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FOREWORD THIS is
the sixth book of the adventures of the ive! "u#ian$ %i&k$ 'nne$ (eor)e!and Ti**+ the do), The+ are ba&k on -irrin Is#and a)ain$ in one of their bi))est adventures of a##, The five books before this one$ in their ri)ht order$ are . Five Five Five Five Five
on a Treasure Island Go Adventuring Again Run Away Together Go to Smuggler's Top Go Off in a Caravan
'#thou)h the books are ta#es about the sa*e &hara&ters$ ea&h book is &o*/#ete in itse#f, The ive are sti## havin) adventures$ and if +ou #ook on the ra//er of this book +ou i## find the na*es of the stories hi&h fo##o this one, I ho/e +ou i## eno+ the* a##, I% T,
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;HI%
(II' '% I(
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Chapter One A LETTER FOR GEORGE
' as tr+in) to do so*e of her /re/, in a &orner of the &o**on
'nne? I>ve ust had a #etter fro* ho*e < and hat do +ou think@ ather ants to )o and #ive on *+ is#and to do so*e s/e&ia# ork < and he ants to bui#d a sort of toer or so*ethin) in the &ast#e +ard?> The other )ir#s #ooked u/ in a*use*ent$ and 'nne he#d out her hand for the #etter that (eor)e as avin) at her, ver+one kne about the #itt#e is#and off -irrin a+ that be#on)ed to (eor)e, -irrin Is#and as a tin+ /#a&e ith an o#d ruined &ast#e in the *idd#e of it. the ho*e of rabbits and )u##s and a&kdas, It had under)round dun)eons$ in hi&h (eor)e and her &ousins had had one or to a*aAin) adventures, It had on&e be#on)ed to (eor)e>s *other$ and she had )iven it to (eor)e < and (eor)e as ver+ fier&e here her /re&ious -irrin Is#and as &on&erned? It as hers, obod+ e#se *ust #ive there$ or even #and there ithout her /er*ission, 14
'nd no$ dear *e$ here as her father /ro/osin) to )o to her is#and$ and even bui#d so*e sort of orksho/ there? (eor)e as red ith exas/eration, >It>s ust #ike )ront ant ather #ivin) on *+ is#and$ and bui#din) nast+ *ess+ sheds and thin)s there,> >h (eor)e < +ou kno +our father is a ver+ fa*ous s&ientist$ ho needs to ork in /ea&e$> said 'nne$ takin) the #etter, >Sure#+ +ou &an #end hi* +our is#and for a bit@> >There are /#ent+ of other /#a&es here he &an ork in /ea&e$> said (eor)e, >h dear < I as so ho/in) e &ou#d )o and sta+ there in the aster ho#>s < take our boat there$ and food and ever+thin)$ ust #ike e>ve done before, o e shan>t be ab#e to if ather rea##+ does )o there,> 'nne read the #etter, It as fro* (eor)e>s *other, > “y darling George! 'I thin" I must tell you at on#e that your lather pro$ $poses to live on %irrin Island for some little time in order to finish some very important e&periments he is ma"ing (e will have to have some "ind of )uilding ere#ted there $a sort of tower! I )elieve Apparently he needs a pla#e where he #an have a)solute pea#e and isolation! and also! for some reason! where there is water all round him The fa#t of )eing surrounded )y water is ne#essary to his e&periment '*ow! dear! don't )e upset a)out this I "now that you #onsider %irrin Island is your very own! )ut you must allow your family to share it! espe#ially when it 15
is for something as important as your father's s#ientifi# wor" Father thin"s you will )e very pleased indeed to lend him %irrin Island! )ut I "now your funny feelings a)out it! so I thought + had )etter write and tell you! )efore you arrive home and see him installed there! #omplete with his tower' The #etter then ent on about other thin)s$ but 'nne did not bother to read these, She #ooked at (eor)e,
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B h$(eor)e ? I don>t see h+ +ou *ind +our father borroin) -irrin Is#and for a bit? I ou#dn>t *ind my father borroin) an is#and fro* *e!if I as #u&k+ enou)h to have one ? B B Tour father ou#d ta#k to +ou about it first$ and ask +our /er*ission$ and see if +ou *inded$B said (eor)e$ su#ki#+, B + father never does an+thin) #ike that, He ust does exa&t#+ as he #ikes ithout askin) an+bod+ an+thin), I rea##+ do think he *i)ht have ritten to *e hi*se#f, He ust /uts *+ ba&k u/,B B ou>ve )ot a ba&k that is ver+ easi#+ /ut u/$ (eor)e$B said 'nne$ #au)hin), B %on>t s&o# at *e Hke that, I'm not borroin) +our is#and ithout +our )ra&ious /er*ission,B ut (eor)e ou#dn>t s*i#e ba&k, She took her #etter and read it a)ain )#oo*i#+, B To think that a## *+ #ove#+ ho#ida+ /#ans are s/oi#t ? B she said, B ou kno ho su/er -irrin Is#and is at astert sta+ed to)ether sin&e #ast su**er hen e ent &aravannin),B B I kno, It is hard #u&k ? B said 'nne, B It ou#d have been iAard to )o and sta+ on the is#and these ho##s, ut /erha/s +our father ou#dn>t *ind if e did @ :e needn>t disturb hi*,B B 's if #ivin) on -irrin Is#and ith ather there ou#d be the sa*e as #ivin) there a## b+ ourse#ves$B said (eor)e$ s&ornfu##+, B ou kno it ou#d be horrid,B :e##$ +es!'nne didn>t think on the ho#e that -irrin Is#and ou#d be *u&h fun ith Cn&#e Duentin there,
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(eor)e>s father as su&h a hott find -irrin Euite so /ea&efu# as he i*a)ines ? B (eor)e )ave a ater+ sort of s*i#e, She fo#ded u/ the #etter and turned aa+, B :e##$ I think it>s ust the #i*it$B she said, B I ou#dn>t have fe#t so bad if on#+ ather had asked *+ /er*ission,B B He>d never do that? B said 'nne, B It ust ou#dn>t o&&ur to hi*, o (eor)e$ don>t s/end the rest of the da+ broodin) over +our ron)s$ for )oodness> sake, (o don to the kenne#s and fet&h Ti**+, He>## soon &heer +ou u/,B Ti*oth+ as (eor)e>s do)$ ho* she #oved ith a## her heart, He as a bi) bron *on)re# do)$ ith a ridi&u#ous#+ #on) tai#$ and a ide *outh that rea##+ see*ed to s*i#e, '## the four &ousins #oved hi*, He as so friend#+ and #ovin)$ so #ive#+ and a*usin)$ and he had shared so ver+ *an+ adventures ith the* a##, The five of the* had had *an+ ha//+ ti*es to)ether, (eor)e ent to )et Ti**+, Her s&hoo# a##oed the &hi#dren to kee/ their on /ets, If it hadn>t a##oed this$ it is Euite &ertain that (eor)e ou#d not have )one to boardin)
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as a#a+s on her side$ a#a+s her friend hatever she did$ and to Ti**+ there as no one in the or#d so onderfu# as (eor)e, The+ ere soon )oin) throu)h the fie#ds to)ether$ and (eor)e ta#ked to Ti**+ as she a#avs
did, She to#d hi* about her father borroin) -irrin Is#and, Ti**+ a)reed ith ever+ ord she said, He 19
#istened as if he understood ever+thin)$ and not even hen a rabbit shot a&ross
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his /ath did he #eave his *istress>s side, Ti**+ a#a+s kne hen (eor)e as u/set, He )ave her hand a fe #itt#e #i&ks ever+ no and a)ain, + the ti*e that (eor)e as ba&k at s&hoo# a)ain she fe#t *u&h better, She took Ti**+ into s&hoo# ith her$ s*u))#in) hi* in at a side door, %o)s ere not a##oed in the s&hoo# bui#din)$ but (eor)e$ #ike her father$ often did exa&t#+ as she #iked, She hurried Ti**+ u/ to her dor*itor+, He s&utt#ed under her bed Eui&k#+ and #a+ don, His tai# thu*/ed the f#oor )ent#+, He kne hat this *eant, (eor)e anted the &o*fort of his nearness that ni)ht ? He ou#d be ab#e to u*/ on her bed$ hen #i)hts ere out$ and snu))#e into the &rook of her knees, His bron e+es )#ea*ed ith de#i)ht, B o$ #ie Euiet$B said (eor)e$ and ent out of the roo* to oin the other )ir#s, She found 'nne$ ho as bus+ ritin) a #etter to her brothers$ "u#ian and %i&k$ at their boardin)ve to#d the* about -irrin Is#and$ and +our father antin) to borro it$B she said, B :ou#d +ou #ike to &o*e and sta+ ith us! (eor)e$ these ho##s$ instead of us &o*in) to -irrin @ Then +ou on>t fee# &ross a## the ti*e be&ause +our father is on +our is#and,B B o thanks$B said (eor)e$ at on&e, B I>* )oin) ho*e, I ant to kee/ an e+e on ather ? I don>t ant hi* b#oin) u/ -irrin Is#and ith one of his ex/eri*ents, ou kno he>s *essin) about ith ex/#osives no$ don>t +ou @ B B oooh!ato* bo*bs$ or thin)s #ike that @ B said 'nne,
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B I don>t kno$B said (eor)e, B 'n+a+$ Euite a/art fro* kee/in) an e+e on ather and *+ is#and$ e ou)ht to )o and sta+ at -irrin to kee/ other &o*/an+, She>## be a## a#one if ather>s on the is#and, I su//ose he>## take food and ever+thin) there,B B :e##$ there>s one thin)$ e shan>t have to &ree/ about on ti/toe and his/er$ if +our father isn>t at -irrin ;otta)e ? B said 'nne, B :e &an be as nois+ as e #ike, %o &heer u/$ (eor)e ? B ut it took (eor)e Euite a #on) ti*e to )et over the fit of )#oo* &aused b+ her *other>s #etter, ven havin) Ti**+ on her bed ea&h ni)ht$ ti## he as dis&overed b+ an an)r+ tea&her$ did not Euite *ake u/ for her disa//oint*ent, The ter* ran sift#+ on to its end, '/ri# &a*e in$ ith sunshine and shoers, Ho#ida+s &a*e nearer and nearer ? 'nne thou)ht o+fu##+ of -irrin$ ith its #ove#+ sand+ bea&h$ its b#ue sea$ its fishin)re )ettin) into the &oa&hes, (eor)e ? ust +ou rush a#on)
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the &orridor at sixt+ *i#es an hour$ ith Ti**+ barkin) his head off a## the ti*e ? B B es$ I *ust$ I *ust ? B &ried (eor)e, B 'nne$ here are +ou @ %o &o*e and )et into the &oa&h, I I>ve )ot Ti**+, He knos it>s ho#ida+s no, ;o*e on$ Ti* ? B %on to the station ent the sin)in) &rod of &hi#dren, The+ /i#ed into the train, B a)s I this seat? :ho>s taken *+ ba) @ (et out$ Hett+$ +ou kno +ou &an>t brin) +our do) in here ith *ine, The+ fi)ht #ike an+thin), Hurrah$ the )uard>s b#oin) his hist#e ? :e>re off? B The en)ine /u##ed s#o#+ out of the station$ its #on) train of &arria)es behind it$ fi##ed to burstin) ith )ir#s off for their ho#ida+s, Throu)h the Euiet &ountr+side it ent$ throu)h s*a## tons and vi##a)es$ and at #ast ran throu)h the s*ok+ outskirts of ondon, B The bo+s> train is due in to *inutes before ours$B said 'nne$ #eanin) out of the indo$ as the tra* dre s#o#+ into the ondon station, FF If it as /un&tua#$ the+ *i)ht be on our /#atfor* to *eet us, h #ook$ (eor)e$ #ook !there the+ are ? B (eor)e hun) out of the indo too, B Hie$ "u#ian ? B she +e##ed, B Here e are ? Hie$ %i&k$ "u#ian ?B
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Chapter Two BACK AT KIRRIN COTTAGE
"CI'$ %i&k$ 'nne$ (eor)e and Ti**+ ent strai)htaa+ to have buns and )in)er* o##+ )#ad to see +ou$B said %i&k$ B but that>s ti&e +ou>ve u/set *+ )in)ert he$ 'nne@ I *ean!he on#+ )ot the oint out of the #arder on&e !and he didn>t do mu#h har* to that &ushion he &heed! and if /eo/#e will #eave their )o#oshes a## over the /#a&e nobod+ &an b#a*e Ti**+ for havin) a )ood o#d )a*e ith the*,B B 'nd that as the end of the )o#oshes$ I su//ose$B said "u#ian$ ith a )rin, B n the ho#e$ Ti**+$ +ou have a rather /oor re/ort, I>* afraid our Cn&#e Duentin i## not aard +ou the usua# ha#f<&ron e )et for )ood re/orts,B 't the *ention of her father$ (eor)e s&o#ed, B I see (eor)e has not #ost her /rett+ s&o#$B said %i&k$ in a teasin) voi&e, B %ear o#d (eor)e ? :e shou#dn>t kno her un#ess she /ut on that fier&eso*e s&o# ha#f a doAen ti*es a da+ ? B
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B h$ she>s better than she as$B said 'nne$ hurr+in) to (eor)e>s defen&e at on&e, (eor)e as not so tou&h+ as she had on&e been$ hen she as bein) teased, '## the sa*e$ 'nne kne that there *i)ht be s/arks f#+in) over her father takin) -irrin Is#and these ho#ida+s$ and she didn>t ant (eor)e to f#+ into a te*/er too soon ? "u#ian #ooked at his &ousin, B I sa+$ o#d thin)$ +ou>re not )oin) to take this business of -irrin Is#and too *u&h to heart$ are +ou @ B he said, B ou>ve ust )ot to rea#ise that +our father>s a re*arkab#+ &#ever *an$ one of the finest s&ientists e>ve )ot!and 7 think that those kind of fe##os ou)ht to be a##oed as *u&h freedo* as the+ #ike$ for their ork, I *ean!if Cn&#e Duentin ants to ork on -irrin Is#and for so*e /e&u#iar reason of his on$ then +ou ou)ht to be /#eased to sa+ > (o ahead$ ather ?> B (eor)e #ooked a #itt#e *utinous after this rather #on) s/ee&h = but she thou)ht a )reat dea# of "u#ian$ and usua##+ ent b+ hat he said, He as o#der than an+ of the*$ a ta##$ )ood<#ookin) bo+$ ith deter*ined e+es and a stron) &hin, (eor)e s&rat&hed Ti**+>s head$ and s/oke in a #o voi&e, B '## ri)ht, I on>t )o u/ in s*oke about it$ "u#ian, ut I>* fri)htfu##+ disa//ointed, I>d /#anned to )o to -irrin Is#and ourse#ves these ho##sG B :e##$ e>re a## disa//ointed$B said "u#ian, Bu&k u/ ith +our bun$ o#d thin), :e>ve )ot to )et a&ross ondon and &at&h the train for -irrin, :e sha## *iss it if e don>t #ook out,B Soon the+ ere in the train for -irrin, "u#ian :HS ver+ )ood at )ettin) /orters and taxies, 'nne
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)aAed ad*irin)#+ at her bi) brother as he found the* a## &ornerve )ron$ "u#ian @ B she asked hi*, B I did ho/e I>d be as ta## as (eor)e b+ the end of this ter*$ but she )re too ?B B :e##$ I shou#d think +ou *i)ht be a Euarter of an in&h ta##er than #ast ter*$B said "u#ian, B ou &an>t &at&h us u/$ 'nne!+ou>## a#a+s be the s*a##est ? ut I #ike +ou s*a##,B B ook at Ti**+$ /uttin) his head out of the indo as usua# ? B said %i&k, B Ti**+$ +ou>## )et a s*oke<)rit in +our e+e, Then (eor)e i## )o Euite *ad ith )rief and think +ou>re )oin) b#ind ?B B :oof$B said Ti**+$ and a))ed his tai#, That as the ni&e /art about Ti**+, He a#a+s kne hen he as bein) s/oken to$ even if his na*e as not *entioned$ and he ansered at on&e, 'unt ann+ as at the station to *eet the* in the /on+s Cn&#e Duentin @ B asked "u#ian$ /o#ite#+$ hen the+ ere settin) off in the tra/, B He>s ver+ e##$B said his aunt, B 'nd terrib#+ ex&ited, ea##+$ I>ve never knon hi* to be so thri##ed as he has been #ate#+, His ork has been &o*in) a#on) ver+ su&&essfu##+,B B I su//ose +ou don>t kno hat his #atest ex/eri*ent is @ B said %i&k, B h no, He never te##s *e a ord$B said 27
'unt ann+, B He never te##s an+one an+thin) hi#st he is at ork$ ex&e/t his &o##ea)ues$ of &ourse, ut I do kno it>s ver+ i*/ortant!and I kno$ of &ourse$ that the #ast /art of the ex/eri*ent has to be *ade in a /#a&e here there is dee/ ater a## around, %on>t ask *e h+ ? I don>t kno,B B ook ? There>s -irrin Is#and ? B said 'nne$ sudden#+, The+ had rounded a &orner$ and had &o*e in si)ht of the ba+, (uardin) the entran&e f it as the &urious #itt#e is#and to//ed b+ the o#d ruined &ast#e, The sun shone don on the b#ue sea$ and the is#and #ooked *ost en&hantin), (eor)e #ooked earnest#+ at it, She as #ookin) for the bui#din)$ hatever it as$ that her father said he needed for his ork, ver+one #ooked at the is#and$ seekin) the sa*e thin), The+ sa it easi#+ enou)h ? isin) fro* the &entre of the &ast#e$ /robab#+ fro* the &ast#e +ard$ as a ta##$ thin toer$ rather #ike a #i)htt #ike it? It s/oi#s -irrin Is#and$B said (eor)e$ in dis*a+, B %ar#in)$ it &an &o*e don hen +our father has finished his ork$B said her *other, FF It>s a ver+ f#i*s+$ te*/orar+ thin), It &an easi#+ be /u##ed don, ather /ro*ised *e he ou#d s&ra/ it as soon as his ork as done, He sa+s +ou &an )o a&ross and see it$ if +ou #ike, It>s rea##+ rather interestin),B B ooh!I>d love to )o and see it$B said 'nne$ at on&e, B It #ooks so Eueer, Is Cn&#e Duentin a## a#one on -irrin Is#and$ 'unt ann+ @ B B es, I don>t #ike hi* to be a#one$B said her
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aunt, B or one thin) I a* sure he doesn>t )et his *ea#s /ro/er#+$ and for another$ I>* a#a+s afraid so*e har* *i)ht &o*e to hi* hen he>s ex/eri*entin)!and if he>s a#one$ ho ou#d I kno if an+thin) ha//ened to hi* @ B B :e##$ 'unt ann+$ +ou &ou#d a#a+s arran)e for hi* to si)na# to +ou ea&h *ornin) and ni)ht$ &ou#dn>t +ou @ B said "u#ian$ sensib#+, B He &ou#d use that toer easi#+, He &ou#d f#ash a si)na# to +ou in the *ornin)$ usin) a *irror$ +ou kno !he#io)ra/hin) that he as a## ri)ht!and at ni)ht he &ou#d si)na# ith a #a*/, as+ ? B B es, I did su))est that sort of thin)$B said his aunt, B I said I>d )o over ith +ou a## to*orro$ to see hi*!and /erha/s$ "u#ian dear$ +ou &ou#d arran)e so*ethin) of the sort ith +our un&#e @ He see*s to #isten to +ou no,B B (ra&ious ? %o +ou *ean to sa+ ather ants us to invade his se&ret #air$ and a&tua##+ to see his stran)e toer@B asked (eor)e$ sur/rised, B:e##!I don>t think I ant to )o, 'fter a##$ it>s my is#and!and it>s horrid to see so*eone e#se takin) /ossession of it,B B h (eor)e$ don>t be)in a## that a)ain$B said 'nne$ ith a si)h, B ou and +our is#and ? ;an>t +ou even lend it to +our on father ? 'unt ann+$ +ou shou#d have seen (eor)e hen +our #etter &a*e, She #ooked so fier&e that I as Euite s&ared ? B ver+one #au)hed ex&e/t (eor)e and 'unt ann+, She #ooked distressed, (eor)e as a#a+s so diffi&u#t ? She found fau#t ith her father$ and )ot u/ a)ainst hi* ti*e after ti*e!but dear *e$ ho ver+$ ver+ #ike hi* she as$ ith her s&o#s$ her sudden te*/er$ and her fier&eness ?
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If on#+ (eor)e as as seets troub#ed fa&e$ and fe#t asha*ed of herse#f, She /ut her hand on her knee, B It>s a## ri)ht$ other ? I on>t *ake a fuss, I>## tr+ and kee/ *+ fee#in)s to *+se#f$ rea##+ I i##, I kno ather>s ork is i*/ortant, I>## )o ith +ou to the is#and to*orro,B "u#ian )ave (eor)e a )ent#e &#a/ on the ba&k, B (ood o#d (eor)e ? She>s a&tua##+ #earned$ not on#+ to )ive in$ but to )ive in )ra&efu##+ ? (eor)e$ +ou>re *ore #ike a bo+ than ever hen +ou a&t #ike that,B (eor)e )#oed, She #iked "u#ian to sa+ she as #ike a bo+, She didn>t ant to be /ett+ and &att+ and bear *a#i&e as so *an+ )ir#s did, ut 'nne #ooked a #itt#e indi)nant, B It isn>t only bo+s that &an #earn to )ive in de&ent#+$ and thin)s #ike that$B she said, B Hea/s of )ir#s do, :e##$ I o##+ e## ho/e I do *+se#f? B B + )oodness$ here>s another fires -irrin ;otta)e, %oesn>t it #ook seet ith a## the /ri*roses in the )arden$ and the a##f#oers &o*in) out$ and the daffodi#s /ee/in) ever+here @ B It &ertain#+ did, The four &hi#dren and Ti**+ tore in at the front )ate$ de#i)hted to be ba&k, The+ &#attered into the house$ and$ to their )reat de#i)ht$ found "oanna$ the o#d &ook there, She had &o*e ba&k to he#/ for the ho#ida+s, She bea*ed at the &hi#dren$ and fond#ed Ti**+ hen he #ea/t a## round her$ barkin), B :e##$ there no ? Haven>t +ou a## )ron
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a)ain @ Ho bi) +ou are$ aster "u#ian!ta##er than I a*$ I de&#are, 'nd #itt#e iss 'nne$ h+ she>s )ettin) Euite bi),B That /#eased 'nne$ of &ourse, "u#ian ent ba&k to the front door to he#/ his aunt ith the s*a## ba)s in the tra/, The trunks ere &o*in) #ater, "u#ian and %i&k took ever+thin) u/stairs, 'nne oined the*$ ea)er to see her o#d bedroo* a)ain, h$ ho )ood it as to be in -irrin ;otta)e on&e *ore ? She #ooked out of her indos, ne #ooked on to the *oor at the ba&k, The other #ooked sidea+s on to the sea, ove#+ ? ove#+ ? She be)an to sin) a #itt#e son) as she undid her ba), B ou kno$B she said to %i&k$ hen he brou)ht (eor)e>s ba) in$ B +ou kno$ %i&k$ I>* rea##+ Euite /#eased that Cn&#e Duentin has )one to -irrin Is#and$ even if it *eans e on>t be ab#e to )o there *u&h ? I fee# *u&h freer in the house hen he>s aa+, He>s a ver+ &#ever *an and he &an be afu##+ ni&e!but I a#a+s fee# a bit afraid of hi*,B %i&k #au)hed, B I>* not afraid of hi*!but he>s a bit of a et b#anket in a house$ I *ust sa+$ hen e>re here for the ho#ida+s, unn+ to think of hi* on -irrin Is#and a## a#one,B ' voi&e &a*e u/ the stairs, B ;o*e don to tea$ &hi#dren$ be&ause there are hot s&ones for +ou$ ust out of the oven,B B ;o*in)$ 'unt ann+ ? B &a##ed %i&k, B Hurr+$ 'nne, I>* afu##+ hun)r+, "u#ian$ did +ou hear 'unt ann+ &a##in) @ B (eor)e &a*e u/ the stairs to fet&h 'nne, She as /#eased to be ho*e$ and as for Ti**+$ he 31
as en)a)ed in )oin) round ever+ sin)#e &orner of the house$ sniffin) vi)orous#+, > He a#a+s does that? B said (eor)e, B 's if he thou)ht that there might be a &hair or a tab#e that didn>t s*e## Euite the sa*e as it a#a+s did, (o*e on$ Ti*, Tea< ti*e ? other$ as ather isn>t here$ &an Ti**+ sit beside *e on the f#oor @ He>s afu##+ e##t be *u&h #eft hen the ive had finished ?
32
Chapter Three OFF TO KIRRIN ISLAND
JT da+ as fine and ar*, B:e &an )o a&ross to the is#and this *ornin)$B said 'unt ann+, B :e>## take our on food$ be&ause I>* sure Cn&#e Duentin i## have for)otten e>re &o*in),B B Has he a boat there @B asked (eor)e, B other!he hasn>t taken my boat$ has he @ B B o$ dear$B said her *other, B He>s )ot another boat, I as afraid he ou#d never be ab#e to )et it in and out of a## those dan)erous ro&ks round the is#and$ but he )ot one of the fisher*en to take hi*$ and had his on boat toed behind$ ith a## its stuff in,B B :ho bui#t the toer @ B asked "u#ian, B h$ he *ade out the /#ans hi*se#f$ and so*e *en ere sent don fro* the inistr+ of esear&h to /ut the toer u/ for hi*$B said 'unt ann+, B It as a## rather husht kno an+ *ore than I do ? o #o&a# *an he#/ed in the bui#din)$ but one or to fisher*en ere hired to take the *ateria# to the is#and$ and to #and the *en and so on,B B It>s a## ver+ *+sterious$B said "u#ian, B Cn&#e Duentin #eads rather an ex&itin) #ife$ rea##+$ doesn>t he @ I ou#dn>t *ind bein) a s&ientist *+se#f, I ant to be so*ethin) rea##+ orth<hi#e hen I )ro u/!I>* not ust )oin) into so*ebod+>s offi&e, I>* )oin) to be on *+ on,B B I think I sha## be a do&tor$B said %i&k,
33
B I>* off to )et *+ boat$B said (eor)e$ rather bored ith this ta#k, She kne hat she as )oin) to do hen she as )rons$ as there too$ read+ to /ush the boat out for the*, He )rinned at the &hi#dren, He kne the* a## e##, In the o#d da+s he had #ooked after Ti**+ for (eor)e hen her father had said the do) *ust be )iven aa+, (eor)e had never for)otten "a*es>s kindness to Ti**+$ and a#a+s ent to see hi* ever+ ho#ida+s, B (oin) off to the is#and @ B said "a*es, B That>s a Eueer thin) in the *idd#e of it$ isn>t it @ -ind of #i)hthouse$ it #ooks, Take *+ hand$ iss$ and #et *e he#/ +ou in,B 'nne took his hand and u*/ed into the boat, (eor)e as a#read+ there ith Ti**+, Soon the+ ere a## in, "u#ian and (eor)e took the oars, "a*es )ave the* a shove and off the+ ent on the &a#*$ &#ear ater, 'nne &ou#d see ever+ stone on the botto* ? "u#ian and (eor)e roed stron)#+, The+ sent the boat a#on) sift#+, (eor)e be)an to sin) a roin) son) and the+ a## took it u/, It as #ove#+ to be on the sea in a boat a)ain, h ho#ida+s$ )o s#o#+$ don>t rush aa+ too fast?
