"Blyton, Enid - Adventure 01 - The Island of Adventure" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)

It was because of Jo-Jo, said Jack. He keeps following us around like a shadow. I think he probably suspects we have a friend who has a car, and he means to find out who it is.
Well, don't tell him anything, said Bill quickly. Keep things to yourself. I don't want Jo-Jo prying around here. He doesn't sound at all a nice person.
What are you doing to your boat? asked Jack. Are you going out in it?
I thought I would, said Bill. It's a fine day, the sea is fairly calm, yet there's a nice breeze and I half thought I might sail near to the Isle of Gloom.
There was an excited silence. The Isle of Gloom! All the children wanted to see it close to and Jack badly wanted to land there. If only Bill would take them with him!
Jack looked out to the west. He could not see the island, for once again there was a low heat-haze on the sea. But he knew exactly where it was. His heart beat fast. The Great Auk might be there. Anyway, even if it wasn't, all kinds of other sea-birds would be there and probably as tame as anything. He could take his camera he could . . .
Bill please, please take us with you! begged Lucy-Ann. Oh, do! We'll be very good, and you know, now that you have taught us how to sail a boat, we can really help.
Well I meant to take you, said Bill, lighting a cigarette, and smiling round at the children. I wanted to go yesterday, and when you didn't come, I put the trip off till today. We'll go this afternoon, and take our tea with us. You'll have to give Jo-Jo the slip again. He mustn't see you sailing off in my boat or he'd probably try to stop you.
Oh, Bill! We'll be along first thing this afternoon, said Jack, his eyes gleaming very green.
Thanks most awfully, said Philip.
Shall we really see the Isle of Gloom close to? asked Lucy-Ann, in excitement.
Can't we land there? said Dinah.
I don't think so, said Bill. You see, there is a ring of dangerous rocks around it, and although there may once have been a passage somewhere through them, and possibly is now, for all I know, I don't know where it is. I'm not going to risk drowning you all.
Oh, said the children, disappointed. They would have been quite willing to run the risk of being drowned, for the sake of trying to land on the bad isle.
You'd better go back and have an early lunch, if your aunt will let you have it, said Bill. I don't want to be too late in starting. The tide will help us, if we get off fairly early.
All right, said the four, jumping up from the rocks at once. Good-bye till this afternoon, Bill. We'll bring tea with us as nice as we can, to reward you for waiting for us.
They set off home again, talking eagerly of the coming trip. Jo-Jo had said so many frightening things about the desolate island that the children couldn't help feeling excited at the idea of seeing it.
I wonder if Jo-Jo is still on the beach, watching for us outside the caves, said Jack. The children went cautiously to the edge of the cliff and peeped over. Yes Jo-Jo was still down there. What a sell for him!
They went to Craggy-Tops and found Aunt Polly. Aunt, could we possibly have an early lunch, and then go off and take our tea with us? asked Philip. Will it be any trouble? We'll help to get the lunch, and we don't mind what we have.
There's a cold pie in the larder, said Aunt Polly, considering. And some tomatoes. And there are some stewed plums. Dinah, you lay the table, and the others can set out the food. I'll make you some sandwiches for your tea, and there's a ginger cake you can have too. Lucy-Ann, can you put the kettle on to boil? You can have some tea in a thermos flask if you like.
Oh, thank you, said the children, and set to work at once. They laid a place for Aunt Polly, but she shook her head.
I don't feel very well today, she said. I've got a bad headache. I shan't want anything. I shall have a good long rest whilst you are out this afternoon.
The children were sorry. Certainly Aunt Polly did look tired out. Philip wondered if his mother had sent any more money to help things along a bit, or whether Aunt Polly was finding things very difficult. He didn't like to ask her in front of the others. Soon the children were having their dinner, and then, the tea being packed up and ready, they set off over the cliff.
They had not seen Jo-Jo. The black man was still down on the beach, now feeling very puzzled, and most annoyed with the vanished children. He felt certain they were in the caves. He went in himself and called to them.
There was no answer, of course. Jo-Jo called again and again. Well, if they've lost themselves in the caves, it will be good riddance of bad rubbish, he said to himself. He decided to go up and report the matter to Miss Polly.
So up he went. The children had gone, and Aunt Polly was washing up. She glanced sharply at Jo-Jo.
Where have you been all morning? she asked. I wanted you, and you were nowhere to be found.
Looking for them children, said Jo-Jo. It's my belief they've gone into the caves down there, and got lost. I been calling and calling for them.
Don't be so silly, Jo-Jo, said Aunt Polly. You're just making the children an excuse for your laziness. You know quite well they are not in the caves.
Miss Polly, I seed them go in, and I didn't seed them come out, began Jo-Jo indignantly. I was on the beach all the time, wasn't I? Well, I tells you, Miss Polly, them children went into the caves, and they're there still.
No, they're not, said Aunt Polly firmly. They have just gone off for a picnic. They came in, had an early lunch and went out again. So don't come to me any more with silly stories about them being lost in caves.
Jo-Jo's mouth dropped open. He simply could not believe his ears. Hadn't he been on the beach by the caves all the morning? He would have seen the children as soon as they came out.
Don't pretend to be so surprised, said Aunt Polly sharply. Just stir yourself and do a few jobs quickly. You will have to do this afternoon all the things you didn't do this morning. I expect the children did go into the caves but they must have slipped out when you were not looking. Don't stand there looking like a stuffed dummy. You make me very angry.
Jo-Jo shook himself, shut his mouth and went off silently to do some jobs in the house. He was full of amazement. He remembered how one night he had chased two boys into the caves, thinking they were Philip and Jack and the tide had come up and imprisoned them in the caves but they were not there the next morning.
And now the four children had done the same thing. Jo-Jo thought it was decidedly uncanny. He didn't like it. Now those children had given him the slip again. Where had they gone? Well, it wasn't much good trying to find out that afternoon not with Miss Polly in such a bad temper anyway!


Chapter 14
A GLIMPSE OF THE ISLE OF GLOOM

The children hurried over the cliffs to Bill Smugs and his boat. He was ready for them. He put their packet of sandwiches and cake, their thermos, and a packet of biscuits and chocolate of his own, into the boat. Then they all got in.
Bill had brought the boat to shore, instead of hiding it out by the rocks. He pushed off, wading in the water till the boat floated. Then in he jumped, and took the oars till they were away from the rocks.
Now then, he said, in a little while, when they were well beyond the rocks and out at sea, now then, boys, up with that sail and let's see how you do it!
The boys put up the sail easily. Then they took turns at the tiller, and Bill was pleased with them. You are good pupils, he said approvingly. I believe you could take this boat out alone now.
Oh, Bill would you let us? asked Jack eagerly. You could trust us, really you could.
I might, one day, said Bill. You would have to promise not to sail out very far, that's all.
Oh yes, we'd promise anything, said the children earnestly. How thrilling it would be to set off in Bill's boat all by themselves!
There was a good wind and the boat sped along smoothly, rocking a little every now and again as she came to a swell. The sea was really very calm.
It's lovely, said Jack. I do like the flapping noise the sail makes and the sound of the water slapping against the boat, and the steady whistling of the wind . . .
Dinah and Lucy-Ann let their hands trail in the cool, silky water. Kiki watched with interest from her perch on the big sail. She could hardly keep her balance there, and had to half-spread her wings to help her. She seemed to be enjoying the trip as much as the children.