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

СSomeoneТs coming, itТs the GuvТnor coming back!Т said Julian in alarm. СQuick, gallop out of the door before weТre caught.Т
And so, to the GuvТnorТs enormous surprise Clopper galloped very clumsily out of the barn door just as he was coming in, almost knocking him over. At first he didnТt realize it was Clopper, then he let out a loud roar and gave chase.
СI canТt see,Т panted poor Julian. СWhere am I going? Oh thank goodness, itТs an empty stable! Quick, letТs un-zip ourselves, and youТll have to take this head off for me, I canТt manage it myself.Т
But alas and alack! The zip got stuck and wouldnТt come undone. The boys tugged and pulled but it wasnТt a bit of good. It looked as if they had got to be Clopper for the rest of the evening!

Chapter Twelve

A TRIP TO THE TOWER

СBlow this zip!Т said Julian, desperately. СItТs got absolutely stuck! ItТs so dificult for us to undo it from the inside of the beastly horse. Oh, this head. I must get it off.Т
He pushed at the head but somehow or other it had got wedged on him, and Julian felt that short of pulling his own head off he would certainly never get ClopperТs off!
The horse sat down, exhausted, looking a very peculiar shape. Julian leaned the head against the wall of the stable and panted. СIТm so hot,Т he complained. СDick, for goodness sake think of something. WeТll have to get help. But I darenТt go back to the barn because of the GuvТnor, and we really canТt appear in the kitchen like this. Everyone would have a fit, and Sid and Mr Binks would be furious with us.
СI think we were asses to try this,Т said Dick, pulling viciously at the zip again. СUgh! What use are zips, IТd like to know. I feel most uncomfortable. CanТt you get in some other position, Ju ? I seem to be standing'С on my head or something.Т
СLetТs go and scout round the kitchen,Т said Julian trying to get up. Dick tried to get up too, but they both fell down on top of one another. They tried again and this time stood up rather shakily.
СItТs not as easy as it looks, is it, to be a two-man horse,Т said Julian. СI wish I could get these eye holes in the right place. IТm absolutely blind!Т
However, he managed to adjust them at last, and the two boys made their way cautiously and clumsily out of the stable. They went carefully over the farm-yard, Julian counting one-two, one-two, under his breath so that they walked in time with one another.
They came to the kitchen door and debated whether to try and catch someoneТs attention without going in. There was a fairly large window near by, open because of the warmth of the kitchen. Julian decided to take a look through to see if George or Anne were anywhere near. If so, he could call them outside.
But he reckoned without the clumsiness of the big head! It knocked against the window-frame, and everyone looked up. There were shrieks at once.
СA horse! Farmer Penruthlan, one of your horses is loose!Т cried a villager who was helping with the supper. СHe looked in at the window!Т
The farmer went out at once. Julian and Dick backed hurriedly away and trotted in very good style over the farm-yard. Where now? The farmer saw their moving figure in the darkness and went after them.
Trot-trot-trot went the horse desperately then gallop-gallop-gallop! But that finished them, because the back and front legs didnТt gallop together, got entangled and down went the horse! The farmer ran up in alarm, thinking that his horse had fallen.
СTake your knee out of my mouth,Т mumbled an angry voice, and the farmer stopped suddenly, astounded to hear a human voice coming from the horse. Then he realized what was happening - it was the stage horse with two people in it! Who? It sounded like Julian and Dick. He gave the horse a gentle kick.
СDonТt,Т said DickТs voice. СFor goodnessТ sake whoever it is, un-zip us! WeТre suffocating!Т
The farmer let out a terrific guffaw, bent down and felt for the zip. One good pull and the horseТs canvas skin came in half as the zip was undone.
The boys clambered out thankfully. СOh - er - thanks awfully, Mr Penruthlan,Т said Julian, rather embarrassed. СWe - er - we were just having a canter round.Т
Mr Penruthlan gave another hearty roar and went off towards the kitchen to finish his meal. Dick and Julian felt very thankful. They carried the legs and head of the horse cautiously towards the barn. They peeped in at a window. The GuvТnor was there, striding up and down, looking extremely angry.