34
B (eor)e$B said her *other nervous#+$ as the+ &a*e near to -irrin Is#and$ B +ou will be &arefu# of these afu# ro&ks$ on>t +ou@ The aters so &#ear tove roed hundreds of ti*es to -irrin Is#and?B #au)hed (eor)e, B I si*/#+ #ouldn't )o on a ro&k ? I kno die* a##$ rea##+ I do, I &ou#d a#*ost ro b#indfo#d to the is#and no,B
35
There as on#+ one /#a&e to #and on the is#and in safet+, This as a #itt#e &ove$ a natura# #itt#e harbour runnin) u/ to a stret&h of sand, It as she#tered b+ hi)h ro&ks a## round, (eor)e and "u#ian orked their a+ to the east side of the is#and$ rounded a #o a## of ver+ shar/ ro&ks$ and there #a+ the &ove$ a s*ooth in#et of ater runnin) into the shore ? 'nne had been #ookin) at the is#and as the others roed, There as the o#d ruined -irrin ;ast#e in the &entre$ ust the sa*e as ever, Its tu*b#edon toers ere fu## of a&kdas as usua#, Its o#d a##s ere )ri//ed b+ iv+, B It>s a #ove#+ /#a&e ? B said 'nne$ ith a si)h, Then she )aAed at the &urious toer that no rose fro* the &entre of the &ast#e +ard, It as not bui#t of bri&k but of so*e s*ooth$ shin+ *ateria#$ that as fitted to)ether in se&tions, vident#+ the toer had been *ade in that a+ so that it *i)ht be brou)ht to the is#and easi#+$ and set u/ there Eui&k#+, B Isn>t it Eueer @ B said %i&k, B ook at that #itt#e )#ass roo* at the to/!#ike a #ooks for @ B B (an an+one &#i*b u/ inside the toer @B asked %i&k$ turnin) to 'unt ann+, B h +es, There is a narro s/ira# stair&ase inside$B said his aunt, B That>s about a## there is inside the toer itse#f, It>s the #itt#e roo* at the to/ that is i*/ortant, It has )ot so*e extraordinar+ irin) there$ essentia# to +our un&#e>s ex/eri*ents, I don>t think he does an+thin) ith the toer!it ust has to be there$ doin) so*ethin) on its on$ hi&h has a &ertain effe&t on the ex/eri*ents he is *akin),B
36
'nne &ou#dn>t fo##o this, It sounded too &o*/#i&ated, B I shou#d #ike to )o u/ the toer$B she said, B :e##$ /erha/s +our un&#e i## #et +ou$B said her aunt, B If he>s in a )ood te*/er$B said (eor)e, B o (eor)e!+ou>re not to sa+ thin)s #ike that$B said her *other, The boat ran into the #itt#e harbour$ and )rounded soft#+, There as another boat there a#read+!Cn&#e Duentin>s, (eor)e #ea/t out ith "u#ian and the+ /u##ed it u/ a #itt#e further$ so that the others &ou#d )et out ithout ettin) their feet, ut the+ a## )ot$ and Ti**+ ran u/ the bea&h hi de#i)ht, B o$ Ti**+ ? B said (eor)e$ arnin)#+$ and Ti**+ turned a des/airin) e+e on his *istress, Sure#+ she asn>t )oin) to sto/ hi* #ookin) to see if there ere an+ rabbits @ n#+ ust loo"ing , :hat har* as there in that @ 'h!there as a rabbit ? 'nd another and another ? The+ sat a## about$ #ookin) at the #itt#e &o*/an+ &o*in) u/ fro* the shore, The+ f#i&ked their ears and tit&hed their noses$ kee/in) Euite sti##, B h$ the+>re as ta*e as ever ? B said 'nne in de#i)ht, B 'unt ann+$ aren>t the+ #ove#+ @ %o #ook at the bab+ one over there, He>s ashin) his fa&e ? B The+ sto//ed to #ook at the rabbits, The+ rea##+ ere astonishin)#+ ta*e, ut then ver+ fe /eo/#e &a*e to -irrin Is#and$ and the rabbits *u#ti/#ied in /ea&e$ runnin) about here the+ #iked$ Euite unafraid, B h$ that one is , , ,B be)an %i&k$ but then
37
38
the /i&ture as s/oi#t, Ti**+$ Euite unab#e to do nothin) but #ook$ had sudden#+ #ost his se#f<&ontro# and as boundin) on the sur/rised rabbits, In a tri&e nothin) &ou#d be seen but hite bobtai#s f#ashin) u/ and don as rabbit after rabbit rushed to its burro, B Timmy,- &a##ed (eor)e$ &ross#+$ and /oor Ti**+ /ut his tai# don$ #ookin) round at (eor)e *iserab#+, B :hat ? B he see*ed to sa+, B ot even a s&a*/er after the rabbits @ :hat a hardhearted *istress ? B B :here>s Cn&#e Duentin @ B asked 'nne$ as the+ a#ked to the )reat broken ar&ha+ that as the entran&e to the o#d &ast#e, ehind it ere the stone ste/s that #ed toards the &entre, The+ ere broken and irre)u#ar no, 'unt ann+ ent a&ross the* &arefu##+$ afraid of stu*b#in)$ but the &hi#dren$ ho ere earin) rubber shoes$ ran over the* Eui&k#+, The+ /assed throu)h a ruined doora+ into hat #ooked #ike a )reat +ard, n&e there had $been a stone< /aved f#oor$ but no *ost of it as &overed b+ sand$ and b+ &#ose<)roin) eeds or )rass, The &ast#e had had to toers, ne as a#*ost a &o*/#ete ruin, The other as in better sha/e, "a&kdas &ir&#ed round it$ and f#e above the &hi#dren>s heads$ &r+in) B &ha&k$ &ha&k$ &ha&k,B B I su//ose +our father #ives in the #itt#e o#d roo* ith the to s#it<#ike indos$B said %i&k to (eor)e, B That>s the on#+ /#a&e in the &ast#e that ou#d )ive hi* an+ she#ter, ver+here e#se is in ruins ex&e/t that one roo*, %o +ou re*e*ber e on&e s/ent a ni)ht there @ B B es$B said (eor)e, B It as fun, I su//ose
39
that>s here ather #ives, There>s nohere e#se! un#ess he>s don in the dun)eons ? B B h$ no one ou#d #ive in the dun)eons sure#+$ un#ess the+ si*/#+ had to ? B said "u#ian, B The+>re so dark and &o#d, :here is +our father$ (eor)e @ I &an>t see hi* an+here,B B other$ here ou#d ather be @B asked (eor)e, B :here>s his orksho/!in that o#d roo* there @ B She /ointed to the dark$ stonea##ed$ stonet exa&t#+ kno$B said her *other, B I su//ose he orks over there, He>s a#a+s *et *e don at the &ove$ and e>ve ust sat on the sand and had a /i&ni& and ta#ked, He didn>t see* to ant *e to /oke round *u&h,B B et>s &a## hi*$B said %i&k, So the+ shouted #oud#+, B Cn&#e DCd brin) +ou a&ross to
40
"u#ian$ &heerfu##+, B If aho*et on>t &o*e to the *ountain$ then the *ountain *ust )o to aho*et, I ex/e&t he>s dee/ in so*e book or other, :e>## hunt for hi*,B B:e>## #ook in that #itt#e dark roo*$B said 'nne, So the+ a## ent throu)h the stone doora ra+$ and found the*se#ves in a #itt#e dark roo*$ #it on#+ b+ to s#its of indos, 't one end as a s/a&e$ or re&ess$ here a fire/#a&e had on&e been$ )oin) ba&k into the thi&k stone a##, B He>s not here ? B said "u#ian in sur/rise, B 'nd hat>s *ore!there>s nothin) here at a##? o food$ no &#othes$ no books$ no stores of an+ sort, This is not his orkroo*$ nor even his store ? B B Then he *ust be don in the dun)eons$B said %i&k, B Kerha/s it>s ne&essar+ to his ork to be under)round!and ith ater a## round ? et>s )o and find the entran&e, :e kno here it is!not far fro* the o#d e## in the *idd#e of the +ard,B B es, He *ust be don in the dun)eons, ustn>t he$ 'unt ann+ @ B said 'nne, B 're +ou &o*in) don @ B B h no$B said her aunt, B I &an>t bear those dun)eons, I>## sit out here in the sun$ in this she#tered &orner$ and un/a&k the sandi&hes, It>s a#*ost #un&h
41
B ook$B he said, B There are eeds )roin) round the ed)es of the stone, obod+ has #ifted it for a #on) ti*e, Cn&#e Duentin isn>t don in the dun)eons ? B B Then here is he @ B said %i&k, B :herever #an he be @ B
42
Chapter Four WHERE IS UNCLE QUENTIN?
>T>H four of the*$ ith Ti**+ nosin) round LFL their #e)s$ stood starin) don at the bi) stone that hid the entran&e to the dun)eons, "u#ian as /erfe&t#+ ri)ht, The stone &ou#d not nave been #ifted for *onths$ be&ause eeds had )ron &#ose#+ round the ed)es$ sendin) their s*a## roots into ever+ &ra&k, B o one is don there$B said "u#ian, B :e need not even bother to /u## u/ the stone and )o don to see, If it had been #ifted #ate#+$ those eeds ou#d have been torn u/ as it as raised,B B 'nd an+a+$ e kno that no one &an )et Out of the dun)eon on&e the entran&e stone is &#osin) it$B said %i&k, B It>s too heav+, Cn&#e Duentin ou#dn>t be si##+ enou)h to shut hi*se#f in ? He>d #eave it o/en,B B f &ourse he ou#d$B said 'nne, B :e##! he>s not there$ then, He *ust be so*ehere e#se,B B ut where . - said (eor)e, B This is on#+ a s*a## is#and$ and e kno ever+ &orner of it, h!ou#d he be in that &ave e hid in on&e @ The on#+ &ave on the is#and,B B h +es!he *i)ht be$B said "u#ian, B ut I doubt it, I &an>t see Cn&#e Duentin dro//in) don throu)h the ho#e in the &ave>s roof!and that>s the on#+ a+ of )ettin) in to it un#ess +ou>re )oin) to &#a*ber and s#ide about the ro&ks on the shore for a)es, I &an>t see hi* doin) that$ either,B
43
The+ *ade their a+ be+ond the &ast#e to the other side of the is#and, Here there as a &ave the+ had on&e #ived in, It &ou#d be entered ith diffi&u#t+ on the seaard side$ as "u#ian had said$ b+ &#a*berin) over s#i//er+ ro&ks$ or it &ou#d be entered b+ dro//in) don a ro/e throu)h a ho#e in the roof to the f#oor so*e a+ be#o, The+ found the ho#e$ ha#f## s#ide don and have a #ook$B he said, He ent don the ro/e, It as knotted at interva#s$ so that his feet found ho#din)s not there$ and hasn>t been there either$ I shou#d think, It>s a *+ster+ ? :here is he$ and if he>s rea##+ doin) i*/ortant ork here is a## his stuff@ I *ean$ e kno that /#ent+ of stuff as brou)ht here$ be&ause +our aunt to#d us so,B B %o +ou think he>s in the toer @ B said 'nne$ sudden#+, B He *i)ht be in that )#ass roo* at the to/,B B :e##$ he>d see us at on&e$ if he ere ? B said
44
"u#ian$ s&ornfu##+, B And hear our +e##s too ? Sti##$ e *i)ht as e## have a #ook,B So ba&k to the &ast#e the+ ent and a#ked to the Eueer toer, Their aunt sa the* and &a##ed to the*, B our #un&h is read+, ;o*e and have it, our un&#e i## turn u/$ I ex/e&t,B B ut 'unt ann+$ here is he @ B said 'nne$ ith a /uAA#ed fa&e, B :e>ve #ooked si*/#+ Mr+here ? B Her aunt did not kno the is#and as e## as the &hi#dren did, She i*a)ined that there ere /#ent+ of /#a&es to she#ter in$ or to ork in, ever *ind$B she said$ #ookin) Euite undisturbed, FF He>## turn u/ #ater, ou &o*e a#on) and have +our *ea#,B B :e think e>## )o u/ the toer$B said "u#ian, B"ust in &ase he>s u/ there orkin),B The four &hi#dren and Ti**+ ent to here the toer rose u/ fro* the &ast#e +ard, The+ ran their hands over the s*ooth$ shinin) se&tions$ hi&h ere fitted to)ether hi &urvin) ros, B :hat>s this stuff it>s bui#t of@ B said %i&k, B So*e kind of ne /#asti& *ateria#$ I shou#d think$B said "u#ian, Ber+ #i)ht and stron)$ and easi#+ /ut to)ether,B B I shou#d be afraid it ou#d b#o don in a )a#e$B said (eor)e, B es$ so shou#d I$B said %i&k, B ook!here is the door,B The door as s*a##$ and rounded at the to/, ' ke+ as in the ke+ho#e, "u#ian turned it and un#o&ked the door, It o/ened outards not inards, "u#ian /ut his head inside and #ooked round, There as not *u&h roo* in the toer, '
45
s/ira# stair&ase$ *ade of the sa*e shin+ stuff as the toer itse#f$ ound u/ and u/ and u/, There as a s/a&e at one side of it$ into hi&h /roe&ted &urious hook<#ike obe&ts *ade of hat #ooked #ike stee#, :ire ran fro* one to the other, B etter not tou&h the*$B said "u#ian$ #ookin) &urious#+ at the*, B (oodness$ this is #ike a toer out of a fair+* )oin) u/ the stairs to the to/,B He be)an to &#i*b the stee/$ s/ira# staira+, It *ade hi* Euite )idd+ to )o u/ and round$ u/ and round so *an+$ *an+ ti*es, The others fo##oed hi*, Tin+$ s#it<#ike indos$ set sidea+s not donards$ ere #et into the side of the toer here and there$ and )ave a #itt#e #i)ht to the staira+, "u#ian #ooked throu)h one$ and had a onderfu# vie of the sea and the *ain#and, He ent on u/ to the to/, :hen he )ot there he found hi*se#f in a s*a## round roo*$ hose sides ere of thi&k$ )#ea*in) )#ass, :ires ran ri)ht into the )#ass itse#f$ and then /ier&ed throu)h it$ the free ends avin) and )#itterin) in the stron) ind that b#e round the toer, There as nothin) in the #itt#e roo* at a## ? ;ertain#+ Cn&#e Duentin as not there, It as &#ear#+ on#+ a toer *eant to take the ires u/ on the hook<#ike thin)s$ and to run the* throu)h the stran)e$ thi&k )#ass at the to/$ and set the* free in the air, :hat for @ :ere the+ &at&hin) so*e kind of ire#ess aves @ :as it to do ith adar@ "u#ian ondered$ fronin)$ hat as the *eanin) of the toer and the thin$ shinin) ires, The others &roded into the #itt#e roo*, Ti**+
46
&a*e too$ havin) *ana)ed the s/ira# stairs ith diffi&u#t+, B (ra&ious ? :hat a Eueer /#a&e ? B said (eor)e, B + )oodness$ hat a vie e>ve )ot fro* here, :e &an see *i#es and *i#es out to sea!and on this other side e &an see *i#es and *i#es a&ross the ba+$ over the *ain#and$ to the hi##s be+ond,B B es, It>s #ove#+$B said 'nne, B ut! where is Cn&#e Duentin @ :e sti## haven>t found hi*, I su//ose he is on the is#and,B B :e##$ his boat as /u##ed u/ in the &ove$B said (eor)e, B :e sa it,B B Then he *ust be here so*ehere$B said %i&k, B ut he>s not in the &ast#e$ he>s not in the dun)eons$ he>s not in the &ave and he>s not u/ here$ t>s a first<&#ass *+ster+,B BThe issin) Cn&#e, :here is he@B said "u#ian, B ook$ there>s /oor 'unt ann+ sti## don there$ aitin) ith the #un&h, :e>d better )o don, She>s si)na##in) to us,B B I shou#d #ike to$B said 'nne, B It>s an afu# sEuash in this tin+ )#ass* )oin) don Eui&k#+$ before the ho#e thin) b#os over ? B She be)an to )o don the s/ira# stairs$ ho#din) on to a #itt#e handd better,B
47
The+ a#ked over to 'unt ann+, B:e##$ I thou)ht +ou ere never &o*in) ?B she said, B %id +ou see an+thin) interestin) u/ there @ B B n#+ a #ove#+ vie$B said 'nne, B Si*/#+ *a)nifi&ent, ut e didn>t find Cn&#e Duentin, It>s ver+ *+sterious$ 'unt ann+!e rea##+ have #ooked ever+here on the is#and!but he>s ust not here,B B 'nd +et his boat is hi the &ove$B said %i&k, B So he &an>t have )one,B B es$ it does sound Eueer$B said 'unt ann+$ handin) round the sandi&hes, B ut +ou don>t kno +our un&#e as e## as I do, He a#a+s turns u/ a## ri)ht, He>s for)otten I as brin)in) +ou$ or he ou#d be here, 's it is$ e *a+ not see hi*$ if he>s Euite for)otten about +our &o*in), If he re*e*bers$ he>## sudden#+ turn u/,B B ut here fro* @ B asked %i&k$ *un&hin) a /otted *eat sandi&h, B He>s done a o##+ )ood disa//earin) tri&k$ 'unt ann+,B B :e##$ +ou>## see here he &o*es fro*$ I>ve no doubt$ hen he arrives$B said 'unt ann+, B 'nother sandi&h$ (eor)e @ o$ not +ou$ Ti**+, ou>ve had three a#read+, h (eor)e$ do kee/ Ti**+>s head out of that /#ate,B B He>s hun)r+ too$ other$B said (eor)e, B :e##$ I>ve brou)ht do)s abso#ute#+ nothin) e#se and he>s so ravenous he &an>t he#/ eatin) the*,B The+ sat in the ar* '/ri# sunshine$ eatin) hun)ri#+, There as oran)eade to drink$ &oo#
48
49
and de#i&ious, Ti**+ andered over to a ro&kt he )ot a )ood *e*or+ @ B said (eor)e /roud#+, B It>s a)es sin&e he as here!and +et he re*e*bered that /oo# at on&e$ hen he fe#t thirst+,B B It>s funn+ Ti**+ hasn>t found Cn&#e Duentin$ isn>t it @ B said %i&k$ sudden#+, B I *ean!hen e ere huntin) for hi*$ and )ot > :ar*> +ou>d think Ti**+ ou#d bark or s&ra/e about or so*ethin), ut he didn>t,B B I think it>s o##+ funn+ that ather &an>t be found an+here$B said (eor)e, B I do rea##+, I &an>t think ho +ou &an take it so &a#*#+$ other,B B :e##$ dear$ as I said before$ I kno +our father better than +ou do$B said her *other, B He>## turn u/ in his on )ood ti*e, :h+$ 1 re*e*ber on&e hen he as doin) so*e sort of ork in the sta#a&tite &aves at ;heddar$ he dis< a//eared in the* for over a eek!but he andered out a## ri)ht hen he had finished his ex/eri*ents,B B It>s ver+ Eueer$B be)an 'nne$ and then sto//ed sudden#+, ' &urious noise &a*e to their ears!a ru*b#in)$ )ru*b#in)$ an)r+ noise$ #ike a )iant hidden do)$ )ro#in) in fur+, Then there as a hissin) noise fro* the toer$ and a## the ires that aved at the to/ ere sudden#+ #it u/ as if b+ #i)htnin), B There no!I kne +our father as so*ehere about$B said (eor)e>s *other, B I heard that noise hen I as here before!but I &ou#dn>t *ake out here it &a*e fro*,B B :here did it &o*e fro* @ B said %i&k, B It
50
sounded a#*ost as if it as underneath us$ but it &ou#dn>t have been, (ra&ious$ this is *ost *+sterious,B o *ore noises &a*e, The+ ea&h he#/ed the*se#ves to buns ith a* in the *idd#e, 'nd then 'nne )ave a sEuea# that *ade the* a## u*/ vio#ent#+, B ook ? There's Cn&#e Duentin ? Standin) over there$ near the toer, He>s at&hin) the a&kdas ? :herever did he &o*e fro* @ B
51
Chapter Five A MYSTERY
stared at Cn&#e Duentin, There he as$ intent#+ at&hin) the a&kdas$ his hands in his trousers /o&kets, He hadn>t seen the &hi#dren or his ife, Ti**+ #ea/t to his feet$ and )a*bo##ed over to (eor)e>s father, He barked #oud#+, Cn&#e Duentin u*/ed and turned round, He sa Ti**+!and then he sa a## the others$ starin) at hi* in rea# astonish*ent, Cn&#e Duentin did not #ook /arti&u#ar#+ /#eased to see an+one, He a#ked s#o#+ over to the*$ a s#i)ht fron on his fa&e, B This is a sur/rise$B he said, B I had no idea +ou ere a## &o*in) tot #ooked at *+ diar+ sin&e$ so it>s no onder I for)ot$B said Cn&#e Duentin$ a #itt#e /eevish#+, He kissed his ife$ (eor)e and 'nne$ and shook hands ith the bo+s, B Cn&#e Duentin!here did +ou &o*e fro* @ B asked %i&k$ ho as eaten u/ ith &uriosit+, B :e>ve #ooked for +ou for a)es,B B h$ I as in *+ orkroo*$B said Cn&#e Duentin$ va)ue#+, B :e##$ but here>s that @ B de*anded %i&k, B Honest#+$ Cn&#e$ e &an>t i*a)ine here +ou
52
hide +ourse#f, :e even ent u/ the toer $to see if +ou ere in that funn+ )#ass roo* at the to/,B B 1hat,B ex/#oded his un&#e$ in a sudden$ sur/risin) fur+, Bou dared to )o u/ there@ ou *i)ht have been in )reat dan)er, I>ve ust finished an ex/eri*ent$ and a## those ires in there ere &onne&ted ith it,B B es$ e sa the* a&tin) a bit Eueer#+$B said "u#ian, B ou>ve no business to &o*e over here$ and interfere ith *+ ork$B said his un&#e$ sti## #ookin) furious, B Ho did +ou )et into that toer@ I #o&ked it,B B es$ it as #o&ked a## ri)ht$B said "u#ian, , B ut +ou #eft the ke+ in$ +ou see$ Cn&#e!so I thou)ht it ou#dn>t *atter if , , ,B B h$ that>s here the ke+ is$ is it @ B said his un&#e, B I thou)ht I>d #ost it, :e##$ don>t +ou ever )o into that toer a)ain, I te## +ou$ it>s dan)erous,B B Cn&#e Duentin$ +ou haven>t to#d us +et here +our orkroo* is$B said %i&k$ ho as Euite deter*ined to kno, B :e &an>t imagine here +ou sudden#+ &a*e fro*,B B I to#d the* +ou ou#d turn u/$ Duentin$B #aid his ife, B ou #ook a bit thin$ dear, Have +ou been havin) re)u#ar *ea#s, ou kno$ I #eft +ou /#ent+ of )ood sou/ to heat u/,B B %id +ou @ B said her husband, B :e##$ I don>t kno if I>ve had it or not, I don>t orr+ about *ea#s hen I>* orkin), I>## have so*e of those sandi&hes no$ thou)h$ if nobod+ e#se ants the*,B He be)an to devour the sandi&hes$ one after
53
another$ as if he as ravenous, 'unt ann+ at&hed hi* in distress, B h Duentin!+ou>re starvin), I sha## &o*e over here and sta+ and #ook after +ou ? B Her husband #ooked a#ar*ed, B h no ? obod+ is to &o*e here, I &an>t have *+ ork interfered ith, I>* orkin) on an extre*e#+ i*/ortant dis&over+,B B Is it a dis&over+ that nobod+ e#se knos about @ B asked 'nne$ her e+es ide ith ad*iration, Ho &#ever Cn&#e Duentin as ? B :e##!I>* not sure about that$B said Cn&#e Duentin$ takin) to sandi&hes at on&e, B That>s /art#+ h+ I &a*e over here!besides the fa&t that I anted ater round *e and above *e, I have a fee#in) that so*ebod+ knos a bit *ore than I ant the* to kno, ut there>s one thin) ! the+ &an>t &o*e here un#ess the+>re shon the a+ throu)h a## those ro&ks that #ie round the is#and, n#+ a fe of the fisher*en kno that$ and the+>ve been )iven orders not to brin) an+one here at a##, I think +ou>re the on#+ other /erson that knos the a+$ (eor)e,B B Cn&#e Duentin!/#ease do te## us here +our orkroo* is$B be))ed %i&k$ fee#in) that he &ou#d not ait a sin)#e *o*ent *ore to so#ve the *+ster+, B %on>t kee/ botherin) +our un&#e$B said his aunt$ anno+in)#+, B et hi* eat his #un&h, He &an>t have had an+thin) for a)es ? B Bes$ but 'unt ann+$ I ,,,B be)an %i&k$ and as interru/ted b+ his un&#e, B ou obe+ +our aunt$ +oun) *an, I don>t ant to be /estered b+ an+ of +ou, :hat does it *atter here I ork@B
54
B h$ it doesn>t rea##+ *atter a bit$ sir$B said %i&k$ hurried#+, B It>s on#+ that I>* afu##+ &urious to< kno, ou see$ e #ooked for +ou si*/#+ ever+here,B B :e##$ +ou>re not Euite so &#ever as +ou thou)ht +ou ere then$B said Cn&#e Duentin$ and rea&hed for a a**+ bun, B (eor)e$ take this do) of +ours aa+ fro* *e, He kee/s breathin) don *+ ne&k$ ho/in) I sha## )ive hi* a titt a//rove of titt think there>s an+ dan)er for +ou here$ do +ou @ B she said, B I *ean! +ou don>t think an+one ou#d tr+ to &o*e s/+in) on +ou$ as the+ did on&e before @ B B o, Ho &ou#d the+ @ B said her husband, B o /#ane &an #and on this is#and, o boat &an )et throu)h the ro&ks un#ess the a+ throu)h is knon$ and the sea>s too rou)h round the ro&ks for an+ si**er,B B"u#ian$ see if +ou &an *ake hi* /ro*ise to si)na# to *e ni)ht and *ornin)$B said 'unt ann+$ turnin) to her ne/he, B I fee# orried about hi* so*eho,B "u#ian ta&k#ed his un&#e *anfu##+, B Cn&#e$ it ou#dn>t be too *u&h of a bother to +ou to si)na# to 'unt ann+ ti&e a da+$ ou#d it @ B B If +ou don>t$ Duentin$ I sha## &o*e over ever+ sin)#e da+ to see +ou$B said his ife, B 'nd e *i)ht &o*e too$B said 'nne$
55
*is&hievous#+, Her un&#e #ooked *ost dis*a+ed at the idea, B :e##$ I &ou#d si)na# in the *ornin) and in the evenin) hen I )o u/ to the to/ of the toer$B he said, B I have to )o u/ on&e ever+ te#ve hours to re## si)na# then, Ha#f## use a #antern at ni)ht, I>## shine it out six ti*es at ha#f## a## kno I>* a## ri)ht and i## #eave *e a#one ? ut don>t #ook for die si)na# to## start to< *orro *ornin),B B h Duentin dear$ +ou do sound &rossN> said his ife, B I don>t #ike +ou bein) a## a#one here$ that>s a##, ou #ook thin and tired, I>* sure +ou>re not , , ,B Cn&#e Duentin /ut on a s&o# exa&t#+ #ike (eor)e so*eti*es /ut on, He #ooked at his rist<at&h, B:e##$ I *ust )o$B he said, BTi*e to )et to ork a)ain, I>## see +ou to +our boat,B B :e>re )oin) to sta+ to tea here$ ather$B said (eor)e, B o$ I>d rather +ou didn>t$B said her father$ )ettin) u/, B ;o*e on!I>## take +ou to +our boat,B B ut ather!I haven>t been on *+ is#and for a)es ? B said (eor)e$ indi)nant#+, B I ant to sta+ here a bit #on)er, I don>t see h+ I shou#dn>t,B F> :e##$ I>ve had enou)h interru/tion to *+ ork$B said her father, B I ant to )et on,B
56
B :e shan>t disturb +ou$ Cn&#e Duentin$B said %i&k$ ho as sti## terrib#+ &urious to kno here his un&#e had his orkroo*, :h+ ou#dn>t he te## the*@ :as he ust bein) anno+in)@ r didn>t he ant the* to kno @ Cn&#e Duentin #ed the* a## fir*#+ toards the #itt#e &ove, It as /#ain that he *eant the* to )o and to )o Eui&k#+, B :hen sha## e &o*e over and see +ou a)ain$ Duentin @ B asked his ife, Bot ti## I sa+ so$B said her husband, BIt on>t take *e #on) no to finish hat I>* on, + ord$ that do)>s )ot a rabbit at #ast? B h Timmy,B +e##ed (eor)e$ in distress, Ti**+ dro//ed the rabbit he had a&tua##+ *ana)ed to )rab, It s&a*/ered aa+ unhurt, Ti**+ &a*e to his *istress #ookin) ver+ shee/ish, B ou>re a ver+ bad do), "ust be&ause I took *+ e+e off +ou for ha#f a se&ond ? o$ it>s no )ood #i&kin) *+ hand #ike that, I>* &ross,B The+ a## &a*e to the boat, B I>## /ush her off$B said "u#ian, F> (et in$ a## of +ou, :e##$ )oods knee$ but she /ushed it aa+, B h$ be kind to hi* and for)ive hi*$B be))ed 'nne, B He #ooks as if he>s )oin) to &r+,B B 're +ou read+ @ B &ried "u#ian, B (ot the oars$ (eor)e@ %i&k$ take the other /air,B He shoved the boat off and #ea/t in hi*se#f, He &u//ed his hands round his *outh, B %on>t for)et to si)na#$ sir ? :e>## be at&hin) out *ornin) and evenin) ? B
57
B 'nd if +ou for)et$ I sha## &o*e over the ver+ next da+ ? B &a##ed his ife, The boat s#id aav don the #itt#e in#et of ater$ and Cn&#e Duentin as #ost to si)ht, Then round the #o a## of ro&ks ent the boat$ and as soon on the o/en sea, B "u$ at&h and see if +ou &an *ake out here Cn&#e Duentin is$ hen e>re round these ro&ks$B said %i&k, B See hat dire&tion he )oes in,B "u#ian tried to see his un&#e$ but the ro&ks ust there hid the &ove fro* si)ht$ and there as no si)n of hi* at a##, B 1hy didn>t he ant us to sta+ @ e&ause he didn>t ant us to kno his hidin)t he ant us to kno @ e&ause it>s so*ehere we don>t kno$ either ? B B ut I thou)ht e kne ever+ sin)#e &orner of *+ is#and$B said (eor)e, B I think it>s *ean of ather not to te## *e$ if it>s so*ehere I don>t kno, I &an>t think where it &an be ? B Ti**+ /ut his head on her knee a)ain, (eor)e as so absorbed in tr+in) to think here her father>s hidin)s head, He as a#*ost beside hi*se#f ith de#i)ht, He #i&ked her knees #ovin)#+, B h Ti**+!I didn>t *ean to /et +ou for a)es$B said (eor)e, B Sto/ #i&kin) *+ knees, ou *ake the* fee# et and horrid, %i&k$ it>s ver+ *+sterious$ isn>t it!here #an ather be hidin) @ B B I &an>t i*a)ine$B said %i&k, He #ooked ba&k at the is#and, ' &#oud of a&kdas rose u/ into the air &a##in) #oud#+$ B ;ha&k$ &ha&k$ &ha&k ? B The bo+ at&hed the*, :hat had disturbed
58
the* @ :as it Cn&#e Duentin @ Kerha/s his hidin)< /#a&e as so*ehere about that o#d toer then$ the one the a&kdas nested in @ n the other hand$ the a&kdas often rose into the air to)ether for no reason at a##, B Those a&kdas are *akin) a bit of a fuss$B he said, B Kerha/s Cn&#e>s hidin)t be$B said "u#ian, B :e ent a## round there to< da+,B B :e##$ it>s a *+ster+$B said (eor)e$ )#oo*i#+$ B and I think it>s horrib#e havin) a *+ster+ about *+ ver+ on is#and!and to be forbidden to )o to it$ and so#ve it, It>s rea##+ too bad ? B
59
Chapter Six UP ON THE CLIFF
TH next da+ as rain+, The four &hi#dren /ut on their *a&kintoshes and sou><esters and ent out for a a#k ith Ti**+, The+ never *inded the eather, In fa&t "u#ian said that he rea##+ li"ed the fee# of the ind and rain buffetin) a)ainst his fa&e, B :e for)ot that Cn&#e Duentin &ou#dn>t f#ash to us if the eather asn>t sunn+ ? B said %i&k, B %o +ou su//ose he>## find so*e a+ to si)na# instead @ B B o$B said (eor)e, B He ust on>t bother, He thinks e>re afu# fussers an+a+$ I>* sure, :e>## have to at&h at ha#ft think so$B said %i&k, B I ex/e&t "u#ian and I i## sta+ u/!but +ou kids i## have to buAA off to bed ? B (eor)e )ave hi* a /un&h, B %on>t &a## us > "ids> N I>* a#*ost as ta## as +ou are no,B B It>s not *u&h use aitin) about ti## ha#fs )o u/ on the &#iff! it>## be #ove#+ and b#o+, Ti**+ i## #ike that, I #ove to see hi* ra&in) a#on) in the ind$ ith his ears b#on ba&k strai)ht ? B B:oof$B said Ti**+, B He sa+s he #ikes to see +ou ith +ours b#on
60
61
ba&k too$B said "u#ian$ )rave#+, 'nne )ave a sEuea# of #au)hter, B ou rea##+ are an idiot$ "u ? ;o*e on!#et>s take the &#iffs sou><ester as b#on to the ba&k of her head, The rain stun) their &heeks and *ade the* )as/, B I shou#d think e *ust be about the on#+ /eo/#e out this *ornin) ? B )as/ed (eor)e, B :e##$ +ou>re ron)$B said "u#ian, B There are to /eo/#e &o*in) toards us ? B So there ere, The+ ere a *an and a bo+$ both e## ra//ed u/ in *a&intoshes and sou><esters, ike the &hi#dren$ the+ too ore hi)h rubber boots, The &hi#dren took a #ook at the* as the+ /assed, The *an as ta## and e##t sa+ there ere an+ ne /eo/#e here,B B"ust a#ked over fro* the next vi##a)e$ I ex/e&t$B said %i&k, The+ ent on for so*e a+, B :e>## a#k to the &oast)uard>s &otta)e and then )o ba&k$B said "u#ian, B Hie$ Ti*$ don>t )o so near the &#iff? B The &oast)uard #ived in a #itt#e hiteashed
62
