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

Do you know what I think? said Jack suddenly, stopping to face the others behind him, as they examined the cave. I believe that light I saw out to sea the other night wasn't from a ship at all it was from this island. The miners were giving a signal to say that they had finished their food and wanted more and the light from the cliff was flashed by Bill to say he was bringing more.
Yes but the light came from our cliff, not from Bill's cliff, objected Philip.
I know but you know jolly well that it's only from the highest part of the cliff that anyone signalling from the cove side of the island could be seen, said Jack. If somebody stood on that hill in the middle of the island and made a bonfire or waved a powerful lamp, it could only be seen from our cliff, and not from Bill's. So Bill must have gone to our cliff that night and answered the signal.
I believe you're right, said Philip. Old Bill must have been wandering about that night, behind Craggy-Tops and you saw his signalling light and so did Jo-Jo. No wonder old Jo-Jo says there are ‘things' wandering about at night and is scared of them! He must often have heard Bill and seen lights, and not known what they were.
I expect Bill went off to the island in his boat, as soon as he could, with fresh food, said Jack. And he took away the pile of old tins. That explains why it is they are gone. Artful old Bill! What a fine secret he has and we are the only people who know it!
I do wish we could tell him we know it, said Lucy-Ann. I don't see why we can't. I'm sure he'd rather know that we knew it.
Well we could sort of say a few things that will make him guess we know it, perhaps, said Philip. Then if he guesses, he'll own up, and we'll have a good talk about the mines, and Bill will tell us all kinds of exciting things.
Yes, that's what we'll do, said Jack. Come on let's explore a bit further. I feel as if I know this cave by heart.
The passage swerved suddenly to the left after a bit, and Philip's heart gave a thump. He knew, by the map, that when the main passage swerved left they were going under the sea-bed itself. It was somehow very thrilling to be walking under the deep sea.
What's that funny noise? asked Dinah. They all listened. There was a curious, far-off booming noise that never stopped.
Miners with machines? said Philip. Then he suddenly knew what it was. No it's the sea booming away above our heads! That's what it is!
So it was. The children stood and listened to the muffled, far-away noise. Boom-boooom, boom. That was the sea, moving restlessly over the rocky bed, maybe pounding over rocks in its way, talking with its continual, rhythmical voice.
It's funny to be under the sea itself, said Lucy-Ann, half frightened. She shivered. It was so dark, and the noise was so strange.
Isn't it awfully warm down here? she said, and the others agreed with her. It certainly was hot down in the old copper-mines.
They went on their way down the passage, keeping to the main one, and avoiding all the many galleries that spread out continually sideways, which probably led to other workings of the big mines.
If we don't keep to this main road, we'll lose ourselves, said Philip, and Lucy-Ann gave a gasp. It had not occurred to her that they might get lost. How awful to go wandering about miles of mine-workings, and never find the shaft that led them upwards!
They came to a place where, quite suddenly, a brilliant light shone. The children had rounded a corner, noticing, as they came to it, that a glimmer of light seemed to show there. As they turned the corner of the passage they came into a cave lighted by a powerful lamp. They stopped in the greatest surprise.
Then a noise came to their ears a queer noise, not the muffled boom of the sea, but a clattering noise that they couldn't recognise then a bang, then a clattering noise again.
We've found where the miners work, said Jack, in an excited whisper. Keep back a bit. We may see them but we don't want them to see us!


Chapter 20
PRISONERS UNDERGROUND

The children huddled against the wall, trying to see what was in the cave before them, blinking their eyes in the brilliant light.
There were boxes and crates in the cave, but nothing else. No man was there. But in the near distance was somebody at work, making that queer clattering, banging noise.
Let's go back, said Lucy-Ann, frightened.
No. But look there's a passage going off just here, whispered Philip, flashing his torch into a dark tunnel near by. We'll creep down there and see if we come across the miners working somewhere near.
So they all crept down the tunnel. As they went down it, pressing themselves closely against the rocky sides, a rock fell from the roof. It gave Kiki such a fright that she gave a squawk and flew off Jack's shoulder.
Here, Kiki! said Jack, afraid of losing her. But Kiki did not come back to his shoulder. The boy stumbled back up the passage to look for her, whistling softly in the way he did when he wanted to call her to him. The others did not realize that he was no longer with them, but went on down the tunnel, slowly and painfully.
And then things happened very quickly. Some-one came swiftly up the tunnel with a lantern, whose light picked out the three children at once. They cowered back against the wall and tried not to be dazzled by the lantern. The man carrying it paused in the greatest astonishment.
Well, he said, in a deep, rather hoarse voice. Well if this doesn't beat everything! He held his lantern up high to see the children more clearly. Then he called over his shoulder.
Jake! Come and take a look-see here. I've got something here that'll make your eyes drop out.
Another man came swiftly up, tall and dark in the shadows. He gave a loud exclamation as he saw the three children.
Well, what do you think of that! he said. Children! How did they come here? Are they real? Or am I dreaming?
It's children all right, said the first man. He spoke to the three, and his voice was rough and harsh.
What are you doing here? Who are you with?
We're by ourselves, said Philip.
The man laughed loudly. Oh no, you're not. It's no good spinning that kind of tale to us. Who brought you here, and why?
We came ourselves in a boat, said Lucy-Ann indignantly. We know the gap in the rocks, and we came to see the island.
Why did you come down here? demanded Jake, coming nearer. Now the children could see what he was like, and they didn't like the look of him at all. He had a black patch over one eye, and the other eye gleamed wickedly at them. His mouth was so tight-lipped that it almost seemed as if he had no lips at all. Lucy-Ann cowered away.
Go on why did you come down here? demanded Jake.
Well we found the shaft-hole and we climbed down to see the old mines, said Philip. We shan't split on you, don't be afraid.
Split on us? What do you mean? What do you know, boy? asked Jake roughly.
Philip said nothing. He didn't really know what to say. Jake nodded his head to the first man, who went behind the children. Now they could not go forward or backward to escape.
Lucy-Ann began to cry. Philip put his arm round her, and wondered, for the first time, where Jack was. Lucy-Ann looked round for him too. She began to cry more loudly when she saw he was not there.
Lucy-Ann, don't tell these men that Jack is gone, whispered Philip. If they take us prisoner, Jack will be able to escape and bring help. So don't say a word about him.
What are you whispering about? asked Jake. Now, look here, my boy you don't want any harm to come to your sisters, do you? Well you just tell us what you know, and maybe we'll let you go.
Philip was alarmed at the man's tone. For the first time it dawned on the boy that there might be danger. These men were fierce they wouldn't let three children share their secrets willingly. Suppose they kept them prisoner underground starved them beat them? Who knew what might happen? Philip made up his mind to tell a little of what he guessed.
Look here, he said to Jake, we know who you are working with, see? And he's a friend of ours. He'll be mighty angry if you do us any harm.