s())er that night, Peter disa))eared to get his 6ic"cle, and to meet the others. Now remem6er, Janet, he said, as he went o(t, 6orrow the field. glasses and (se them . 6(t "o( needn t as' >ad for them for a while . gi&e (s time to get well awa", or >ad might come after (s, and if there s nothing going on () there, it wo(ld 6e a shame to drag him o(t when he s tiredK 6(t 6e s(re and *,08! BOH ,N%$9N,A. Oh $ will, Peter, $ will, said Janet, wishing she
,B0EH

;/

was coming too. Oh, why am $ a girl+ $ do so want to come. ,re "o( ta'ing %cam)er+ No. $t s too far for him, said Peter. %orr", %cam)er, old thing. %ta" home# %cam)er t(rned awa" sadl", tail down again, &er" misera6le. >idn t Peter lo&e him an" more + 0his was the second time that he had gone o(t witho(t him. %cam)er wal'ed down the garden some wa" 6ehind Peter, wondering where he was going. !e watched him ta'e o(t his 6ic"cle. !e saw the other 6o"s come () one 6" one, and his tail went down e&en f(rther. !e co(ld 6ear it no longer when he saw the 6o"s ride off. !e wo(ld follow them# 0he" wo(ld go faster than he co(ld r(n, 6(t somehow he wo(ld smell their trail and follow. *(ff, said %cam)er to himself. Peter won t 'now. 3(t $ feel as if $ :D%0 6e with him tonight# ,nd so a lonel" little fig(re )added () the road after the 6ic"cles, holding its nose in the air, sniffing, sniffing, trotting awa" after the fo(r 6o"s. 9ood old %cam)er# :eantime Janet was watching the cloc'. %he was glad when the two other girls came. 0ime was going &er" slowl" indeed. %he waited (ntil the 6o"s had 6een gone a6o(t half an ho(r, and then she decided

;1

to as' for the field.glasses, and tell her )arents what was ha))ening# *o(ld the" 6e cross+ *ell, it co(ldn t 6e hel)ed, she m(st =(st 6ear it. %he went to the sitting.room where her father and mother sat, her mother 'nitting and her father doing his acco(nts. >ad, she said. :a" $ 6orrow "o(r field.glasses, )lease+ *hat in the world for+ said her father, astonished. ,t this time of night too#

;2

,nd then o(t e&er"thing came . the whole stor", higgled".)iggled" at first, so that her )arents co(ldn t ma'e head or tail of what she was telling them. 3(t grad(all" the" (nderstood what had 6een ha))ening . and wh" Janet wanted the field.glasses# 3less (s all# said her father, 7(ite asto(nded. *hat on earth will "o( children 6e () to ne<t+ 0his is a sill" 6(siness . c"cling () to the castle in the dar'# ,s if an"thing serio(s co(ld 6e ha))ening there# Peter s idea of stolen )ict(res is nonsense) *ait a min(te, dear, said his wife. $ read some. thing in the )a)er a6o(t &al(a6le old )aintings 6eing stolen from Aord A(nwood s ho(se . the" were c(t from their frames . and m(st ha&e 6een rolled () and ta'en awa" 7(ite easil" . in a s(it.case, $ thin' the )a)er said . . . Janet ga&e an e<cited little scream. Oh $other -the )ict(res %(sie and 3in'ie saw were =(st rolled (), too . not framed . oh :O0!EH # ,nd now her )arents reall" did sit () and ta'e notice. 0he" 7(estioned Janet 7(ic'l", and were most astonished at all she told them. %o the fo(r 6o"s ha&e gone () to the castle, all on their own# said her father. 0his is reall" a most e<traordinar" stor", Janet. $ feel rather worried.

;3

-o( needn t 6e, said Janet. 0he 6o"s can loo' after themsel&es, >ad . the" alwa"s ha&e# *e can watch for their signal, and see if the" need hel). $ m not waiting for an" signal# said her father, firml". $ m going () now . and $ m ta'ing :att the she)herd with me, and 9ardener as well# Oh dear# said Janet. *e were s())osed to wait for a signal. Peter will 6e cross# *ell, $ shan t mind that, said her father, and went o(t to get :att and to tell him to fetch the gardener. 0he" were all to go () in the car. Janet went to fetch the field.glasses. 0hen she s(ddenl" remem6ered that she hadn t seen %cam)er for some time. *here&er is he+ she tho(ght. Poor old %cam)er# $ e<)ect he s s(l'ing in a corner somewhere, eca(se the 6o"s went off witho(t him. $ m(st find him and comfort him# %he went 6ac' to where Pam and 3ar6ara were )atientl" waiting in the )la"room for her, and told them 7(ic'l" what her father was going to do. 0he" whole.heartedl" a))ro&ed. 9rown.()s alwa"s seem to 'now at once what s the 6est thing to do, said Pam, than'f(ll". 0hat s one of the differences 6etween them and (s# *here are "o( off to now, Janet+