&otta)e on the &#iff$ fa&in) the sea, To other &otta)es stood beside it$ a#so hiteashed, The &hi#dren kne the &oast)uard e##, He as a red Ha##o$ &oast)uard$B said 'nne, He #ooked u/ and )rinned at the &hi#dren, He as bus+ *akin) so*ethin), B Ha##o to +ou ? B he said, B So +ou>re ba&k a)ain$ are +ou @ ad /ennies$ the #ot of +ou!a#a+s turnin) u/ hen +ou>re not anted ? B B :hat are +ou *akin) @ B asked 'nne, B ' ind*i## for *+ +oun) )randson$B said the &oast)uard$ shoin) it to 'nne, He as ver+ &#ever at *akin) to+s, B h$ it>s lovely!- said 'nne$ takin) it in her hands, B %oes the ind*i## /art )o round!oh +es!it>s su/er$ &oast)uard ? B B I>ve been *akin) Euite a bit of *one+ out of *+ to+s$B said the o#d fe##o$ /roud#+, B I>ve )ot so*e ne nei)hbours in the next &otta)e! *an and a bo+!and the *an>s been bu+in) a## the to+s I *ake, See*s to have a #ot of ne/hes and nie&es ? He )ives *e )ood /ri&es too,B B h!ou#d that be the *an and the bo+ e *et$ I onder @ B said %i&k, B oth ta##$ and e##s ri)ht$B said the &oast)uard$ tri**in) a bit of his ind*i##, B r, ;urton and his son, The+ &a*e here so*e eeks a)o, ou ou)ht to )et to kno the son$ aster "u#ian, He>s about
63
+our a)e$ I shou#d think, ust be /rett+ #one#+ for hi* u/ here,B B %oesn>t he )o to an+ s&hoo# @ B asked "u#ian, B o, He>s been i##$ so his father said, (ot to have /#ent+ of sead #ike to see if I &an s/ot -irrin Is#and,B B :e##$ +ou on>t see *u&h this eather$B said the &oast)uard, B ou ait a fe *inutes, See that break in the &#ouds@ :e##$ it>## &#ear in a fe *inutes$ and +ou>## be ab#e to see +our is#and easi#+, That>s a funn+ thin) +our father>s bui#t there$ iss, Kart of his ork$ I su//ose,B B es$B said (eor)e, B h Ti**+!#ook hat he>s done$ &oast)uard!he>s u/set that tin of /aint, ad bo+$ Ti**+ ? B B It>s not *+ tin$B said the &oast)uard, B It>s a tin be#on)in) to that +oun) fe##o next house I *ade for his father,B B h dear$B said (eor)e$ in dis*a+, B %o +ou think he>## be &ross hen he knos Ti**+ s/i#t it @ B B Shou#dn>t think so$B said the &oast)uard, B He>s a Eueer bo+ thou)h!Euiet and a bit su#k+, ot a bad bo+$ but doesn>t see* ver+ friend#+ #ike,B (eor)e tried to &#ear u/ the *ess of /aint, Ti**+ had so*e on his /as$ and *ade a #itt#e /attern of )reen /a< *arks as he /attered about the shed,
64
B I>## te## the bo+ I>* sorr+$ if I *eet hi* on the a+ ba&k$B she said, B Ti**+$ if +ou dare to )o near an+ *ore tins of /aint +ou shan>t s#ee/ n *+ bed tos a bit &#earer no$B said %i&k, B ;an e have a sEuint throu)h the te#es&o/e$ &oast)uard @ B B et me see *+ is#and first$B said (eor)e at on&e, She ti#ted ti#e te#es&o/e hi the dire&tion of -irrin Is#and, She #ooked throu)h it earnest#+$ and a s*i#e &a*e over her fa&e, B es$ I &an see it &#ear#+, There>s the toer ather has had bui#t, I &an even see the )#asss nobod+ in it, o n)n of ather an+here,B ver+one had a turn at #ookin) throu)h the te#es&o/e, It as fas&inatin) to see the is#and a//earin) so &#ose, n a &#ear da+ it ou#d be even easier to see a## the detai#s, B I &an see a rabbit s&a*/erin)$B said 'nne$ hen her turn &a*e, B %on>t +ou #et that do) of +ours sEuint throu)h the te#es&o/e then$B said the &oast)uard at on&e, B He>## tr+ to )et don it after that rabbit? B Ti**+ &o&ked his ears u/ at the *ention of the ord rabbit, He #ooked a## round and sniffed, o$ there as no rabbit, Then h+ did /eo/#e *ention the*@ 11 :e>d better )o no$B said "u#ian, B :e>## be u/ here a)ain so*eti*e$ and e>## &o*e and #ee hat to+s +ou>ve done, Thanks for #ettin) us #ook throu)h the te#es&o/e,B P ou>re e#&o*e ?B said the o#d fe##o, 11 ou>re not #ike#+ to ear it out throu)h #ookin) ? ;o*e a#on) an+ ti*e +ou ant to use it,B
65
The+ said )oodt e see -irrin Is#and e## ? B said 'nne, B I ished I &ou#d see here +our father as$ (eor)e, :ou#dn>t it be fun if e s/otted hi* ust &o*in) out of his hidin)s father kne a hidin)t kno@ :h+$ the+ had been over ever+ in&h of the is#and ? It *ust be Euite a bi) hidin)< /#a&e too$ if he had )ot a## his stuff for his ex/eri*ents ith hi*, '&&ordin) to (eor)e>s *other$ there had been Euite a #ot of this$ to sa+ nothin) of stores of food, B If ather kne a /#a&e I didn>t kno$ and never to#d *e about it$ I think he>s o##+ *ean$B (eor)e said ha#f a doAen ti*es, B I do rea##+, It>s my is#and ? B B :e##$ he>## /robab#+ te## +ou hen he>s finished the ork he>s on$B said "u#ian, B Then +ou>## kno, :e &an a## )o and ex/#ore it then$ herever it is,B 'fter the+ #eft the &oast)uard>s &otta)e the+ turned their ste/s ho*e, The+ *ade their a+ a#on) the &#iff$ and then sa the bo+ the+ had *et before, He as standin) on the /ath #ookin) out to sea, The *an as not ith hi*, He turned as the+ &a*e u/ and )ave the* a /a#e kind of s*i#e, B Ha##o ? een u/ to see the &oast)uard @ B Bes$B said "u#ian, Bi&e o#d fe##o$ isn>t he@B B I sa+$B said (eor)e$ B I>* so sorr+$ but *+
66
do) u/set a tin of )reen /aint$ and the &oast)uard said it as +ours, ;an I /a+ +ou for it$ /#ease @ B B(oodness$ no?B said the bo+, BI don>t *ind, There asn>t *u&h of it #eft an+a+, That>s a ni&e do) of +ours,B B es$ he is$B said (eor)e$ ar*#+, B est do) in the or#d, I>ve had hi* for +ears$ but he>s Sti## as +oun) as ever, %o +ou #ike do)s @ B B h +es$B said the bo+$ but he *ade no *ove to /at Ti**+ or fuss hi*$ as *ost /eo/#e did, 'nd Ti**+ did not run round the bo+ and sniff at hi* as he usua##+ did hen he *et an+one
67
ne, He ust stood b+ (eor)e$ his tai# neither u/ nor don, B That>s an interestin) #itt#e is#and$B said the bo+$ /ointin) to -irrin, B I ish I &ou#d )o there,B B It>s my is#and$B said (eor)e$ /roud#+, B + ver+ on,B B ea##+ @ B said the bo+$ /o#ite#+, B ;ou#d +ou #et *e )o over one da+ then @ B B :e##!not ust at /resent$B said (eor)e, B ou see$ *+ father>s there!orkin)!he>s a s&ientist,B B ea##+ @ B said die bo+ a)ain, B r!has he )ot so*e ne ex/eri*ent on hand$ then @ B B es$B said (eor)e, B 'h!and that Eueer toer is so*ethin) to do ith it$ I su//ose$B said the bo+$ #ookin) interested for the first ti*e, B :hen i## his ex/eri*ent be finished @ B B :hat>s that to do ith +ou @ B said %i&k$ sudden#+, The other stared at hi* in sur/rise, %i&k sounded rather rude$ and it as not #ike hi*, B h nothin) ? B said the bo+$ hasti#+, B I on#+ thou)ht that if his ork i## soon be finished$ /erha/s +our brother ou#d take *e over to his is#and ? B (eor)e &ou#dn>t he#/ fee#in) /#eased, This bo+ thou)ht she as a bo+? (eor)e as a#a+s )ra&ious to /eo/#e ho *ade the *istake of thinkin) she as a bo+, B f #ourse I>## take +ou ? B she said, B It shou#dn>t be #on) before I do!the ex/eri*ent is near#+ done,B
68
Chapter Seven A LITTLE SQUABBLE
' SC% *ade the* turn, It as the bo+>s father &o*in) u/, He nodded to the &hi#dren, B akin) friends @ B he said$ ai*ab#+, B That>s ri)ht, + bo+>s /rett+ #one#+ here, I ho/e +ou>## &o*e u/ and see us so*eti*e, inished +our &onversation$ son @ B B es$B said the bo+, B This bo+ here sa+s that is#and is his$ and he>s )oin) to take *e over it hen his father has finished his ork there!and that on>t be #on),B B 'nd do +ou kno the a+ throu)h a## those i&ked ro&ks @ B said the *an, B I shou#dn>t &are to tr+ it, I as ta#kin) to the fisher*en the other da+$ and not one of the* a//eared to kno the a+ ? B This as rather astonishin), So*e of the fisher*en did kno it, Then the &hi#dren re*e*bered that the *en had a## been forbidden to take an+one to the is#and hi#st Cn&#e Duentin as at ork there, It as &#ear that the+ had /retended not to kno the a+$ in #o+a#t+ to their orders, B %id +ou ant to )o to the is#and then @ B asked %i&k$ sudden#+, B h no ? ut *+ bo+ here ou#d #ove to )o$B said the *an, B I don>t ant to be seasi&k$ bobbin) u/ and don on those aves near the is#and, I>* a /oor sai#or, I never )o on the sea if I &an he#/ it? B
69
B :e##$ e *ust )o$B said "u#ian, B :e>ve )ot to do so*e sho//in) for *+ aunt, (oodve a fine te#evision set that artin here ou#d #ike to sho +ou, 'n+ afternoon +ou #ike ? B B h thanks ? B said (eor)e, She had never seen te#evision, B :e>## &o*e ? B The+ /arted$ and the four &hi#dren and Ti**+ ent on don the &#iff :hat>s that to do ith +ou @ > sounded Euite insu#tin),B B :e##!I ust fe#t sus/i&ious$ that>s a##$B said %i&k, B That bo+ see*ed to be so o##+ interested in the is#and and in +our father>s ork$ and hen it ou#d be finished,B B :h+ shou#dn>t he be @ B de*anded (eor)e, B ver+one in the vi##a)e is interested ? The+ a## kno about the toer, 'nd a## the bo+ anted to kno as hen he &ou#d )o to *+ is#and! that>s h+ he asked hen ather>s ork ou#d be finished, I #iked hi*,B B ou on#+ #iked hi* be&ause he as ass enou)h to think +ou ere a bo+$B said %i&k, B"o##+ )ir#ish<#ookin) bo+ +ou are$ that>s a## I &an sa+,B (eor)e f#ared u/ at on&e, B %on>t be *ean ? I>* not )ir#ish<#ookin), I>ve far *ore fre&k#es than +ou have$ for one thin)$ and better e+ebros, And I &an *ake *+ voi&e )o dee/,B B ou>re ust si##+$B said %i&k$ in dis)ust, B 's if fre&k#es are bo+ish ? (ir#s have the* ust as *u&h as bo+s, I don>t be#ieve that bo+ thou)ht +ou ere a bo+ at a##, He as ust su&kin) u/ to
70
+ou, He *ust have heard ho *u&h +ou #ike /#a+in) at bein) hat +ou aren>t,B (eor)e a#ked u/ to %i&k ith su&h a furious #ook on her fa&e that "u#ian hasti#+ /ut hi*se#f in beteen the*, B o$ no bra#s$B he said, B ou>re both too o#d to be)in s#a//in) ea&h other #ike kids in the nurser+, et *e te## +ou$ +ou$ +ou> +ou>re re both both beha behavi vin) n) #ike #ike babi babies es$$ not not #ike #ike bo+s bo+s or )ir#s?B 'nne as #ookin) on ith s&ared e+es, (eor)e didn>t )o off the dee/ end #ike this usua##+, 'nd it was funn+ of %i&k to have s/oken so rude#+ to the bo+ on the &#iff, Ti**+ )ave a sudden #itt#e hine, His tai# as don$ and he #ooked ver+ *iserab#e, B h (eor)e!Ti**+ &an>t )ear +ou to Euarre# ith %i&k ? B said 'nne, B ook at hi* ? He>s ust *iserab#e ? B BHe didn>t #ike that bo+ a bit$B said %i&k, B That as another thin) I thou)ht as funn+, If Ti**+ doesn>t #ike a /erson$ N don>t #ike hi* either,B B Ti**+ doesn>t always rush round ne /eo/#e$B said (eor)e, B He didn>t )ro# or snar#$ an+a+, '## ri)ht$ a## ri)ht$ "u#ian = I>* not )oin) to start bra#in), ut I do think %i&k is bein) si##+, akin) a *ountain out of a *o#ehi##! ust be&ause so*eone as interested in -irrin Is#and and ather>s ork$ and ust be&ause Ti**+ didn>t ;a/er a## round hi*, He as su&h a so#e*n sort of bo+ that I>* not sur/rised Ti**+ asn>t a## over hi*, He /robab#+ kne the bo+ ou#dn>t #ike it, Ti**+>s &#ever #ike that,B B h$ do sto/ ? B said %i&k, B I )ive in! )ra&efu##+ ? I *a+ be *akin) a fuss, Krobab#+ '*, I &ou#dn>t he#/ *+ fee#in)s$ thou)h,B
71
'nne )ave a si)h of re#ief, The sEuabb#e as over, She ho/ed it ou#dn>t &ro/ u/ a)ain, (eor)e had been ver+ tou&h+ sin&e she had been ho*e, If on#+ Cn&#e Duentin ou#d hurr+ u/ and finish his ork$ and the+ &ou#d a## )o to the is#and as *u&h as the+ #iked$ thin)s ou#d be a## ri)ht, B I>d rather #ike to see that te#evision set$B said (eor)e, B :e *i)ht )o u/ so*e afternoon,B B i)ht$B said "u#ian, B ut$ on the ho#e$ I think it ou#d be best if e steered &#ear of an+ ta#k about +our father>s ork, ot that e kno *u&h, Sti##$ e do kno that on&e before there ere /eo/#e after one of his theories, The se&rets of the s&ientists are ver+$ ver+ i*/ortant these da+s$ +ou kno$ (eor)e, S&ientists are ,I,K, ? B B :hat>s ,I,K, @ B asked 'nne, B er+ I*/ortant Keo/#e$ bab+ ? B said "u#ian$ ith a #au)h, B :hat did +ou think it *eant @ io#et$ Indi)o$ Kur/#e@ Kur/#e@ I )uess those are the &o#ours Cn&#e Duentin Duentin ou#d )o if he kne an+one as tr+in) to snoo/ into his se&rets?B ver+one #au)hed$ even (eor)e, She #ooked affe&tionate#+ at "u#ian, He as a#a+s so sensib#e and )oods )ot the is#and$ I see$B he said to (eor)e ith a )rin, B ad #u&k$ iss, ou>## not be )oin) over there so often, 'nd nobod+ e#se i##$ either$ so I>ve heard,B
72
BThat>s ri)ht$B said (eor)e, Bobod+ is a##oed to )o over there for so*e ti*e, %id +ou he#/ to take so*e of the stuff over$ "a*es @ B B es, I kno the a+$ +ou see$ be&ause I>ve been ith +ou$B said "a*es, B :e##$ iss$ ho did +ou find +our boat hen +ou ent a&ross +esterda+@ I )ot her a## shi/t I @ B B es$ +ou did$ "a*es$B said (eor)e$ ar*#+, B ou *ade her #ook beautifu#, ou *ust &o*e a&ross to the is#and ith us next ti*e e )o,B B Thanks$B said "a*es$ his read+ )rin shoin) a## his hite teeth, B ike to #eave Ti**+ ith *e for a eek or to @ See ho he ants to sta+ ? B (eor)e #au)hed, She kne "a*es as on#+ okin), He as as ver+ ver+ fond fond of Ti** Ti**+$ +$ thou thou)h )h$$ and and Ti* Ti**+ ador adored ed "a* "a*es, He as no no /ush /ushin in) ) hi* hi*se#f se#f hard hard a)a a)ainst inst the the fishers knees$ and tr+in) to /ut his nose into his bron hand, Ti**+ had never for)otten the ti*e hen "a*es #ooked after hi* so e##, The evenin) &a*e$ and the ba+ as soft#+ b#ue, itt#e hite horses f#e&ked it here and there, The four )aAed a&ross to -irrin Is#and, It a#a+s #ooked so #ove#+ at this ti*e of the evenin), The )#ass to/ of the toer inked and b#inked in the sun, It #ooked a#*ost as if so*eone as si)na##in), ut there as no one in the #itt#e )#ass roo*, 's the &hi#dren at&hed the+ heard ft faint ru*b#in) sound$ and sudden#+ the to/ of the toer as ab#aAe ith a &urious )#are, B ook ? That>s hat ha//ened +esterda+ ? B said "u#ian$ in ex&ite*ent, B our father>s at ork a## ri)ht$ (eor)e, I do onder hat he>s doin)?B
73
Then there &a*e a throbbin) sound$ a#*ost #ike the noise of an aero/#ane$ and on&e *ore the )#ass to/ of the toer shone and b#aAed$ as the ires be&a*e fu## of so*e &urious /oer, B :eird$B said %i&k, B ' bit fri)htenin) too, :here>s +our father at this ver+ *o*ent$ I onder$ (eor)e, Ho I>d #ike to kno ? B B I bet bet he>s he>s for) for)ot otte ten n a## a## abou aboutt *ea# *ea#ss a)ai a)ain$ n$BB said said (eor)e, B %idn>t he o#f our sandi&hes! he *ust have been starvin), I ish he>d #et other )o over there and #ook after hi*,B Her *other &a*e in at that *o*ent, B %id +ou hear the noise @ B she said, B I su//ose that as +our father at ork a)ain, h dear$ I ho/e he doesn>t b#o hi*se#f u/ one of these da+s ? B B'unt ann+$ &an I sta+ u/ ti## ha#fs si)na#$ +ou kno @ B B (ood )ra&ious$ no ? B said her aunt, B o one needs to sta+ u/, I a* Euite &a/ab#e of at&hin) for it *+se#f? B B h 'unt ann+ ? Sure#+ I and %i&k &an sta+ u/ ? B said "u#ian, B 'fter a##$ e>re not in bed ti## ten at s&hoo#,B B es!but this is half$past ten$ and +ou ou#dn>t even be in bed then$B said his aunt, B There>s no reason h+ +ou shou#dn>t #ie in bed and at&h for it thou)h$ if +ou ant to !/rovidin) +ou haven>t fa##en as#ee/ ? B B h +es!f &an do that$B said "u#ian, B + indo #ooks a&ross to -irrin Is#and, Six f#ashes ith a #antern @ I sha## &ount the* &arefu##+,B So the four ent to bed at the usua# ti*e, 'nne as as#ee/ #on) before ha#f
herse#f )et u/ and )o into the bo+s> roo*, ut %i&k and "u#ian ere both ide aake, The+ #a+ in their beds and #ooked out of the indo, There as no *oon$ but the sk+ as &#ear$ and the stars shone don$ )ivin) a faint #i)ht, The sea #ooked ver+ b#a&k, There as no si)n of -irrin Is#and to be seen, It as #ost in the darkness of the ni)ht, B '#*ost ha#f
75
'#*ost as if his un&#e as anserin) hi*$ a #i)ht shone out in the )#ass to/ of the toer, It as a &#ear$ s*a## #i)ht$ #ike the #i)ht of a #antern, "u#ian be)an to &ount, B ne f#ash,B There as a /ause, B To f#ashes,B 'nother /ause, B Three , , , four , , , five ,,, six ?B The f#ashes sto//ed, "u#ian snu))#ed don into bed, B:e##$ that>s that, Cn&#e Duentin>s a## ri)ht, I sa+$ it>s eird to think of hi* &#i*bin) that s/ira# staira+ ri)ht to the to/ of the toer$ in the dark of ni)ht$ isn>t it @!ust to *ess about ith those ires,B B ****$B said %i&k$ s#ee/i#+, B I>d rather he did it$ than I ? ou &an be a s&ientist if +ou #ike$ "u!but I don>t ant to &#i*b toers in the dead of ni)ht on a #one#+ is#and, I>d #ike Ti**+ there$ at #east ? B So*eone kno&ked on their door and it o/ened, "u#ian sat u/ at on&e, It as 'unt ann+, B h "u#ian dear!did +ou see the f#ashes @ I for)ot to &ount the*, :ere there six @ B B h +es$ 'unt ann+ ? I>d have rushed don to te## +ou if an+thin) as ron), Cn&#e>s a## ri)ht, %on>t +ou orr+ ? B B I ish I>d to#d hi* to do an e&tra f#ash to te## *e if he>s had so*e of that ni&e sou/$B said his aunt, B :e##$ )ood ni)ht$ "u#ian, S#ee/ e##?B
76
Chapter Eight DOWN IN THE QUARRY
TH next da+ daned bri)ht and sunn+, The four tore don to breakfast$ fu## of hi)h s/irits, B;an e bathe @ 'unt ann+$ it>s really ar* enou)h ? h do sa+ e &an ? B B f &ourse not? :hoever heard of bathin) in '/ri# ? B said 'unt ann+, B :h+$ the sea is terrib#+ &o#d, %o +ou ant to be in bed for the rest of the ho#ida+ ith a &hi## @ B B :e##$ #et>s )o for a a#k on the *oors at the ba&k of -irrin ;otta)e$B said (eor)e, B Ti**+ ou#d #ove that, :ou#dn>t +ou$ Ti* @ B B:oof$B said Ti**+$ thu*/in) his tai# hard on the )round, B Take +our #un&h ith +ou if +ou #ike$B said her *other, B I>## /a&k so*e for +ou,B B ou>## be )#ad to be rid of us for a #itt#e hi#e$ I ex/e&t$ 'unt ann+$B said %i&k$ ith a )rin, B I kno hat e>## do ? :e>## )o to the o#d Euarr+ and #ook for /rehistori& ea/ons ? :e>ve )ot a o##+ )ood *useu* at s&hoo#$ and I>d #ike to take ba&k so*e stone arrot find a /oor dead shee/ there$ as e on&e did$B said 'nne$ ith a shudder, B Koor thin) ? It *ust have fa##en don and baa
77
B f &ourse e shan>t$B said "u#ian, B :e sha## find sta&ks of /ri*roses and vio#ets thou)h$ )roin) don the sides of the Euarr+, The+ are a#a+s ear#+ there be&ause it>s she#tered fro* ever+ ind,B B I shou#d #ove to have bun&hes of /ri*roses$B said his aunt, B i&e bi) ones ? nou)h to /ut a## over the house,B B :e##$ hi#st the bo+s are #ookin) for arroheads e>## #ook for /ri*roses$B said 'nne$ /#eased, B I #ike /i&kin) f#oers,B B 'nd Ti**+$ of &ourse$ i## hunt for rabbits$ and i## ho/e to brin) ho*e enou)h for +ou to de&orate the #arder fro* to/ to botto*$B said %i&k$ so#e*n#+, Ti**+ #ooked thri##ed and )ave an ex&ited #itt#e oof, The+ aited for Cn&#e Duentin>s si)na# at ha#f## at&h for +ou to< ni)ht, o$ ever+bod+ read+ @ B B es ? ;o*e on$ Ti* ? :ho>s )ot the sandi&hes @ I sa+$ isn>t the sun hot? B ff the+ a## ent, The+ had on &oats and their rubber boots$ but no hats$ and nobod+ thou)ht of takin) a *a&kintosh, It as )oin) to be a rea##+ #ove#+ da+ ? The Euarr+ as not rea##+ ver+ far!on#+ about a Euarter of a *i#e, The &hi#dren ent for a a#k beforehand$ for Ti**+>s sake, Then the+ *ade for the Euarr+, It as a Eueer /#a&e, 't so*e ti*e or other it had been dee/#+ Euarried for stone$ and then #eft to itse#f, o the sides ere &overed ith
78
79
s*a## bushes and )rass and /#ants of a## kinds, In the sand+ /#a&es heather )re, The sides ere ver+ stee/$ and as fe /eo/#e &a*e there$ there ere no /aths to fo##o, It as #ike a hu)e rou)h bo#$ irre)u#ar in /#a&es$ and fu## of &o#our no here /ri*roses o/ened thei> /a#e /eta#s to the sk+, io#ets )re there b+ the thousand$ both hite and /ur/#e, ;o< s#i/s ere o/enin) too$ the ear#iest an+here, B h$ it>s #ove#+ ? B said 'nne$ sto//in) at the to/ and #ookin) don, B Si*/#+ su/er ? I never in *+ #ife sa so *an+ /ri*roses!nor su&h hu)e ones ? B B e &arefu# ho +ou )o$ 'nne$B said "u#ian, B These sides are ver+ stee/, If +ou #ose +our footin) +ou>## ro## ri)ht don to the botto*! and find +ourse#f ith a broken ar* or #e)? B B I>## be &arefu#$B said 'nne, B I>## thro *+ basket don to the botto*$ so that I &an have to hands to &#in) to bushes ith$ if I ant to, I sha## be ab#e to fi## that basket &ra*fu# of /ri*roses and vio#ets ? B She f#un) the basket don$ and it boun&ed a## the a+ to the botto* of the Euarr+, The &hi#dren &#i*bed don to here the+ anted to )o!the )ir#s to a )reat /at&h of bi) /ri*roses$ the bo+s to a /#a&e here the+ thou)ht the+ *i)ht find stone ea/ons, B Ha##o ? B said a voi&e$ sudden#+$ fro* *u&h #oer don, The four sto//ed in sur/rise$ and Ti**+ )ro#ed, B :h+!it>s +ou ? B said (eor)e$ re&o)nisin) the bo+ the+ had *et the da+ before, B es, I don>t kno if +ou kno *+ na*e, It>s artin (urton$B said die bo+,
80
"u#ian to#d hi* their na*es too, B :e>ve &o*e to /i&ni& here$B he said, B 'nd to see if e, &an find stone ea/ons, :hat have +ou &o*e for @ B B h!to see if I &an find stone ea/ons too$B said the bo+, B Have +ou found an+ @ B asked (eor)e, B o, ot +et,B B :e##$ +ou on>t find an+ ust there$B said %i&k, B ot in heather ? ou ant to &o*e over here$ here the )round is bare and )rave##+,B %i&k as tr+in) to be friend#+$ to *ake u/ for the da+ before, artin &a*e over and be)an to s&ra/e about ith the bo+s, The+ had troe#s ith the*$ but he had on#+ his hands, B Isn>t it hot don here @ B &a##ed 'nne, B I>* )oin) to take off *+ &oat,B Ti**+ had his head and shou#ders don a rabbitt )o near Ti**+ un#ess +ou ant to be buried in earth ? B said %i&k, B He+Q Ti**+!is a rabbit rea##+ orth a## that hard ork @ B '//arent#+ it as$ for Ti**+$ /antin) #oud#+$ ent on di))in) for a## he as orth, ' stone f#e hi)h in the air and hit "u#ian, He rubbed his &heek, Then he #ooked at the stone that #a+ beside hi*, He )ave a shout, B ook at this!a o##+ fine arro
81
it as!but "u#ian and %i&k ex&#ai*ed over it in ad*iration, B "o##+ )ood s/e&i*en$B said %i&k, B See ho it>s been sha/ed$ (eor)e @ To think that this as used thousands of +ears a)o to ki## the ene*ies of a &ave<*an ? B artin did not sa+ *u&h, He ust #ooked at the arro< head$ hi&h &ertain#+ as a ver+ fine$ uns/oi#t s/e&i*en$ and then turned aa+, %i&k thou)ht he as a Eueer fe##o, ' bit du## and borin), He ondered if the+ ou)ht to ask hi* to their /i&ni&, He didn>t ant to in the #east, ut (eor)e did ? B 're +ou havin) a /i&ni& here too @ B she said, artin shook his head, B o, I>ve not brou)ht an+ sandi&hes,B B :e##$ e>ve /#ent+, Sta+ and have so*e ith us hen e eat the*$B said (eor)e$ )enerous#+, B Thanks, It>s ver+ ni&e of +ou$B said the bo+, B 'nd i## +ou &o*e and see *+ te#evision set this afternoon in return@ I>d #ike +ou to,B B es$ e i##$B said (eor)e, B It ou#d be so*ethin) to do ? h 'nne!ust #ook at those vio#ets ? I>ve never seen su&h bi) hite ones before, :on>t other be /#eased@B The bo+s ent dee/er don$ s&ra/in) about ith their troe#s in an+ #ike#+ /#a&e, The+ &a*e to here a she#f of stone /roe&ted out a )ood a+, It ou#d be a ni&e /#a&e to have their #un&h, The stone ou#d be ar* to sit on$ and as f#at enou)h to take )in)erbeer bott#es and &u/s in safet+, 't ha#fve ever tasted$B he said, B I 82
do #ike those sardine ones, %oes +our *other *ake the* for +ou @ I ish I had a *other, ine died a)es a)o,B There as a s+*/atheti& si#en&e, The four &ou#d not think of an+ orse thin) to ha//en to a bo+ or )ir#, The+ offered artin the ni&est buns$ and the bi))est /ie&e of &ake i**ediate#+, B I sa +our father f#ashin) his si)na#s #ast ni)ht$B said artin$ *un&hin) a bun, %i&k #ooked u/ at on&e, B Ho do +ou kno he as si)na##in) @ B he asked, B :ho to#d +ou @ B B obod+$B said the bo+, B I ust sa the six f#ashes$ and I thou)ht it *ust be (eor)e>s father,B He #ooked sur/rised at %i&k>s shar/ tone, "u#ian )ave %i&k a nud)e$ to arn hi* not to )o off the dee/ end a)ain, (eor)e s&o#ed at %i&k, B I su//ose +ou sa *+ father si)na##in) this *ornin) too$B she said to artin, B I bet s&ores of /eo/#e sa the f#ashes, He ust he#io)ra/hs ith a *irror at ha#fs a## ri)ht! and f#ashes a #antern at the sa*e ti*e at ni)ht,B o it as %i&k>s turn to s&o# at (eor)e, :h+ )ive aa+ a## this infor*ation@ It asn>t ne&essar+, %i&k fe#t sure she as doin) it ust to /a+ hi* out for his shar/ Euestion, He tried to &han)e the sube&t, B :here do +ou )o to s&hoo# @ B he asked, B I don>t$B said the bo+, B I>ve been i##,B B :e##$ here did +ou )o to s&hoo# before +ou ere i##@ B asked %i&k, B I!I had a tutor$B said artin, B I didn>t )o to s&hoo#,B B ad #u&k ? B said "u#ian, He thou)ht it *ust be terrib#e not to )o to s&hoo# and have a## the
83
fun$ the ork and the )a*es of s&hoo#<#ife, He #ooked &urious#+ at artin, :as he one of these rather stu/id bo+s ho did no )ood at s&hoo#$ but had to have a tutor at ho*e@ Sti##$ he didn>t loo" stu/id, He ust #ooked rather su##en and du##, Ti**+ as sittin) on the ar* stone ith the others, He had his share of the sandi&hes$ but had to be rationed$ as artin had to have so*e too, He as funn+ ith artin, He took abso#ute#+ no noti&e of hi* at a##, artin *i)ht not have been there ? 'nd artin took no noti&e of Ti**+, He did not ta#k to hi*$ or /at hi*, 'nne as sure he didn>t rea##+ #ike do)s$ as he had said, Ho &ou#d an+one be ith Ti**+ and not )ive hi* even one /at @ Ti**+ did not even #ook at artin$ but sat ith his ba&k to hi*$ #eanin) a)ainst (eor)e, It as rea##+ rather a*usin)$ if it asn>t so odd, 'fter a##$ (eor)e as ta#kin) in a friend#+ a+ to artin = the+ ere a## sharin) their food ith hi*!and Ti**+ behaved as if artin si*/#+ asn>t there at a##? 'nne as ust about to re*ark on Ti**+>s odd behaviour hen he +aned$ shook hi*se#f$ and #ea/t don fro* the ro&k, B He>s )oin) rabbitin) a)ain$B said "u#ian, B He+$ Ti*!find *e another arro
84
s#ee/+, The+ ta#ked for so*e *inutes$ and then I= 'nne fe#t her e+es &#osin), She as aakened I b+ (eor)e>s voi&e, B :here>s Ti**+ @ Ti**+? Ti**+? ;o*e here ? :here have +ou )ot to @ B ut no Ti**+ &a*e, There as not even an anserin) bark, B h b#o ? B said (eor)e, F> o he>s )one don so*e extra
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Chapter Nine GEORGE MAKES A DISCOVERY—AND LOSES HER TEMPER
(( s#i//ed don fro* the ro&k, She /eered under it, There as a #ar)e o/enin) there$ s&attered ith stones that Ti**+ had #oosened in his di))in), B Sure#+ +ou haven>t at #ast found a rabbit ho#e bi) enou)h to )o don ?B said (eor)e, B TI ? :here are +ou @ B ot a bark$ not a hine &a*e fro* the ho#e, (eor)e ri))#ed under the she#f of ro&k$ and /eered don the burro, Ti**+ had &ertain#+ *ade it ver+ bi), (eor)e &a##ed u/ to "u#ian, B"u#ian ? Thro *e don +our troe#$ i## +ou @ B The troe# #anded b+ her foot, (eor)e took it and be)an to *ake the ho#e bi))er, It *i)ht be bi) enou)h for Ti**+$ but it asn>t bi) enou)h for her ? She du) hard and soon )ot ver+ hot, She &ra#ed out and #ooked over on to the ro&k to see if she &ou#d )et one of the others to he#/ her, The+ ere a## as#ee/ ? B aA+ thin)s ? B thou)ht (eor)e$ Euite for)ettin) that she too ou#d have been doAin) if she hadn>t ondered here Ti**+ had )one, She s#i//ed don under the ro&k a)ain and be)an to di) hard ith her troe#, Soon she had *ade the ho#e bi) enou)h to )et throu)h, She as sur/rised to find Euite a #ar)e /assa)e$
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on&e she had *ade the entran&e bi) enou)h to take her, She &ou#d &ra# a#on) on hands and knees ? B I sa+!I onder if this is ust so*e ani*a#>s runa+ !or #eads so*ehere ? B thou)ht (eor)e, B TI ? :here are +ou @ B ro* so*ehere dee/ in the Euarr+ side there &a*e a faint hine, (eor)e fe#t thankfu#, So Ti**+ was there$ after a## ? She &ra#ed a#on)$ and then Euite sudden#+ the tunne# be&a*e hi)h and ide$ and she rea#ised that she *ust be in a /assa)e, It as /erfe&t#+ dark$ so she &ou#d not see an+thin)$ she &ou#d on#+ fee#, Then she heard the sound of /atterin) feet$ and Ti**+ /ressed affe&tionate#+ a)ainst her #e)s$ hinin), B h Ti**+!+ou )ave *e a bit of a fri)ht? B said (eor)e, B :here have +ou been @ Is this a rea# /assa)e!or ust a tunne# in the Euarr+$ *ade b+ the o#d *iners$ and no used b+ ani*a#s @ B B :oof$B said Ti**+$ and /u##ed at (eor)e>s shorts to *ake her )o ba&k to the da+#i)ht, B '## ri)ht$ I>* &o*in) ? B said (eor)e, B %on>t i*a)ine I ant to ander a#one here in the dark ? I on#+ &a*e to #ook for +ou,B She *ade her a+ ba&k to the she#f of ro&k, + this ti*e %i&k as aake$ and ondered here (eor)e had )one, He aited a fe *inutes$ b#inkin) u/ into the dee/ b#ue sk+$ and then sat u/, B (eor)e ? B There as no anser, So$ in his turn %i&k s#i//ed don fro* the ro&k and #ooked around, 'nd$ to his ver+ )reat astonish*ent he sa first Ti**+$ and then (eor)e on hands and knees$ a//earin) out of the ho#e under the ro&k,
