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

Wipe your feet and shut the door, she said to Bill Smugs, catching his eye. How many times have I . . .
Shut up, Kiki! cried everyone at once. Don't be rude to Bill, or he'll throw you overboard.
Kiki cackled with laughter, rose into the air and joined a couple of startled sea-gulls, announcing to them that they had better use their handkerchiefs. Then she gave an ear-piercing shriek that made the gulls sheer off in alarm. Kiki returned to her perch, pleased with herself. She did enjoy creating a sensation, whether it was among human beings, birds or animals.
I still can't see the Isle of Gloom, said Jack, who was keeping a sharp look-out for it. Whereabouts is it, Bill? I seem to have lost my sense of direction now I'm right out at sea.
Over there, said Bill, pointing. The children followed his finger, but could see nothing. Still, it was exciting that the bad island, as Jo-Jo called it, was coming nearer and nearer.
The sailing-boat sped on, and the wind freshened a little as they got further out. The girls' hair stood out behind them, or blew all over their faces, and Bill gave an exclamation of annoyance as the wind neatly whipped his cigarette from his fingers and swept it away.
Now, if Kiki was any use at all, she would fly after that and bring it back to me, said Bill, cocking an eye at the parrot.
Poor Kiki, said the parrot, sorrowfully shaking her head. Poor old Kiki. What a pity, what a pity, what . . .
Jack aimed an old shell at her and she stopped with a cackle of laughter. Bill tried to light another cigarette, which the wind made rather difficult.
After a while Jack gave a sudden cry. Look! Land ho! Isn't that the Isle of Gloom? It must be.
They all looked hard. Looming up out of the heat-haze was land, there was no doubt about it.
Yes that's the island all right, said Bill, with great interest. It's fairly big, too.
The boat drew nearer. The island became clearer and the children could see how rocky and hilly it was. Round it was a continual turmoil of water. Surf and spray were flung high into the air, and here and there the children could see jagged rocks sticking up from the sea.
They went nearer in. The water was rough and choppy now, and Lucy-Ann began to look a little green. She was the only one who was not a first-rate sailor. But she bravely said nothing, and soon the sea-sick feeling began to pass off a little.
Now you can see the wide ring of rocks running round the island, said Bill Smugs. My word, aren't they wicked! I guess many a boat has been wrecked on them at one time or another. We'll cruise round a bit, and see if we can spot any entry. But we don't go any nearer, there's no use begging me to.
The Albatross was now in a very choppy sea indeed and poor Lucy-Ann went green again. Have a dry biscuit, Lucy-Ann, said Bill Smugs, noticing her looks. Nibble it. It may keep off that sick feeling.
It did. Lucy-Ann nibbled the dry biscuit gratefully and was soon able to take an interest in the trip once more. The Isle of Gloom certainly lived up to its name. It was a most desolate place, as far as the children could see. It seemed to be made of jagged rocks that rose into high hills in the middle of the island. A few stunted trees grew here and there, and grass showed green in some places. The rocks were a curious red colour on the seaward side of the island, but black everywhere else.
There are heaps and heaps of birds there, just as I thought, said Jack, looking through his field-glasses in excitement. Golly just look at them, Bill!
But Bill would not leave the tiller. It was dangerous work cruising near to the ring of rocks in such a choppy sea. He nodded to Jack. I'll take your word for it, he said. Tell me if you recognise any birds.
Jack reeled off a list of names. Bill, there are thousands and thousands of birds! he cried. Oh, do, do let's land on the island. Find a way through this ring of rocks somehow. Please, please do.
No, said Bill firmly. I said not. It would be a dangerous business to get to the island even if we knew the way, and I don't. I'm not risking all our lives for the sake of seeing a few birds at close quarters birds you can see at Craggy-Tops any day.
The sailing-boat went on its way round the island, keeping well outside the wicked ring of rocks over which waves broke continually, sending spray high into the air. The children watched them, and noticed how they raced over the treacherous rocks, making a roaring noise that never stopped. It was somehow very thrilling, and the children felt exultant and wanted to shout.
Jack could see the island most clearly because of his field-glasses. He kept them glued to his eyes, looking at the hundreds of birds, both flying and sitting, that he could see. Philip tapped his arm.
Let someone else have a look too, he said. Hand over the glasses.
Jack didn't want to, because he was afraid of missing seeing a Great Auk, but he did at last give them to Philip. Philip was not so interested in the birds he swept the coast of the island with the glasses and then gave an exclamation.
