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

Oh, really! said Jake, in a mocking tone. And who is this wonderful friend of yours?
Bill Smugs, said Philip, feeling certain that everything would be all right at the mention of Bill's name.
Bill Smugs? said the man, with a jeering note in his voice. And who may he be? I've never heard of him in my life.
But you must have, said Philip desperately. He brings you food, and signals to you. You know he does. You must know Bill Smugs and his boat, The Albatross.
The two men stared intently at the children. Then they spoke together quickly in a foreign language. They seemed puzzled.
Bill Smugs is no friend of ours, Jake said, after a pause. Did he tell you that he knew us?
Oh no, said Philip. We only guessed it.
Then you guessed wrong, said the man. Come along we're going to make you comfortable somewhere till we decide what to do with children who poke their noses into things that don't concern them.
Philip guessed that they were going to be kept prisoners somewhere underground, and he was alarmed and angry. The girls were frightened. Dinah didn't cry, but Lucy-Ann, forlorn because Jack was not by her, cried without stopping.
Jake prodded Philip to make him go along in front of him. He turned the children off into a narrow passage running at right angles from the tunnel they were in. A door was set across this passage and Jake unbolted it. He pushed the children inside the cave there, which looked almost like a small room, for it had benches and a small table. Jake set his lantern down on the table.
You'll be safe here, he said, with a horrid crooked grin. Quite safe. I shan't starve you, don't be afraid of that.
The children were left alone. They heard the door bolted firmly and footsteps dying away. Lucy-Ann still wept.
What a bit of bad luck! said Philip, trying to speak cheerfully. Don't cry, Lucy-Ann.
Why didn't those men know Bill Smugs? said Dinah, puzzled. We know he must bring them food, and probably take away the copper they mine.
Easy to guess, said Philip gloomily. I bet old Bill gave us a wrong name. It sounds pretty peculiar, anyway Bill Smugs I never heard a name like that before, now I come to think of it.
Oh you think it isn't his real name? said Dinah. So of course those men don't know it. Dash! If only we knew his real name, everything would be all right.
What are we going to do? wept Lucy-Ann. I don't like being a prisoner in a copper-mine under the sea. It's horrid.
But it's a very thrilling adventure, Lucy-Ann, said Philip, trying to comfort her.
I don't like a thrilling adventure when I'm in the middle of it, wept Lucy-Ann. Neither did the others, very much. Philip wondered about Jack.
What can have happened to him? he said. I hope he's safe. He'll be able to rescue us if he is.
But at that moment Jack was anything but safe. He had wandered up the tunnel looking for Kiki, had turned into another passage, found Kiki, turned to go back and then had lost his way. He had no idea that the others had been caught. Kiki was on his shoulder, talking softly to herself.
Philip had the map, not Jack. So, once the boy had lost his way, he had no means of discovering how to get back to the main passage. He turned into one tunnel after another, found some of them blocked, turned back, and began wandering helplessly here and there.
Kiki, we're lost, said Jack. He shouted again and again, as loudly as he could, and his voice went echoing through the ancient tunnels very weirdly, coming back to him time and time again. Kiki screeched too, but there was no answering call.
The children shut up in the cell-like cave fell silent after a time. There was nothing to do, nothing to say. Lucy-Ann put her head down on her arms, which she rested on the table, and fell fast asleep, tired out. Dinah and Philip stretched themselves out on the benches and tried to sleep too. But they couldn't.
Philip, we'll just have to escape from here, said Dinah desperately.
Easy to say that, said Philip sarcastically. Not so easy to do. How would you suggest that we escape from a cave set deep in a copper-mine under the sea, a cave which has a stout wooden door to it well bolted on the outside? Don't be foolish.
I've got an idea, Philip, said Dinah at last. Philip grunted. He never had much use for Dinah's ideas, which, as a rule, were rather far-fetched.
Now, do listen, Philip, said Dinah earnestly. It's quite a good idea.
What is it? said Philip grumpily.
Well, Jake or that other man will be sure to come back here sooner or later with food, began Dinah. And when he comes, let's all be gasping and holding our heads and groaning.
Whatever for? asked Philip in astonishment.
So as to make him think the air is very bad in here, and we can't breathe, and we're almost dying, said Dinah. Then maybe he'll let us go out into the passage for a breath of air and you can reel towards him, kick out his light and we'll all escape as quickly as we can.
Philip sat up and looked at his sister with admiration. I really do think you've got an idea there, he said, and Dinah glowed with pleasure. Yes, I really do. We'll have to wake Lucy-Ann and tell her. She must play her part too.
So Lucy-Ann was awakened and told the plan. She thought it was very good. She began to gasp and hold her head and moan in a most realistic way. Philip nodded his head.
That's fine, he said. We'll all do that when we hear Jake or the other fellow coming. Now, whilst there's still time, I'd better find where we are on the underground map, and see exactly what direction to take as soon as we've kicked the man's light out.
He spread the map out on the table and studied it. Yes, he said at last. I see where we are. There's the big cave that was lighted up see? And the little passage off it where we were caught and here's the passage we were taken down and here's the little cave we're in now. Now, listen, girls as soon as I've kicked out the man's light, take my hand and keep close by me. I'll lead you the right way, and find the shaft-hole again. Then up we'll go, join up with old Jack somewhere and get to the boat.
Good, said Dinah, thrilled and at that very moment they heard footsteps coming to the wooden door.


Chapter 21
ESCAPE BUT WHAT ABOUT JACK?

The bolts were shot back. The door opened and Jake appeared, carrying a tin plate of biscuits and a big open tin of sardines. He also put on the table a jug of water.
Then he stared in amazement at the three children. Philip seemed to be choking, and he rolled off his bench on the floor. Dinah was making the most extraordinary noises, and holding her head tightly in her hands. Lucy-Ann appeared to be on the point of being sick, and made the most alarming groans.
What's up? asked Jake.
Air! We want air! gasped Philip. We're choking! Air! Air!
Dinah rolled on to the ground as well. Jake pulled her up and hustled her to the door. He pushed the others out into the passage. He thought they must really be on the point of choking the air in the cell must be used up.
Philip watched his chance and reeled towards Jake as if he could not stand straight. As he came towards him he lifted his right foot, and aimed a mighty kick at the lantern in Jake's hand. It fell and smashed at once, and the light went out. There was a tinkling of glass, a shout from Jake and then Philip sought for the hands of the two frightened girls. He found them and pushed the two hurriedly in front of him towards a passage on the left. Jake, left in the darkness, began to grope about, shouting for the other man.
Olly! Hi, Olly! Bring a lamp! Quick! These dratted kids have fooled me. Hi, Olly!
Philip, trying hard to keep his sense of direction correct, hurried the girls along. Their hearts were beating painfully, and Lucy-Ann really did feel as if she was going to choke now. Soon they had left Jake's shouts behind and were in the wide main passage down which they had come not many hours before. Philip was now using his torch, and it was pleasant to see the thin, bright beam of light.