88
He stared o/en<*outhed$ and (eor)e be)an to )i))#e, B It>s a## ri)ht, I>ve on#+ been rabbitin) ith Ti**+ ? B She stood beside hi*$ shakin) and brushin) soi# fro* her erse+ and shorts, B There>s a /assa)e behind the entran&e of the ho#e under the ro&k$B she said, B 't first it>s ust a narro tunne#$ #ike an ani*a#>s ho#e!then it )ets ider!and then it be&o*es a /ro/er hi)h ide /assa)e ? I &ou#dn>t see if it ent on$ of &ourse$ be&ause it as dark, Ti**+ as a #on) a+ in,B
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B (ood )ra&ious? B said %i&k, B It sounds ex&itin),B B et>s ex/#ore it$ sha## e @ B said (eor)e, B I ex/e&t "u#ian>s )ot a tor&h,B B o$B said %i&k, B :e on>t ex/#ore tos ex/#ore it? B B o$ not tot ex/#ore to&#o&k, :e##$ artin$ if e>re )oin) to see that ha#fd better be )ettin) on,B ;arr+in) baskets of /ri*roses and vio#ets$ the )ir#s be)an to &#i*b u/ the stee/ side of the Euarr+$ "u#ian took 'nne>s basket fro* her$ afraid she *i)ht s#i/ and fa##, Soon the+ ere a## at the to/, The air fe#t Euite &oo# there after the ar*th of the Euarr+, The+ *ade their a+ to the &#iffs &otta)e, He as out in his )arden$ and he aved to the*, The+ ent in the )atea+ of the next
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&otta)e, artin /ushed the door o/en, His father as sittin) at the indo of the roo* inside$ readin), He )ot u/ ith a broad$ e#&o*in) s*i#e, B :e##$ e##$ e##? This is ni&e ? ;o*e a#on) in$ do, es$ die do) as e##, I don>t *ind do)s a bit, I #ike the* ? B It see*ed rather a &rod in the s*a## roo*, The+ a## shook hands /o#ite#+, artin ex/#ained hurried#+ that he had brou)ht the &hi#dren to see a te#evision /ro)ra**e, B ' )ood idea$B said r, ;urton$ sti## bea*in), 'nne stared at his )reat e+ebros, The+ ere ver+ #on) and thi&k, She ondered h+ he didn>t have the* tri**ed! but /erha/s he #iked the* #ike that, The+ *ade hi* #ook ver+ fier&e$ she thou)ht, The four #ooked round the #itt#e roo*, There as a te#evision set standin) at the far end$ on a tab#e, There as a#so a *a)nifi&ent ire#ess! and so*ethin) e#se that *ade the bo+s stare ith interest, B Ha##o ? ou>ve )ot a trans*ittin) set$ as e## as a re&eivin) set$B said "u#ian, Bes$B said r, ;urton, BIt>s a hobb+ of *ine, I *ade that set,B B :e## ? ou *ust be brain+ ? B said %i&k, B :hat>s a trans*ittin) set @B asked 'nne, B I haven>t heard of one before,B B h$ it ust *eans a set to send out *essa)es b+ ire#ess!#ike /o#i&e<&ars have$ hen the+ send ba&k *essa)es to their /o#i&e stations$B said %i&k, B This is a ver+ /oerfu# one$ thou)h,B artin as fidd#in) about ith the te#evision sit&hes, Then the /ro)ra**e be)an$ and 'nne )as/ed to see a *an>s fa&e sudden#+ a//ear on
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the #i)hted s&reen of the set, B I &an hear hi* and see hi*$B she his/ered to "u#ian, r, ;urton heard her and #au)hed, B ut +our do) &an>t smell hi*$ or he>d be after hi* ? B It as )reat fun seein) the te#evision /ro)ra**e, :hen it as over r, ;urton asked the* to sta+ to tea, B o don>t sa+ no$B he said, B I>## rin) u/ and ask +our aunt$ if +ou #ike$ if +ou>re afraid she *i)ht be orried,B B :e##!if +ou>d do that$ sir$B said "u#ian, B I think she would onder here e>d )one ? B r, ;urton ran) u/ 'unt ann+, es$ it as Euite a## ri)ht for the* to sta+$ but the+ *ustn>t be too #ate ba&k, So the+ sett#ed don to an unex/e&ted#+ )ood tea, artin as not ver+ ta#kative$ but r, ;urton *ade u/ for it, He #au)hed and oked and as a#to)ether ver+ )ood &o*/an+, The ta#k &a*e round to -irrin Is#and, r, ;urton said ho beautifu# it #ooked ea&h evenin), (eor)e #ooked /#eased, B es$B she said, B I a#a+s think that, I do ish ather hadn>t &hosen this /arti&u#ar ti*e to ork on *+ is#and, I>d /#anned to )o and sta+ there,B B I su//ose +ou kno ever+ in&h of it? B said r, ;urton, B h +es ? B said (eor)e, B :e a## do, There are dun)eons there$ +ou kno!rea# dun)eons that )o dee/ don!here e on&e found )o#d in)ots,B B es!I re*e*ber readin) about that$B said r, ;urton, B That *ust have been ex&itin), an&+ finding the dun)eons too ? 'nd there>s an o#d e## too +ou on&e )ot don$ isn>t there @ B
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B es$B said 'nne$ re*e*berin), B 'nd there is a &ave here e on&e #ived!it>s )ot an entran&e throu)h the roof$ as e## as fro* the sea,B B 'nd I su//ose +our father is &ondu&tin) his *arve##ous ex/eri*ents don in the dun)eons @ B said r, ;urton, B:e##$ hat a stran)e /#a&e to ork in ? B B o!e don>t , , ,B be)an (eor)e$ hen she )ot a ki&k on the ank#e fro* %i&k, She s&reed u/ her fa&e in /ain, It had been a ver+ shar/ ki&k indeed, B :hat ere +ou )oin) to sa+ @B said r, ;urton$ #ookin) sur/rised, B r!I as ust )oin) to sa+ that!er!er! e don>t kno hi&h /#a&e ather has &hosen$B said (eor)e$ kee/in) her #e)s e## out of the a+ of %i&k>s feet, Ti**+ )ave a sudden shar/ hine, (eor)e #ooked don at hi* in sur/rise, He as #ookin) u/ at %i&k ith a ver+ hurt ex/ression, B :hat>s the *atter$ Ti**+ @ B said (eor)e$ anxious#+, B He>s findin) the roo* too hot$ I think$B said %i&k, B etter take hi* out$ (eor)e,B (eor)e$ fee#in) Euite anxious$ took hi* out, %i&k oined her, She s&o#ed at hi*, B :hat did +ou ant to ki&k *e for #ike that@ I sha## have a fri)htfu# bruise,B B ou kno o##+ e## h+ I did$B said %i&k, B (ivin) aa+ ever+thin) #ike that? ;an>t +ou see the &ha/>s ver+ interested in +our father bein) on the is#and @ There *a+ be nothin) in it at a##$ but +ou *i)ht at #east kee/ +our *outh shut, "ust #ike a )ir#$ &an>t he#/ b#abbin), I had to sto/ +ou so*eho, I don>t *ind te##in) +ou I
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trod o##+ hard on /oor o#d Ti**+>s tai# too$ to *ake hi* +e#/$ so that +ou>d turn +our attention to hi* and sto/ ta#kin) ? B B h!+ou beast? B said (eor)e$ indi)nant#+, B Ho #ould +ou hurt Ti**+ @ B B I didn>t ant to, It as a sha*e$B said %i&k$ stoo/in) to fond#e Ti**+>s ears, FF Koor o#d Ti*, I didn>t ant to hurt +ou$ o#d fe##o,B B I>* )oin) ho*e$B said (eor)e$ her fa&e s&ar#et ith an)er, B I hate +ou for ta#kin) to *e #ike that!te##in) *e I b#ab #ike a )ir#!and sta*/in) on /oor Ti**+>s tai#, ou &an )o ba&k and sa+ I>* takin) Ti**+ ho*e,B B i)ht$B said %i&k, B 'nd a o##+ )ood thin) too, The #ess +ou ta#k to r, ;urton the better, 2m )oin) ba&k to find out exa&t#+ hat he is and hat he does, I>* )ettin) o##+ sus/i&ious, ou>d better )o before +ou )ive an+thin) e#se aa+ ?B '#*ost &hokin) ith ra)e$ (eor)e ent off ith Ti**+, %i&k ent ba&k to *ake her a/o#o)ies, "u#ian and 'nne$ sure that so*ethin) as u/$ fe#t *ost un&o*fortab#e, The+ rose to )o$ but to their sur/rise$ %i&k be&a*e ver+ ta#kative and a//eared to be sudden#+ ver+ *u&h interested in r, ;urton and hat he did, ut at #ast the+ said )oods his na*e$ (eor)e!that I ho/e his do) is Euite a## ri)ht a)ain no, Su&h a ni&e$ e##< behaved do) ? :e## )ood
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Chapter Ten A SURPRISING SIGNAL
O:H'TS u/ ith (eor)e@B de*anded R R "u#ian$ as soon as the+ ere safe#+ out of earshot, B I kno +ou ki&ked her at teas tai# to *ake hi* hine$ so that (eor)e ou#d turn her attention to hi* and sto/ ta#kin), "u#ian #au)hed$ but 'nne as indi)nant, B That as horrid of +ou$ %i&k,B Bes$ it as$B said %i&k, But I &ou#dn>t think of an+ other a+ to head (eor)e off the is#and, I rea##+ honest#+ thou)ht she as )ivin) aa+ to that fe##o a## the thin)s he bad#+ anted to kno, ut no I think he anted to kno the* for Euite another reason,B > :hat do +ou *ean @ B said "u#ian$ /uAA#ed, B :e##$ I thou)ht at first he *ust be after Cn&#e Duentin>s se&ret$ hatever it is$B said %i&k$ B and that as h+ he anted to kno a## the ins and outs of ever+thin), ut no that he>s to#d *e he>s a ourna#ist!that>s a *an ho rites for the nes/a/ers$ 'nne!I think after a## he on#+ ants the infor*ation so that he &an use it for his /a/er$ and *ake a s/#ash hen Cn&#e has finished his ork,B B es$ I think that too$B said "u#ian$ thou)htfu##+ = B in fa&t$ I>* /rett+ sure of it, :e##$
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there>s no har* in that$ but I don>t see h+ e shou#d sit there and be /u*/ed a## the ti*e, He &ou#d easi#+ sa+$ > ook here$ I>d be ob#i)ed if +ou>d s/i## the beans about -irrin Is#and! I ant to use it in a nes/a/er stor+,> ut he didn>t sa+ that,B B o, So I as sus/i&ious$B said %i&k, B ut I see no he>d ant a## sorts of tits take the road to -irrin i##a)e and )o to )et so*e bones for Ti**+ at the but&her>s$B said "u#ian, B ' sort of a/o#o)+ to Ti* ? B This see*ed a )ood idea, The+ bou)ht to #ar)e *eat+ bones at the but&her>s$ and then ent to -irrin ;otta)e, (eor)e as u/ in her bedroo* ith Ti**+, The three ent u/ to find her, She as sittin) on the f#oor ith a book, She #ooked u/ su#ki#+ as the+ &a*e in, B (eor)e$ sorr+ I as su&h a beast$B said %i&k, B I did it in a )ood &ause$ if +ou on#+ kne it, ut I>ve dis&overed that r, ;urton isn>t a s/+$ seekin) out +our father>s se&ret !he>s on#+ a ourna#ist$ s*e##in) out a stor+ for his /a/er ? ook!I>ve brou)ht these for Ti**+!I a/o#o)ise to hi* too,B (eor)e as in a ver+ bad te*/er$ but she tried to res/ond to %i&k>s friend#iness, She )ave hi* a s*a## s*i#e, B '## ri)ht, Thanks for the bones, %on>t ta#k to *e to< ni)ht$ an+bod+, I fee# *ad$ but I>## )et over it,B
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The+ #eft her sittin) on the f#oor, It as a#a+s best to #eave (eor)e severe#+ a#one hen she as in one of her te*/ers, 's #on) as Ti**+ as ith her$ she as a## ri)ht$ and he &ertain#+ ou#d not #eave her hi#st she as &ross and unha//+, (eor)e did not &o*e don to su//er, %i&k ex/#ained, B :e had a bit of a ro$ 'unt ann+$ but e>ve *ade it u/, (eor)e sti## fee#s sore about it thou)h, Sha## I take her su//er u/ @ B B o$ I i##$B said 'nne$ and she took u/ a tra+ of food, B I>* not hun)r+$B said (eor)e$ so 'nne /re/ared to take it aa+ a)ain, B :e##$ +ou &an #eave it$B said (eor)e hurried#+, B I ex/e&t Ti**+ i## #ike it,B So 'nne$ ith a se&ret s*i#e to herse#f$ #eft the tra+, '## the dishes ere e*/t+ b+ the ti*e she &#i*bed the stairs to fet&h the tra+ a)ain ? B %ear *e!Ti**+ was hun)r+ ? B she said to (eor)e$ and her &ousin s*i#ed shee/ish#+, B 'ren>t +ou &o*in) don no@ :e>re )oin) to /#a+ *ono/o#+,B B o thanks, ou #eave *e a#one this evenin)$ and I>## be a## ri)ht to<*orro$B said (eor)e, B ea##+ I i##,B So "u#ian$ %i&k$ 'nne and 'unt ann+ /#a+ed *ono/o#+ ithout (eor)e, The+ ent u/ to bed at the usua# ti*e and found (eor)e in bed$ fast as#ee/$ ith Ti**+ &ur#ed u/ on her toes, I>## #ook out for Cn&#e Duentin>s si)na#$B said "u#ian$ as he )ot into bed, B (osh$ it>s a dark ni)ht to
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ten the six f#ashes &a*e!f#ash$ f#ash$ f#ash$ throu)h the darkness, "u#ian buried his head in his /i##o, o for a )ood s#ee/ ? He as aakened b+ a throbbin) noise so*e ti*e #ater, He sat u/ and #ooked out of the indo$ ex/e&tin) to see the to/ of the toer ab#aAe ith #i)ht$ as it so*eti*es as hen his un&#e &ondu&ted a s/e&ia# ex/eri*ent, ut nothin) ha//ened, There as no f#are of #i)ht, The throb< bin) died aa+ and "u#ian #a+ don a)ain, B I sa Cn&#e>s si)na#s a## ri)ht #ast ni)ht$ 'unt ann+$B he said next *ornin), B %id +ou @ B Bes$B said his aunt, B"u#ian$ do +ou think +ou ou#d at&h for the* this *ornin)$ dear @ I have to )o and see the vi&ar about so*ethin)$ and I don>t be#ieve I shou#d be ab#e to see the toer fro* the vi&ara)e,B B es$ of &ourse I i##$ 'unt ann+$B said "u#ian, B :hat>s the ti*e no @ Ha#f## rite so*e #etters sittin) b+ the indo in *+ roo*!and at ha#f## at&h for the si)na#s,B He rote his #etters$ interru/ted first b+ %i&k$ then b+ (eor)e$ 'nne and Ti**+$ ho anted hi* to )o on the bea&h ith the*, (eor)e had Euite re&overed herse#f no$ and as tr+in) to be s/e&ia##+ ni&e to *ake u/ for +esterda+>s te*/er, B I>## &o*e at ha#fve seen the si)na#s fro* the toer, The+>re due in ten *inutes,B 't ha#f
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B ne f#ash$B &ounted "u#ian, B To!threes a## ri)ht,B He as ust about to turn aa+ hen another f#ash &au)ht his e+e, B Seven ? B Then another &a*e, i)ht, ine, Ten, #even, Te#ve, B Ho Eueer$B said "u#ian, B :h+ te#ve f#ashes @ Ha##o$ here e )o a)ain ? B 'nother six f#ashes &a*e fro* the toer$ then no *ore at a##, "u#ian ished he had a te#es&o/e$ then he &ou#d see ri)ht into the toer ? He sat and thou)ht for a *o*ent$ /uAA#ed, Then he heard the others &o*e /oundin) u/ the stairs, The+ burst into the roo*, B"u#ian ? ather f#ashed ei)hteen ti*es instead of six ?B > %id +ou &ount the*$ "u @ B B :h+ did he do that @ Is he in dan)er of so*e sort @ B B o, If he as he>d f#ash the S,,S, si)na#$B said "u#ian, B He doesn>t kno orse ? B said (eor)e, B :e##$ I ex/e&t he ust ants to #et us kno that he needs so*ethin)$B said "u#ian, > :e *ust )o over to## )o this *ornin),B (eor)e f#e off to te## "a*es she anted her boat, 'unt ann+ /a&ked u/ /#ent+ of food ith "oanna>s he#/, Then the+ set off to -irrin Is#and in (eor)e>s boat,
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's the+ rounded the #o a## of ro&ks and &a*e into the #itt#e &ove$ the+ sa Cn&#e Duentin aitin) for the*, He aved his hand$ and he#/ed to /u## in the boat hen it ran )ent#+ on to the sand, > :e sa +our treb#e si)na#$B said 'unt ann+, B %id +ou ant so*ethin)$ dear @ B Bes$ I did$B said Cn&#e Duentin, B:hat>s that +ou>ve )ot in +our basket$ ann+ @ ore of those de#i&ious sandi&hes, I>## have so*e ? B B h Duentin!haven>t +ou been havin) +our *ea#s /ro/er#+ a)ain @ B said 'unt ann+, B :hat about that #ove#+ sou/ @ B B :hat sou/ @ B said Cn&#e Duentin$ #ookin) sur/rised, B I ish I>d knon about it, I &ou#d have done ith so*e #ast ni)ht,B B ut /uentin, I to#d +ou about it before$B said 'unt ann+, B It i## be bad b+ no, ou *ust /our it aa+, o don>t for)et!/our it aa+ ? :here is it @ Kerha/s I had better /our it aa+ *+se#f,B B o, I>## do it$B said Cn&#e Duentin, B et>s sit don and have our #un&h,B It as *u&h too ear#+ for #un&h$ but 'unt ann+ at on&e sat don and be)an to un/a&k the food, The &hi#dren ere a#a+s read+ for a *ea# at an+ ti*e$ so the+ didn>t in the #east *ind #un&h bein) so ear#+, B :e##$ dear!ho is +our ork )ettin) on @ B asked 'unt ann+$ at&hin) her husband devour sandi&h after sandi&h, She be)an to onder if he had had an+thin) at a## to eat sin&e she had #eft hi* to da+s a)o, B h ver+ e## indeed$B said her husband, B ;ou#dn>t be better, "ust )ot to a *ost tri&k+
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and interestin) /oint, I>## have another sandi&h$ /#ease,B B :h+ did +ou si)na# ei)hteen ti*es, Cn&#e Duentin @ B asked 'nne, B 'h e##!it>s diffi&u#t to ex/#ain$ rea##+$B said her un&#e, B The fa&t is!I &an>t he#/ fee#in) there>s so*ebod+ e#se on this is#and besides *+se#f?B B /uentin , :hat in the or#d do +ou *ean @ B &ried 'unt ann+$ in a#ar*, She #ooked over her shou#der as if she ha#ft$ Cn&#e ? B said 'nne$ ith a shiver, B It sounds horrid, 'nd +ou>re a## a#one at ni)ht too ? B B 'h$ that>s ust it ? I ou#dn>t *ind a bit if I was a## a#one at ni)ht?B said her un&#e, B :hat orries *e is that I don>t think I shall be a## a#one,B > Cn&#e$ hat *akes +ou think there>s so*ebod+ here @ B asked "u#ian, B :e##$ hen I had finished the ex/eri*ent I as doin) #ast ni)ht!about ha#fre tired,B
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B es$ I kno$B said her husband, B ut I &ou#dn>t i*a)ine this! &ou#d I @ B He /ut his hand into his /o&ket and took so*ethin) out, He shoed it to the others, It as a &i)arette end$ Euite &ris/ and fresh, B o$ I don>t s*oke &i)arettes, or do an+ of +ou ? :e## then!ho s*oked that &i)arette @ 'nd ho did he &o*e here @ o one ou#d brin) hi* b+ boat!and that>s the on#+ a+ here,B There as a si#en&e, 'nne fe#t s&ared, (eor)e stared at her father$ /uAA#ed, :ho &ou#d be here @ 'nd h+ @ 'nd ho had the+ )ot there @ B :e##$ Duentin!hat are +ou )oin) to do @ B said his ife, B :hat ou#d be best @ B B I>## be a## ri)ht if (eor)e i## )ive her &onsent to so*ethin)$B said Cn&#e Duentin, B I ant Ti**+ here$ (eor)e ? :i## +ou #eave hi* behind ith *e @ B
102
Chapter Eleven GEORGE MAKES A HARD CHOICE
TH as a horrified si#en&e, (eor)e stared at her father in &o*/#ete dis*a+, ver+one aited to see hat she ou#d sa+, B ut ather!Ti**+ and I have never been se/arated on&e$B she said at #ast$ in a /#eadin) voi&e, B I do see +ou ant hi* to )uard +ou! and +ou #an have hi*!but I>## have to sta+ here too ? B B h no ? B said her father at on&e, B ou &an>t /ossib#+ sta+$ (eor)e, That>s out of the Euestion, 's for never bein) se/arated fro* Ti**+$ e## sure#+ +ou ou#dn>t *ind that for on&e @ If it as to ensure *+ safet+@B (eor)e sa##oed hard, This as the *ost diffi&u#t de&ision she had ever had to *ake in her #ife, eave Ti**+ behind on the is#and! here there as so*e unknon hidden ene*+$ #ike#+ to har* hi* if he /ossib#+ &ou#d ? 'nd +et there as ather too!he *i)ht be in dan)er if there as no one to )uard hi*, B I sha## ust have to sta+ here$ ather$B she said, B I &an>t #eave Ti**+ behind un#ess I sta+ too, It>s no )ood,B Her father be)an to #ose bis te*/er, He as #ike (eor)e!he anted his on a+$ and if he didn>t have it he as )oin) to *ake a fuss ? B If I>d asked "u#ian or %i&k or 'nne this sa*e thin)$ and the+>d had a do)$ the+ ou#d a## have said +es$ at on&e?B he ra)ed, B ut +ou$ (eor)e$
103
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+ou *ust a#a+s *ake thin)s diffi&u#t if +ou &an ? ou and that do)!an+one ou#d think he as orth a thousand /ounds ? B B He>s orth *u&h *ore than that to *e$B said (eor)e$ in a tre*b#in) voi&e, Ti**+ &re/t nearer to her and /ushed his nose into her hand, She he#d his &o##ar as if she ou#d not #et hi* )o for a *o*ent, B es, That do)>s orth *ore to +ou than +our father or *other or an+one$B said her father$ in dis)ust, B o$ Duentin$ I &an>t have +ou sa+in) thin)s #ike that$B said his ife$ fir*#+, B That>s ust si##+, ' *other and father are Euite different fro* a do)!the+>re #oved in different a+s, ut +ou are /erfe&t#+ ri)ht$ of &ourse! Ti**+ must sta+ behind ith +ou!and I sha## &ertain#+ not a##o (eor)e to sta+ ith hi*, I>* not )oin) to have )oth of +ou ex/osed to dan)er, It>s bad enou)h to orr+ about you! as it is,B (eor)e #ooked at her *other in dis*a+, B other ? %o te## ather I *ust sta+ here ith Ti**+,B B ;ertain#+ not$B said her *other, B o (eor)e$ be unse#fish, If it ere #eft to Ti* to de&ide$ +ou kno /erfe&t#+ e## that he ou#d sta+ here!and sta+ without +ou, He ou#d sa+ to hi*se#f$ > I>* needed here!*+ e+es are needed to s/+ out ene*ies$ *+ ears to hear a Euiet foot< fa##!and *a+be *+ teeth to /rote&t *+ *aster, I sha## be /arted fro* (eor)e for a fe da+s! but she$ #ike *e$ is bi) enou)h to /ut u/ ith that ?> That>s hat Ti**+ ou#d sa+$ (eor)e$ if it ere #eft to hi*,B ver+one had been #istenin) to this unex/e&ted
105
s/ee&h ith )reat attention, It as about the on#+ one that &ou#d /ersuade (eor)e to )ive in i##in)#+ ? She #ooked at Ti**+, He #ooked ba&k at her$ a))in) his tai#, Then he did an extraordinar+ thin)!he )ot u/$ a#ked over to (eor)e>s father$ and #a+ don beside hi*$ #ookin) at (eor)e as if to sa+ B There +ou are ? o +ou kno hat N think is ri)ht? B B ou see @ B said her *other, B He a)rees ith *e, ou>ve a#a+s said that Ti**+ as a )ood do)$ and this /roves it, He knos hat his dut+ is, ou ou)ht to be /roud of hi*,B B I a*$B said (eor)e$ in a &hok+ voi&e, She )ot u/ and a#ked off, B'## ri)ht$B she said over her shou#der, B I>## #eave hi* on the is#and ith ather, I>## &o*e ba&k in a *inute,B 'nne )ot u/ to )o after /oor (eor)e$ but "u#ian /u##ed her don a)ain, B eave her a#one? She>## be a## ri)ht, (ood o#d Ti**+!+ou kno hat>s ri)ht and hat>s ron)$ don>t +ou @ (ood do)$ s/#endid do) ? B Ti**+ a))ed his tai#, He did not atte*/t to fo##o (eor)e, o!he *eant to sta+ b+ her father no$ even thou)h he ou#d *u&h rather be ith his *istress, He as sorr+ that (eor)e as unha//+!but so*eti*es it as better to do a hard thin) and be unha//+ about it$ than tr+ to be ha//+ ithout doin) it, B h Duentin dear$ I don>t #ike this business of +ou bein) here and so*ebod+ e#se s/+in) on +ou$B said his ife, B I rea##+ don>t, Ho #on) i## +ou be before +ou>ve finished +our ork @ B B ' fe da+s *ore$B said her husband, He #ooked at Ti**+ ad*irin)#+, B That do) *i)ht
106
a#*ost have knon hat +ou ere sa+in)$ ann+$ ust no, It as re*arkab#e the a+ he a#ked strai)ht over to *e,B B He>s a ver+ &#ever do)$B said 'nne$ ar*#+, B 'ren>t +ou$ Ti* @ ou>## be Euite safe ith hi*$ Cn&#e Duentin, He>s terrib#+ fier&e hen he ants to be ? B B es, I shou#dn>t &are to have hi* #ea/in) at my throat$B said her un&#e, B He>s so bi) and /oerfu#, 're there an+ *ore /ie&es of &ake @ B B Duentin$ it>s rea##+ too bad of +ou to )o ithout +our *ea#s$B said his ife, B It>s no )ood te##in) *e +ou haven>t$ be&ause +ou ou#dn>t be as ravenous as this if +ou had had +our food re)u#ar#+,B Her husband took no noti&e of hat she as sa+in), He as #ookin) u/ at his toer, FF %o +ou ever see those ires at the to/ b#aAe out @ B he asked, B :onderfu# si)ht$ isn>t it @ B B Cn&#e$ +ou>re not inventin) a ne ato* bo*b$ or an+thin)$ are +ou @ B asked 'nne, Her un&#e #ooked at her s&ornfu##+, B I ou#dn>t aste *+ ti*e inventin) thin)s that i## be used to ki## and *ai* /eo/#e ? o!I>* inventin) so*ethin) that i## be of the )reatest use to *ankind, ou ait and see ? B (eor)e &a*e ba&k, B ather$B she said$ B I>* #eavin) Ti**+ behind for +ou!but /#ease i## +ou do so*ethin) for *e @ B B :hat @ B asked her father, B o si##+ &onditions no? I sha## feed Ti**+ re)u#ar#+$ and #ook after hi*$ if that>s hat +ou ant to ask *e, I *a+ for)et *+ on *ea#s$ but +ou ou)ht to kno *e e## enou)h to kno I shou#dn>t ne)#e&t an+ ani*a# de/endent on *e,B
107
B es!I kno$ ather$B said (eor)e$ #ookin) a bit doubtfu# a## the sa*e, B :hat I anted to ask +ou as this !hen +ou )o u/ in the toer to si)na# ea&h *ornin)$ i## +ou /#ease take Ti**+ ith +ou @ I sha## be u/ at the &oast)uard &otta)e$ #ookin) throu)h his te#es&o/e at the )#ass roo* in the toer!and I sha## be ab#e to see Ti**+ then, If I &an &at&h ust a )#i*/se of hi* ea&h da+ and kno he>s a## ri)ht$ I shan>t orr+ so *u&h,B Ber+ e##$B said her father, But I don>t su//ose for a *o*ent that Ti**+ i## be ab#e to &#i*b u/ the s/ira# staira+,B B h$ he &an$ ather!he>s been u/ it on&e a#read+$B said (eor)e, B (ood heavens? B said her father, B Has the do) been u/ there too@ '## ri)ht$ (eor)e!I /ro*ise I>## take hi* u/ ith *e ea&h *ornin) that I si)na#$ and )et hi* to a) his tai# at +ou, There ? :i## that satisf+ +ou @ B B es, Thank +ou$B said (eor)e, B 'nd +ou>## )ive hi* a fe kind ords and a /at o&&asiona##+$ ather$ on>t +ou , , , and , , , @ B B 'nd /ut his bib on for hi* at *ea#s the a+ he ants *e to treat hi*, Isn>t it$ Ti**+ @ ou #ike a## those fri##s to be ke/t for +our *istress$ don>t +ou$ not for *e @ B B :oof$B said Ti**+$ and thu*/ed his tai#, The &hi#dren #ooked at hi* ad*irin)#+, He rea##+ as a ver+ sensib#e$ &#ever do), He see*ed so*eho *u&h *ore )ron
108
BCn&#e$ if an+thin) )oes ron)$ or +ou ant he#/ or an+thin)$ f#ash ei)hteen ti*es a)ain$B said "u#ian, B ou ou)ht to be a## ri)ht ith Ti**+, He>s better than a doAen /o#i&e*en! but +ou never kno,B B i)ht, i)hteen f#ashes if I ant +ou over here for an+thin)$B said his un&#e, B I>## re*e*ber, o +ou>d better a## )o, It>s ti*e I )ot on ith *+ ork,B B ou>## /our that sou/ aa+$ on>t +ou$ Duentin @ B said his ife$ anxious#+, B ou don>t ant to *ake +ourse#f i## b+ eatin) bad sou/, It *ust be )reen b+ no ? It ou#d be so #ike +ou to for)et a## about it hi#st it as fresh and )ood!and on#+ re*e*ber it hen it as bad ? B B :hat a thin) to sa+ ? B said her husband$ )ettin) u/, B 'n+one ou#d think I as five +ears o#d$ ithout a brain in *+ head$ the a+ +ou ta#k to *e ? B B ou>ve /#ent+ of brains$ dear$ e a## kno that$B said his ife, B ut +ou don>t see* ver+ o#d so*eti*es ? o #ook after +ourse#f!and kee/ Ti**+ b+ +ou a## the ti*e,B B ather on>t need to bother about that- said (eor)e, B Ti**+ i## kee/ b+ him, ou>re on )uard$ Ti**+$ aren>t +ou @ 'nd +ou kno hat that *eans ? B B :oof$B said Ti**+$ so#e*n#+, He ent ith the* a## to the boat$ but he did not atte*/t to )et in, He stood b+ (eor)e>s father and at&hed the boat bob aa+ over the ater, B (ood
109
(eor)e took one of the /airs of oars fro* %i&k and be)an to ro furious#+$ her fa&e red ith the hard ork, "u#ian #ooked at her in a*use*ent, It as hard ork for hi* too$ to kee/ u/ ith the furious roin)$ but he didn>t sa+ an+thin), He kne a## this fur+ in roin) as (eor)e>s a+ of hidin) her )rief at /artin) ith Ti**+, unn+ o#d (eor)e ? She as a#a+s so intense about thin)s !furious#+ ha//+ or furious#+ unha//+$ in the seventh heaven of de#i)ht or don in the ver+ de/ths of des/air or an)er, ver+one ta#ked hard so that (eor)e ou#d think the+ ere not noti&in) her fee#in)s at /artin) ith Ti**+, The ta#k$ of &ourse$ as *ost#+ about the unknon *an on the is#and, It see*ed ver+ *+sterious indeed that he shou#d sudden#+ have arrived, B Ho did he )et there @ I>* sure not one of the fisher*en ou#d have taken hi*$B said %i&k, B He *ust have )one at ni)ht$ of &ourse$ and I doubt if there is an+one but (eor)e ho ou#d kno the a+ in the dark!or even dare to tr+ and find it, These ro&ks are so &#ose to)ether$ and so near the surfa&e = one +ard out of the ri)ht &ourse and an+ boat ou#d have a ho#e in the botto* ? B B o one &ou#d rea&h the is#and b+ si**in) fro* the shore$B said 'nne, B It>s too far$ and the sea is too rou)h over these ro&ks, I honest#+ do onder if there is an+one on the is#and after a##, Kerha/s that &i)arette end as an o#d one,B B It didn>t #ook it$B said "u#ian, B :e##$ it ust beats *e ho an+one )ot there ? B He fe## into thou)ht$ /uAA#in) out a## the /ossib#e
110
and i*/ossib#e a+s, Then he )ave an ex&#a*ation, The others #ooked at hi*, B I>ve ust thou)ht!ou#d it be /ossib#e for an aero/#ane to /ara&hute an+one don on the is#and @ I did hear a throbbin) noise one ni)ht! as it #ast ni)ht@ It *ust have been a /#ane>s en)ine$ of &ourse ? Could an+one be dro//ed on the is#and @ B B asi#+$B said %i&k, B I be#ieve +ou>ve hit on the ex/#anation$ "u ? (ood for +ou ? ut I sa+ !hoever it is *ust be in dead#+ earnest$ to risk bein) dro//ed on a s*a## is#and #ike that in the dark of ni)ht? B In dead#+ earnest? That didn>t sound at a## ni&e, ' #itt#e shiver ent don 'nne>s ba&k, B I am )#ad Ti**+>s there$B she said, 'nd ever+one fe#t the sa*e!+es$ even (eor)e ?