;4

0o loo' for old %cam)er, said Janet. 8ome with me. 3(t, of co(rse, the" co(ldn t find %cam)er. !e was nowhere a6o(t, and Janet s(ddenl" felt s(re he had gone trailing after the 6o"s. %he was &er" glad. %cam)er s alwa"s a hel), an"wa", she said to the others. 8ome on . we d 6etter go () to the 6o<room now and watch for signals thro(gh the field.glasses. Oh dear . $ feel all wor'ed ()# 3(t tho(gh the" loo'ed and loo'ed thro(gh the glasses, each ta'ing a t(rn, no signal came# 50his is awf(l, said Janet, when an ho(r had gone 6". No 5 ,ll s *ell5 signal . and no 5%omething s *rong5 signal . and no 5Drgent5 signal . nothing at all# *hate&er 8,N 6e ha))ening+

;5

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

!p in the Castle
a lot had 6een ha))ening# 0he 6o"s had set off on their 6ic"cles, all feeling e<cited. 0he" didn t 'now that %cam)er was )adding a long wa" 6ehind them, sniffing most e<citing night.smells as he went. !e smelt a hedgehog somewhere in the ditch near6", 6(t )aid no attention. 0hen he smelt ra66its in the field, and he longed to scatter them. 3(t on he trotted# !e was determined to find Peter and see what he was () to. $t wasn t fair of Peter to lea&e him 6ehind# Peter was now almost at the castle, with the others c"cling 6ehind him () the stee) hill. !ow the" )anted . 6(t as long as -eter was still &aliantl" )edalling, the" meant to as well# 0he" were &er" than'f(l to see him =(m) off when he came to the )lace in the hedge where the" had all fl(ng their 6ic"cles 6efore# %witch off "o(r lam)s, said Peter. $ thin' it will 6e safe to lea&e the 6i'es here. Onl" the 6(s comes 6" (s(all" at night . &er" few cars.
4D$0E

;6

0he" were soon wal'ing ca(tio(sl" () the grass" hill towards the castle, which loomed a6o&e them li'e a gigantic 6lac' shadow. Each of them had a torch, 6(t no6od" (sed one, for fear of warning an"6od" in the castle. Peter s(ddenl" sto))ed, not far from the old r(in. 9o ca(tio(sl" now, he commanded. $n single file . and remem6er, if tro(6le comes, one of (s m(st signal with his torch. $t doesn t matter which of (s . so watch o(t in case it s necessar". 0he" came 7(ietl" to the castle. Not a so(nd was to 6e heard. $t was in com)lete dar'ness. *hen the" ste))ed ca(tio(sl" inside, their r(66er shoes ma'ing no so(nd, a r(stling noise 6egan a6o&e their heads, and the" sto))ed in fright. $t s onl" the roosting =ac'daws# whis)ered Peter. 0he" m(st ha&e heard o(r 7(iet tread# *ait till the" settle again. %oon there was com)lete 7(iet once more. 0he 6o"s went on down the great hall . and then Peter ca(ght sight of something that made his heart 6eat 7(ic'l". Aoo' . there s a light of some sort in that old 'itchen.room, he whis)ered to the others. %ta" here. $ m going to see what it is.

