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

Timmy certainly did. He limped off at top speed on three legs, though really his right fore-paw no longer hurt him. Timmy, youТre a fraud!


Chapter Fifteen

A STARTLING NIGHT

No gypsies came near them that day, not even Sniffer. The evening was as lovely as the day had been, and almost as warm.
СItТs extraordinary!Т said Dick, looking up into the sky. СWhat weather for April! The bluebells will be rushing out soon if the sun goes on being as hot as this!Т
They lay on the sand in the quarry and watched the evening star shine in the sky. It looked very big and bright and round.
Timmy scrabbled round in the sand. СHis paw is much better,Т said George. СThough I notice that he still sometimes holds it up.Т
СOnly when he wants you to say УPoor Timmy, does it hurt!Ф Т said Dick. СHeТs a baby, likes to be fussed!Т
They talked for a while and then Anne yawned. СItТs early, I know - but I believe IТm going to sleep.Т
There was soon a trek to the spring, and everyone sluiced themselves in the cool water. There was only one towel between them, but that did very well. Then they settled down in their sandy beds. The sand was beautifully warm and they did not bother about putting down the rubber sheets. There could not possibly be any dampness in that quarry after it had been baked so much by the hot sun!
СI hope we wake when that plane comes, if it does come,Т said Julian to Dick, as they lay without any covering in their soft, sandy bed. СMy goodness, isnТt it hot! No wonder TimmyТs panting over there!Т
They went to sleep at last, but Dick awoke suddenly, feeling much too hot. Phew! What a night! He lay looking up at the brilliant stars, and then shut his eyes again. But it was no use, he couldnТt go to sleep.
He sat up cautiously, so as not to awake Julian. I think IТll just go and have a squint to see if that big lamp is lighted again, down in that pit by the gypsy camp, he thought.
He went to the edge of the quarry and climbed up. He looked towards the gypsy camp and gave a sudden exclamation. Yes! he thought. ItТs glowing again! I canТt see the lamp, of course, but its light is so jolly powerful that I can easily see the glow it makes. It must be very bright, looked down on from the sky. I wonder if the plane is due to come now that the lamp is lighted.
He listened, and yes, he could distinctly hear a low humming noise from the east. It must be the plane coming again? Would it land this time, and if so, who was in it?
He ran to wake Julian and the girls. Timmy was alert at once, wagging his tail excitedly. He was always ready for anything, even in the middle of the night! Anne and George got up too, very thrilled.
СIs the lamp really alight again? And I can hear the plane too now! Oh, I say! This is exciting! George, Timmy wonТt bark and give us away, will he?Т
СNo. IТve told him to be quiet,Т said George. СHe wonТt make a sound. Listen, the plane is coming nearer!Т
The noise was now loud enough for them to search the starry sky for the plane. Julian gave Dick a nudge. СLook, you can just see it, straight over where the gypsy camp is!Т
Dick managed to pick it out. СItТs very small,Т he said. СSmaller even than I thought it was last night. Look, itТs coming down!Т
But it wasnТt. It merely swept low, and then went round in a circle, as it had done the night before. It rose a little again and then came in low once more, almost over the boysТ heads.
Then something extraordinary happened. Something fell not far from Julian, something that bounced and then came to rest! It made a thud as it fell, and all four jumped. Timmy gave a startled whine.
Thud! Something else fell. Thud, thud, thud! Anne gave a squeal. СAre they trying to bomb us or something. Julian, what are they doing?Т
Thud! Thud! Julian ducked at the last two thuds, they sounded so near. He took hold of Anne and pulled her down into the quarry, calling to Dick and George.
СGet down here, quickly! Force yourselves into the caves somewhere! We shall get hit!Т
They ran across the quarry as the plane swooped round in a circle once more and then again began dropping the things that went Сthud! thud!Т. Some even fell into the quarry this time. Timmy got the shock of his life when one bounced in front of his nose and rolled away. He yelped and tore after George.
Soon they were all safely squeezed into the little caves that lined the sides of the quarry. The plane swept round once more, up and then round, and the thud-thudding began again. The four could hear that some of the thuds were actually in the quarry again and they were thankful they were well sheltered.
СWell, nothing is exploding,Т said Dick, thankfully. СBut what on earth is the plane dropping? And why? This is a most peculiar adventure to have.Т
СItТs probably a dream,Т said Julian, and laughed. СNo, not even a dream could be so mad. Here we are, snuggling into sandy caves in a quarry on Mystery Moor, while a plane drops something all round us in the middle of the night! Quite mad.Т
СI believe the planeТs going away now,Т said Dick. СItТs circled round but hasnТt dropped anything. Now itТs climbing, itТs going away! The engine doesnТt sound nearly so loud. Goodness, when we were standing out there at the edge of the quarry, I almost thought the plane would take my head off; it was so low!Т
СI thought that too,Т said Anne, very glad that there was to be no more swooping down and dropping dozens of unknown things. СIs it safe to go out?Т
СOh yes,Т said Julian, scrambling out of the sand. СCome on. We shall easily hear if the plane comes back again. I want to see what it has dropped!Т
In great excitement they ran to get the parcels. The stars gave so much light on that clear night that the four did not even need a torch.
Julian picked up something first. It was a firm, flattish parcel, done up well, sewn into a canvas covering. He examined it.
СNo name. Nothing,Т he said. СThis is most exciting. LetТs have three guesses whatТs inside.Т
СBacon for breakfast, I hope!Т said Anne at once.
СIdiot,Т said Julian, getting out a knife to slit the string threads that sewed up the canvas. СI guess itТs smuggled goods of some sort. ThatТs what that plane was doing, I should think, flying over from France, and dropping smuggled goods in a pre-arranged place, and I suppose the gypsies pick them up, and take them away, well hidden in their caravans, to deliver them somewhere. Very clever!Т
СOh Julian, is that the explanation?Т said Anne. СWhat would be in the parcels then, cigarettes?Т
СNo,Т said Julian. СThe parcels wouldnТt be so heavy if they only contained cigarettes. There, IТve slit the threads at last!Т
The others crowded round to see. George took her torch out of her pocket so that they could see really well. She flashed it on.
Julian ripped off the canvas covering. Next came some strong brown paper. He ripped that off too.
Then came strong cardboard, tied round with string. That was undone as well, and the cardboard fell to the ground.
СNow, what have we got?Т said Julian, excited. СThin sheets of paper, dozens and dozens of them packed together. Shine your torch nearer, George.Т
There was a silence as all the four craned over JulianТs hands.
СWhew! I say! Gosh, do you see what they are?Т said Julian, in awe. СAmerican money, dollar notes. But look what they are, one hundred-dollar notes! And my word there are scores and scores of them in this one packet.Т
The four stared in amazement as Julian riffled through the packet of notes. However much would they be worth?