111
Chapter Twelve THE OLD MAP AGAIN
IT as on#+ about ha#ft a## ant another #un&h$ be&ause there>s nothin) in the house ti## I )o to the but&her>s ? B B h no$ "oanna!e>ve had our /i&ni& #un&h$B said her *istress$ B and it as a )ood thin) e /a&ked so *u&h$ be&ause the *aster ate Euite ha#f of the #un&h ? He sti## hasn>t had that ni&e sou/ e *ade for hi*, o it i## be bad$ of &ourse,B B h$ the *en ? The+>re as bad as &hi#dren ? B said "oanna, B 1ell, B said (eor)e, B %o +ou rea##+ think an+ of us ou#d #et +our )ood sou/ )o bad$ "oanna@ ou kno o##+ e## e>d /robab#+ eat it u/ before e ou)ht to ? B B That>s true!I ou#dn>t a&&use an+ of +ou four!or Ti**+ either!of /#a+in) about ith +our food$B said "oanna, B ou *ake )ood ork of it$ the #ot of +ou, ut here is Ti**+ @ B B I #eft hi* behind to #ook after ather$B said (eor)e, "oanna stared at her in sur/rise, She kne ho /assionate#+ fond of Ti**+ (eor)e as, B ou>re a ver+ )ood )ir#!so*eti*es ? B she
112
said, B See no!if +ou>re sti## hun)r+ be&ause +our father has eaten *ost of +our #un&h$ +ou )o and #ook in the bis&uit tin, I *ade +ou so*e of +our favourite )in)er bis&uits this *ornin), ou )o and find the*,B That as a#a+s "oanna>s a+ ? If she thou)ht an+one as u/set$ she offered the* her best and freshest food, (eor)e ent off to find the bis&uits, B ou>re a kind sou#$ "oanna$B said (eor)e>s *other, B I>* so thankfu# e #eft Ti**+ there, I fee# ha//ier about the *aster no,B B :hat sha## e do this afternoon @ B said %i&k$ hen the+ had finished *un&hin) the de#i&ious )in)er bis&uits, B I sa+$ aren>t these )ood @ ou kno$ I do think )ood &ooks deserve so*e kind of de&oration$ ust as *u&h as )ood so#diers$ or s&ientists$ or riters, I shou#d )ive "oanna the ,,;,,,B B :hatever>s that @ B said "u#ian, B rder of the est ;ooks of the ritish */ire$B said %i&k )rinnin), B :hat did +ou think it as @ > h$ e ;arefu# efore atin) @ > B B ou rea##+ are an abso#ute donke+$B said "u#ian, B o$ hat shall e do this afternoon @ B $ B (o and ex/#ore the /assa)e in the Euarr+$B said (eor)e, "u#ian &o&ked an e+e at the indo, B It>s about to /our ith rain$B he said, B I don>t think that &#a*berin) u/ and don the stee/ sides of that Euarr+ in the et ou#d be ver+ eas+, o!e>## #eave that ti## a fine da+,B B I>## te## +ou hat e>## do$B said 'nne$ sudden#+, B %o +ou re*e*ber that o#d *a/ of -irrin ;ast#e e on&e found in a box @ It had /#ans of the &ast#e in it!a /#an of the dun)eons$
113
and of the )round f#oor$ and of the to/ /art, :e##$ #et>s have it out and stud+ it @ o e kno there is another hidin)s sure to be on it so*ehere!but /erha/s e didn>t noti&e it before ? B The others #ooked at her$ thri##ed, B o that rea##+ is a bri##iant idea of +ours$ 'nne$B said "u#ian$ and 'nne )#oed ith /#easure at his /raise, B ' ver+ fine idea indeed, "ust the thin) for a et afternoon, :here>s the *a/@ I su//ose +ou>ve )ot it so*ehere safe$ (eor)e @ B B h +es$B said (eor)e, B It>s sti## in that o#d ooden box$ inside the tin #inin), I>## )et it,B She disa//eared u/stairs and &a*e don a)ain ith the *a/, It as *ade of thi&k /ar&h*ent$ and as +e##o ith a)e, She #aid it out on the tab#e, The others bent over it$ ea)er to #ook at it on&e *ore, B %o +ou re*e*ber ho fri)htfu##+ ex&ited e ere hen e first found the box @ B said %i&k, B es$ and e &ou#dn>t o/en it$ so e thre it out of the to/ indo don to the )round be#o$ ho/in) it ou#d burst o/en? B said (eor)e, B 'nd the &rash oke u/ Cn&#e Duentin$B said 'nne$ ith a )i))#e, B 'nd he &a*e out and )ot the box and ou#dn>t #et us have it? B B h dear +es!and /oor "u#ian had to ait ti## Cn&#e Duentin as as#ee/$ and &ree/ in and )et the box to see hat as in it?B finished %i&k, B 'nd e found this *a/! and ho e /ored over it? B The+ a## /ored over it a)ain, It as in three /arts$ as 'nne had said!a /#an of the dun)eons$ a /#an of the )round f#oor and a /#an of the to/ /art, The+ a## /ored over it a)ain, It as in three /arts 114
B It>s no )ood botherin) about the to/ /art of the &ast#e$B said %i&k, B It>s a## fa##en don and ruined, There>s /ra&ti&a##+ none of it #eft$ ex&e/t for that one toer,B B I sa+ ? B said "u#ian$ sudden#+ /uttin) his fin)er on a &ertain s/ot in the *a/$ B do +ou re*e*ber there ere two entran&es to the dun)eons @ ne that see*ed to start so*ehere about that #itt#e stone roo* ! and the other that
115
started here e did at #ast find the entran&e @ :e##! e never found the other entran&e$ did e @ B B o ? :e didn>t ? B said (eor)e$ in ex&ite*ent, She /ushed "u#ian>s fin)er aa+ fro* the *a/, B ook!there are ste/s shon here!so*ehere here that #itt#e roo* is !so there must be an entran&e there ? Here>s the other f#i)ht of ste/s !the ones e did find$ near the e##,B B I re*e*ber that e hunted /rett+ hard for the entran&e in the #itt#e roo*$B said %i&k, B :e s&ra/ed aa+ the eeds fro* ever+ sin)#e stone$ and )ave it u/ at #ast, Then e found the other entran&e$ and for)ot a## about this one,B B 'nd N think ather has found the entran&e e didn't find ? B said (eor)e$ triu*/hant#+, B It #eads under)round$ obvious#+, :hether or not it oins u/ ith the dun)eons e kno I &an>t *ake out fro* this *a/, It>s a bit b#urred here, ut it>s Euite /#ain that there is an entran&e here$ ith stone ste/s #eadin) under)round so*ehere ? See$ there>s so*e sort of /assa)e or tunne# *arked$ #eadin) fro* the ste/s, (oodness knos here it )oes$ it>s so s*eared,B B It oins u/ ith the dun)eons$ I ex/e&t$B said "u#ian, B :e never ex/#ored the ho#e of the*$ +ou kno! the+>re so vast and eird, If e ex/#ored the ho#e /#a&e$ e shou#d /robab#+ &o*e a&ross the stone ste/s #eadin) fro* so*ehere near that #itt#e roo*, Sti##$ the+ *a+ be ruined or fa##en in no,B B o$ the+ &an>t be$B said (eor)e, B I>* /erfe&t#+ sure that>s the entran&e ather has found, 'nd I>## te## +ou so*ethin) that see*s to /rove it$ too,B B :hat @ B said ever+one,
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B :e##$ do +ou re*e*ber the other da+ hen e first ent to see ather @ B said (eor)e, B He didn>t #et us sta+ #on)$ and he &a*e to see us off at the boat, :e##$ e tried to see here he ent$ but e &ou#dn>t!but %i&k said he sa the a&kdas risin) u/ in a f#o&k$ as if the+ had been sudden#+ disturbed!and he ondered if ather had )one so*ehere in that dire&tion,B "u#ian hist#ed, B es!the a&kdas bui#d in the toer$ hi&h is b+ the #itt#e roo*!and an+one )oin) into the roo* ou#d disturb the*, I be#ieve +ou>re ri)ht$ (eor)e,B B It>s been /uAA#in) *e afu##+ here Cn&#e Duentin &ou#d be doin) his ork$B said %i&k, B I si*/#+ &ou#d not so#ve the *+ster+!but no I think e have ? B B I onder ho ather found his hidin)t start broodin) a)ain ? B B I>* not$B said (eor)e, B I>* /uAA#ed$ that>s a##, (o##+ !I ish e &ou#d take the boat and )o over to the is#and at on&e$ and ex/#ore ? B B es, I bet e>d find the entran&e a## ri)ht no$B said %i&k, B our father is sure to have #eft so*e tra&e of here it is!a stone a bit &#eaner than the rest!or eeds s&ra/ed off!or so*ethin),B B %o +ou su//ose the unknon ene*+ on the is#and knos Cn&#e Duentin>s hidin)t? He &ou#d so easi#+ shut hi* in if he did,B B :e##$ he hasn>t )one there to shut Cn&#e u/ !he>s )one there to stea# his se&ret$ or find it 117
out$B said "u#ian, B (o##+$ I>* thankfu# he>s )ot Ti**+, Ti**+ &ou#d ta&k#e a doAen ene*ies,B B ot if the+ had )uns$B said (eor)e$ in a s*a## voi&e, There as a si#en&e, If as not a ni&e thou)ht to think of Ti**+ at the ron) end of a )un, This had ha//ened on&e or ti&e before in their adventures$ and the+ didn>t ant to think of it ha//enin) a)ain, B :e##$ it>s no )ood thinkin) si##+ thin)s #ike that$B said %i&k$ )ettin) u/, B :e>ve had a o##+ interestin) ha#f< hour, I think e>ve so#ved that *+ster+, ut I su//ose e shan>t kno for &ertain ti## +our father>s finished his ex/eri*ent$ (eor)e$ and #eft the is#and!then e &an )o over and have a )ood snoo/ round,B B It>s sti## rainin)$B said 'nne$ #ookin) out of the indo, B ut it>s a bit &#earer, It #ooks as if the sun i## be out soon, et>s )o for a a#k,B B I sha## )o u/ to the &oast)uard>s &otta)e$B said (eor)e$ at on&e, B I ant to #ook throu)h his te#es&o/e to see if I &an )et ust a )#i*/se of Ti**+,B B Tr+ the fie#d<)#asses$B su))ested "u#ian, B (o u/ to the to/ of the house ith the*,B B es$ I i##$B said (eor)e, B Thanks for the idea,B She fet&hed the fie#d<)#asses$ here the+ hun) in the ha##$ and took the* out of their #eather &ase, She ran u/stairs ith the*, ut she soon &a*e don a)ain$ #ookin) disa//ointed, B The house isn>t hi)h enou)h for *e to see *u&h of the is#and /ro/er#+, I &an see the )#ass to/ of the toer easi#+$ of &ourse!but the te#es&o/e ou#d sho it *u&h better, It>s *ore /oerfu#, I think I>## )o u/ and have a sEuint,
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ou don>t need to &o*e if +ou don>t ant to,B She /ut the )#asses ba&k into their &ase, B h$ e>## a## &o*e and have a sEuint for o#d Ti**+< do)$B said %i&k$ )ettin) u/, B 'nd I don>t *ind te##in) +ou hat e>## see ?B B :hat @ B said (eor)e$ in sur/rise, B :e>## see Ti**+ havin) a /erfe&t#+ onderfu# ti*e$ &hasin) ever+ sin)#e rabbit on the is#and ? B said %i&k ith a )rin, B + ord!+ou needn>t orr+ about Ti**+ not havin) his food re)u#ar#+ ? He>## have rabbit for breakfast$ rabbit for dinner$ rabbit for tea!and rain<ater fro* his favourite /oo#, ot a bad #ife for o#d Ti**+ ? B B ou kno /erfe&t#+ e## he>## do nothin) of the sort$B said (eor)e, F> He>## kee/ &#ose to ather and not think of rabbits on&e ? B B ou don>t kno Ti**+ if +ou think that$B said %i&k$ dod)in) out of (eor)e>s a+, She as turnin) red ith exas/eration, B I bet that>s h+ he anted to sta+, "ust for the rabbits ? B (eor)e thre a book at hi*, It &rashed to the f#oor, 'nne )i))#ed, FF h sto/ it$ +ou to, :e>## never )et out, ;o*e on$ "u!e on>t ait for the sEuabb#ers ? B
119
Chapter Thirteen AFTERNOON WITH MARTIN
B the ti*e the+ rea&hed the &oast)uard>s &otta)e the sun as out, It as a rea# '/ri# da+$ ith sudden shoers and then the sun see/in) out$ s*i#in), ver+thin) )#ittered$ es/e&ia##+ the sea, It as et underfoot$ but the &hi#dren had on their rubber boots, The+ #ooked for the &oast)uard, 's usua# he as in his shed$ sin)in) and ha**erin), B (oodd &o*e and see *e a)ain, Ho do +ou #ike this rai#a+ station I>* *akin) @ B B It>s better than an+ I>ve ever seen in the sho/s$B said 'nne$ in )reat ad*iration, The &oast)uard &ertain#+ had *ade it e##$ don to the s*a##est detai#, He nodded his head toards so*e s*a## ooden fi)ures of /orters and )uards and /assen)ers, B Those are aitin) to be /ainted$B he said, B That bo+ artin said he>d &o*e in and do the* for *e!ver+ hand+ ith his /aints he is$ a /ro/er artist!but he>s had an a&&ident,B B (as he @ :hat ha//ened @ B said "u#ian, B I don>t Euite kno, He as ha#f<&arried ho*e this *ornin) b+ his father$B said the &oast)uard, B ust have s#i//ed and fa##en so*ehere, I ent out to ask$ but r, ;urton as in a hurr+ to )et the bo+ on a &ou&h, :h+ don>t
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+ou )o in and ask after hi* @ He>s a Eueer sort of bo+ !but he>s not a bad bo+,B B es$ e i## )o and ask$B said "u#ian, B I sa+$ &oast)uard!ou#d +ou *ind if e #ooked throu)h +our te#es&o/e a)ain @ B B o +ou )o and #ook at a## +ou ant to ? B said the o#d fe##o, B I te## +ou$ +ou on>t ear it out b+ #ookin) ? I sa the si)na# fro* +our
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father>s toer #ast ni)ht$ iss (eor)e!ust ha//ened to be #ookin) that a+, He ent on f#ashin) for a #on) ti*e$ didn>t he @ B B es$B said (eor)e, B Thank +ou, I>## )o and have a #ook no,B She ent to the te#es&o/e and trained it on her is#and, ut no *atter here she #ooked she &ou#d not see Ti**+$ or her father, The+ *ust be don in his orkroo*$ herever it as, She #ooked at the )#ass roo* in the to/ of the toer, That as e*/t+ too$ of &ourse, She si)hed, It ou#d have been ni&e to see Ti**+, The others had a #ook throu)h as e##, ut nobod+ sa Ti**+, It as /#ain that he as kee/in) &#ose to his *aster!a /ro/er #itt#e )uard ? B :e##!sha## e )o in and see hat>s ha//ened to artin @ B said "u#ian$ hen the+ had finished ith the te#es&o/e, B It>s ust about to /our ith ra* a)ain!another '/ri# shoer ? :e &ou#d ait nexts over,B Bi)ht, et>s )o$B said %i&k, He #ooked at (eor)e, B %on>t be afraid I sha## be rude$ (eor)e, o that I kno r, ;urton is a ourna#ist$ I shan>t bother about hi*,B B '## the sa*e!I>* not > b#abbin) > an+ *ore$B said (eor)e$ ith a )rin, B I see +our /oint no !even if it doesn>t *atter$ I sti## shan>t > b#ab> an+ *ore,B B (ood for +ou ? B said %i&k$ /#eased, B S/oken #ike a bo+ ? B B 'ss ?B said (eor)e$ but she as /#eased a## the sa*e, The+ ent throu)h the front )atea+ of the next &otta)e, 's the+ fi#ed in$ the+ heard an an)r+ voi&e,
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B :e##$ +ou &an>t? '#a+s antin) to *ess about ith a brush and /aint, I thou)ht I>d kno&ked that idea out of +our head, ou #ie sti## and )et that ank#e better, S/rainin) it ust hen I ant +our he#/ ? B 'nne sto//ed$ fee#in) fri)htened, It as r, ;urton>s voi&e the+ &ou#d hear throu)h the o/en indo, He as )ivin) artin a )ood ta#kin) to about so*ethin)$ that as /#ain, The others sto//ed too$ onderin) hether to )o in or not, Then the+ heard a ban)$ and sa r, ;urton #eavin) the &otta)e fro* the ba&k entran&e, He a#ked ra/id#+ don the )arden there$ and *ade for the /ath$ that #ed to the ba&k of the &#iff, There as a road there that ent to the vi##a)e, B (ood, He>s )one, And he didn>t see us? B said %i&k, B :ho ou#d have thou)ht that su&h a )enia#$ s*i#in) fe##o &ou#d have su&h a rou)h bruta# voi&e hen he #oses his te*/er @ ;o*e on!#et>s /o/ in and see /oor artin hi#st there>s a &han&e,B The+ kno&ked on the door, B It>s us ? B &a##ed "u#ian$ &heerfu##+, B ;an e &o*e in @ B B h +es ?B shouted artin fro* indoors$ soundin) /#eased, "u#ian o/ened the door and the+ a## ent in, B I sa+ ? :e heard +ou>d had an a&&ident$B said "u#ian, B :hat>s u/ @ 're +ou hurt *u&h @ B B o, It>s ust that I tisted *+ ank#e$ and it as so /ainfu# to a#k on that I had to be ha#f<&arried u/ here$B said artin, B Si##+ thin) to do?B B h!it>## soon be ri)ht if it>s ust a tist$B said %i&k, B I>ve often done that, The thin) is to a#k on it as soon as +ou &an, :here ere +ou hen +ou fe## @ B
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artin ent sudden#+ red$ to ever+one>s sur/rise, B :e##!I as a#kin) on the ed)e of the Euarr+ ith *+ father!and I s#i//ed and ro##ed a )ood a+ don$B he said, There as a si#en&e, Then (eor)e s/oke, B I sa+$B she said$ B I ho/e +ou didn>t )o and )ive aa+ our #itt#e se&ret to +our father @ I *ean!it>s not so *u&h fun hen )ron< u/s share a se&ret, The+ ant to )o snoo/in) about the*se#ves!and it>s *u&h *ore fun to dis&over thin)s b+ ourse#ves, ou didn>t te## hi* about that ho#e under the she#f of ro&k$ did +ou @ B artin hesitated, B I>* afraid I did$B he said at #ast, B I didn>t think it ou#d *atter, I>* sorr+,B B #o ? B said %i&k, B That as our on #itt#e dis&over+, :e anted to )o and ex/#ore it this afternoon$ but e thou)ht it ou#d be so et e>d fa## don the stee/ s#o/e,B "u#ian #ooked at artin shar/#+, B I su//ose that>s hat ha//ened to you.- he said, Bou tried &#a*berin) don and s#i//ed ? B B es$B said artin, B I>* rea##+ sorr+ if +ou thou)ht it as +our se&ret, I ust *entioned it to *+ father out of interest!+ou kno!so*ethin) to sa+!and he anted to )o don and see for hi*se#f,B B I su//ose ourna#ists are a#a+s #ike that$B said %i&k, B :antin) to be on the s/ot if there>s an+thin) to be ferreted out, It>s their ob, '## ri)ht$ artin!for)et it, ut do tr+ and head +our father off the Euarr+, :e would #ike to do a bit of ex/#orin) first$ before he butts in, Thou)h there *a+ be nothin) to be found at a## ? B There as a /ause, obod+ kne Euite hat
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to sa+, artin as rather diffi&u#t to ta#k to, He didn>t ta#k #ike an ordinar+ bo+!he never *ade a oke$ or said an+thin) si##+, B 'ren>t +ou bored$ #+in) here @ B said 'nne$ fee#in) sorr+ for hi*, B es$ afu##+, I anted *+ father to )o in and ask the &oast)uard to brin) in so*e #itt#e fi)ures I said I>d /aint for hi*$B said artin, B ut he ou#dn>t #et *e, ou kno$ I si*/#+ #ove /aintin)!even doin) a #itt#e thin) #ike that ! /aintin) &#othes on to+ /orters and )uards! so #on) as I &an have a brush in *+ hand and &o#ours to &hoose fro* ? B This as the #on)est s/ee&h artin had ever *ade to the four &hi#dren ? His fa&e #ost its du##$ bored #ook as he s/oke$ and be&a*e bri)ht and &heerfu#, B h!+ou ant to be an artist$ I su//ose @ B said 'nne, B I ou#d #ike that$ too ? B B 'nne ? ou &an>t even dra a &at that #ooks #ike one ? B said %i&k$ s&ornfu##+, B 'nd hen +ou dre a &o I thou)ht it as an e#e/hant,B artin s*i#ed at 'nne>s indi)nant fa&e, B I>## sho +ou so*e of *+ /i&tures$B he said, B I have to kee/ the* hidden aa+$ be&ause *+ father &an>t bear *e to ant to be an artist? B B %on>t )et u/ if +ou don>t ant to$B said "u#ian, B I>## )et the* for +ou,B B It>s a## ri)ht, If it>s )ood for *e to tr+ and a#k$ I i##$B said artin$ and )ot off the &ou&h, He /ut his ri)ht foot )in)er#+ to the f#oor and then stood u/, B ot so bad after a## ? B he said, He #i*/ed a&ross the roo* to a book&ase, He /ut his hand behind the se&ond ro of books and brou)ht out a &ardboard &ase$ bi) and f#at,
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He took it to the tab#e, He o/ened it and s/read out so*e /i&tures, B (ra&ious ? B said 'nne, B The+>re )eautiful, %id +ou rea##+ do these @ B The+ ere Eueer /i&tures for a bo+ to dra$ for the+ ere of f#oers and trees$ birds and butterf#ies!a## dran and &o#oured *ost /erfe&t#+$ ever+ detai# /ut in #ovin)#+, "u#ian #ooked at the* in sur/rise, This bo+ as &ertain#+ )ifted, :h+$ these drain)s ere as )ood as an+ he had ever seen in exhibitions ? He /i&ked a fe u/ and took the* to the indo, B %o +ou *ean to sa+ +our father doesn>t think these are )ood!doesn>t think it>s orth hi#e to #et +ou train as an artist @ B he said$ in sur/rise, B He hates *+ /i&tures$B said artin$ bitter#+, B I ran aa+ fro* s&hoo#$ and ent to an arts a eak$ feeb#e thin) for a *an to do, So I on#+ do it in se&ret no,B The &hi#dren #ooked at artin ith s+*/ath+, It see*ed an afu# thin) to the* that a bo+ ho had no *other$ shou#d have a father ho hated the thin) his son *ost #oved, o onder he a#a+s #ooked du## and *iserab#e and su##en ? B It>s ver+ bad #u&k$B said "u#ian at #ast, B I ish e &ou#d do so*ethin) to he#/,B B :e##!)et *e those fi)ures and the /aintt be ba&k ti## six, I>## have ti*e to do the*, 'nd do sta+ and have tea ith *e, It>s so du## u/ here, I hate it,B B es$ I>## )et the thin)s for +ou$B said "u#ian, B I &an>t for the #ife of *e see h+ +ou shou#dn>t 127
have so*ethin) to a*use +ourse#f ith if +ou ant to, 'nd e>## rin) u/ *+ aunt and te## her e>re sta+in) here to tea!so #on) as e don>t eat ever+thin) +ou>ve )ot? B B h$ that>s a## ri)ht$B said artin$ #ookin) ver+ &heerfu# indeed, B There>s /#ent+ of food in the house, + father has an enor*ous a//etite, I sa+$ thanks *ost afu##+,B "u#ian ran) u/ his aunt, The )ir#s and %i&k ent to fet&h the fi)ures and the /aint fro* the &oast)uard, The+ brou)ht the* ba&k and arran)ed the* on a tab#e beside artin, His e+es bri)htened at on&e, He see*ed Euite different, B This is )rand$B he said, B o I &an )et on ? It>s a si##+ #itt#e ob$ this$ but it i## he#/ the o#d *an next door$ and I>* a#a+s ha//+ hen I>* *essin) about ith a brush and /aints ? B artin as ver+$ ver+ &#ever at /aintin) the #itt#e fi)ures, He as Eui&k and deft$ and 'nne sat at&hin) hi*$ Euite fas&inated, (eor)e ent to hunt in the #arder for the teat &o*in) ba&k ti## ei)ht, + the a+! here>s the do) @ I thou)ht he a#a+s ent ever+here ith +ou ? :here>s Ti**+ @ B
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Chapter Fourteen A SHOCK FOR GEORGE