;7

!e ti)toed off to the entrance of the h(ge old room . and sto))ed in s(r)rise at what he saw. %omeone was there . a woman# %he had lighted a fire of stic's to 'ee) her warm, and it was 6(rning 6rightl". %he was l"ing on her side, facing the little fire, her e"es closed. %o it was she who had stam)ed o(t that half.6(rnt fire we fo(nd the other da", the twigs still warm# tho(ght Peter. %he m(st ha&e seen (s coming, and h(rriedl" )(t it o(t. $ ho)e she s reall" sound aslee)#

;1

%he seemed to 6e. %he was l"ing on a mattress, wra))ed all ro(nd in r(gs N 0he ones %(sie saw down in the d(ngeons# tho(ght Peter.O and didn t mo&e at all. 3eside her Peter ca(ght the gleam of a cloc' s l(mino(s hands, and then his ears )ic'ed () its 7(ic' tic'ing. !e ti)toed awa" and whis)ered what he had seen to the others. %he s fast aslee) 6" a fire of twigs. $ e<)ect she s here to watch o(t for an"one coming in the da"time who might disco&er the secrets of the d(ngeon. $t was reall" 7(ite a good idea to )retend to 6e an artist and )aint the castle . she co(ld sit all da" and 'ee) g(ard, then# *ell, she didn t s)ot us the other da"# said Jac'. $ sa" . if she s aslee), $ don t thin' m(ch can 6e ha))ening tonight, do "o(+ $ mean . wo(ldn t she 6e awa'e if some6od" was coming in answer to her signal last night+ -es. $ s())ose she wo(ld, said Peter. Oh well .we can at least go down to the d(ngeons and see if those )ict(res are there# $f the" are, we co(ld )ic' them () and go home with them . then the thie&es wo(ld ha&e a real shoc' when the" came . the" d find them gone# 9ood idea# said 9eorge, )leased. Aet s go

;;

down now . 6(t for )it" s sa'e don t let s wa'e that slee)ing woman# 9o caref(ll". %o, &er" waril" indeed, the fo(r 6o"s went down the old stone d(ngeon ste)s. 0hese were m(ch 6ro'en and worn, and the 6o"s were glad of their torches to see where the" were treading. !ere we are# said Peter, when the" came at last to the 6ottom of the ste)s. *hew . what an awful )lace# $t certainl" was# $t had great stone walls, 6lac' with the dirt of cent(ries, and the floor was of (ne&en stone too. Peter shone his torch ro(nd and saw great iron sta)les in the wall. $ 6et )lent" of )oor wretched )risoners were once ro)ed to those for months . )erha)s "ears, he said, and e&er"one shi&ered at the tho(ght. $t s not damp here, tho(gh, said Jac'. $ tho(ght all d(ngeons were dam) and smell". *ell, this is on a hill, so an" water wo(ld drain awa", said Peter. ,nd, of co(rse, that s wh" this is a good hiding.)lace for &al(a6le )ict(res . it s )erfectl" dr"# >am) wo(ld ha&e r(ined them at once. *ell . where are the rolled.() can&ases that %(sie told (s a6o(t + said Jac', flashing his torch all

1//

ro(nd. 0here s straw here . where ma"6e tram)s rest at times . and some old news)a)ers . 6(t $ can t see m(ch else# Jac' was right. 0here were no rolled.() )ict(res to 6e fo(nd, tho(gh the" searched e&er"where in the great old d(ngeons. *ell .1 s())ose the men ha&e 6een here alread" and ta'en them, said 9eorge, in disa))ointment. Or else %(sie made it ()# said 8olin. ,nother of her little tric's# No, said Jac'. $ am certain she didn t ma'e that (). 3in'ie saw the can&ases too, "o( 'now. ,nd "et . if the thie&es have 6een to fetch them, wh" is that woman still here+ $t m(st s(rel" mean that she has hidden them somewhere else . ma"6e 6eca(se she was afraid that the girls had seen the )ict(res, and might tell someone. -es. 0hat s more li'e it, said Peter. 3(t where can the" 6e hidden+ 0he" m(st 6e somewhere eas" to get at, if the men are coming here for them. 0he" wo(ldn t want to s)end ages getting them o(t of some diffic(lt hiding.)lace# *ell . there s nothing for it 6(t to do a 6it of h(nting o(rsel&es# said 8olin. 8ome on# ,nd let s ho)e we find o(r telesco)e somewhere too#

1/1

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

An "#citing &isco'er
%o, treading &er" 7(ietl" indeed, not daring e&en to co(gh, the 6o"s 6egan to loo' for a li'el" hiding. )lace. 0he" h(nted in e&er" corner, e<ce)t in the room where the woman la" aslee), and at last came to the concl(sion that the )ict(res m(st 6e somewhere there. $t seemed to 6e the onl" )lace left# %he s )ro6a6l" hidden them (nder her mattress, said Peter, with a small groan. 3(t let s ha&e one last thin'. *here wo(ld we hide them if we had to + %ilence. E&er"one tho(ght hard. 0hen 8olin whis. )ered lo(dl"P $ 'now where Td hide them . (nder

