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

Jack was fond of birds, and he and Philip spent many an exciting hour together bird-watching, or taking photographs. They had a marvellous collection of these, which Bill said was worth a lot of money. They had brought cameras with them on this holiday, and, of course, their field-glasses for watching birds at a distance.

"We might see eagles again," said Jack. "Do you remember the eagle's nest we found near that old castle in Scotland once, Philip? We might see buzzards too."

"Buzz-z-z-z-z-z," said Kiki at once, "Buzz! Buzz off!"

"We might even have an adventure," said Philip, with a grin. "Though Mother and Bill are quite certain they will guard us from even the smallest one this time!"

Now here they were, all set for a wonderful holiday in the Welsh mountains, in a very lonely spot, where they could wander about with cameras and field-glasses wherever they liked. Each child was to have a donkey, so that they could ride along the narrow mountain paths as much as they wished.

"I shan't always come with you," said Mrs. Mannering, "because I'm not so thrilled with donkey-riding as you are. But Bill will be with you, so you'll be safe."

"Ah — but will Bill be safe with us?" said Jack, with a grin. "We always seem to drag him into something or other. Poor Bill!"

"If you manage to pull me into an adventure in the middle of some of the loneliest of the Welsh mountains, you'll be clever," said Bill.

The car swung round another bend and a farm-house came into sight.

"We're nearly there," said Mrs. Mannering. "I believe I can see the farm-house we're going to stay at. Yes — there it is."

The children craned their necks to see it. It was a rambling old stone place, set on the mountainside, with barns and out-buildings all around. In the evening sunset it looked welcoming and friendly.

"Lovely!" said Lucy-Ann. "What's it called?"

Bill said something that sounded like "Doth-goth-oo-elli-othel-in."

"Gracious!" said Dinah. "What a name! Not even Kiki could pronounce that, I'm sure. Tell her it, Bill. See what she says."

Bill obligingly told the name to the parrot, who listened solemnly and raised her crest politely.

"Now you just repeat that," said Jack to Kiki. "Go on!"

"This-is-the-house-that-Jack-built," said the parrot, running all the words together. The children laughed.

"Good try, Kiki!" said Jack. "You can't stump Kiki, Bill — she'll always say something. Good old Kiki!"

Kiki was pleased by this praise, and made a noise like the car changing gear. She had been doing this at intervals during the whole of the journey and had nearly driven Mrs. Mannering mad.

"Don't let Kiki start that again," she begged. "Thank goodness we are here at last! Where's the front door, Bill — or isn't there one?"

There didn't seem to be one. The track went up to what appeared to be a barn and stopped there. A small path then ran to the farm-house, divided into three and went to three different doors.

The children tumbled out of the car. Bill got out and stretched his legs. He helped Mrs. Mannering out and they all looked round. A cock near by crowed and Kiki promptly crowed too, much to the cock's astonishment.

A plump, red-faced woman came hurrying out of one of the doors, a welcoming smile on her face. She called behind her to someone in the house.

"Effans, Effans, they have come, look you, they have come!"

"Ah — Mrs. Evans," said Bill and shook hands with her. Mrs. Mannering did the same. A small man came running out of the house, and came up to them too.