%I;- #ooked at (eor)e, He didn>t think it ou#d *atter te##in) artin here Ti**+ as$ so #on) as (eor)e didn>t )ive the reason h+ he had been #eft on the is#and, ut (eor)e as )oin) to ho#d her ton)ue no, She #ooked at artin and s/oke Euite airi#+, Bh$ Ti**+@ :e #eft hi* behind tos a## ri)ht,B B (one out sho//in) ith +our *other$ I su//ose$ ho/in) for a visit to the but&her>s ? B said artin, This as the first oke he had ever *ade to the &hi#dren$ and thou)h it as rather a feeb#e one the+ #au)hed hearti#+, artin #ooked /#eased, He be)an to tr+ and think of another #itt#e oke$ hi#st his deft hands /ut reds and b#ues and )reens on the #itt#e ooden fi)ures, The+ a## had a hu)e tea, Then$ hen the &#o&k said a Euarter to six the )ir#s &arried the /ainted fi)ures &arefu##+ ba&k to the &oast)uard$ ho as de#i)hted ith the*, %i&k took ba&k the #itt#e tins of /aint$ and the brush$ stu&k in a ar of tur/entine, B:e## no$ he>s &#ever that bo+$ isn>t he@B said the &oast)uard$ e+ein) the fi)ures in de#i)ht, B ooks sort of *iserab#e and su#k+!but he>s not a bad sort of bo+ ? B B I>## ust have one *ore sEuint throu)h +our te#es&o/e$B said (eor)e$ B before it )ets too dark,B She ti#ted it toards her is#and, ut on&e *ore
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there as no si)n of Ti**+$ or of her father either, She #ooked for so*e ti*e$ and then ent to oin the others, She shook her head as the+ raised their e+ebros inEuirin)#+, The )ir#s had ashed u/ the teat fee# as if the+ #iked hi* ver+ *u&h$ no the+ kne ho hard he as on artin, B Thanks for a #ove#+ afternoon$B said artin$ #i*/in) to the door ith the*, B I eno+ed *+ s/ot of /aintin)$ to sa+ nothin) of +our &o*/an+,B B ou sti&k out for +our /aintin)$B said "u#ian, B If it>s the thin) +ou>ve got to do$ and +ou kno it$ +ou *ust )o a## out for it, See @ B B es$B said artin$ and his fa&e ent su##en a)ain, B ut there are thin)s that *ake it diffi&u#t!thin)s I &an>t ver+ e## te## +ou, h e##! never *ind ? I dare sa+ it i## a## &o*e ri)ht one da+$ and I>## be a fa*ous artist ith /i&tures in the a&ade*+ ? B B ;o*e on$ Eui&k#+$B said %i&k$ in a #o voi&e to "u#ian, B There>s his father &o*in) ba&k ? B The+ hurried off don the &#ifft he @ B B er+ a##s ne ord, B ut there are a #ot of /eo/#e #ike that!one thin) at ho*e and Euite another outside ? B B I ho/e r, ;urton hasn>t been tr+in) to
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ex/#ore that /assa)e in the side of the Euarr+$B said (eor)e$ #ookin) ba&k$ and at&hin) the *an a#k u/ to his ba&k door, B It ou#d be too bad if he butted in and s/oi#t our fun, I *ean!there *a+ be nothin) to dis&over at a##! but it i## be fun even findin) there nothin),B B er+ invo#ved ?B said %i&k$ ith a )rin, B ut I )ather hat +ou *ean, I sa+$ that as a )ood tea$ asn>t it@B B es$B said (eor)e$ #ookin) a## round her in an absent<*inded *anner, B:hat>s u/@B said %i&k, B:hat are +ou #ookin) #ike that for @ B B h!ho si##+ of *e!I as ust #ookin) for Ti**+$B said (eor)e, B ou kno$ I>* so used to hi* a#a+s bein) at *+ hee#s or so*ehere near that I ust &an>t )et used to hi* not bein) here,B B es$ I fee# a bit #ike that too$B said "u#ian, B 's if there as so*ethin) *issin) a## the ti*e, (ood o#d Ti* ? :e sha## *iss hi* afu##+$ a## of us!but +ou *ost of a##$ (eor)e,B B es, s/e&ia##+ on *+ bed at ni)ht$B said (eor)e, B I shan>t be ab#e to )o to s#ee/ for a)es and a)es,B B I>## ra/ a &ushion u/ in a ru) and /#onk it don on +our feet hen +ou>re in bed$B said %i&k, B Then it i## fee# #ike Ti**+ ? B B It on>t? %on>t be si##+B said (eor)e$ rather &ross#+, B 'nd an+a+ it ou#dn>t smell #ike hi*, He>s )ot a #ove#+ s*e##,B B es$ a Ti**+
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bed #ater$ at&hin) for his un&#e>s si)na#, eed#ess to sa+$ (eor)e as at the indo too ? The+ aited for ha#f< /ast ten, B o ? B said "u#ian, 'nd ust as he s/oke there &a*e the first f#ash fro* the #antern in the toer, B ne$B &ounted (eor)e$ B to!three!four! five! six ? B She aited anxious#+ to see if there ere an+ *ore$ but there eren>t, B o +ou &an )o to bed in /ea&e$B said "u#ian to (eor)e, B our father is a## ri)ht$ and that *eans that Ti**+ is a## ri)ht too, Krobab#+ he has re*e*bered to )ive Ti**+ a )ood su//er$ and has had so*e hi*se#f as e## ? B B :e##$ Ti**+ ou#d soon re*ind hi*$ if he for)ot to feed hi*$ that>s one thin)$B said (eor)e$ s#i//in) out of the roo*, B (ood ni)ht$ %i&k = )ood ni)ht$ "u ? See +ou in the *ornin),B 'nd ba&k she ent to her on bed and snu))#ed don under the sheets, It as Eueer not to have Ti**+ on her feet, She tossed about for a hi#e$ *issin) hi*$ and then fe## as#ee/ Euite sudden#+, She drea*ed of her is#and, She as there ith Ti**+!and the+ ere dis&overin) in)ots of )o#d don in the dun)eon, :hat a #ove#+ drea* ? ext *ornin) daned bri)ht and sunn+ a)ain, The '/ri# sk+ as as b#ue as the for)et<*e## soon see hi*$ (eor)e, 'nother hour or so and +ou>## feast +our e+es on hi* throu)h the &oast)uard>s te#es&o/e ? B B %o +ou rea##+ think +ou>## be ab#e to *ake
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out Ti*$ if he>s in the toer ith +our father at ha#f< /ast ten @ B asked her *other, B I shou#dn>t have thou)ht +ou ou#d be ab#e to,B B es$ I sha##$ other$B said (eor)e, B It>s a ver+ /oerfu# te#es&o/e$ +ou kno, I>## ust )o u/ and *ake *+ bed$ then I>## )o u/ the &#iff* #ookin) out so*e o#d &#othes to )ive to the vi&ar>s ife for her u*b#e sa#e, ou don>t *ind he#/in) *e$ 'nne$ do +ou @ B B o$ I>d #ike to$B said 'nne at on&e, B :hat are the bo+s )oin) to do @ B B I think I *ust do a bit of *+ ho#ida+ ork this *ornin)$B said "u#ian$ ith a si)h, B I don>t ant to!but I>ve ke/t on /uttin) it off, ou>d better do so*e too$ %i&k, ou kno hat +ou are!+ou>## #eave it a## to the #ast da+ if +ou>re not &arefu# ? B B'## ri)ht, I>## do so*e too$B said %i&k, Bou on>t *ind s&ootin) u/ to the &oast)uard>s &otta)e a#one$ i## +ou$ (eor)e @ B B ot a bit$B said (eor)e, B I>## &o*e ba&k ust after ha#fve s/otted Ti**+ and ather,B She disa//eared to *ake her bed, "u#ian and %i&k ent to fet&h so*e books, 'nne ent to *ake her bed too$ and then &a*e don to he#/ her aunt, In a fe *inutes (eor)e +e##ed )oodb+e and rushed out of the house, B :hat a hurri&ane ? B said her *other, B It see*s as if (eor)e never a#ks if she &an /ossib#+ run, o 'nne! /ut the &#othes in three /i#es! the ver+ o#d!the not so o#d !and the Euite ni&e,B
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"ust before ha#fs ha//ened!Ti**+ asn>t there ? B B (osh!hat do +ou *ean @ B said "u#ian in sur/rise, (eor)e s#u*/ed don on a &hair$ sti## /antin), The bo+s &ou#d see that she as tre*b#in) too, B It>s serious$ "u#ian ? I te## +ou Ti**+ asn>t in the toer hen the si)na#s &a*e ? B B:e##!it on#+ *eans that +our absent<*inded father for)ot to take hi* u/ ith hi*$B said "u#ian$ in his *ost sensib#e voi&e, B :hat did +ou see @ B B I had *+ e+e )#ued to the te#es&o/e$B said (eor)e$ B and sudden#+ I sa so*eone &o*e into the Stt#e )#ass roo* at the to/, I #ooked for Ti**+$ of &ourse$ at on&e! but I te## +ou$ he asn>t there ? The six f#ashes &a*e$ the *an disa//eared!and that as a##, o Ti**+ ? h I do fee# so dreadfu##+ orried$ "u#ian,B
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B:e##$ don>t be$B said "u#ian$ soothin)#+, B Honest#+$ I>* sure that>s hat ha//ened, our father for)ot about Ti**+, 'n+a+$ if +ou sa him! obvious#+ thin)s are a## ri)ht,B B I>* not thinkin) about ather ? B &ried (eor)e, B He *ust be a## ri)ht if he f#ashed his si)na#s!I>* thinkin) about Ti**+, :h+$ even if ather for)ot to take hi*$ he>d )o ith hi*, ou kno that? B B our father *i)ht have shut the door at the botto* and /revented Ti**+ fro* )oin) u/$B said %i&k, B He *i)ht$B said (eor)e$ fronin), She hadn>t thou)ht of that, B h dear!no I sha## orr+ a## da+ #on), 1hy didn>t I sta+ ith Ti**+@ :hat sha## I do no @ B B :ait ti## to<*orro *ornin)$B said %i&k, B Then /robab#+ +ou>## see o#d Ti* a## ri)ht,B B To<*orro *ornin)? :h+$ that>s ages aa+ ? B said /oor (eor)e, She /ut her head in her hands and )roaned, B h$ nobod+ understands ho *u&h I #ove Ti**+, ou ou#d /erha/s if +ou had a do) of +our on$ "u#ian, It>s an afu# fee#in)$ rea##+, h Ti**+$ are +ou a## ri)ht @ B B f &ourse he>s a## ri)ht$B said "u#ian$ i*/atient#+, B %o /u## +ourse#f to)ether$ (eor)e,B B I feel as if so*ethin)>s ron)$B said (eor)e$ #ookin) obstinate, B"u#ian!I think I>d better )o a&ross to the is#and,B B o$B said "u#ian at on&e, B %on>t be idioti&$ (eor)e, othin) is ron)$ ex&e/t that +our father>s been for)etfu#, He>s sent his ,-, si)na#, That>s enou)h ? ou>re not to )o and &reate a s&ene over there ith hi*, That ou#d be dis< )ra&efu# ?B
136
B :e##!I>## tr+ and be /atient$B said (eor)e$ unex/e&ted#+ *eek, She )ot u/$ #ookin) orried, "u#ian s/oke in a kinder voi&e, B ;heer u/$ o#d thin) ? ou do #ike to )o off the dee/ end$ don>t +ou @ B
137
138
Chapter Fifteen IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
(eor)e did not *oan an+ *ore about her orries, She ent about ith an anxious #ook in her b#ue e+es$ but she had the sense not to te## her *other ho orried she as at not seein) Ti**+ in the )#ass roo*$ hen her father si)na##ed, She *entioned it$ of &ourse$ but her *other took the sa*e vie as "u#ian did, B There ? I kne he>d for)et to take Ti**+ u/ ? He>s so ver+ for)etfu# hen he>s at ork,B The &hi#dren de&ided to )o to the Euarr+ that afternoon and ex/#ore the tunne# under the she#f of ro&k, So the+ set off after their #un&h, ut hen the+ &a*e to the Euarr+$ the+ did not dare to &#i*b don the stee/ sides, The heav+ rain of the da+ before had *ade the* far too dan)erous, B ook$B said "u#ian$ /ointin) to here the bushes and s*a##er /#ants ere ri//ed u/ and &rushed, B I bet that>s here o#d artin fe## don +esterda+ ? (osh$ he *i)ht have broken his ne&k ? B B es, I vote e don>t atte*/t to )o don ti## it>s as dr+ as it as the other da+$B said %i&k, It as disa//ointin), The+ had brou)ht tor&hes$ and a ro/e$ and had #ooked forard to a #itt#e ex&ite*ent, B :e##$ hat sha## e do @ B asked "u#ian, B I>* )oin) ba&k ho*e$B said (eor)e$ unex/e&ted#+, B I>* tired, ou others )o for a a#k,B
139
'nne #ooked at (eor)e, She did see* rather /a#e, B I>## &o*e ba&k ith +ou$ (eor)e$B said 'nne$ s#i//in) her hand throu)h her &ousin>s ar*, ut (eor)e shook it off, B o thanks$ 'nne, I ant to be a#one,B B:e##!e>## )o over the &#iff then$B said "u#ian, B It>## be ni&e and b#o+ u/ there, See +ou #ater$ (eor)e ? B The+ ent off, (eor)e turned and s/ed ba&k to -irrin ;otta)e, Her *other as out, "oanna as u/stairs in her bedroo*, (eor)e ent to the #arder and took severa# thin)s fro* it, She bund#ed the* into a ba) and then f#ed out of the house, She found "a*es the fisherre not to te## a sou#, I>* )oin) over to -irrin Is#and to* orried about Ti**+, :e #eft hi* there, Have *+ boat read+ at ten o>&#o&k,B "a*es as a#a+s read+ to do an+thin) in the or#d for (eor)e, He nodded and asked no Euestions at a##, Bi)ht$ iss, It>## be read+, 'n+thin) +ou ant /ut in it @ B B es$ this ba)$B said (eor)e, B o don>t s/#it on *e$ "a*es, I>## be ba&k to<*orro if I find Ti*>s a## ri)ht,B She f#ed ba&k to the house, She ho/ed "oanna ou#d not noti&e the thin)s she had taken fro* the #arder she#f, B I &an>t he#/ if it hat I>* doin) is ron)$B she ke/t his/erin) to herse#f, B I kno so*ethin) isn>t ri)ht ith Ti**+, 'nd I>* not at a## sure about ather$ either, He wouldn't have >for)otten his so#e*n /ro*ise to *e about takin) Ti**+ u/ ith hi*, I>## have to )o a&ross to the is#and, I &an>t he#/ it if it>s ron) ? B
140
The others ondered hat as u/ ith (eor)e hen the+ &a*e ba&k> fro* their a#k, She as so fid)et+ and rest#ess, The+ had tea and then did so*e )ardenin) for 'unt ann+, (eor)e did so*e too$ but her thou)hts ere far aa+$ and ti&e her *other had to sto/ her /u##in) u/ seed#in)s instead of eeds, edti*e &a*e, The )ir#s )ot into bed at about a Euarter to ten, 'nne as tired and fe## as#ee/ at on&e, 's soon as (eor)e heard her re)u#ar breathin) she &re/t Euiet#+ out of bed and dressed a)ain, She /u##ed on her ar*est erse+$ )ot her rain&oat$ rubber boots and a thi&k ru)$ and ti/toed donstairs, ut of the side door she ent and into the ni)ht, There as a bit of a *oon in the sk+$ so it as not as dark as usua#, (eor)e as )#ad, She ou#d be ab#e to see her a+ throu)h the ro&ks a #itt#e no!thou)h she as sure she &ou#d )uide the boat even in the dark ? "a*es as aitin) for her, Her boat as read+, B ver+thin)>s in$B said "a*es, B I>## /ush off, o +ou be &arefu#$ iss!and if +ou do s&ra/e a ro&k$ ro #ike an+thin) in &ase she fi##s and sinks, ead+ @ B ff ent (eor)e$ hearin) the #a/<#a/ of the ater a)ainst the sides of the boat, She heaved a si)h of re#ief$ and be)an to ro stron)#+ aa+ fro* the shore, She froned as she roed, Had she brou)ht ever+thin) she *i)ht ant @ To tor&hes, K#ent+ of food, ' tins si)na#s, Ha#f
141
to!three!four!five!six ? (ood, Six and no *ore ? He ondered h+ (eor)e hadn>t &o*e into his and %i&k>s roo* to at&h for the*, She had #ast ni)ht, He )ot u/$ /added to the door of (eor)e>s roo* and /ut his head in, B (eor)e ? B he said soft#+, B It>s ,-, our father>s si)na#s have ust &o*e a)ain,B There as no re/#+, "u#ian heard re)u#ar breathin) and turned to )o ba&k to bed, The )ir#s *ust be as#ee/ a#read+ ? :e##$ (eor)e &ou#dn>t rea##+ be orr+in) *u&h about Ti**+ no$ then ? "u#ian )ot into his bed and soon fe## as#ee/ hi*se#f, He had no idea that (eor)e>s bed as e*/t+!no idea that even no (eor)e as batt#in) ith the aves that )uarded -irrin Is#and ? It as *ore diffi&u#t than she had ex/e&ted$ for the *oon did not rea##+ )ive ver+ *u&h #i)ht$ and had an anno+in) a+ of )oin) behind a &#oud ust hen she bad#+ needed ever+ s&ra/ of #i)ht she &ou#d )et, ut$ deft#+ and &#ever#+$ she *ana)ed to *ake her a+ throu)h the /assa)e beteen the hidden ro&ks, Thank )oodness the tide as hi)h so that *ost of the* ere e## be#o the surfa&e ? 't #ast she sun) her boat into the #itt#e &ove, Here the ater as /erfe&t#+ &a#*, Kantin) a #itt#e$ (eor)e /u##ed her boat u/ as far as she &ou#d, Then she stood in the darkness and thou)ht hard, :hat as she )oin) to do@ She did not kno here her father>s hidin)
142
es$ she ou#d, It ou#d be the on#+ /#a&e to she#ter in for the ni)ht$ an+a+, She ou#d /ut on her tor&h hen she )ot there$ and hunt round for an+ #ike#+ entran&e to the hidin)
143
stones either, It as *ost tanta#iAin), If she on#+ kne? She ent to ra/ the ru) round her$ and to sit and think, It as &o#d no, She as shiverin)$ as she sat there in the dark$ tr+in) to /uAA#e out here the hidden entran&e &ou#d be, 'nd then she heard a sound ? She u*/ed and then stiffened a## over$ ho#din) her breath /ainfu##+, :hat as it@ There as a &urious )ratin) noise, Then a s#i)ht thud, It &a*e fro* the re&ess here /eo/#e #on) a)o had bui#t their bi) #o) fires ? (eor)e sat /erfe&t#+ sti##$ strainin) her e+es and ears, She sa a bea* of #i)ht in the fire/#a&e re&ess, Then she heard a *an>s &ou)h ? :as it her father@ He had a &ou)h at ti*es, She #istened hard, The bea* of #i)ht )re bri)hter, Then she heard another noise!it sounded as if so*eone had u*/ed don fro* so*ehere ? 'nd then!a voi&e ? B ;o*e on ? B It as not her father>s voi&e ? (eor)e )re &o#d ith fear then, ot her father>s voi&e ? Then hat had ha//ened to hi*!and to Ti**+ @ So*eone e#se u*/ed don into the re&ess$ )ru*b#in), BI>* not used to this &ra#in) about? B That asn>t her father>s voi&e either, So there ere two unknon ene*ies ? ot one, 'nd the+ kne her father>s se&ret orkroo*, (eor)e fe#t a#*ost faint ith horror, :hatever had ha//ened to hi* and Ti**+ @ The *en a#ked out of the #itt#e stone roo* ithout seein) (eor)e at a##, She )uessed the+ ere )oin) to the toer, Ho #on) ou#d the+ be@ 144
on) enou)h for her to sear&h for the /#a&e the+ had a//eared fro* @ She strained her ears a)ain, She heard their footste/s )oin) into the )reat +ard, She ti/toed to the doora+ and #ooked out, es!there as the #i)ht of their tor&h near the toer ? If the+ ere )oin) u/$ there ou#d be /#ent+ of ti*e to #ook round, She ent ba&k into the #itt#e stone roo*, Her hands ere tre*b#in) and she found it diffi&u#t to sit&h on her tor&h, She ent to the fire/#a&e re&ess and f#ashed the #i)ht in it,
145
She )ave a )as/ ? Ha#fa+ u/ the re&ess at the ba&k as a b#a&k o/enin) ? She f#ashed the #i)ht u/ there, vident#+ there as a *ovab#e stone ha#fa+ u/ that sun) ba&k and revea#ed an entran&e behind, 'n entran&e to hat @ :ere there ste/s$ su&h as ere shon in the o#d *a/ @ ee#in) Euite breath#ess$ (eor)e stood on ti/toe and f#ashed her #i)ht into the ho#e, es! there ere ste/s ? The+ ent don into the a## at the ba&k, She re*e*bered that the #itt#e stone roo* ba&ked on to one of the i**ense#+ thi&k o#d a##s sti## #eft, She stood there$ un&ertain hat to do, Had she better )o don and see if she &ou#d find Ti**+ and her father @ ut if she did$ she *i)ht be *ade a /risoner too, n the other hand$ if she sta+ed outside$ and the *en &a*e ba&k and shut u/ the entran&e$ she *i)ht not be ab#e to o/en it, She ou#d be orse off then ever ? B I>## )o don ? B she sudden#+ de&ided, B ut I>d better take *+ ba) and the ru)$ in &ase the *en &o*e ba&k and see the*, I don>t ant the* to kno I>* on the is#and if I &an he#/ it ? I &ou#d hide the* so*ehere don there$ I ex/e&t, I onder if this entran&e #eads to the dun)eons,B She #ifted u/ the ru) and the ba) and /ushed the* into the ho#e, She heard the ba) ro## don the ste/s$ the tins inside *akin) a *uff#ed noise, Then she &#i*bed u/ herse#f, (ra&ious$ hat a #on) dark f#i)ht of ste/s ? :herever did the+ #ead to @
146
Chapter Sixteen DOWN TO THE CAVES
(( ent &autious#+ don the stone ste/s, The+ ere stee/ and narro, B I shou#d think the+ run ri)ht don in the *idd#e of the stone a##$B thou)ht (eor)e, B (oodness$ here>s a narro bit ? B It as so narro that she had to )o sidea+s, B ' fat *an ou#d never )et throu)h there ? B she thou)ht to herse#f, B Ha##o!the ste/s have ended ? B She had )ot her ru) round her shou#ders$ and had /i&ked u/ her ba) on the a+ don, In her other hand she he#d her tor&h, It as terrib#+ dark and Euiet don there, (eor)e did not fee# s&ared be&ause she as ho/in) to see Ti**+ at an+ *o*ent, o one &ou#d fee# afraid ith Ti**+ ust round the &orner$ read+ to e#&o*e the* ? She stood at the botto* of the ste/s$ her tor&h shoin) her a narro tunne#, It &urved shar/#+ to the #eft, B o i## it oin the dun)eons fro* here @ B she ondered$ tr+in) to )et her sense of dire&tion to he#/ her, B The+ &an>t be far off, ut there>s no si)n of the* at the *o*ent,B She ent on don the narro tunne#, n&e the roof &a*e don so #o she a#*ost had to &ra#, She f#ashed her tor&h on it, She sa b#a&k ro&k there$ hi&h had evident#+ been too hard to be re*oved b+ the tunne#
147
The tunne# ent on and on and on, (eor)e as /uAA#ed, Sure#+ b+ no she *ust have )one b+ a## the dun)eons ? :h+!she *ust be headin) toards the shore of the is#and ? Ho ver+ Eueer ? %idn>t this tunne# oin the dun)eons then@ ' #itt#e further and she ou#d be under the bed of the sea itse#f? The tunne# took a dee/ s#o/e donards, ore ste/s a//eared$ &ut rou)h#+ fro* ro&k, (eor)e &#i*bed don the* &autious#+, :here in the or#d as she )oin)@ 't the botto* of the ste/s the tunne# see*ed to be &ut out of so#id ro&k!or e#se it as a natura# /assa)e$ not *ade b+ *an at a##, (eor)e didn>t kno, Her tor&h shoed her b#a&k$ ro&k+ a##s and roof$ and her feet stu*b#ed over an irre)u#ar ro&k+ /ath, Ho she #on)ed for Ti**+ beside her? B I *ust be ver+ dee/ don$B she thou)ht$ /ausin) to f#ash her tor&h round her on&e *ore, B er+ dee/ don and ver+ far fro* the &ast#e ? (ood )ra&ious!hatever>s that afu# noise @ B She #istened, She heard a *uff#ed boo*in) and *oanin), :as it her father doin) one of his ex/eri*ents @ The noise ent on and on$ a dee/$ nevers the sea ? B said (eor)e$ a*aAed, She stood and #istened a)ain, B es! it is the sea!over *+ head ? I>* under the ro&k+ bed of the -irrin a+ ? B 'nd no /oor (eor)e did fee# a bit s&ared ? She thou)ht of the )reat aves sur)in) above her$ she thou)ht of the rest#ess$ *ovin) ater s&ourin) the ro&k+ bed over her head$ and fe#t fri)htened in &ase the sea shou#d find a a+ to #eak don into her narro tunne#?