1/2

all the mess of twigs the =ac'daws ha&e dro))ed for "ears, at the 6ase of the 6ig tower# Joll" good idea# whis)ered 6ac' Peter. Bine hiding.)lace# *e ll go and loo'. 4(ietl" now# 0he" ti)toed to where the mass of twigs la" hea)ed e&er"where on the floor, and shone their torches all aro(nd. $t loo's as if that )ile o&er there has 6een messed a6o(t a 6it, whis)ered 9eorge, shining his torch on a hea)ed stac'. !old m" torch. $ ll scra66le a6o(t and see. !e ste))ed o&er the masses of twigs, and the" crac'ed lo(dl" 6eneath his feet. !e sto))ed in a h(rr", and waited a moment, afraid that the noise wo(ld wa'e the slee)ing woman. 0hen he leaned forward and 6egan caref(ll" to scra)e awa" the twigs that seemed to ha&e 6een freshl" hea)ed.(). !is hand felt something (nderneath, and he ga&e a small cr". $ 6elie&e $ &e fo(nd something# he whis)ered, and )(lled o(t what loo'ed rather li'e a roll of thic' )a)er. -es# $t s one of the )ict(res %(sie m(st ha&e seen down in the d(ngeons# said Peter, thrilled. %ee if there are an" more. -es . there were )lent" more, all neatl" rolled (), some of them inside one another. 9eorge handed

1/3

them all o(t to Peter and Jac'. $t was a &er" thrilling moment indeed# ,nd then the" heard something that startled them &er" m(ch, and made them =(m) almost o(t of their s'ins# , 6ell# , lo(d 6ell that rang and rang and rang, 6rea'ing the dar' silence so s(ddenl" that the 6o"s felt rooted to the s)ot. 0hen the noise sto))ed, and there was silence again. *hat was it+ , tele)hone 6ell ringing+ whis. )ered 8olin. %o(nded more li'e an alarm cloc' going off, whis)ered 9eorge, s(r)rised to find himself trem. 6ling. Of co(rse# $t was the cloc' we heard tic'ing near that slee)ing woman# said Peter. %he had set it for a certain time# :a"6e the thie&es are coming soon, to get the hidden )ict(res, and she wanted to 6e s(re to 6e awa'e. *e d 6etter hide# 0he" ti)toed to a small recess in the great wall, and cro(ched there, their hearts 6eating fast. Peter and Jac' had the rolled.() )ict(res. 0he" waited there, 7(ite silent. 0he" heard mo&ements after a min(te or two, and then the light of a lam) came from the 'itchen.li'e room where the woman had 6een slee)ing. 0he

1/4

light came nearer, and the cro(ching 6o"s saw the woman )ass their recess, holding the light 6efore her to see the wa". 0he" h(ddled in the dar' shadows, hardl" daring to 6reathe# %he )assed right 6", went to the great entrance, and stood there. %he s signalling# whis)ered Peter. $ 6et that s to sa" 5,ll s 8lear . come and get the goods5# Oh goodness# 0he girls at home will see the signal and thin' it s ours) groaned Jac'. $ wonder how man" times that woman s wa&ing. Aet s get o(t of here, said 8olin. $ don t want to 6e fo(nd 6" whoe&er s coming () to the castle. Aet s go now, whilst we &e time. *ell, we sho(ld ha&e )lent" of time, if the

1/5

thie&es ha&e to come from an" distance, said Peter. 3(t ma"6e the" re hiding somewhere near, so we ll ha&e to loo' o(t# 8ome on . we ll r(sh 6" that woman . she will ha&e a fright# Aet s ho)e we can signal with o(r torches when we get o(t on the hill. side# 0he" all left the dar' little recess and raced to the entrance, where the woman stood, the lam) still in her hand. %he ga&e a scream when the" )(shed )ast her, and tried to catch hold of 8olin. %to)# *ho are "o( + %to), $ sa"# 3(t the 6o"s did not sto). 0he" tore o(t into the dar'ness. 0hen Peter had a shoc' . he tri))ed o&er something and fell headlong . and down went all

