"Blyton, Enid - Famous Five 13 - Five Go to Mystery Moor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)

СWhat do you do on the moor?Т asked George, as she followed Sniffer across the field and up the hill to where the caravans had stood. Now only one was left - SnifferТs.
СPlay around,Т said Sniffer, and gave an enormous sniff. George gave him a shove in the back.
СSniffer! What did I give you the hanky for? DonТt do that! It gets on my nerves!Т
Sniffer used his sleeve at once, but fortunately George didnТt notice. She had now come to the caravan and was staring at it. She thought of SnifferТs answer to her question a minute or two back.
СYou said you just played around on the moor. But what does your father do, and your uncle and grandad and all the rest of the men? ThereТs nothing to do there at all, as far as I can see, and no farmhouse to beg eggs or milk or anything from.Т
Sniffer shut up like a clam. He was just about to sniff and thought better of it. He stared at George, his mouth set in an obstinate line.
George looked at him impatiently. СCaptain Johnson said you and your caravans went there every three months,Т she said. СWhat for? There must be some reason?Т
СWell,Т said Sniffer, looking away from her, Сwe make pegs, and baskets, and...Т
СI know that! All gypsies make things to sell,Т said George. СBut you donТt need to go into the middle of a deserted moor to make them. You can do them just as well in a village, or sitting in a field near a farmhouse. Why go to such a lonely place as the moor?Т
Sniffer said nothing, but bent over a queer little arrangement of sticks set on the path beside his caravan. George saw them and bent over them too, her question forgotten.
СOh! Is that a patrin? A gypsy message! What does it mean?Т
There were two sticks, one long and one short, neatly arranged in the shape of a cross. A little farther up on the path were a few single, straight sticks, all pointing in the same direction.
СYes,Т said Sniffer, very glad to have the subject changed. СItТs our way of telling things to those who may come after us. See the sticks in the shape of the cross? ThatТs a patrin that says weТve been along this way and weТre going in the direction that the long stick points.Т
СI see,Т said George. СHow simple! But what about these four straight sticks, all pointing the same way too. What do they mean?Т
СThey mean that the travellers went in caravans,Т said Sniffer, giving a sudden sniff. СSee, four sticks, four caravans, going that way!Т
СI see,Т said George, making up her mind that she herself would evolve quite a few СpatrinsТ for use at school when they went for walks. СAre there any more УpatrinsФ Sniffer?Т
СPlenty,Т said the boy. СLook, when I leave here, I shall put a patrin like this!Т he picked a large leaf from a nearby tree, and then a small one. He placed them side by side, and weighted them down with small stones.
СWhat in the world does that mean?Т said George.
СWell, itТs a patrin, a message, to say that me and my little dog have gone in the caravan too,Т said Sniffer, picking up the leaves. СSuppose my father came back to find me, and he saw those leaves there, heТd know IТd gone on with my dog. ItТs simple. Big leaf for me, little leaf for my dog!Т
СYes. I like it,Т said George, pleased. СNow letТs look at the caravan.Т
It was an old-fashioned kind of caravan, not very big, and with high wheels. The door and the steps down were in front. The shafts rested on the ground waiting for Clip to come back. The caravan was black, with red designs on it here and there.
George went up the steps. СIТve been inside a few caravans,Т she said. СBut never one quite like this.Т
She peeped in curiously. It certainly wasnТt very clean, but it wasnТt as dirty as she expected either.
СItТs not smelly, is it?Т said Sniffer, quite anxiously. СI tidied it up today, seeing as how I thought you were all visiting me. ThatТs our bed at the back. We all sleep on it.Т
George stared at the big bunk-like bed stretched at the end of the caravan, covered with a bright quilt. She imagined the whole family sleeping there, close together. Well at least they would be warm in the winter.
СDonТt you get hot in the summer, sleeping in this small caravan?Т asked George.
СOh no, only my grandma sleeps here then,Т said Sniffer, swallowing a sniff in a hurry, before George could hear it. СMe and the others sleep under the caravan. Then if it rains it donТt matter.Т
СWell, thanks for showing me so many things,Т said George, looking round at the cupboards, the little locker-seats, and the over-big chest of drawers. СHow you all get in here is a miracle.Т
She didnТt go in. Even though Sniffer had tidied up, there was still a distinctly peculiar smell hanging about!
СCome and see us tomorrow, Sniffer,Т she said, going down the steps. СClip may be all right by then. And Sniffer, donТt you forget youТve got a hanky now!Т
СI wonТt forget,Т said Sniffer, proudly. СIТll keep it as clean as can be, Master George!Т


Chapter Eight

SNIFFER MAKES A PROMISE

George was feeling very lonely by the time the evening came. How had the others got on without her? Had they missed her at all? Perhaps they hadnТt even thought of her!
СAnyway, they didnТt have you, Timmy!Т said George. СYou wouldnТt go off and leave me, would you?Т
Timmy pressed against her, glad to see that she was happier again. He wondered where the others were, and where they had gone to all day.
There was suddenly a clattering of hooves in the stableyard and George flew to the door. Yes, they were back! How should she behave? She felt cross and relieved and rather humble and glad all at once! She stood there, not knowing whether to frown or to smile.
The others made up her mind for her. СHallo, George!Т shouted Dick. СWe did miss you!Т
СHowТs your head?Т called Anne. СI hope itТs better!Т
СHallo!Т called Henry. СYou ought to have come. WeТve had a super day!Т
СCome and help us stable the horses, George,Т shouted Julian. СTell us what youТve been doing!Т
Timmy had sped over to them, barking in delight. George found her legs running towards them too, a welcoming smile on her face.
СHallo!Т she called. СLet me help! Did you really miss me? I missed you too.Т
The boys were very relieved to see that George was herself again. Nothing more was said about her headache! She busied herself unsaddling the horses and listening to their story of the day. Then she told them about Sniffer and his patrins, and how she had given him a brand-new handkerchief.
СBut IТm sure he thinks heТs got to keep it spotlessly clean!Т she said. СHe never used it once when I was with him. ThereТs the supper-bell, weТll only just be in time! Are you hungry?Т
СYou bet we are!Т said Dick. СThough after Mrs JohnsonТs sandwiches I never thought IТd be able to eat any supper at all. HowТs Clip?Т