148
B o$ don>t be si##+$B she to#d herse#f stern#+, B This tunne# has been here under the seas a## round the toer$ be&ause it>s bui#t on a is#and ? B :ater above$ and ater around!so that as h+ her father had &hosen -irrin Is#and for his ex/eri*ent, Ho had he found the se&ret /assa)e under the sea$ thou)h @ B :h+$ even I didn>t kno of that$B said (eor)e, B Ha##o! hat a* I &o*in) to @ B She sto//ed, The /assa)e had sudden#+ idened out into an enor*ous dark &ave$ hose roof as unex/e&ted#+ hi)h$ #ost in dark shados, (eor)e stared round, She sa Eueer thin)s there that she didn>t understand at a##!ires$ )#ass boxes$ #itt#e *a&hines that see*ed to be at ork ithout a sound$ hose &entres ere a#ive ith Eueer$ )#ea*in)$ shiverin) #i)ht, Sudden s/arks shot u/ no and a)ain$ and hen that ha//ened a funn+ s*e## &re/t round the &ave, B Ho eird a## this is ? B thou)ht (eor)e, B Hoever &an ather understand a##
149
these *a&hines and thin)s ? I onder here he is, I do ho/e those *en haven>t *ade hi* /risoner so*ehere ? B ro* this Eueer$ '#addin>s &ave another tunne# #ed, (eor)e sit&hed on her tor&h a)ain and ent into it, It as *u&h #ike the other one$ but the roof as hi)her, She &a*e to another &ave$ s*a##er this ti*e$ and &ra**ed ith ires of a## kinds, There as a &urious hu**in) sound here$ #ike thousands of bees in a hive, (eor)e ha#f
150
at (eor)e as if he rea##+ &ou#d not be#ieve his e+es, Then he turned ba&k a)ain$ and buried his fa&e in his hands, B Father , - said (eor)e a)ain$ Euite fri)htened be&ause he did not sa+ an+thin) to her, He #ooked round a)ain$ and this ti*e he )ot u/, He stared at (eor)e on&e *ore$ and then sat don heavi#+, (eor)e ran to hi*, B :hat>s the *atter @ h ather$ hat>s the *atter @ :here>s Ti**+ @ B B (eor)e ? Is it really +ou$ (eor)e @ I thou)ht I *ust be drea*in) hen I #ooked u/ and sa +ou ? B said her father, B Ho did +ou )et here @ (ood )ra&ious$ it>s i*/ossib#e that +ou shou#d be here ? B B ather$ are +ou a## ri)ht @ :hat>s ha//ened !and here>s Ti**+ @ B said (eor)e$ ur)ent#+, She #ooked a## round$ but &ou#d see no si)n of hi*, Her heart ent &o#d, Sure#+ nothin) afu# had ha//ened to Ti**+ @ B %id +ou see to *en @ B asked her father, B :here ere the+ @ B B h ather!e kee/ askin) ea&h other Euestions and no, anserin) the* ? B said (eor)e, B Te## *e first!here is Ti**+ @ B B I don>t kno$B said her father, B %id those to *en )o to the toer @ B Bes$B said (eor)e, Bather$ hat>s ha//ened @ B B :e##$ if the+>ve )one to the toer$ e>ve )ot about an hour in /ea&e$B said her father, B o #isten to *e$ (eor)e$ ver+ &arefu##+, This is terrib#+ i*/ortant,B B I>* #istenin)$B said (eor)e, B ut do hurr+ u/ and te## *e about Ti**+,B
151
B These to *en ere /ara&huted don on to the is#and$ to tr+ and find out *+ se&ret$B said her father, B I>## te## +ou hat *+ ex/eri*ents are for$ (eor)e!the+ are to find a a+ of re/#a&in) a## &oa#$ &oke and oi#!an idea to )ive the or#d a## the heat and /oer it ants$ and to do aa+ ith *ines and *iners,B B (ood )ra&ious ? B said (eor)e, B It ou#d be one of the *ost onderfu# thin)s the or#d has ever knon,B B es$B said her father, B 'nd I shou#d give it to the ho#e or#d!it sha## not be in the /oer of an+ one &ountr+$ or &o##e&tion of *en, It sha## be a )ift to the ho#e of *ankind!but$ (eor)e$ there are *en ho ant *+ se&ret for the*se#ves$ so that the+ *a+ *ake &o#ossa# fortunes out of it,B B Ho hatefu# ? B &ried (eor)e, B (o on$ ather!ho did the+ hear of it @ B B :e##$ I as at ork on this idea ith so*e of *+ &o##ea)ues$ *+ fe##o<orkers$B said her father, B 'nd one of the* betra+ed us$ and ent to so*e /oerfu# business *en to te## the* of *+ idea, So hen I kne this I de&ided to &o*e aa+ in se&ret and finish *+ ex/eri*ents b+ *+se#f, Then nobod+ &ou#d betra+ *e,B B 'nd +ou &a*e here ? B said (eor)e, B To *+ is#and,B B es!be&ause I needed ater over *e and ater around *e$B said her father, B Duite b+ &han&e I #ooked at a &o/+ of that o#d *a/$ and thou)ht that if the /assa)e shon there!the one #eadin) fro* the #itt#e stone roo*$ I *ean! if the /assa)e there really did #ead under the sea$ as it see*ed to sho$ that ou#d be the idea# /#a&e to finish *+ ex/eri*ents,B
152
O h ather!and I *ade su&h a fuss ? B said (eor)e$ asha*ed to re*e*ber< ho &ross she had been, B %id +ou @ B said her father$ as if he had for)otten a## about that, B :e##$ I )ot a## *+ stuff and &a*e here, 'nd no these fe##os have found *e$ and )ot ho#d of *e ? B B Koor ather ? ;an>t I he#/ @ B said (eor)e, B I &ou#d )o ba&k and brin) he#/ over here$ &ou#dn>t I@B I@ B B es$ +ou &ou#d ? B said her father, B ut +ou *ustn>t #et those *en see +ou$ (eor)e,B BI>## do an+thin) +ou ant *e to$ ather$ an+thin) ? B said (eor)e, B ut first do te## *e hat>s ha//ened to Ti**+ @ B B :e##$ he ke/t b+ *e a## the ti*e$B said her father, B ea##+ a##+$$ he> he>s a onde onderrfu# fu# do) do)$ (eor) eor)e, e, 'nd then then$$ this this *ornin)$ ust as I as &o*in) out of the entran&e in that #itt#e roo* to )o u/ into the toer ith Ti**+ to si)na#$ the to *en /oun&ed on *e and for&ed *e ba&k here,B B ut ut hat hat ha// ha//en ened ed to Ti* Ti**+@ B aske asked d (eor (eor)e )e$$ i*/a i*/ati tien ent# t#+, +, :ou#d ou#d her her fath father er never te# te## her her hat hat she she anted to kno @ B He f#e at the *en$ of &ourse$B said her father, B ut so*eho or other one of the* #assooed hi* ith a noose of ro/e$ and &au)ht hi*, The+ /u##ed the ro/e so ti)ht round his ne&k that he a#*ost &hoked,B B h$ /oor$ /oor Ti**+$B said (eor)e$ and the tears ran don her &heek, B Is he!#o +ou think!he>s a## ri)ht$ ather @ B B es, ro* hat I heard the *en sa+in) afterards I think the+>ve taken hi* to so*e &ave and shut hi* in there$B said her father,
153
B 'n+ n+a+$ a+$ I sa sa one one of the* the* )ett )ettin in) ) so* so*e do)< do)< bis&uits out of a ba) this evenin)!so that #ooks as if he>s a#ive and ki&kin)!and hun)r+ ? B (eor) eor)ee heav heaveed a )re )reat si)h si)h of re#i re#ief ef,, So #on) #on) as Ti**+ as a#ive and a## ri)ht ? She took a fe ste/s toards hat she thou)ht *ust be another &ave, BI>* )oin) to find Ti**+$ ather$B she said, B I must find hi* ? B
154
155
Chapter Seventeen TIMMY AT LAST
Oo$ (eor)e ? B &a##ed her father shar/#+, B ;o*e ba&k, There is so*ethin) ver+ i*/ortant I ant to sa+, ;o*e here ? B (eor)e ent over to hi*$ fi##ed ith i*/atien&e to )et to Ti**+$ herever he as, She must find hi* ? B o #isten$B said her father, B I have a book in hi&h I have *ade a## *+ notes of this )reat ex/eri*ent, The *en haven>t found it ? I ant +ou to take it safe#+ to the *ain#and$ (eor)e, %on>t #et it out of +our si)ht ? If the *en )ot ho#d of it the+ ou#d have a## the infor*ation the+ needed ? B B ut don>t the+ kno ever+thin) ust b+ #ookin) at +our ires and *a&hines and thin)s @ B asked (eor)e, B The+ kno a ver+ )reat dea#$B said her father$ B and the+>ve found out a #ot *ore sin&e the+>ve been here!but not not Euit Euitee enou enou)h )h,, I dare daren> n>tt dest destro ro+ + *+ book book of note notes$ s$ be&ause if an+thin) shou#d ha//en to *e$ *+ )reat idea ou#d be &o*/#ete#+ #ost, So$ (eor)e$ I *ust entrust it to +ou and +ou *ust take it to an address I i## )ive +ou$ and hand it to the /erson there,B B It>s an afu# res/onsibi#it+$B said (eor)e$ a #itt#e s&ared of hand#in) a book hi&h *eant so *u&h$ not on#+ to her father$ but /ossib#+ to the ho#e of the or#d, B ut I>## do *+ best$ ather, I>## hide in one of the &aves ti## the *en &o*e
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ba&k$ and then I>## s#i/ ba&k u/ the /assa)e to the hidden entran&e$ )et out$ )o to *+ boat and ro ba&k to the *ain#and, Then I>## de#iver +our book of notes ithout fai#$ and )et he#/ sent over here to +ou,B B (ood )ir#$B said her father$ and )ave her a hu), B Honest#+$ (eor)e$ +ou do behave as brave#+ as an+ bo+, I>* /roud of +ou,B (eor)e thou)ht that as the ni&est thin) her father had ever said to her, She s*i#ed at hi*, B :e##$ ather$ I>## )o and see if I &an find Ti**+ no, I si*/#+ *ust see that he>s a## ri)ht before I )o to hide in one of the other &aves,B B er+ e##$B said her father, B The *an ho took the bis&uits ent in that dire&tion!sti## further under the sea$ (eor)e, h!b+ the a+! ho is it +ou>re here$ in the *idd#e of the ni)ht @ B It see*ed to strike her father for the first ti*e that (eor)e a#so *i)ht have a stor+ to te##, ut (eor)e fe#t that she rea##+ &ou#dn>t aste an+ *ore ti*e!she must find Ti**+ ? B I>## te## +ou #ater$ ather$B she said, B h! here>s that book of notes @ B Her father rose and ent to the ba&k of the &ave, He took a box and stood on it, He ran his hand a#on) a dark rid)e of ro&k$ and fe#t about unti# he had found hat he anted, He brou)ht don a s#i* book$ hose /a)es ere of ver+ thin /a/er, He o/ened the book and (eor)e sa *an+ beautifu##+ dran dia)ra*s$ and /a)es of notes in her father>s s*a## neat handritin), B Here +ou are$B said her father$ handin) her the book, B %o the best +ou &an, If an+thin) ha//ens to *e$ this book i## sti## enab#e *+ 157
fe##o<orkers to )ive *+ idea to the or#d, If I &o*e throu)h this a## ri)ht$ I sha## be )#ad to have the book$ be&ause it i## *ean I sha## not have to ork out a## *+ ex/eri*ents a)ain,B (eor)e took the /re&ious book, She stuffed it into her *a&kintosh /o&ket$ hi&h as a bi) one, B I>## kee/ it safe$ ather, o I *ust )o and find Ti**+$ or those to *en i## be ba&k before I &an hide in one of the other &aves,B She #eft her father>s &ave and ent into the next one, There as nothin) there at a##, Then on she ent don a /assa)e that tisted and turned in the ro&k, 'nd then she heard a sound she #on)ed to hear, ' hine ? es$ rea##+ a hine ? B Ti**+ ? B shouted (eor)e$ ea)er#+, B h Ti**+ ? I>* &o*in) ? B Ti**+>s hine sto//ed sudden#+, Then he barked o+ous#+, B:oof$ oof$ oof$ oof?B (eor)e a#*ost fe## as she tried to run don the narro tunne#, Her tor&h shoed her a bi) bou#der that see*ed to be b#o&kin) u/ a s*a## &ave in the side of the tunne#, ehind the bou#der Ti**+ barked$ and s&ra/ed franti&a##+ ? (eor)e tu))ed at the stone ith a## her stren)th, B Ti**+ ? B she /anted, B Ti**+ ? I>## )et +ou out ? I>* &o*in) ? h Ti**+ ? B The stone *oved a #itt#e, (eor)e tu))ed a)ain, It as a#*ost too heav+ for her to *ove at a##$ but des/air *ade her stron)er than she had ever been in her #ife, The stone Euite sudden#+ sun) to one side$ and (eor)e ust )ot one of her feet out of its a+ in ti*e$ or it ou#d have been &rushed, Ti**+ sEueeAed out of the s/a&e #eft, He f#un)
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hi*se#f on (eor)e$ ho fe## on the )round ith her ar*s ti)ht round hi*, He #i&ked her fa&e and hined$ and she buried her nose in his thi&k fur in o+, B Ti**+ ? :hat have the+ done to +ou @ Ti**+$ I &a*e as soon as I &ou#d?B Ti**+ hined a)ain and a)ain in o+$ and tried to /a and #i&k (eor)e as if he &ou#dn>t have enou)h of her, It ou#d have been diffi&u#t to sa+ hi&h of the to as the ha//ier, 't #ast (eor)e /ushed Ti**+ aa+ fir*#+, B Ti**+$ e>ve )ot ork to do ? :e>ve )ot to es&a/e fro* here and )et a&ross to the *ain#and and brin) he#/,B B :oof$B said Ti**+, (eor)e stood u/ and f#ashed her tor&h into the tin+ &ave here Ti**+ had been, She sa that there as a bo# of ater there and so*e bis&uits, The *en had not i#### )o ba&k to ather>s &ave!and then find another &ave be+ond his to hide in ti## the to *en &o*e ba&k fro* the toer, Then e>## &ree/ out into the #itt#e stone roo* and ro ba&k to the *ain#and$B said (eor)e, B I>ve )ot a ver+$ ver+ i*/ortant book here in *+ /o&ket$ Ti**+,B Ti**+ )ro#ed sudden#+$ and the hairs on the ba&k of his ne&k rose u/, (eor)e stiffened$ and stood #istenin), ' stern voi&e &a*e don the /assa)e, B I don>t kno ho +ou are or here +ou>ve &o*e fro*!but if +ou have dared to #et that do) #oose he>## be shot ? 'nd$ to sho +ou that I *ean
159
hat I sa+$ here>s so*ethin) to #et +ou kno I>ve a revo#ver ? B Then there &a*e a deafenin) &rash$ as the *an /u##ed the tri))er$ and a bu##et hit the roof so*ehere in the /assa)e, Ti**+ and (eor)e a#*ost Then there &a*e a deafenin) &rash
u*/ed out of their skins, Ti**+ ou#d have #ea/t u/ the /assa)e at on&e$ but (eor)e had her hand on his &o##ar, She as ver+ fri)htened$ and tried hard to think hat as best to do,
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The e&hoes of the shot ent on and on, It as horrid, Ti**+ sto//ed )ro#in)$ and (eor)e sta+ed abso#ute#+ sti##, B :e## @ B said the voi&e$ B %id +ou hear hat I said @ If that do) is #oose$ he>## be shot, I>* not havin) *+ /#ans s/oi#t no, 'nd +ou$ hoever +ou are$ i## /#ease &o*e u/ the tunne# and #et *e see +ou, ut I arn +ou!if the do)>s ith +ou$ that>s the end of hi* ? B D B Ti**+ ? Ti**+$ run aa+ and hide so*ehere ? B his/ered (eor)e sudden#+, 'nd then she re*e*bered so*ethin) e#se that fi##ed her ith des/air, She had her father>s /re&ious book of notes ith her!in her /o&ket? Su//ose the *en found it on her @ It ou#d break her father>s heart to kno that his onderfu# se&ret had been sto#en fro* hi* after a##, (eor)e hurried#+ took the thin$ f#at #itt#e book fro* her /o&ket, She /ushed it at Ti**+, B Kut it in +our *outh, Take it ith +ou$ Ti*, 'nd )o and hide ti## it>s safe to &o*e, Dui&k ? (o$ Ti**+$ )o ? I>## be a## ri)ht,B To her )reat re#ief Ti**+$ ith the book in his *outh$ turned and disa//eared don the tunne# that #ed further under the sea, Ho she ho/ed he ou#d find a safe hidin)< /#a&e ? The tunne# *ust end soon!but *a+be before it did$ Ti**+ ou#d sett#e don in so*e dark &orner and ait for her to &a## hi* a)ain, B :i## +ou &o*e u/ the /assa)e or not @B shouted the voi&e$ an)ri#+, B ou>## be sorr+ if I have to &o*e and fet&h +ou!be&ause I sha## shoot a## the a+ a#on) ? B B I>* &o*in) ?B &a##ed (eor)e$ in a s*a## voi&e$ and she ent u/ the /assa)e, She soon
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sa a bea* of #i)ht$ and in a *o*ent she as in the f#ash of a /oerfu# tor&h, There as a sur/rised ex&#a*ation, B (ood heavens ? ' bo+ ? :hat are you doin) here$ and here did +ou &o*e fro* @ B (eor)e>s short &ur#+ hair *ade the *an ith the tor&h think she as a bo+$ and (eor)e did not te## hi* he as ron), The *an he#d a revo#ver$ but he #et it dro/ as he sa (eor)e, B I on#+ &a*e to res&ue *+ do)$ and to find *+ father$B said (eor)e$ in a *eek voi&e, B:e##$ +ou &an>t *ove that heav+ stone?B said the *an, B ' kid #ike +ou ou#dn>t have the stren)th, 'nd +ou &an>t res&ue +our father either ? :e>ve )ot hi* /risoner$ as +ou no doubt sa,B B es$B said (eor)e$ de#i)hted to think that the *an as sure she had not been stron) enou)h to *ove the bi) stone, She asn>t )oin) to sa+ a ord about Ti**+ ? If the *an thou)ht he as sti## shut u/ in that tin+ &ave$ e## and )ood ? Then she heard her father>s voi&e$ anxious#+ &a##in) fro* so*ehere be+ond the *an, B (eor)e ? Is that +ou @ 're +ou a## ri)ht @ B B es$ ather ? B shouted ba&k (eor)e$ ho/in) that he ou#d not ask an+thin) about Ti**+, The *an be&koned her to &o*e to hi*, &T#ien he /ushed her in front of hi* and the+ a#ked to her father>s &ave, B I>ve brou)ht +our bo+ ba&k$B said the *an, B Si##+ #itt#e idiot!thinkin) he &ou#d set that sava)e do) free ? :e>ve )ot hi* /enned u/ in a &ave ith a bi) bou#der in front ? B 'nother *an &a*e in fro* the o//osite end of the &ave, He as a*aAed to see (eor)e, The other *an ex/#ained,
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B :hen I )ot don here$ I heard a noise out be+ond this &ave$ the do) barkin) and so*eone ta#kin) to hi*!and found this kid there$ tr+in) to set the do) free, I>d have shot the do)$ of &ourse$ if he had been freed,B B ut!ho did this bo+ )et here @ B asked the other *an$ sti## a*aAed, B a+be he &an te## us that ? B said the other, 'nd then$ for the first ti*e$ (eor)e>s father heard ho (eor)e had )ot there and h+, She to#d the* ho she had at&hed for Ti**+ in the )#asst seen hi*!and that had orried her and *ade her sus/i&ious, So she had &o*e a&ross to the is#and in her boat at ni)ht$ and had seen here the *en &a*e fro*, She had )one don the tunne#$ and ke/t on ti## she &a*e to the &ave$ here she had found her father, The three *en #istened in si#en&e, B :e##$ +ou>re a tireso*e nuisan&e$B one of the *en said to (eor)e$ B but *+ ord$ +ou>re a son to be /roud of, It>s not *an+ bo+s ou#d have been brave enou)h to run so *u&h risk for an+one,B B es, I>* rea##+ /roud of +ou$ (eor)e$B said her father, He #ooked at her anxious#+, She kne hat he as thinkin) !hat about his /re&ious book @ Had she been sensib#e enou)h to hide it@ She did not dare to #et hi* kno an+thin) hi#st the *en ere there, B o$ this &o*/#i&ates *atters$B said the other *an$ #ookin) at (eor)e, B If +ou don>t )o ba&k ho*e +ou>## soon be *issed$ and there i## be a## kinds of sear&ht
164
ant an+one here at /resent!not ti## e kno hat e ant to kno ? B He turned to (eor)e>s father, B If +ou i## te## us hat e ant to kno$ and )ive us a## +our notes$ e i## set +ou free$ )ive +ou hatever su* of *one+ +ou ask us for$ and disa//ear ourse#ves,B B 'nd if I sti## sa+ I on>t @ B said (eor)e>s father, B Then I a* afraid e sha## b#o u/ the ho#e of +our *a&hines and the toer!and /ossib#+ +ou i## never be found a)ain be&ause +ou i## be buried don here$B said the *an$ in a voi&e that as sudden#+ ver+ hard, There as a dead si#en&e, (eor)e #ooked at her father, B ou &ou#dn>t do a thin) #ike that$B he said at #ast, B ou ou#d )ain nothin) b+ it at a## ? B B It>s a## or nothin) ith us$B said the *an, B '## or nothin), ake u/ +our *ind, :e>## )ive +ou ti## ha#f
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Chapter Eighteen HALF!PAST FOUR IN THE MORNING
'S soon as the *en ere out of earshot$ (eor)e>s father s/oke in a #o voi&e, B It>s no )ood, I>## have to #et the* have *+ book of notes, I &an>t risk havin) +ou buried don here$ (eor)e, I don>t *ind an+thin) for *+se#f!orkers of *+ sort have to be read+ to take risks a## their #ives!but it>s different no +ou>re here ? B B ather$ I haven>t )ot the book of notes$B his/ered (eor)e$ thankfu##+, B I )ave the* to Ti**+, I did *ana)e to )et that stone aa+ fro* the entran&e to his #itt#e /rison !thou)h the *en think I didn>t ? I )ave the book to Ti**+ and to#d hi* to )o and hide ti## I fet&hed hi*,B B ine ork$ (eor)e ? B said her father, B :e## ! /erha/s if +ou )ot Ti**+ no and brou)ht hi* here!he &ou#d dea# ith these to *en before the+ sus/e&t he is free ? He is Euite &a/ab#e of )ettin) the* both don on the )round at on&e,B B h +es ? It>s our on#+ &han&e$B said (eor)e, B I>## )o and )et hi* no, I>## )o a #itt#e a+ a#on) the /assa)e and hist#e, ather!h+ didn>t you )o and tr+ and res&ue Ti**+ @ B B I didn>t ant to #eave *+ book$B said her father, B I dared not take it ith *e$ in &ase the *en &a*e after *e and found it, The+>ve been #ookin) in a## the &aves for it, I &ou#dn>t bear to #eave it here$ and )o and #ook for the
166
do), I as sure he as a## ri)ht$ hen I sa the *en takin) bis&uits out of the ba), o do )o$ (eor)e$ and hist#e to Ti**+, The *en *a+ be ba&k at an+ *o*ent,B (eor)e took her tor&h and ent into the /assa)e that #ed to the #itt#e &ave here Ti**+ had been, She hist#ed #oud#+$ and then aited, ut no Ti**+ &a*e, She hist#ed a)ain$ and then ent further a#on) the /assa)e, Sti## no Ti**+, She &a##ed hi* #oud#+, BTI? TI? ; H ? B ut Ti**+ did not &o*e, There as no sound of s&a*/erin) feet$ no o+fu# bark, B h bother ? B thou)ht (eor)e, B I ho/e he hasn>t )one so far aa+ that he &an>t hear *e, I>## )o a #itt#e further,B So she *ade her a+ a#on) the tunne#$ /ast the &ave here Ti**+ had been$ and then on don the tunne# a)ain, Sti## no Ti**+, (eor)e rounded a &orner and then sa that the tunne# s/#it into three, Three different /assa)es$ a## dark$ si#ent and &o#d, h dear ? She didn>t in the #east kno hi&h to take, She took the one on the #eft, ut that a#so s/#it into three a #itt#e a+ on ? (eor)e sto//ed, B I sha## )et abso#ute#+ #ost in this *aAe of /assa)es under the sea if I )o on$B she thou)ht, B I si*/#+ daren>t, It>s too fri)htenin), TI ? TI ? B Her voi&e ent e&hoin) a#on) the /assa)e and sounded ver+ Eueer indeed, She retra&ed her ste/s and ent ri)ht ba&k to her father>s &ave$ fee#in) *iserab#e, B ather$ there>s no si)n of Ti**+ at a##, He
167
She &a##ed hi* #oud#+, B Ti**+ 1 Ti**+ I ;o*e here I> *ust have )one a#on) one of the /assa)es and )ot #ost? h dear$ this is afu#, There are #ots of tunne#s be+ond this &ave, It see*s as if the ho#e ro&k+ bed of the sea is *ined ith tunne#s ? B (eor)e sat don and #ooked ver+ donhearted, B Duite #ike#+$B said her father, B :e##!that>s a /erfe&t#+ )ood /#an )one ron), :e *ust tr+ and think of another,B
168
B I do onder hat "u#ian and the others i## think hen the+ ake u/ and find *e ,)one$B said (eor)e$ sudden#+, B The+ *i)ht even &o*e and tr+ to find *e here,B B That ou#dn>t be *u&h )ood$B said her father, B These *en i## si*/#+ &o*e don here and ait$ and nobod+ i## kno here e are, The others don>t kno of the entran&e in the #itt#e stone roo*$ do the+ @ B B o$B said (eor)e, B If the+ &a*e over here I>* sure the+>d never find it? :e>ve #ooked before, 'nd that ou#d *ean the+>d be b#on u/ ith the is#and, ather$ this is si*/#+ dreadfu#,B B If on#+ e kne here Ti**+ as ? B said her father, B r if e &ou#d )et a *essa)e to "u#ian to te## hi* not to &o*e, :hat>s the ti*e @ + ord$ it>s ha#fs bed as e*/t+, ut$ about ha#f she thou)ht, B I>* boi#in) ? B She )ot u/ and ent to the indo, She o/ened it$ and stood #ookin) out, The stars ere out and the ba+ shone faint#+, B (eor)e$B his/ered 'nne, B 're +ou aake @ B She #istened for a re/#+, ut none &a*e, Then she #istened *ore intent#+, :h+$ she &ou#dn>t even hear (eor)e>s breathin) ? Sure#+ (eor)e as there @ She fe#t over (eor)e>s bed, It as f#at and e*/t+, She sit&hed on the #i)ht and #ooked at 169
it, (eor)e>s /+a*as ere sti## on the bed, Her &#othes ere )one, B (eor)e has )one to the is#and ? B said 'nne$ in a fri)ht, B '## in the dark b+ herse#f? B She ent to the bo+s> roo*, She fe#t about "u#ian>s bed for his shou#der$ and shook hi* hard, He oke u/ ith a u*/, B :hat is it @ :hat>s u/@B B"u#ian ? (eor)e is )one, Her bed>s not been s#e/t in$B his/ered 'nne, Her his/er aoke %i&k$ and soon both bo+s ere sittin) u/$ ide aake, B #o ? I *i)ht have )uessed she>d do a foo# thin) #ike that$B said "u#ian, B In the *idd#e of the ni)ht too!and a## those dan)erous ro&ks to ro round, ow hat are e )oin) to do about it @ I told her she asn>t to )o to the is#and! Ti**+ ou#d be Euite a## ri)ht? I ex/e&t Cn&#e Duentin for)ot to take hi* u/ to the toer ith hi* +esterda+$ that>s a##, She *i)ht have aited ti## ha#ft do an+thin) no$ I su//ose$ &an e @ B said 'nne$ anxious#+, B ot a thin)$B said "u#ian, B I>ve no doubt she>s safe#+ on -irrin Is#and b+ no$ *akin) a fuss of Ti**+$ and havin) a )ood o#d ro ith Cn&#e Duentin, ea##+$ (eor)e is the #i*it? B The+ ta#ked for ha#f an hour and then "u#ian #ooked at his at&h, B ive o>&#o&k, :e>d better tr+ and )et a bit *ore s#ee/, 'unt ann+ i## be orried in the *ornin) hen she hears of (eor)e>s #atest es&a/ade ? B 'nne ent ba&k to her roo*, She )ot into bed and fe## as#ee/, "u#ian &ou#d not s#ee/!he
170
ke/t thinkin) of (eor)e and onderin) here exa&t#+ she as, :ou#dn>t he )ive her a ta#kin) /#a&e *i)ht be o/en, ;rash ? :hat in the or#d as that @ It &ou#dn>t be a bur)#ar!no bur)#ar ou#d be foo#ish enou)h to *ake su&h a noise, There as a sound on the stairs$ and then the bedroo* door as /ushed o/en, In a#ar* "u#ian /ut out his hand to sit&h on the #i)ht$ but before he &ou#d do so so*ethin) heav+ u*/ed ri)ht on to/ of hi* ? He +e##ed and %i&k oke u/ ith a u*/, He /ut on the #i)ht!and then "u#ian sa hat as on his bed! Ti**+ ? B Ti**+ ? Ho did +ou )et here @ :here>s (eor)e @ Ti**+$ is it rea##+ +ou @ B B (o##+$B said %i&k$ a*aAed, B Has (eor)e brou)ht hi* ba&k then @ Is she here too @ B 'nne &a*e in$ akened b+ the noise, B :h+$ Timmy , h "u#ian$ is (eor)e ba&k too$ then @ B B o$ a//arent#+ not$B said "u#ian$ /uAA#ed, B I sa+$ Ti*$ hat>s this +ou>ve )ot in +our *outh @ %ro/ it$ o#d &ha/$ dro/ it ? B Ti**+ dro//ed it, "u#ian /i&ked it u/ fro* the bed, B It>s a book of notes!a## in Cn&#e>s hand<ritin) ? :hat does this *ean @ Ho did Ti**+ )et ho#d of it!and h+ did he Ibrin) it here @ It>s *ost extraordinar+ ? B obod+ &ou#d i*a)ine h+ Ti**+ had sudden#+ a//eared ith the book of notes!and no (eor)e,
171
172
B It>s ver+ Eueer$B said "u#ian, B There>s so*ethin) I don>t understand here, et>s )o and ake 'unt ann+,B
So the+ ent and oke her u/$ te##in) her a## the+ kne, She as ver+ orried indeed to hear that (eor)e as )one, She /i&ked u/ the book of notes and kne at on&e that it as ver+ i*/ortant,
173
B I *ust /ut this into the safe$B she said, B I kno this is va#uab#e, Ho did Ti**+ )et ho#d of it @ B Ti**+ as a&tin) Eueer#+, He ke/t /ain) at "u#ian and hinin), He had been ver+ /#eased to see ever+one$ but he see*ed to have so*ethin) on his *ind, B :hat is it$ o#d bo+ @ B asked %i&k, B Ho did +ou )et here @ ou didn>t si*$ be&ause +ou>re not et, If +ou &a*e in a boat$ it *ust have been ith (eor)e!and +et +ou>ve #eft her behind ? B B 7 think so*ethin)>s ha//ened to (eor)e$B said 'nne$ sudden#+, B I think Ti**+ kee/s /ain) +ou to te## +ou to )o ith hi* and find her, Kerha/s she brou)ht hi* ba&k in the boat$ and then as terrib#+ tired and fe## as#ee/ on the bea&h or so*ethin), :e ou)ht to )o and see,B B es, I think e ou)ht$B said "u#ian$ B 'unt ann+$ ou#d +ou #ike to ake "oanna and )et so*ethin) hot read+$ in &ase e find (eor)e is tired out and &o#d @ :e>## )o don to the bea&h and #ook, It i## soon be da+#i)ht no, The eastern sk+ is ust be)innin) to sho its first #i)ht,B B :e##$ )o and dress then$B said 'unt ann+$ sti## #ookin) ver+ orried indeed, B h$ hat a dreadfu# fa*i#+ I>ve )ot!a#a+s in so*e s&ra/e or other ? B The three &hi#dren be)an to dress, Ti**+ at&hed the*$ aitin) /atient#+ ti## the+ ere read+, Then the+ a## ent donstairs and out of doors, "u#ian turned toards the bea&h$ but Ti**+ stood sti##, He /aed at %i&k
174
'nd then ran a fe ste/s in the o//osite dire&tion, :h+!he doesn>t want us to )o to the bea&h ? He ants us to )o another a+ ? B &ried "u#ian$ in sur/rise, B '## ri)ht$ Ti**+!+ou #ead the a+ and e>## fo##o ? B
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Chapter Nineteen A MEETING WITH MARTIN BTI ran round the house and *ade the *oor behind, for It as *ost extraordinar+, :herever as he )oin) @ B This is afu##+ Eueer$B said "u#ian, B I>* sure (eor)e &an>t be an+here in this dire&tion,B Ti**+ ent on sift#+$ o&&asiona##+ turnin) his head to *ake sure ever+one as fo##oin) hi*, He #ed the a+ to the Euarr+ ? B The Euarr+ ? %id (eor)e &o*e here then @ B said %i&k, B ut h+ @ B The do) disa//eared don into the *idd#e of the Euarr+$ s#i//in) and s#idin) don the stee/ sides as he ent, The others fo##oed as best the+ &ou#d, u&ki#+ it as not as s#i//er+ as before$ and the+ rea&hed the botto* ithout a&&ident, Ti**+ ent strai)ht to the she#f of ro&k and disa//eared underneath it, The+ heard hi* )ive a short shar/ bark as if to sa+ B ;o*e on ? This is the a+ ? Hurr+ u/ ? B B He>s )one into the tunne# under there$B said %i&k, B :here e thou)ht e *i)ht ex/#ore and didn>t, There *ust be a /assa)e or so*ethin) there$ then, ut is (eor)e there@B B I>## )o first$B said "u#ian$ and ri))#ed throu)h the ho#e, He as soon in the ider bit and then &a*e out into the /art here he &ou#d a#*ost stand, He a#ked a #itt#e a+ in the dark$ hearin) Ti**+ bark i*/atient#+ no and then, ut in a *o*ent or to "u#ian sto//ed,
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B It>s no )ood tr+in) to fo##o +ou in the dark$ Ti**+ ? B he &a##ed, B :e>## have to )o ba&k and )et tor&hes, I &an>t see a foot in front of *e ? B %i&k as ust ri))#in) throu)h the first /art of the ho#e, "u#ian &a##ed to hi* to )o ba&k, B It>s too dark$B he said, B :e *ust )o and )et tor&hes, If (eor)e for so*e reason is u/ this /assa)e$ she *ust have had an a&&ident$ and e>d better )et a ro/e$ and so*e brand+,B 'nne be)an to &r+, She didn>t #ike the idea of (eor)e #+in) hurt in that dark /assa)e, "u#ian /ut his ar* round her as soon as he as in the o/en air a)ain, He he#/ed her u/ the sides of the Euarr+$ fo##oed b+ %i&k, B o don>t orr+, :e>## )et her a## ri)ht, ut it beats *e h+ she ent there!and I sti## &an>t i*a)ine ho Ti* and she &a*e fro* the is#and$ if the+ are here$ instead of on the bea&h ? B B ook!there>s artin ? B sudden#+ said %i&k in sur/rise, So there as ? He as standin) at the to/ of the Euarr+$ and see*ed ust as sur/rised to see the* as the+ ere to see hi* ? B ou>re u/ ear#+$B &a##ed %i&k, B 'nd )oodness *e! are +ou )oin) )ardenin) or so*ethin)@ :h+ the s/ades @ B artin #ooked shee/ish and didn>t see* to kno hat to sa+, "u#ian sudden#+ a#ked u/ to hi* and &au)ht ho#d of his shou#der, B ook here$ artin ? There>s so*e funn+ business )oin) on here ? :hat are +ou )oin) to do ith those s/ades @ Have +ou seen (eor)e @ %o +ou kno here she is$ or an+thin) about her@ ;o*e on$ te## *e ? B artin shook his shou#der aa+ fro* "u#ian>s )ri/$ #ookin) extre*e#+ sur/rised,
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B (eor)e @ o I :hat>s ha//ened to hi* @ B B (eor)e isn>t a hi*!she>s a her$B said 'nne$ sti## &r+in), B She>s disa//eared, :e thou)ht she>d )one to the is#and to find her do)!and Ti*rn+ sudden#+ a//eared at -irrin ;otta)e$ and brou)ht us here ? B B So it #ooks as if (eor)e *i)ht be so*ehere near here$B said "u#ian, B 'nd I ant to kno if +ou>ve seen her or kno an+thin) of her hereabouts @ B B o$ "u#ian, I sear I don>t ? B said artin, B :e##$ te## *e hat +ou>re doin) here so ear#+ in the *ornin)$ ith s/ades$B said "u#ian$ rou)h#+, B :ho are +ou aitin) for @ our father @ B
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Bes$B said artin, B 'nd hat are +ou )oin) to do @ B asked %i&k, B (oin) ex/#orin) u/ the ho#e there @ B B es$B said artin a)ain$ su##en and orried, B o har* in that$ is there @ B B It>s a##!ver+!Eueer$B said "u#ian$ e+ein) hi* and s/eakin) s#o#+ and #oud#+, B ut!#et *e te## +ou this! we're )oin) ex/#orin)!not +ou ? If there>s an+thin) Eueer u/ that ho#e$ we'll find it ? :e sha## not a##o +ou or +our father to )et throu)h the ho#e, So )o and find hi* and te## hi* that? B artin didn>t *ove, He ent ver+ hite$ and stared at "u#ian *iserab#+, 'nne ent u/ to hi*$ tears sti## on her fa&e and /ut her hand on his ar*, B artin$ hat is it @ :h+ do +ou #ook #ike that @ :hat>s the *+ster+ @ B 'nd then$ to the dis*a+ and horror of ever+one$ artin turned aa+ ith a noise that sounded ver+ #ike a sob ? He stood ith his ba&k to the*$ his shou#ders shakin), B (ood )ra&ious ? :hat is u/ @ B said "u#ian$ in exas/eration, B Ku## +ourse#f to)ether$ artin ? Te## us hat>s orr+in) +ou,B B ver+thin)$ ever+thin) ? B said artin$ in a *uff#ed voi&e, Then he sun) round to fa&e the*, B ou don>t kno hat it is to have no *other and no father!nobod+ ho &ares about +ou!and then , , ,B B ut +ou have )ot a father ? B said %i&k at on&e, B I haven>t, He>s not *+ father$ that *an, He>s on#+ *+ )uardian$ but he *akes *e &a## hi* father henever e>re on a ob to)ether,B
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B ' ob @ :hat sort of ob @ B said "u#ian, B h an+ kind!a## beast#+$B said artin, B Snoo/in) round and findin) thin)s out about /eo/#e$ and then )ettin) *one+ fro* the* if e /ro*ise to sa+ nothin)!and re&eivin) sto#en )oods and se##in) the*!and he#/in) /eo/#e #ike the *en ho are after +our un&#e>s se&ret , , ,B B Oho , B said %i&k at on&e, B o e>re &o*in) to it, I thought +ou and r, ;urton ere both sus/i&ious#+ interested in -irrin Is#and, :hat>s this /resent ob$ then @ B B + )uardian i## ha#fre /#annin) to b#o u/ the is#and!and it>s about the orst thin) I>ve ever been *ixed u/ in!and I kno +our un&#e is there!and /erha/s (eor)e too no$ +ou sa+, I &an>t )o on ith it ? B ' fe *ore tears ran don his &heeks, It as afu# to see a bo+ &r+in) #ike that$ and the three fe#t sorr+ for artin no, The+ ere a#so fu## of horror hen the+ heard hi* sa+ that the is#and as to be b#on u/ ? B Ho do +ou kno this @ B asked "u#ian, B :e##$ r, ;urton>s )ot a ire#ess re&eiver and trans*itter as +ou kno$B ex/#ained artin$ B and so have the fe##os on the is#and!the ones ho are after +our un&#e>s se&ret!so the+ &an easi#+ kee/ in tou&h ith one another, The+ *ean to )et the se&ret if the+ &an!if not the+ are )oin) to b#o the ho#e /#a&e sk+t )et aa+ b+ boat$ be&ause the+ don>t kno the a+ throu)h those ro&ks, , , ,B B :e##$ ho i## the+ )et aa+ then @ B de*anded "u#ian,
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B :e fee# sure this ho#e that Ti**+ found the other da+$ #eads don to the sea$ and under the seas )ot an o#d *a/ hi&h &#ear#+ shos there as on&e a /assa)e under the seas #ed us ba&k here!to take us to the is#and and res&ue Cn&#e Duentin and (eor)e,B There as a dee/ si#en&e, artin stared at the )round, %i&k and "u#ian thou)ht hard, 'nne sobbed a #itt#e, It a## see*ed Euite unbe#ievab#e to her, Then "u#ian /ut his hand on artin>s ar*, B artin ? ou did ri)ht to te## us, :e *a+ be ab#e to /revent so*ethin) dreadfu#, ut +ou *ust he#/, :e *a+ need those s/ades of +ours! and I ex/e&t +ou>ve )ot tor&hes too, :e haven>t, :e don>t ant to aste ti*e )oin) ba&k and )ettin) the*!so i## +ou &o*e ith us and he#/ us @ :i## +ou #end us those s/ades and tor&hes @ B B :ou#d +ou trust *e @ B said artin$ in a #o voi&e, B es$ I ant to &o*e and he#/ +ou, 'nd if e )et in no$ *+ )uardian on>t be ab#e to fo##o$ be&ause he on>t have a tor&h, :e &an )et to the is#and and brin) +our un&#e and (eor)e safe#+ ba&k,B B (ood for +ou ? B said %i&k, B :e##$ &o*e on
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then, :e>ve been ta#kin) far too #on), ;o*e on don a)ain$ "u, Hand hi* a s/ade and tor&h$ artin,B B 'nne$ +ou>re not to &o*e$B said "u#ian$ to his #itt#e sister, B ou>re to )o ba&k and te## 'unt ann+ hat>s ha//ened, :i## +ou do that @ B B es, I don>t ant to &o*e$B said 'nne, B I>## )o ba&k no, %o be &arefu#$ "u#ian ? B She &#i*bed don ith the bo+s and then stood and at&hed ti## a## three had disa//eared into the ho#e, Ti**+$ ho had been aitin) i*/atient#+ durin) the ta#kin)$ barkin) no and a)ain$ as )#ad to find that at #ast the+ ere )oin) to *ake a *ove, He ran ahead in the tunne#$ his e+es )#ea*in) )reen ever+ ti*e he turned to see if the+ ere fo##oin), 'nne be)an to &#i*b u/ the stee/ side of the Euarr+ a)ain, Then$ thinkin) she heard a &ou)h$ she sto//ed and &rou&hed under a bush, She /eered throu)h the #eaves and sa r, (urton, Then she heard his voi&e, B artin ? :here on earth are +ou @ B So he had &o*e to #ook for artin and )o u/ the tunne# ith hi* ? 'nne hard#+ dared to breathe, r, ;urton &a##ed a)ain and a)ain$ then *ade an i*/atient noise and be)an to &#i*b don the side of the Euarr+, Sudden#+ he s#i//ed ? He &#ut&hed at a bush as he /assed$ but it )ave a+, He ro##ed Euite near 'nne$ and &au)ht si)ht of her, He #ooked astonished$ but then his #ook be&a*e one of fear as he ro##ed *ore and *ore Eui&k#+ to the botto* of the dee/ Euarr+, 'nne heard hi* )ive a dee/ )roan as at #ast he &a*e to a sto/, 'nne /eered don in fri)ht, r, ;urton as
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sittin) u/$ ho#din) one of his #e)s and )roanin), He #ooked u/ to see if he &ou#d s/+ 'nne,
B 'nne ? B he &a##ed, B I>ve broken *+ #e)$ I think, ;an +ou fet&h he#/ @ :hat are +ou doin) here so ear#+ @ Have +ou seen artin @ B
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'nne did not anser, If he had broken his #e)$ then he &ou#dn>t )o after the others ? 'nd 'nne &ou#d )et aa+ Eui&k#+, She &#i*bed &arefu##+$ afraid of ro##in) don to the botto*$ and havin) to #ie beside the horrid r, ;urton, B 'nne ? Have +ou seen artin @ ook for hi* and )et he#/ for *e$ i## +ou @ B shouted r, ;urton$ and then )roaned a)ain, 'nne &#i*bed to the to/ of the Euarr+ and #ooked don, She &u//ed her hands round her *outh and shouted #oud#+ . B ou>re a ver+ i&ked *an, I shan>t fet&h he#/ for +ou, I si*/#+ &an>t )ear +ou ? B 'nd$ havin) )ot a## that off her &hest$ the #itt#e )ir# shot off at to/ s/eed over the *oor, B I *ust te## 'unt ann+, She>## kno hat to do ? h I ho/e the others are safe, :hat sha## e do if the is#and b#os u/ @ I>* )#ad$ )#ad$ )#ad I to#d r, ;urton he as a ver+ i&ked *an,B 'nd on she ran$ /antin), 'unt ann+ ou#d kno hat to do ?