1/6

the others too# 3efore the" co(ld get (), firm hands had hold of them, and each 6o" was )(lled ro(ghl" to his feet. , 6right torch was shone into their faces. Cids# said a man s &oice. Bo(r 6o"s# *hat on earth are "o( doing here, $ d li'e to 'now# 0hree men stood there, dar' shadows in the night, lighted onl" 6" the torch the" held towards the fo(r 6o"s. 0he" had neatl" tri))ed each of them as the" came racing o(t into the dar'ness. Aet me go# "elled Peter, and 'ic'ed o(t hard. 0he man holding him tightened his gri). 4(ite a little s)itfire, he said, moc'ingl", and shoo' him hard. 0he woman came (), then, amaJed. $ &e not seen them 6efore, she said. 0he" m(st ha&e 6een hiding in the castle. ,re the things safe+ said the tallest man, shar)l". $?ll see, she said, and went off. 0he 6o"s waited, their hearts th(m)ing. 0he" 'new that the )ict(res were certainl" not safe in their hiding.)lace. No .the" were well down the hillside now, where the" had rolled after Peter and Jac' had 'ic'ed them, as soon as the men ca(ght hold of their arms. !ow the" ho)ed that no6od" had seen the rolls of )ict(res 6(m)ing down the hillside in the dar'ness# 0he woman came h(rr"ing 6ac'. 0he" re gone#

1/7

she said. Not a single one there. 0hese 6o"s m(st ha&e ta'en them and hidden them somewhere# *hate&er made them come here# 0he" couldn't ha&e 'nown an"thing a6o(t them# *e ll soon find o(t, said the tall man. %ho&e the 6o"s into the d(ngeons and 'ee) them there till the" tell (s what the" are doing here at this time of night .and where the" &e )(t the )ict(res# ,nd then, &er" ro(ghl" indeed, the fo(r 6o"s were )(shed into the castle, and down into the d(ngeons# *hat a horri6le thing to ha))en, =(st as the" had 6een a6o(t to go home in tri(m)h#

1/1

CHAPTER NINETEEN

A Friend in (eed!
$ %,-# 0his is a sic'ening thing to ha))en# said Peter, r(66ing himself where he had fallen against the hard stone floor. *hat 6ad l(c' to r(n headlong into those men# Peter# *hat ha))ened to the )ict(res+ said 9eorge, in a whis)er. *e managed to dro) them and gi&e them a good 'ic' down the hill, answered Peter. $ ho)e the" re still rolling# *hat are we going to do+ as'ed 8olin, who felt decidedl" scared. $ don t see that we can do anything at the mo. ment, said Peter. *hat a )it" we weren t a6le to signal to the girls, after all# 0hen we d 'now hel) was coming. *hat do "o( s())ose those men are doing+ as'ed 9eorge. Aoo'ing for the )ict(res+ $ sho(ld thin' so, said Peter. 50he" ll 6e down here soon eno(gh, when the" can t find them an". where#

1/;

No6od" li'ed hearing that# 0heir hearts san'. Peter 6egan to wonder if he co(ld )ossi6l" get o(t of the castle and signal home. No. !e co(ldn t. One of the men wo(ld 6e s(re to 6e watching at the to) of the d(ngeon ste)s. ,nd then something most astonishing ha))ened# 0here was no man at the to) of the ste)s . onl" the woman, who had 6een told to sho(t if the 6o"s tried to esca)e. 4(ite s(ddenl" the 6o"s heard her gi&e a scream, and then she sho(ted, Oh, what is it, what is it+ 0hen something 6o(nded down the ste)s at to) s)eed, and fl(ng itself on to) of Peter, whining in delight# Scamper) cried Peter, in the (tmost astonish. ment. *hate&er are you doing here+ !ow did "o( find (s+ Oh good dog, cle&er dog# Oh, how glad $ am to see "o(# %cam)er whined and 6ar'ed and lic'ed e&er" one of the 6o"s. *hat a long, long tre' he had had, following their trail . 6(t now, here he was, .ust at the right moment# !e lea)t () at Peter, and went almost mad with =o". 0he 6o"s felt 6ra&er at once. %cam)er wo(ld 6e a real hel)# 0he woman s screams had 6ro(ght

