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

The two boys and Anne swerved over to Henry. She was now off her horse, and was bending over, scraping away at the heather.
СLook, it seems like rails, or something,Т said Henry. СVery old and rusty. But they canТt be, surely?Т
Everyone was now down on their knees, scraping sand and heather away. Julian sat back and considered.
СYes, itТs rails. Old ones, as you say. But what in the world were rails laid down here for?Т
СI canТt think,Т said Henry. СI only caught sight of them by chance, theyТre so overgrown. I couldnТt believe my eyes!Т
СThey must lead from somewhere to somewhere!Т said Dick. СPerhaps there was a quarry, or something on the moor and they ran little engines with trucks there, to fetch the sand, and take it back to town to sell.Т
СThatТs about it,Т said Julian. СItТs very sandy here, as we noticed. Good, fine sand. Maybe there is a quarry on the moor. Well, that way, behind us goes right out on the moor, so this way must lead back to some town or village, probably Milling Green or somewhere like that.Т
СYes. YouТre right,Т said Dick. СIn which case, if we follow the lines along, weТll get back to civilization sooner or later!Т
СWell, seeing that we seem to be more or less lost, that would be quite a good idea!Т said Henry. She mounted her horse again and rode along the lines.
СTheyТre fairly easy to see!Т she called. СIf you ride between them, that is, because they go so straight.Т
The lines ran steadily over the moor, sometimes very overgrown, and in about half an hourТs time Henry gave a cry and pointed forward. СHouses! I thought weТd soon come to some place!Т
СIt is Milling Green!Т said Julian, as the rails came to a sudden end, and they rode out into a small cart-road.
СWell, we havenТt far to go now, to get to the stables,Т said Henry, pleased. СI say, wouldnТt it be fun to follow those lines all across the moor and see where they really lead to?Т
СYes. We might do that one day,Т said Julian. СGosh, itТs getting late. I wonder how old George has been getting on today!Т
They walked quickly along to the stables, thinking of George. Would she have retired to bed? Would she still be cross, or worse still, hurt and grieved? It was anybodyТs guess!

Chapter Seven

GEORGE, SNIFFER AND LIZ

George had had quite an interesting day. First she had gone down to help Captain Johnson do ClipТs leg again and bandage it up. The little skewbald stood very patiently, and George felt a sudden liking for the ugly little creature.
СThanks, George,Т said Captain Johnson, who, to her relief, had said nothing about her not having gone riding with the others. СNow would you like to come and put jumps up for the youngsters? TheyТre longing to do some more jumping.Т
George found that it was quite amusing to teach the younger ones how to jump. They were so very very proud of themselves when they went over even a foot-high jump on their little ponies.
After that Sniffer arrived, accompanied by a peculiar little mongrel called Liz. Liz was a bit of a spaniel, a bit of a poodle, and odd bits of something else - and looked rather like a small, walking hearth-rug of black curly fur.
Timmy was amazed to see this walking mat, and sat and watched Liz sniffing here and there for some time, before he came to the conclusion that it really was some kind of dog. He gave a sharp little bark to see what this comical creature would do when she heard it.
Liz took no notice at all. She had unearthed a small bone, which smelt extremely interesting. Timmy considered that all bones within the radius of at least a mile, belonged to him and him alone. So he ran over to Liz at once and gave a small, warning growl.
Liz immediately dropped the bone humbly at his feet, then sat up on her hind-legs and begged. Timmy eyed her in astonishment. Then Liz stood up on her hindlegs and walked daintily all round Timmy and back again.
Timmy was astounded. He had never seen a dog do that before. Could this hearthrug affair be a dog after all?
Liz saw that Timmy was really impressed, and went on with yet another trick she had learnt during the time she had been with the circus.
She turned head-over-heels, yapping all the time. Timmy retreated a few steps into the bushes. This was going too far! What was this animal doing? Trying to stand on its head?
Liz went on turning head-over-heels very rapidly and ended up almost on TimmyТs front paws. He had now backed into the bush as far as he could.
Liz remained on her back, paws in air, tongue hanging out, panting. She gave a very small, beseeching whine.
Timmy bent his head down and sniffed at her paws. Behind him his tail began to move a little, yes, it had a wag in it! He sniffed again. Liz leapt on to her four feet and pranced all round Timmy, yapping as if to say СCome on and play! Do come!Т
And then suddenly Timmy fell upon the absurd little creature and pretended to worry it. Liz gave a delighted volley of yaps and rolled over and over. They had a marvellous game, and when it was all over, Timmy sank down panting for breath, in a sunny corner of the yard and Liz settled herself between his front paws, as if she had known him all her life!
When George came out of the stable with Sniffer, she could hardly believe her eyes. СWhatТs that TimmyТs got between his paws?Т she said. СItТs surely not a dog!Т
СItТs Liz,Т said Sniffer. СShe can get round any dog there is, Master George! Liz! YouТre a monkey, arenТt you! Walk, then, walk!Т
Liz left Timmy and ran over to Sniffer, walking daintily on her hind legs. George laughed. СWhat a funny little creature, like a bit cut out of a furry hearthrug!Т
СSheТs clever,Т said Sniffer and patted Liz. СWell, Master George, when can I have Clip, do yon think? My father has gone off with the other caravans and heТs left me with ours. So it doesnТt matter whether itТs today or tomorrow, or even the next day.Т
СWell, it wonТt be today, thatТs certain,Т said George, pleased that Sniffer called her Master George not Miss. СIt might perhaps be tomorrow. HavenТt you got a hanky, Sniffer? I never on my life heard anyone sniff as often as you do.Т
Sniffer rubbed his sleeve across his nose. СI never had no hanky,Т he said. СBut IТve got my sleeve, see?Т
СI think youТre quite disgusting,Т said George. СIТm going to give you one of my own hankies, and youТre to use it. YouТre not to keep sniffing like that.Т
СDidnТt know I did,Т said Sniffer, half sulkily. СWhatТs it matter, anyway?Т
But George had gone indoors and up the stairs. She chose a large hanky, in red and white stripes. That would do nicely for Sniffer! She took it down to him. He looked at it in surprise.
СThatТs a scarf for my neck!Т he said.
СNo, it isnТt. ItТs a hanky for your nose,Т said George. СHavenТt you a pocket to put it in? ThatТs right. Now, use it instead of sniffing, for goodnessТ sake!Т
СWhere are the others?Т asked Sniffer, putting the hanky carefully into his pocket, almost as if it were made of glass.
СGone riding,Т said George, shortly.
СThey said they would come and see my caravan,Т said Sniffer. СThey said so!Т
СWell, they wonТt be able to today,Т said George. СTheyТll be back too late, I expect. IТll come and see it, though. ThereТs nobody in it, is there?Т
George was not keen on meeting SnifferТs father or any other of his relations! He shook his head. СNo, itТs empty. My fatherТs gone, I told you, and my aunt and my grandma too.Т