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

СI hadnТt thought of that,Т said Julian. How slowly the time went by. They yawned, talked, fell silent, argued and played with Timmy. JulianТs torch flickered out and they took DickТs instead.
СGood thing we brought two torches!Т said Anne.
Half past nine came and they all began to feel sleepy.
СI vote we try to go to sleep,Т said Dick, yawning hugely. СThereТs a sandy spot over there, softer to lie on than this rock. What about trying to sleep?Т
They all thought it was a good idea and went to the sandy spot. It certainly was better than the hard rock. They wriggled about in the sand and made dents for their bodies to lie in.
СItТs still hard,Т complained George. СOh, Timmy darling, donТt snuffle all round my face. Lie down beside me and Anne and go to sleep, too!Т
Timmy lay down on GeorgeТs legs. He put his nose on his paws and heaved a huge sigh.
СI hope TimmyТs not going to do that all night,Т said Anne. СWhat a draught!Т
Although they thought they couldnТt possibly go to sleep, they did. Timmy did, too, though he kept one ear open and one eye ready to open. He was on guard! No one could open that door or even come near it without Timmy hearing!
At about eleven oТclock Timmy opened one eye and cocked both ears. He listened, not taking his head off GeorgeТs legs. He opened the other eye.
Then he sat up and listened harder. George woke up when he moved and stretched out a hand to Timmy. СTim, lie down,Т she whispered. But Timmy didnТt. He gave a small whine.
George sat up, fully awake. Why was Timmy whining? Was there something going on outside the door, men passing perhaps, on their way to the cove? Had the light been flashing out to sea and had it brought in the boat the men were waiting for?
She put her hand on TimmyТs collar. СWhat is it?Т she whispered, expecting Timmy to growl when he next heard something. But he didnТt growl. He whined again.
Then he shook off GeorgeТs hand and went to the door. George switched on her torch, puzzled. Timmy scraped at the door and whined again. But still he didnТt growl.
СJu! I believe someone is at the door!Т called George, suddenly, in a low voice. СI believe Timmy can hear a search-party or something. Wake up!Т
Everyone awoke suddenly. George repeated her words again. СTimmyТs not growling. That means itТs not our enemies he hears,Т she added. СHeТd growl like anything at the man who locked us in.Т
СBe quiet for a moment and listen,Т said Julian. СLetТs see if we can hear anything ourselves. We havenТt got TimmyТs sharp ears, but we might be able to hear something.Т
They sat absolutely still, listening. Then Julian nudged Dick. He had heard something. СQuiet!Т he breathed. They listened again, hardly breathing.
They heard a little scrabbling noise at the door. Then it stopped. George expected Timmy to break out into a fusillade of barks at once, but he didnТt. He stood there with his head on one side and his ears cocked. He gave an excited little whine and suddenly scraped at the door again.
Somebody whispered outside the door, and Timmy whined and ran to George and then back to the door again. Everyone was puzzled.
Julian got up and went to the door himself, his feet making no sound. Yes, there was most certainly somebody outside, two people, perhaps, whispering to one another?
СWhoТs there?Т said Julian suddenly. СI can hear you outside. Who is it?Т
There was dead silence for a moment, and then a small familiar voice answered softly:
'ItТs me. Yan.Т
СYan! Gosh! Is it really you?Т
СIss.Т
There was an amazed silence in the cave. Yan! Yan at this time of night outside the door of the very cave they were locked in! Were they dreaming?
Timmy went mad when he heard Yan speaking to Julian. He flung himself at the door, barking and yelping. Julian put his hand on his collar. СBe quiet, idiot! YouТll spoil everything! Be quiet!Т
Timmy stopped. Julian spoke to Yan again. СYan, have you got a light?Т
СNo. No light. It is dark here,Т said Yan. СCan I come to you?Т
СYes, of course. Listen, Yan. Do you know how to unlock and unbolt a door?Т asked Julian, wondering whether the half-wild boy knew even such simple things.
СIss,Т said Yan. СAre you locked in?Т
СYes,Т said Julian. СBut the key may be in the lock. Feel and see. Feel for the bolts, too. Slide them back and turn the key if there is one.Т
The four in the cave held their breath as they heard YanТs hands wandering over the stout door in the dark, tapping here and there to find the bolts and the lock.
Then they heard the bolts being slid smoothly back. How they hoped their captor had left the key in the lock!
СHere is a key,Т said YanТs voice suddenly. СBut it is so stiff. My hand isnТt strong enough to turn it.Т
СTry both hands at once,Т said Julian urgently.
They heard Yan trying, panting with his efforts. But the key would not turn.
СBlow!Т said Dick. СSo near and yet so far!Т
Anne pushed Dick out of the way, an idea suddenly flooding into her mind. СYan! Listen to me, Yan. Take the key out of the lock and push it under the bottom of the door. Do you hear me?Т
СIss, I hear,Т said Yan, and they heard him tugging at the key. There was a sharp noise as it came suddenly out of the lock. Then, lo and behold! it appeared under the bottom of the door, slid through carefully by Yan!
Julian snatched it up and put it into the lock his side. He turned the key, and unlocked the door. What a wonderful bit of luck!


Chapter Sixteen

WRECKERSТ WAY

Julian flung open the door. Timmy leapt past him and yelped with delight to find Yan standing outside. He fawned on the boy and licked him, and Yan laughed.
СLetТs get out of here, quick!Т said Dick. СThat man may be along at any moment, you canТt tell.Т