11/

the men () at once, and the" sho(ted to her. *hat s ha))ening+ *hat is it+ Oh, something )(shed 6" me in the dar' and shot down into the d(ngeon# she said. $t seemed to 6e a dog# %cam)er immediatel" )rod(ced an e<tremel" fierce growl down at the 6ottom of his throat . it startled e&en Peter, who was (sed to %cam)er s 6ar's and growls. Drrrrr. DHHHHHH, DHHHHHHH# -o( 6e caref(l of o(r dog# "elled Peter. !e ll attac' "o( if "o( don t let (s go. -o( tell (s where "o( &e )(t those )ict(res and we ll let "o( go all right, came 6ac' the angr" answer. Otherwise we ll 'ee) "o( here for a wee'# %t(ff# sho(ted 6ac' Peter. O(r )eo)le will soon come after (s. &e don't mind sta"ing here. :a'es a nice change# ,ll the same, the 6o"s didn t at all li'e 6eing down in the d(ngeons. 0he" were dar' and f(ll of sha. dows . and the" were &er" cold indeed# One of the men decided to gi&e the 6o"s a scare and came r(sh. ing down the ste)s, hallooing at the to) of his &oice. !e certainl" startled the 6o"s . 6(t as he also had the effect of ma'ing %cam)er go wild with rage, it

111

didn t do him m(ch good# 0he s)aniel flew at him, and ni))ed him smartl" on the leg. 0he man ga&e a howl and went () the ste)s as 7(ic'l" as he had come down#

29ood? dog, %cam)er,? said Peter, )leased. 9osh, $ m glad "o( trailed (s tonight# *hat a long wal' "o( &e had, old fellow# -o( re a =oll" good friend#@ Bor a6o(t an ho(r nothing ha))ened. *hat were the men doing+ !a&ing a meal+ Aoo'ing for the

112

)ict(res+ No6od" co(ld g(ess. 0he" all felt &er" than'f(l that %cam)er was there to )rotect them. *e wo(ldn t ha&e had a chance witho(t him# said Peter. 0hen he stiffened as he heard a distant noise. Aisten . something s going on# !ar' at that sho(ting and "elling# 0he" listened . and %cam)er s(ddenl" ga&e a de. lighted whine and tore () the stone ste)s at to) s)eed. !e", come 6ac'# "elled Peter . 6(t %cam)er too' no notice. Aet s go and see what s ha))ening, said Peter, and started () the ste)s. 0here can t 6e an"one g(arding (s now, if %cam)er shot awa" li'e that. 0he" all went ca(tio(sl" () the ste)s . and, as Peter said, there was no one on g(ard at the to). 3(t o(tside the castle there was certainl" something going on# %ho(ts and "ells and the so(nd of feet stam)ing a6o(t . what a to.do# %cam)er was in the midst of it, 6ar'ing and ni))ing whene&er he had a chance# 4(ic', Peter . where s "o(r torch+

113

CHAPTER TWENTY

Safe %o$e Again!


shone his torch on to the sho(ting mo6 . and nearl" dro))ed it in s(r)rise. >,># !ow did you get here# ,nd $att ) $ sa", loo' . there s >ad and :att and 9ardener . and the" &e ca(ght all three of the men# 0he torches shone on the si< men and the e<cited dog. 0here was no sign of the woman . she had fled awa" while she had the chance# Now then . "o( =(st come along 7(ietl", said :att s dee) &oice. 0he 6ig she)herd was ha&ing the
PE0EH

114

time of his life# !e co(ld handle 6(lls and cows and horses and rams and goodness 'nows what . and he had no diffic(lt" at all in handling two or three frightened men, es)eciall" with Peter s father and the heft" gardener to hel). >ad# Oh >ad# !ow did "o( 'now we wanted hel) . we weren t a6le to signal# cried Peter, as his father neatl" )inioned his man s arms 6ehind him. @ !allo, Peter . so "o( re all right# said his father. *e re =(st ta'ing these men down to their &an to loc' them in and :att will dri&e them down to the )olice. station. $ m s(re the )olice will gi&e them a 6ed tonight# *e fo(nd their &an )ar'ed () the lane, read" to ta'e them off again . with the )ict(res too, $ s())ose# *e saw "o(r 6i'es somewhere down the lane as well# Oh %ad! $ can t 6elie&e "o( re here# said Peter, f(ll of than'f(lness. $ s())ose Janet told "o( where we were. 8an we do an"thing to hel) "o( with these fellows+ No . 6(t "o( might loo' aro(nd for those )ict(res, said his father. 0he" re too &al(a6le to 6e left in the dam) and cold. 0hese fellows won t tell (s where the" are. Perha)s that woman too' them, s(ggested :att,