Julian waited till he was at the far end of the barn, and then hurriedly pushed the legs and head in at the door, as quietly as he could. When the GuvТnor turned round to stride angrily back the first thing he saw was the bundle that was Clopper! He raced over to it at once, and looked out of the door.
But Julian and Dick had gone. They could own up the next day when things were not quite so exciting! They slid quietly into the kitchen, feeling hot and untidy, hoping that nobody would notice them.
George and Anne saw them at once. George came over. СWhat have you been doing? YouТve been ages and ages. Do you want any more to eat before everything is finished up?Т
СTell you everything afterwards,Т said Julian. СYes, we do want something to eat. IТve hardly had a thing yet. IТm starving!Т
Mr Penruthlan was back in his place eating again. He pointed with his knife at the boys sliding into their seats. СOck-ock-oo,Т he said, beginning to laugh, and added a few more equally puzzling words.
СOh, theyТve been to help you catch the horse that peeped in at the window, have they?Т said Mrs Penruthlan, nodding. СWhich horse was it?Т
СClopper!Т said the farmer, quite clearly, and gave a loud guffaw again. Nobody understood what he meant, so nothing more was said. George and Anne guessed, though, and grinned at the two boys.
It was a wonderful evening altogether, and everyone was sorry that it had to come to an end. The village women and the two girls stacked the dirty dishes and plates and the boys carried them to the sink to be washed. The Barnies gave a hand where they could, and the big kitchen was full of chatter and laughter. It was very pleasant indeed.
But at last the kitchen was empty again, and the big lamp turned out. The village women went home, the Barnies departed. Old Grandad took YanТs hand and went back to his sheep, saying dolefully that heТd Сet a mort too much and wouldnТt be able to sleep a wink, so he wouldnТt.Т
СNever mind. It was worth it, Grandad,Т said Mrs Penruthlan, and shut and locked the kitchen door. She looked round, tired but happy. There was nothing she liked better than to spend hours upon hours preparing delicious dishes for people and then see them eaten in no time at all! The children thought she was truly wonderful.
They were soon all in bed and asleep. The Penruthlans were asleep, too. Only the kitchen cat was awake, watching for mice in the kitchen. She didnТt like a crowd. She liked the kitchen to herself!
Next day was fair and warm, though a stiff breeze still blew. Mrs Penruthlan spoke to the four children at breakfast-time.
СIТll be busy today cleaning up the mess. How would you like to take a picnic lunch of some of the remains of the supper and stay out all day? ItТs a nice day, and youТll enjoy it.Т
Nothing could be better! Julian had already planned to make his way to the old tower once used by the Wreckers, and explore it. Now they would have all day to do it in!
СOh, yes, Mrs Penruthlan, weТd love to do that,Т he said. СLet the girls get the picnic stuff ready for us. YouТve plenty to do!Т
But no, Mrs Penruthlan wouldnТt let anyone deal with food but herself. She proceeded to pack up enough food for twelve people, or so Julian thought when he saw her preparations!
They set off together happily, with Timmy at their heels. The four farm dogs accompanied them for some way, tearing on in front and then tearing back trying to make Timmy as mad as they were. But Timmy was sedate, walking along as if to say, СIТm taking these children for a walk, IТve no time to play with you. YouТre only farm dogs!Т
СDo we want Yan with us if he turns up?Т asked George. СDo we particularly want him to know what we are doing today?Т
Julian considered. СNo, I donТt think we do want him with us. We may find out something we donТt want him to know, or to spread around.Т
СRight,Т said George. СWell, just you send him off, then, if he comes. IТm fed up with him. Thank goodness heТs a bit cleaner than he was!Т
Yan did appear, of course. He came up silently on his bare feet. Nobody would have known he was trotting behind if it hadnТt been for Timmy. Timmy quite happily left GeorgeТs heels and went to say how-do-you-do to Yan, jumping up at him in delight.
George turned round to see where Timmy was, and saw Yan. СJulian, thereТs Yan!Т she said.
СHallo, Yan,Т said Julian. СBuzz off today. WeТre going somewhere alone.Т
СI come too,Т said Yan, strutting along behind. He still looked fairly clean.