Hallo! There are still houses or something on the island. Surely people don't live there now.
Of course not, said Bill Smugs. It's been deserted for ages. I can't imagine why anyone ever did live on it. They could not have farmed it or used it for fishing it's a desolate, impossible sort of place.
I suppose what I can see are only ruins, said Philip. They seem to be in the hills. I can't make them out really.
Anyone walking about any of Jo-Jo's ‘things'? asked Dinah, with a laugh.
No nobody at all, said Philip. Have a look through the glasses, Dinah and then Lucy-Ann. I don't wonder it's called the Isle of Gloom. It certainly is a terribly gloomy-looking place nothing alive on it except the sea-birds.
The girls had a turn of looking through the glasses too. They didn't like the look of the island at all. It was ugly and bare, and had an extraordinary air of forlornness about it.
The sailing-boat went all round the island, keeping well outside the rocks that guarded it. The only place where there might conceivably be an entrance between the rocks was a spot to the west. Here the sea became less choppy, and although spray was flung up high, the children could see no rocks on the surface. The spray was flung by waves racing over rocks nearby.
I bet that's the only entrance to the island, said Jack.
Well, we're not going to try it, said Bill Smugs at once. I'm going to leave the island now, and head for calmer water. Then we'll take down the sail and have our tea, bobbing gently about instead of tossing and pitching like this. Poor Lucy-Ann keeps on turning green.
Jack took a last look through his glasses and gave such a shout that Dinah nearly over-balanced, and Kiki fell off her perch above.
Whatever is it? said Bill Smugs, startled.
A Great Auk! yelled Jack, the glasses glued to his eyes. It is, it is an enormous bird with small wings close to its sides and a big razor-like bill. It's a Great Auk!
Bill gave the tiller to Jack for a moment and took the glasses. But he could see no Great Auk, and he handed them back to the excited boy, whose green eyes were gleaming with joy.
I expect it's one of the razorbills, he said. The Great Auk is much like a big razorbill, you know you've let your wish be father to the thought, old man. That wasn't a Great Auk, I'll be bound.
But Jack was absolutely convinced that it was. He could not see it any longer, but, as they left the island behind, the boy sat looking longingly backwards at it. The Great Auk was there. He was sure it was. He was certain he had seen one. How could Bill suggest it was a razorbill?
Bill Bill do go back, begged Jack, hardly able to contain himself. I know it was an auk a Great Auk. I suddenly saw it. Imagine it! What will the world say if they know I've found a Great Auk, a bird that's been extinct for years!
The world wouldn't care much, said Bill Smugs drily. Only a few people keen on birds would be excited. Calm yourself a bit I'm afraid it certainly wasn't the bird you thought.
Jack couldn't calm himself. He sat looking terribly excited, his eyes glowing, his face red, his hair blown about in the wind. Kiki felt the excitement and came down to his shoulder, pecking at his ear to get his attention.
It was a Great Auk, it was, it was, said Jack, and Lucy-Ann slipped a hand in his arm and squeezed it. She too was sure it was a Great Auk and anyway she wasn't going to spoil her brother's pleasure by saying that it wasn't. Neither Philip nor Dinah believed that it was.
They had their tea on calmer water, with the sail down and the boat drifting where it pleased. Jack could eat nothing, though he drank his tea. Lucy-Ann, hungry now after her sea-sickness, ate Jack's share of the tea, and enjoyed it. The others enjoyed themselves too. It had been an exciting afternoon.
Can we sail your boat by ourselves some time, as you promised? asked Jack suddenly. Bill Smugs looked at him sharply.
Only if you promise not to go very far out, he said. No rushing off to find the Great Auk on the Isle of Gloom, you know.
As this was the idea at the back of Jack's mind, the boy went red at once. All right, he said at last. I promise not to go to the Isle of Gloom in your boat, Bill. But may we really go out by ourselves other days?
Yes, you may, said Bill. I think you really know how to manage the boat all right and you can't come to much harm if you choose a calm day.
Jack looked pleased. A dreamy expression came over his face. He knew what he meant to do. He would keep his word to Bill Smugs he would not go to the Isle of Gloom in Bill's boat but he would go in someone else's. He would practise sailing and rowing in Bill's boat and as soon as he was absolutely sure of handling it, he would borrow Jo-Jo's boat, and go to the island in that.