115

marching the tall man awa" in front of him. %he sc(ttled off li'e a ra66it. No . she didn t ta'e them, said Peter. I 'now where the" are# $ ll get them# !e and the others raced down the hill with their torches to find where the rolled.() )ict(res had gone. Now . where were the"+ %(rel" that woman hadn t fo(nd them+ No . there the" were, l"ing where the" had rolled, safe and so(nd, s)read all a6o(t the hillside# 9ood# said Peter, and )o(nced on them. %oon he and the 6o"s had gathered them all, and ran 6ac' to where the men were now 6eing 6(ndled into their own &an. 0he" stared angril" when the" saw the rolls of can&ases carried 6" the 6o"s. :att dro&e awa" in the &an, with the three angr", frightened men loc'ed inside. Peter s father and 9ardener went to the car in which the" had dri&en (). -o( 6o"s will come down on "o(r 6i'es, won t "o(+ Peter s father sho(ted. *hat a6o(t %cam)er+ Oh ta'e him in the car, >ad, if "o( will, said Peter, lifting () the e<cited dog. !e wal'ed all the wa" here, dear old fellow . he m(st 6e tired now# %cam)er was than'f(l to go 6ac' in the car.

116

Peter s father caref(ll" )(t the )recio(s can&ases o(t of his reach, and awa" the" went down the hill, following the &an. *hat a =o"f(l meeting the %e&en had in Peter s )la"room, as soon as the" arri&ed 6ac'. 0he girls and Peter s mother ga&e them a great welcome and co(ld hardl" wait to hear their news .and how eagerl" the" listened to the fo(r 6o"s e<citing stor". 2Oh what a time "o( had# said Janet, her e"es shining. Oh, $ wish $ d 6een with "o(# *hate&er will %(sie and J3in'ie sa" when the" hear all this + 3" the wa", did "o( find o(r telesco)e in the castle+ $ s())ose the men had hidden it somewhere there+

117

No . we didn t find the telesco)e# said Jac'. 3low# *e o(ght to ha&e as'ed those men where it was . o(r mar&ello(s telesco)e that 6ro(ght (s this e<citing ad&ent(re# !ere s >ad 6ac' again, said Peter, hearing the front door o)en, and %cam)er s lo(d 6ar'ing as he too came in, and r(shed () the stairs. Peter o)ened the )la"room door, and %cam)er =(m)ed () at him in =o". >ad# *e re all () here, :other too# called Peter. Oh >ad . 0!,NC "o( for coming to o(r resc(e# *e co(ldn t e&en gi&e the signal for hel) . so we d all 6e down in those misera6le d(ngeons still, if "o( hadn t resc(ed (s. Oh >ad . wasn t it e<citing# %ir, said Jac', an<io(sl", did the men sa" an". thing a6o(t m" telesco)e+ *e re )rett" s(re the" stole it 6eca(se the" 'new we were watching the castle thro(gh it. Oh "es . the" &e admitted that the" stole it, said Peter s father. 3(t $ m sorr" to ha&e to tell "o( that the" didn t ta'e it () to the castle . the" sim)l" threw it awa" into the ri&er. Oh m" goodness# said Jac', loo'ing &er" down in the d(m)s. 0hat s a 6low. $t was s(ch a wonderful telesco)e . $ ll ne&er, ne&er ha&e another li'e it.

111

-o( will, old cha)# said Peter s father. 0here s a reward offered for those )ict(res . a )rett" good one too . and as it will go to the %ecret %e&en of co(rse, $ m s(re that at their ne<t meeting the" will agree to 6("ing "o( a magnificent telesco)e, Jac' .and there will 6e eno(gh mone" o&er for the %e&en to sa&e for a &er" good 8hristmas, as well . "o( certainl" deser&e it# ,nd %cam)er, "o( shall ha&e the biggest 6one we can 6(" "o(# said Janet, )atting the s)aniel s sil'" head. Oh $ m longing for o(r ne<t %ecret %e&en meeting . we ll ha&e s(ch )lans to ma'e# -o( will, Janet# !ow we d li'e to listen in and hear "o(r e<cited &oices, )lanning how to s)end that reward . a fine new telesco)e for Jac' and %(sie . a 6one for %cam)er . a lo&el" 8hristmas for e&er"one. ,nd $ m s(re we can all g(ess what "o(r ne/t )ass. word will 6e . P$80DHE%# ,re we right, Peter+

11;

12/

121

You might also like