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

СSome of the villagers must have gone to see what became of them and have got the trucks back on the lines and pushed them to Milling Green,Т said George, trying to reconstruct the long-ago happenings in her mind. СBut they couldnТt do anything about the engine.Т
СThatТs about it,Т said Julian. СMy word, what a shock for the Bartles when they saw the gypsies creeping out at them from the mist, like shadows!Т
СI hope we donТt dream about this tonight,Т said Anne.
They went back to the quarry. СThis wouldnТt be a bad place to camp in,Т said Dick. СThe sand is so dry and so soft. We could make lovely beds for ourselves. We wouldnТt need the tents up, either, because the sides of the quarry shelter us beautifully from the wind.Т
СYes. LetТs camp here,Т said Anne, pleased. СThere are quite a lot of nice holes to store our things in.Т
СWhat about water?Т asked George. СWe want to be fairly near it, donТt we? Timmy, find some water! Drink, Timmy, drink! ArenТt you thirsty! Your tongue looks as if it is, the way you are hanging it out like a flag!Т
Timmy put his head on one side as George talked to him. Water? Drink? He knew what both those words meant! He ran off, sniffing the air. George watched him.
He disappeared round a bush and was away for about half a minute. When he came back George gave a pleased shout.
СHeТs found some water! Look - his mouth is all wet! Timmy, where is it?Т
Timmy wagged his tail vigorously, glad that George was pleased with him. He ran round the bush again and the others followed.
He led them to a little green patch and stopped. A spring bubbled up like a small fountain, dancing a little in the sunshine. The water fell from it into a little channel it had made for itself in the sand, ran away for a short distance, and then disappeared underground again.
СThank you, Tim,Т said George. СJulian, is the water all right to drink here?Т
СWell I can see some that is!Т said Julian, pointing to the right. СThe Bartles must have put a pipe in that bank, look, and caught another spring there, a much bigger one. ItТs as clear as can be. That will do fme for us!Т
СGood,Т said Anne, pleased. СItТs hardly any way from the quarry. ItТs as cold as ice, too - feel!Т
They felt, and then they drank from their palms. How cold and pure! The moor must be full of these little bubbling springs, welling up from underground. That explained the brilliant green patches here and there.
СNow letТs sit down and have some tea,Т said Anne, unpacking the bag she had carried. СItТs too hot to feel really hungry.Т
СOh no, it isnТt,Т said Dick. СSpeak for yourself, Anne!Т
They sat in the sunny quarry, the sand warm to their legs. СFar away from everybody!Т said Anne, pleased. СNobody near us for miles!Т
But she wasnТt quite right. There was somebody much nearer than she thought!

Chapter Thirteen

A NOISE IN THE NIGHT

It was Timmy who first knew there was somebody not far off. He pricked up his ears and listened. George saw him.
СWhat is it, Tim?Т she said. СNobody is coming here, surely?Т
Timmy gave a tiny growl, as if he were not quite sure of himself. Then he leapt up, his tail wagging, and tore out of the quarry!
СWhereТs he gone to?Т said George astonished. СGosh, here he is, back again!Т
So he was, and with him was a funny little hearthrug of a dog - yes, Liz! She was not quite sure of her welcome and crawled up to the children on her tummy, looking more like a hearthrug than ever!
Timmy leapt round her in delight. She might have been his very best friend, he was so delighted! George patted the funny little dog and Julian looked thoughtful.
СI hope this doesnТt mean that we are anywhere near the gypsy camp,Т he said. СItТs quite likely that the lines might end somewhere near them. IТve rather lost my sense of direction.Т
СOh goodness, I do HOPE weТre not near their camp!Т said Anne, in dismay. СThose old-time gypsies must have camped pretty near to the BartlesТ quarry before they attacked them, so perhaps the present camp is near too.Т
СWell, whatТs it matter if it is?Т said Dick. СWhoТs afraid of them? IТm not!Т
They all sat still, thinking hard, Liz licking AnneТs hand. And in the silence they heard an all-too-familiar sound.
Sniff! Sniff!
СSniffer!Т called George. СCome on out, wherever you are hiding. I can hear you!Т
A pair of legs stuck out from a great clump of heather at the edge of the quarry, and then the whole of SnifferТs wiry little body slithered out and down into the sand. He sat there, grinning at them, half-afraid to come any nearer in case they were cross with him.
СWhat are you doing here?Т said Dick. СNot spying on us, I hope?Т
СNo,Т said Sniffer, СOur camp isnТt very far away. Liz heard you, I think, and ran off. I followed her.Т
СOh blow. We hoped we werenТt near anyone else,Т said George. СDoes anyone at your camp know weТre here.Т
СNot yet,Т said Sniffer. СBut theyТll find out. They always do. I wonТt tell, though, if you donТt want me to.Т
Dick tossed him a biscuit. СWell, keep your mouth shut if you can,Т he said. СWeТre not interfering with anyone and we donТt want anyone interfering with us. See?Т
Sniffer nodded. He suddenly put his hand in his pocket and pulled out the red and white hanky that George had given him. It was still clean and beautifully folded.
СNot dirty yet!Т he said to George.
СWell, it ought to be,Т said George. СItТs for your sniffs. No donТt use your coat-sleeve.Т
Sniffer simply could not understand why he should use a beautiful clean hanky when he had a dirty coat-sleeve. He put the hanky carefully back into his pocket.
Liz ran to him and fawned on him. Sniffer fondled the peculiar little creature, and then Timmy went over and played with them both. The four finished their tea, threw Sniffer one last biscuit, and got up to put their things away safely. Now that Sniffer was about, and the gypsy camp near, they didnТt feel it was terribly safe to leave anything unguarded or unhidden.
СScoot off, now, Sniffer,Т said Julian. СAnd no spying on us, mind! Timmy will know immediately you arrive anywhere near, and come hunting for you. If you want to see us, give a whistle when you get near. No creeping or slipping into the quarry. Understand?Т
СYes,Т said Sniffer, standing up. He took the hanky from his pocket again, waved it at George, and disappeared with Liz at his heels.
СIТm just going to see exactly how near to the gypsy camp we are,Т Julian said. He walked to the entrance of the quarry and up on to the moor. He looked in the direction that Sniffer had gone. Yes, there was the hill in the shelter of which the gypsies had their caravans. It wasnТt more than a quarter of a mile away. Blow! Still, it was far enough for the gypsies not to discover them, unless by chance.