"Blyton, Enid - Adv 05 - Mountain of Adventure" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)

"Such a bird!" he said. "Never have I seen such a bird, look you!"

Kiki began hiccupping, and Effans went off into a screech of laughter. Mrs. Mannering frowned.

"Kiki! Stop that! How many times am I to tell you I don't like that noise?"

"How many times have I told you to wipe your feet?" retorted Kiki, and screeched. Effans almost died of laughter. Kiki began to show off, snapping her beak open and shut, putting her crest up and down and making peculiar noises.

"Kiki! Come here!" said Jack sternly, and Kiki flew down to his shoulder. Jack tapped her smartly on her beak. "Any more nonsense from you and I'll shut you in the bedroom upstairs. Bad bird! Silly bird!"

"Poor Polly! Bad Polly!" said Kiki, and nipped Jack's ear. He smacked her on the beak again.

"Be quiet! Not another word!" he ordered. Kiki put her head under her wing in disgrace, and various whispering sounds came to everyone's ears. But nobody could hear what she said, though Effans strained his big ears hopefully. What a bird! He wished he could have one like it.

The dinner was as good as the high tea and breakfast had been. The children set to work and Mrs. Evans felt very pleased to see how much her good food was appreciated. She kept pressing second and third helpings on everyone, but soon even the boys could eat no more.

"There iss no four o'clock tea," she kept saying. "Nothing till six o'clock. So eat, look you, eat!"

"Dithery slithery," announced Kiki suddenly, and Dinah gave a scream. The slow-worm was gliding out of Philip's sleeve! He pushed it back hurriedly, hoping that no one had seen it. Bill had. His sharp eyes had caught sight of it at once. He grinned.

"Another member added to the family?" he said. "Very nice too! What with Snowy and Kiki and — er — Slithery, we look all set for a most interesting holiday."





Chapter 5

ARRIVAL OF THE DONKEYS



THE next excitement, of course, was the arrival of the donkeys. The children had waited expectantly for them all the following morning, not liking to go for a walk in case they missed the donkeys' arrival. Lucy-Ann saw them first.

She gave a yell that sent the slow-worm back into Philip's pocket, and startled Snowy so much that he leapt four feet in the air. Even Kiki jumped.

"The donkeys!" cried Lucy-Ann. "There they come, look, up the mountain-path."

Soon all four children were tearing down the path to the donkeys. There were eight of them, strong, sturdy little creatures, with big bright eyes, and long tails that whisked the flies away. They were all grey, and their long ears twitched to and fro as they came steadily up the steep path.

Trefor's brother David was with them, an elderly man rather like Trefor but with tidier hair and beard. He had the same bright blue eyes, but he looked timid and fearful, as if the world had not been kind to him.

He smiled faintly at the lively children. "Can we ride four of the donkeys now?" asked Philip. "We know how to ride. Come on, Lucy-Ann, up with you!"

He gave Lucy-Ann a shove and she was tip on a donkey's back. Dinah needed no help. With a leap like Snowy's she was up at once.

The donkeys ambled up the steep path with the children, refusing to trot now that they had heavy weights on their backs. Snowy galloped beside Philip's donkey, half jealous of it, butting it in the legs.

"Hallo! Here we are!" cried Jack, ambling up to Mrs. Mannering and Bill. "Eight donkeys to choose from! Which are you going to have, Aunt Allie?"