"Blyton, Enid - Famous Five 12 - Five Go Down to The Sea" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)

They had had a quick look at the front door, when they had stood in the hall. It was locked and bolted! Mr Penruthlan was not out tonight, that was certain.
They walked steadily through the gale, gasping when it caught them full in the face. They each had their warm jerseys on, for it was quite cold, and the wind blew all the time.
Across the fields. Over one stile after another. Across more fields. The boys stopped once or twice to make sure they were right. They were relieved when they came to the great flock of sheep, and knew they must be near the shepherdТs hut.
СThereТs the hut,Т whispered Julian, at last. СYou can just see its dark outline. We must go quietly now.Т
They stole by the hut. Not a sound came from inside, and no candle-light showed through the cracks. Old Grandad must be fast asleep! Julian pictured Yan curled up with him on their bed of old sheepskins.
The boys went quietly along. Now, they must make for the spot from which the old tower could be seen, and it must be the exact spot, for the tower could be seen from nowhere else.
They couldnТt find it, or, if they had found it, and were standing on it, they were unable to see the tower far off in the darkness.
СIf it didnТt happen to be flashing a light, we wouldnТt know if we were looking in the right direction or not!Т said Julian. СWeТd never see it in the dark. Why didnТt we think of that? Somehow I thought weТd see the tower whether it was lighted up or not. WeТre asses.Т
They wandered about a little, continually looking in the direction where they thought the tower should be. But they saw nothing at all. What a waste of a long walk!
Then Julian suddenly gave an exclamation. СWhoТs that? I saw you there! Who is it?Т
Dick jumped. What was this now? Then someone sidled up against them both, and a voice spoke timidly.
СItТs me, Yan!Т
СGood gracious! You turn up everywhere!Т said Julian. СI suppose you were watching out for us.Т
СIss. Come with me,Т said Yan, and tugged at JulianТs arm. The two boys went with him, a few yards to the right, then higher up the hill. Then Yan stopped.
The boys saw the distant light at once. There was no doubt about it at all! It flashed continually, rather like a small lighthouse light. Each time it flashed they could see the faint outline of the tower.
СIt seems to be some kind of signal,Т said Julian. СFlash - flash-flash-flash - flash-flash - flash. My word, how weird. WhoТs doing it, and why? Surely there are no wreckers nowadays!Т
СGrandad says itТs his old Dad,Т said Yan, in an awed voice. Julian laughed.
СDonТt be silly! All the same, itТs a bit of a mystery, isnТt it, Dick? Could any ship out at sea be deceived and come near to the shore, and be wrecked? ItТs a wicked night, just the night for great waves to pound a ship to pieces if it came near this coast.Т
СYes. Well, we shall hear tomorrow if there has been a wreck,Т said Dick soberly. СI hope there wonТt be. I canТt bear thinking of it, anyway. Surely, surely there arenТt wreckers here now!Т
СIf there are, they will be creeping down the hidden WreckersТ Way, wherever it is,Т said Julian. СAnd watching for the ship to crash to pieces. Then they will collect sacks upon sacks of booty and creep away back.Т
Dick felt a chill of horror. СShut up, Ju!Т he said, sharply. СDonТt talk like that. Now, what are we going to do about that light.Т
СIТll tell you,Т said Julian, firmly, СWeТre going to find that tower and see whatТs going on. ThatТs what weТre going to do! And as soon as ever we can too, maybe tomorrow!Т


Chapter Ten

GETTING READY FOR THE SHOW

Julian and Dick watched the light for a little longer, and then turned to go back to the farm. The wind was so strong and so cold that even on that summerТs night they found themselves shivering.
СIТm glad you found us, Yan,Т said Dick, putting an arm round the small, shivering boy. СThanks for your help. WeТre going to explore that old tower. Would you like to show us the way to it?Т
Yan shivered all the more, from fright as much as cold. СNo. IТm frit,Т he said. СIТm frit of that tower now.Т
СWhat does he mean, frit?Т said Dick. СShort for frightened, I suppose! All right, Yan. You neednТt come. It is pretty peculiar, I must admit. Now, go back to your hut.Т
Yan shot off in the dark like a scared rabbit. The boys made their way home, not very cautiously, for they felt sure they were the only people out that night. But when they came to the farm-yard they saw something that made them stop suddenly.
СThereТs a light in the big barn!Т whispered Dick. СItТs gone, no, there it is again. ItТs somebody with a torch, flashing it on and off. Who is it?Т
СOne of the Barnies, perhaps,Т whispered back Julian. СLetТs go and see. We know the Barnies are sleeping in the near-by sheds tonight.Т
They tiptoed to the barn and looked through a crack. They saw nothing at first. Then a torch flashed, shedding its light on some of the properties of the Barnies, stacked in a corner, scenery, dresses, coats, and other things.
СSomebodyТs going through the pockets!Т said Julian, indignantly. СLook at that! A thief!Т
СWho is it?Т said Dick. СOne of the Barnies pick-pocketing?Т
For a moment or two the torch lighted up the back of the intruderТs hand in the barn, and the boys stifled an exclamation. They knew that hand! It was covered with black hairs almost as thick as fur!
СMr Penruthlan!Т whispered Dick. СYes, I see itТs him now. Look at his enormous shadow. WhatТs he doing? He must be mad, walking about at night on the hills, stealing into the barn, going through pockets. Look what heТs doing now! Looking in the drawers of that chest the Barnies are going to use in one of their scenes. Yes, heТs mad!Т
Julian felt most uncomfortable. He didnТt like spying on his host like this. What a strange man he was! He told untruths, he crept about at night, he went through peopleТs pockets. Yes, he must be mad! Did Mrs Penruthlan know? She couldnТt know, or she would be unhappy, and she really seemed the most cheerful, gay little person in the world!
СCome on,Т said Julian, in DickТs ear. СHeТs going through everything! Though what he expects to find in the BarniesТ stage clothes and properties, I donТt know. HeТs got a kink! Come on, I really donТt want to spot him taking something, stealing it. It would be so awkward if we had to say we saw him stealing.Т
They left the barn and went back to the farmhouse, creeping in once more at the back door. They looked at the front door. It was shut, but no longer locked or bolted.
The boys went upstairs, puzzled. What a strange night! The howling wind, the flashing light, the furtive man in the barn, they didnТt know what to make of it at all!
СLetТs wake the girls and tell them,Т said Julian. СI feel as if I canТt wait till the morning.Т
George was awake and so was Timmy. Timmy had heard them going out, and had lain awake waiting for them to come back. He had stirred and had awakened George. She was quite prepared to hear a whisper at the door!
СAnne! George! WeТve got some news!Т whispered Julian. Timmy gave a little welcoming whine and leapt off the bed. Soon Anne was awake, too, and the girls were listening in amazement at the boysТ news.
They were almost as surprised to hear about Mr Penruthlan in the barn as to hear about the light actually flashing in the tower.
СSo it was true what old Grandad said, then?Т whispered Anne. СHe had seen the light again. I do think itТs weird, all this. Julian, you donТt think weТll hear of a wreck tomorrow, do you? I couldnТt bear it!Т
СNor could I,Т said George, listening to the wind howling outside. СFancy being wrecked on a night like this, and being dashed on the rocks by those pounding waves. I feel as if we ought to rush off to the caves here and now and see if we can do any rescuing!Т