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

СOh! ItТs the Barnies! DonТt you remember Mrs Penruthlan telling us about them?Т said Anne. СThe strolling players, who play to the country-folk around, in the barns. What fun!Т
The Barnies waved to the watching children. One man, dressed in velvet and lace, with a sword at his side, and a wig of curly hair, threw a leaflet or two to them. They read them with interest.

THE BARNIES ARE COMING!

They will sing, they will dance, they will fiddle.
They will perform plays of all kinds.
Edith Wells, the nightingale singer.
Bonnie Carter, the old-time dancer.
Janie Coster and her fiddle.
John Walters, finest tenor in the world.
Georgie Roth - heТll make you laugh!
And Others.
We also present Clopper, the Funniest Horse in the World!

THE BARNIES ARE COMING!

СThisТll be fun!Т said George, pleased. She called out to the passing wagons: СWill you be playing at Tremannon Farm?Т
СOh, yes!Т called a man with bright, merry eyes. СWe always play there. You staying there?Т
СYes,Т said George. СWeТll look out for you all. Where are you going now?Т
СTo Poltelly Farm for the night,Т called the man. СWeТll be at Tremannon soon.Т
The wagons passed, and the gay, queerly-dressed players went out of sight. СGood,Т said Dick. СTheir show may not be first-rate, but itТs sure to be funny. They looked a merry lot.Т
СAll but the man driving the front cart. Did you see him?Т said Anne. СHe looked pretty grim, I thought.Т
Nobody else had noticed him. СHe was probably the owner of the Barnies,Т said Dick. СAnd has got all the organization on his shoulders. Well, come on. WhereТs Timmy?Т
They looked round for him, and George frowned. Yan had followed them as usual, and Timmy was playing with him. Bother Yan! Was he going to trail them all day and every day?
They went back to the peaceful farm-house. Hens were still clucking around and ducks were quacking. A horse stamped somewhere near by, and the grunting of pigs came on the air. It all looked quite perfect.
Footsteps came through the farm-yard, and Mr Penruthlan came by. He grunted at them and went into a barn.
Anne spoke in almost a whisper. СI can imagine him living in the older days and being a wrecker. I can really!Т
СYes! I know what you mean,Т said Dick. СHeТs so fierce-looking and determined. WhatТs the word I want? Ruthless! IТm sure he would have made a good wrecker!Т
СDo you suppose there are any wreckers now, and that light really is flashed to make ships go on the rocks?Т said George.
СWell, I shouldnТt have thought there were any wreckers in this country, anyway,Т said Dick. СI canТt imagine that such a thing would be tolerated for an instant. But if that light is flashed, what is it flashed for?Т
СOld Grandad said there hadnТt been any wrecks on this coast for ages,Т said Julian. СI think really that the old man is wandering a bit in his mind about that light!Т
СBut Yan said he had seen it, too,Т said Anne.
СIТm not sure that YanТs as truthful as he might be!Т said Julian.
СWhy did Grandad say that the light isnТt fiashed by mortal hands now?Т asked George. СIt must be! I canТt imagine any other hands working it! He surely doesnТt think that his father is still doing it?Т
There was a pause. СWe could easily find out if we popped over to that tower and had a look at it,Т said Dick.
There was another pause. СI thought we said we wouldnТt go poking about in anything mysterious,Т said Anne.
СThis isnТt really mysterious,Т argued Dick. СItТs just a story an old man remembers, and I really canТt believe that that light still flashes on a wild stormy night. Grandad must have seen lightning or something. Why donТt we settle the matter for good and all and go and explore the old house with the tower?Т
СI should like to,Т said George firmly. СI never was keen on this УKeep away from anything unusualФ idea we suddenly had. WeТve got Timmy with us - we canТt possibly come to any harm!Т
СAll right,Т said Anne, with a sigh. СI give up. WeТll go if you want to.Т
СGood old Anne,Т said Dick, giving her a friendly slap on the back. СBut you neednТt come, you know. Why donТt you stay behind and hear our story when we come back?Т
'Certainly not,Т said Anne, quite cross. СI may not want to go as much as you do, but IТm not going to be left out of anything, so donТt think it!Т
СAll right. ItТs settled then,Т said Julian. СWe take our opportunity and go as soon as we can, Tomorrow, perhaps.Т
Mrs Penruthlan came to the door and called them. СYour high tea is ready. You must be hungry. Come along indoors.Т
The sun suddenly went in. Julian looked up at the sky in surprise. СMy word, look at those black clouds!Т he said. СThereТs a storm coming! Well, I thought there might be, itТs been so terribly hot all day!Т
СA storm!Т said George. СThat light flashes on wild and stormy nights! Oh, Julian, do you think it will flash tonight? CanТt we - canТt we go and see?Т


Chapter Seven