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C"#$te% T&ent' EVERYTHING BOILS UP
':HI the three bo+s and Ti**+ ere havin) a stran)e ourne+ under)round, Ti**+ #ed the a+ ithout fa#terin)$ sto//in) ever+ no and a)ain for the others to &at&h u/ ith hi*, The tunne# at first had a ver+ #o roof and the bo+s had to a#k a#on) in a stoo/in) /osition$ hi&h as ver+ tirin) indeed, ut after a bit the roof be&a*e hi)her and "u#ian$ f#ashin) his tor&h round$ sa that the a##s and f#oor$ instead of bein) *ade of soi#$ ere no *ade of ro&k, He tried to re&kon out here the+ ere, B :e>ve &o*e /ra&ti&a##+ strai)ht toards the &#iff$B he said to %i&k, BThat>s a##oin) for a fe turns and tists, The tunne# has s#o/ed don so stee/#+ the #ast fe hundred +ards that I think e *ust be ver+ far under)round indeed,B It as not unti# the bo+s heard the &urious boo*in) noise that (eor)e had heard in the &aves$ that the+ kne the+ *ust be under the ro&k+ bed of the sea, The+ ere a#kin) under the sea to -irrin Is#and, Ho stran)e$ ho unbe#ievab#+ astonishin) ? B It>s #ike a /e&u#iar#+ vivid drea*$B said "u#ian, B I>* not sure I #ike it ver+ *u&h ? '## ri)ht$ Ti*!e>re &o*in), Ha##o!hat>s this @ B The+ a## sto//ed, "u#ian f#ashed his tor&h ahead and sa a /i#e of fa##en ro&ks, Ti**+ had *ana)ed to sEueeAe hi*se#f throu)h a ho#e
185
in the*$ and )o throu)h to the other side$ but the bo+s &ou#dn>t, B This is here the s/ades &o*e in$ artin ? B said %i&k$ &heerfu##+, B Take a hand ?B + dint of /ushin) and shove##in)$ the bo+s at #ast *ana)ed to *ove the /i#e of fa##en ro&ks enou)h to *ake a a+ /ast, B Thank )oodness for the s/ades ? B said "u#ian, The+ ent on$ and ere soon ver+ )#ad of the s/ades a)ain$ to *ove another hea/ of ro&k, Ti**+ barked i*/atient#+ hen the+ ke/t hi* aitin), He as ver+ anxious to )et ba&k to (eor)e, Soon the+ &a*e to here the tunne# forked into to, ut Ti**+ took the ri)htt he @ B said "u#ian, B '## done b+ s*e## ? He>s been this a+ on&e$ so he knos it a)ain, :e shou#d be &o*/#ete#+ #ost under here if e &a*e b+ ourse#ves,B artin as not eno+in) this adventure at a##, He said ver+ #itt#e$ but #aboured on after the others, %i&k )uessed he as orr+in) about hat as )oin) to ha//en hen the adventure as over, Koor artin, '## he anted to do as to dra!and instead of that he had been dra))ed into one horrib#e ob after another$ and used as a &at>s /a b+ his evi# )uardian, B %o +ou think e>re an+here near the is#and @ B said %i&k$ at #ast, B I>* )ettin) tired of this ? B B es$ e *ust be$B said "u#ian, B In fa&t I think e>d better be as Euiet as e &an$ in &ase e &o*e sudden#+ on the ene*+ ? B
186
176
I -II IS'% '('I
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So$ ithout s/eakin) a)ain$ the+ ent as Euiet#+ as the+ &ou#d!and then sudden#+ the+ sa a faint #i)ht ahead of the*, "u#ian /ut out his hand to " sto/ the others, The+ ere nearin) the &ave here (eor)e>s father had his books and /a/ers!here (eor)e had found hi* the ni)ht before, Ti**+ stood in front of the*$ #istenin) too, He as not )oin) to run head#on) into dan)er ? The+ heard voi&es$ and #istened intent#+ to see hose the+ ere, B (eor)e>s!and Cn&#e Duentin>s$B said "u#ian at #ast, 'nd$ as if Ti**+ had a#so satisfied hi*se#f that those ere indeed the to voi&es$ the do) ran ahead and ent into the #i)hted &ave$ barkin) o+fu##+, B Ti**+ ? B &a*e (eor)e>s voi&e$ and the+ heard so*ethin) overturn as she s/ran) u/, " B :here have +ou been @ B B :oof$B said Ti**+$ tr+in) to ex/#ain, B :oof? B 'nd then "u#ian and %i&k ran into the &ave fo##oed b+ artin ? Cn&#e Duentin and (eor)e stared in the ver+ )reatest a*aAe*ent, B"u#ian? %i&k? 'nd artin, Ho did you )et here @ B &ried (eor)e$ hi#st Ti**+ u*/ed and &a/ered round her, B I>## ex/#ain$B said "u#ian, B It as Ti**+ that fet&hed us ? B 'nd he re#ated the ho#e stor+ of ho Ti**+ had &o*e into -irrin ;otta)e in the ear#+ *ornin) and had u*/ed on his bed$ and a## that had ha//ened sin&e, 'nd then$ in their turn$ Cn&#e Duentin and (eor)e to#d a## that had ha//ened to them , - :here are the to *en @ B asked "u#ian, B So*ehere on the is#and$B said (eor)e,
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B I ent s&outin) after the* so*e o*e ti*e a)o$ )o$ and fo##oed fo##oed the* u/ to here the+ )et out into the #itt#e stone roo*, I think the+>re there unti# ha#f## )o u/ and si)na#$ so that /eo/#e i## think ever+thin) is a## ri)ht,B B :e##$ hat are our /#ans @B said "u#ian, B :i## +ou &o*e ba&k don the /assa)e under the sea ith us @ r hat sha## e do @ B B etter not do that$B said artin$ Eui&k#+, B + )uardian *a+ be &o*in)!and he>s in tou&h ith other *en, If he onders here I a*$ and thinks so*ethin) is u/$ he *a+ &a## in to or three others$ and e *i)ht *eet the* *akin) their a+ u/ the /assa)e,B The+ did not kno$ of &ourse$ that r, ;urton as even then #+in) ith a broken #e) at the botto* of the Euarr+, Cn&#e Duentin &onsidered, B I>ve been )iven seven hours to sa+ hether or not I i## )ive the fe##os *+ se&ret$B he said, B That ti*e i## be u/ ust after ha#fve )ot Ti**+ ith us ? B B es!that>s a )ood idea$B said "u#ian, B :e &ou#d hide so*ehere ti## the+ &o*e!and then set Ti**+ on the* before the+ sus/e&t an+thin) ? B '#*ost before he had finished these ords the #i)ht in the &ave ent out ? Then a voi&e s/oke out of the b#a&kness, B -ee/ sti## ? ne *ove*ent and I>## shoot,B (eor)e )as/ed, :hat as ha//enin)@ Had the *en &o*e ba&k unex/e&ted#+ @ h$ h+ hadn>t Ti**+ )iven the* arnin)@ She had been 189
fond#in) his ears$ so /robab#+ he had been unab#e to hear an+thin) ? She he#d Ti**+>s &o##ar$ afraid that he ou#d f#+ at the *an in the darkness and be shot, The voi&e s/oke a)ain, B :i## +ou or i## +ou not )ive us +our se&ret @ B B ot$B said Cn&#e Duentin$ in a #o voi&e, B ou i## have this ho#e is#and$ and a## +our ork b#on u/ then$ and +ourse#f too and the others @ B B es ? ou &an do hat +ou #ike ? B sudden#+ +e##ed (eor)e, B ou>## be b#on u/ +ourse#f too, ou>## never be ab#e to )et aa+ in a boat !+ou>## )o on the ro&ks ? B The *an in the darkness #au)hed, B :e sha## be safe$B he said, B o$ kee/ at the ba&k of the &ave, I have +ou &overed ith *+ revo#ver,B The+ a## &rou&hed at the ba&k, Ti**+ )ro#ed$ but (eor)e *ade hi* sto/ at on&e, She did not kno if the *en kne he as free or not, Duiet footste/s /assed a&ross the &ave in the darkness, (eor)e #istened$ strainin) her ears, To /airs of footste/s ? oth *en ere /assin) throu)h the &ave, She kne here the+ ere )oin) ? The+ ere )oin) to es&a/e b+ the under< sea /assa)e!and #eave the is#and to be b#on u/ behind the* ? 's soon soon as the the foot footst ste/ e/ss had had died died aa aa+$ (eor eor)e sit&hed on her tor&h, B ather ? Those *en are es&a/in) no$ don the seas )et there Eui&k#+ and )et aa+ before there>s an+ ex/#osion,B B es$ &o*e a#on)$B said her father, B ut if
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on#+ I &ou#d )et u/ into *+ toer$ I &ou#d sto/ an+ i&ked /#an of theirs ? The+ *ean to use the /oer there$ I kno!but if I &ou#d )et u/ to the )#ass roo*$ I &ou#d undo a## their /#ans ? B B h do be Eui&k then$ ather ? B &ried (eor)e$ )ettin) in Euite a /ani& no, B Save *+ is#and if +ou &an ? B The+ a## *ade their a+ throu)h the &ave u/ to the /assa)e that #ed to the stone f#i)ht of ste/s fro* the #itt#e stone roo*, 'nd there the+ had a sho&k ? The stone &ou#d not be o/ened fro* the inside ? The *en had a#tered the *e&hanis* so that it &ou#d no on#+ be o/ened fro* the outside, In vain Cn&#e Duentin sun) the #ever to and fro, othin) ha//ened, The stone ou#d not *ove, *ove, B It>s on#+ fro* outside it &an be o/ened$B he said in des/air, B :e>re tra//ed ? B The+ sat sat don on on the stone stone ste/s ste/s in a ro$ ro$ one above the the othe other, r, The+ The+ ere ere &o#d &o#d$$ hun) hun)r+ r+ and and *ise *isera rab# b#e, e, :hat &ou#d the+ do no@ ake their a+ ba&k to the &ave$ and then )o on don the undert ant to do that$B said Cn&#e Duentin Duentin,, B I>* so afraid that if there is an ex/#osion$ it *a+ &ra&k the ro&k+ bed of the sea$ hi&h is the roof of the tunne#!and then ater ou#d /our in, It ou#dn>t be /#easant if e ha//ened to be there at that *o*ent,B B h no, %on>t #et>s be tra//ed #ike that$B said (eor)e$ ith a shudder, B I &ou#dn>t bear it,B B Kerha/s I &ou#d )et so*ethin) to ex/#ode this stone aa+$B said her father$ after a hi#e,
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It>s on#+ fro* outside it &an be o/ened$B he said in des/air, B :e>re tra//ed ? B B I>ve )ot /#ent+ of stuff if on#+ I>ve ti*e to /ut it to)ether,B B isten ? B said "u#ian$ sudden#+, B I &an hear so*ethin) outside this a##, Sh ? B The+ a## #istened intent#+, Ti**+ hined and s&rat&hed at the stone that ou#d not *ove, B
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B It>s voi&es ? B &ried %i&k, B ots of the*, :ho &an it be @ B B e 3uiet- said "u#ian$ fier&e#+, B :e must find out?B B I kno$ I kno ? B said (eor)e$ sudden#+, B It>s the fisher*en ho have &o*e over in their boats ? That's h+ the *en didn>t ait ti## ha#fve )one in su&h a hurr+ ? The+ sa the fisherve &o*e to res&ue us ? 'nne ? ' ? :> H? B Ti**+ be)an to bark deafenin)#+, The others en&oura)ed hi*$ be&ause the+ fe#t &ertain that Ti**+>s bark as #ouder than their shouts ? B : ? : ? : ? B 'nne heard the barkin) and the shoutin) as soon as she ran into the #itt#e stone roo*, B :here are +ou @ :here are +ou @ B she +e##ed, B H ? H ? TH ST ? B +e##ed "u#ian$ shoutin) so #oud#+ that ever+one near hi* u*/ed vio#ent#+, B ove aside$ iss!I &an see hi&h stone it is$B said a *an>s dee/ voi&e, It as one of the fisher*en, He fe#t round and about the stone in the re&ess$ sure it as the ri)ht one be&ause it as &#eaner than the others throu)h bein) used as an entran&e, Sudden#+ he tou&hed the ri)ht /#a&e$ and found a tin+ iron s/ike, He /u##ed it don!and the #ever sun) ba&k behind it$ and /u##ed the stone aside ? ver+one hurried out$ one on to/ of the other ?
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The six fisher*en standin) in the #itt#e roo* stared in astonish*ent, 'unt ann+ as there too$ and 'nne, 'unt ann+ ran to her husband as soon as he a//eared!but to her sur/rise he /ushed her aa+ Euite rou)h#+, He ran out of the roo*$ and hurried to the toer, :as he in ti*e to save the is#and and ever+one on it @ h hurr+$ hurr+ ?
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Chapter Twenty-one THE END OF THE ADVENTURE
B:H>S he )one@B said 'unt ann+$ Euite hurt, obod+ ansered, "u#ian$ (eor)e and artin ere at&hin) the toer ith anxious intensit+, If on#+ Cn&#e Duentin ou#d a//ear at the to/, 'h!there he as ? He had taken u/ ith hi* a bi) stone, 's ever+one at&hed he s*ashed the )#ass round the toer ith the stone, ;rash ? ;rash ? ;rash ? The ires that ran throu)h the )#ass ere broken and s/#it as the )#ass &rashed into /ie&es, o /oer &ou#d ra&e throu)h the* no, Cn&#e Duentin #eaned out of the broken )#ass roo* and shouted exu#tant#+, B It>s a## ri)ht? I as in ti*e ? I>ve destro+ed the /oer that *i)ht have b#on u/ the is#and! +ou>re safe ? B (eor)e found that her knees ere sudden#+ shakin), She had to sit don on the f#oor ? Ti**+ &a*e and #i&ked her fa&e onderin)#+, Then he too sat don, B :hat>s he doin)$ s*ashin) the toer u/ @ B asked a bur#+ fisher*an, B I don>t understand a## this,B Cn&#e Duentin &a*e don the toer and reoined the*, B 'nother ten *inutes and I shou#d have been too #ate$B he said, B Thank )oodness$ 'nne$ +ou a## arrived hen +ou did,B $ B I ran a## the a+ ho*e$ to#d 'unt ann+$ and e )ot the fisher*en to &o*e over as soon
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as the+ &ou#d )et out their boats$B ex/#ained 'nne, B :e &ou#dn>t think of an+ other a+ of res&uin) +ou, :here are the i&ked *en @ B B Tr+in) to es&a/e don the undert kno about that$ 'nne ? B 'nd he to#d her$ hi#st the fisher*en #istened o/en<*outhed, B ook here$B said Cn&#e Duentin$ hen he had finished, B 's the boats are here$ the *en *i)ht as e## take a## *+ )ear ba&k ith the*, I>ve finished *+ ob here, I shan>t ant the is#and an+ *ore,B B h ? Then we &an have it? B said (eor)e$ de#i)hted, B 'nd there>s /#ent+ of the ho#ida+s #eft, :e>## he#/ to brin) u/ hat +ou ant$ ather,B B :e ou)ht to )et ba&k as Eui&k#+ as e &an$ so as to &at&h those fe##os at the other end of the tunne#$ sir$B said one of the fisher*en, B es, :e ou)ht$B said 'unt ann+, B (ra&ious ? The+>## find r, ;urton there ith a broken #e)$B said 'nne$ sudden#+ re*e*berin), The others #ooked at her in sur/rise, This as the first the+ had heard of r, ;urton bein) in the Euarr+, 'nne ex/#ained, B 'nd I to#d hi* he as a ver+ i&ked *an$B she ended triu*/hant#+, B Duite ri)ht$B said Cn&#e Duentin$ ith a #au)h, B :e##$ /erha/s e>d better )et *+ )ear another ti*e,B B h$ to of us &an see to that for +ou no$B said the bur#+ fisher*an, B iss (eor)e here$ she>s )ot her boat in the &ove$ and +ou>ve )ot +ours$ sir, The others &an )o ba&k ith +ou$ if +ou #ike!and To* and *e$ e>## fix u/ +our 186 197
thin)s and brin) the* a&ross to the *ain#and #ater on, Save us &o*in) over a)ain$ sir,B Bi)ht$B said Cn&#e Duentin$ /#eased, Bou do that$ then, It>s don in the &aves throu)h that tunne# behind the stone,B The+ a## ent don to the &ove, It as a beautifu# da+ and the sea as ver+ &a#*$ ex&e/t ust round the is#and$ here the aters ere a#a+s rou)h, Soon the boats ere bein) sai#ed or roed to the *ain#and, B The adventure is over ? B said 'nne, B Ho Eueer!I didn>t think it as one hi#e it as ha//enin)!but no I see it as ? B B 'nother to add to our #on) #ist of adventures$B said "u#ian, B ;heer u/$ artin!don>t #ook so b#ue, :hatever ha//ens$ e>## see +ou don>t &o*e out bad#+ over this, ou he#/ed us$ and +ou thre in +our #ot ith us, :e>## see that +ou don>t suffer!on>t e$ Cn&#e Duentin @ :e>d never have )ot throu)h those fa##s of ro&k if e hadn>t had artin and his s/ades ? B B :e##!thanks$B said artin, B If +ou &an )et *e aa+ fro* *+ )uardian!and never #et *e see hi* a)ain !I>d be ha//+ ? B B It>s Euite #ike#+ that r, ;urton i##$ be /ut so*ehere safe here he on>t be ab#e to see his friends for Euite a #on) ti*e$B said Cn&#e Duentin dr+#+, BSo I don>t think +ou need orr+,B 's soon as the boats rea&hed shore$ "u#ian$ %i&k$ Ti**+ and Cn&#e Duentin ent off to the Euarr+ to see if r, ;urton as sti## there!and to ait for the other to *en to &o*e out of the tunne# ? r, ;urton as there a## ri)ht$ sti## )roanin)
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and &a##in) for he#/, Cn&#e Duentin s/oke to hi* stern#+, B :e kno +our /art in this *atter$ ;urton, ou i## be dea#t ith b+ the /o#i&e, The+ i## be a#on) in a short hi#e,B Ti**+ sniffed round r, ;urton$ and then a#ked aa+$ nose in air$ as if to sa+ B :hat a nast+ bit of ork ? B The others arran)ed the*se#ves at the *outh of the ho#e and aited, ut nobod+ &a*e, 'n hour ent b+!to hours, Sti## nobod+, B I>* )#ad artin and 'nne didn>t &o*e$B said Cn&#e Duentin, I do ish e>d brou)ht sandi&hes,B 't that *o*ent the /o#i&e arrived$ s&ra*b#in) don the stee/ sides of the Euarr+, The /o#i&e do&tor as ith the* and he sa to r, ;urton>s #e), Then$ ith the he#/ of the others$ he )ot the *an to the to/ ith )reat diffi&u#t+, B"u#ian$ )o ba&k and )et sandi&hes$B said Cn&#e Duentin at #ast, B It #ooks as if e>ve )ot a #on) ait? B "u#ian ent ba&k$ and as soon don the Euarr+ ith neat /a&kets of ha* sandi&hes and a ther*os of hot &offee, The to /o#i&e*en ho ere sti## #eft offered to sta+ and at&h$ if Cn&#e Duentin anted to )o ho*e, B %ear *e$ no ? B he said, B I ant to see the fa&es of these to fe##os hen the+ &o*e out, It>s )oin) to be one of the ni&est *o*ents of *+ #ife ? The is#and is not b#on u/, + se&ret is safe, + book is safe, + ork is finished, 'nd I ust ant to te## these thin)s to *+ to dear friends ? B B ou kno$ ather$ I be#ieve the+>ve #ost their a+ under)round$B said (eor)e, B"u#ian said
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there ere *an+ different /assa)es, Ti**+ took the bo+s throu)h the ri)ht ones$ of &ourse!but the+ ou#d have been Euite #ost if the+ hadn>t had hi* ith the* ? B Her father>s fa&e fe## at the thou)ht of the *en bein) #ost under)round, He did so bad#+ ant to see their dis*a+ed fa&es hen the+ arrived in the Euarr+ ? B :e &ou#d send Ti**+ in$B said "u#ian, B He ou#d soon find the* and brin) the* out, :ou#dn>t +ou$ Ti* @ B B :oof$B said Ti**+$ a)reein), B h +es!that>s a )ood idea$B said (eor)e, B The+ on>t hurt hi* if the+ think he &an sho the* the a+ out? (o on in$ Ti**+, ind the* bo+= find the*? rin) the* here ? B B :oof$B said Ti**+$ ob#i)in)#+$ and disa//eared under the she#f of ro&k, ver+one aited$ *un&hin) sandi&hes and si//in) &offee, 'nd then the+ heard Ti**+>s bark a)ain$ fro* under)round ? There as a /antin) noise$ then a s&ra/in) sound as so*ebod+ &a*e ri))#in) out fro* under the ro&k, He stood u/!and then he sa the si#ent )rou/ at&hin) hi*, He )as/ed, B (ood *ornin)$ "ohnson$B said Cn&#e Duentin$ in an a*iab#e voi&e, B Ho are +ou @ B "ohnson ent hite, He sat don on the nearb+ heather, B ou in ? B he said, B I do$B said Cn&#e Duentin, B In fa&t$ I in handso*e#+, our #itt#e /#an ent ron), + se&ret is sti## safe!and next +ear it i## be )iven to the ho#e or#d ? B There as another s&ra/in) sound and the
201
se&ond *an arrived, He stood u/ too!and then he sa the Euiet#+ at&hin) )rou/, B (ood *ornin)$ Keters$B said Cn&#e Duentin, B So ni&e to see +ou a)ain, Ho did +ou #ike +our under)round a#k @ :e found it better to &o*e b+ sea,B Keters #ooked at "ohnson$ and he too sat don sudden#+, B :hat>s ha//ened @ B he said to "ohnson, B It>s a## u/$B said "ohnson, Then Ti**+ a//eared$ a))in) his tai#$ and ent to (eor)e, B I bet the+ ere )#ad hen Ti**+ &a*e u/ to the* ? B said "u#ian, "ohnson #ooked at hi*, B es, :e ere #ost in those hatefu# tunne#s, ;urton said he>d &o*e to *eet us$ but he never &a*e,B B o, He>s /robab#+ in the /rison hos/ita# b+ no$ ith a broken #e)$B said Cn&#e Duentin, B :e##$ &onstab#e !do +our dut+,B oth *en ere at on&e arrested, Then the ho#e &o*/an+ *ade their a+ ba&k over the *oor, The to *en ere /ut into a /o#i&e &ar and driven off, The rest of the &o*/an+ ent into -irrin ;otta)e to have a )ood *ea#, B I>* *ost terrib#+ hun)r+$B said (eor)e, B"oanna$ have +ou )ot an+thin) ni&e for breakfast @ B B ot *u&h$B said "oanna$ fro* the kit&hen, B n#+ ba&on and e))s and *ushroo*s ? B B ooh ? B said 'nne, B "oanna$ +ou sha## have the ,,(,,, ? B B 'nd hat *a+ that be @ B &ried "oanna$ but 'nne &ou#dn>t re*e*ber, BIt>s a de&oration ? B she &ried, B :e##$ I>* not a ;hrist*as tree ? B shouted
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ba&k "oanna, B ou &o*e and he#/ ith the breakfast?B It as a ver+ o##+ breakfast that the seven of the*! no ei)ht$ for Ti**+ *ust &ertain#+ be &ounted!sat don to, artin$ no that he as free of his )uardian$ be&a*e Euite a different bo+, The &hi#dren *ade /#ans for hi*, B ou &an sta+ ith the &oast)uard$ be&ause he #ikes +ou! he ke/t on and on sa+in) +ou eren>t a bad bo+ ? 'nd +ou &an &o*e and /#a+ ith us and )o to the is#and, 'nd Cn&#e Duentin i## see if he &an )et +ou into an artve never had a &han&e ti## no$B he said$ B I>## *ake )ood, ou see if I don>t? B B other ? ;an e )o and sta+ on -irrin Is#and and at&h the toer bein) taken don to<*orro @ B be))ed (eor)e, B %o sa+ +es ? 'nd &an e sta+ there a ho#e eek @ :e &an s#ee/ in that #itt#e roo* as e did before,B B :e##!I su//ose +ou &an ? B said her *other$ s*i#in) at (eor)e>s ea)er fa&e, B I>d rather #ike to have +our father to *+se#f for a fe da+s and feed hi* u/ a bit,B B h!that re*inds *e$ ann+$B said her husband$ sudden#+, B I tried so*e sou/ +ou #eft for *e$ the ni)ht before #ast, 'nd$ *+ dear$ it as horrib#e ? Duite bad 1 B B h /uentin , I to#d +ou to /our it aa+ ? ou kno I did$B said his ife$ distressed, B It *ust have been &o*/#ete#+ bad, ou rea##+ are dreadfu#,B
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The+ a## finished their breakfast at #ast$ and ent out into the )arden, The+ #ooked a&ross -irrin a+ to -irrin Is#and, It #ooked #ove#+ in the *ornin) sun, B :e>ve had a #ot of adventures to)ether$B said "u#ian, B ore than *ost &hi#dren, The+ have been ex&itin)$ haven>t the+ @ B es!the+ have ? ut no e *ust sa+ )oodb+e to the ive$ and to -irrin Is#and too, (oodb+e$ "u#ian$ %i&k$ (eor)e$ 'nne!and Ti**+, ut on#+ Ti**+ hears our )ood
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