"Blyton, Enid - The Five Find-Outers 15 - The Mystery of Banshee Towers 1.1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)

"Gosh, and so had we!" said Larry, pulling Daisy to her feet. "Good thing our father and mother are out tonight, and there's only Cookie to see to us. Goodnight everyone. Sleep well, Ern. So long, Bingo-dog. Be good!"

"Wuff," said Bingo, pleased to hear his name. He accompanied everyone to the door, his tail wagging nineteen to the dozen. The two dogs gave each other a quick lick, and Buster trotted up the garden with Fatty.

Ern was left alone in the shed. He was astonished to hear Bingo growling softly twenty minutes later, and horrified to hear soft foot-steps coming to the door. His heart sank. Was it his uncle, coming to fetch him? But how could he _possibly_ know where he, Ern, was? The door opened and a torch shone in, lighting up the darkness in which Ern sat. Ern trembled and shook, feeling most alarmed.

"Ern! It's me, Fatty. I've come to bring you some supper - and to tell you there's a torch in the table drawer, if you want to see to eat or to read. I shan't be able to come down again to the shed tonight, so goodnight, and sleep well. I'll bring you some breakfast in the morning."

"Coo, thanks, you're a wonder, Fatty," said the grateful Ern, and took the tray that Fatty handed in.

"There's a bone for old Bingo, from Buster," said Fatty, giving him a paper bag. "So long, Ern. See you tomorrow!"

"So long," said Ern, gratefully, and sat down to eat a nice piece of fried fish, mashed potatoes and greens. He gave the bone to Bingo, who was thrilled. He made such a noise gnawing it that Ern felt sure it could be heard for miles around!

"Bingo, old dog - are you enjoying this?" said Ern when at last he had undressed and slipped under the rug that Fatty had left for the camp-bed. "Come on under the rug with me - we'll keep each other warm. That's right. Snuggle down. Goodnight!"

Goodnight, Ern and Bingo. You're quite safe, though Somebody has peeped in at the window, and knows you are there! Don't worry: it was only the black cat next door - and she fled as soon as she saw Bingo! Sleep tight!



6 - OFF TO BANSHEE HILL


Ern had a happy, but very restless night. Bingo kept imagining that he heard rats running round outside the shed, trying to get in, and leapt on and off the camp-bed every few minutes, rushing to sniff round the corners of the shed, his long tail waving in excitement.

"Bingo! I'd much rather have rats nibbling my toes than you jumping off and on my tummy all night long," said Ern at last. "For goodness sake come and lie down."

Tired out at last, Bingo cuddled under the rug and fell asleep. Era put an arm round him and went to sleep too, dead to the world until morning.

He awoke to hear a stealthy knocking on the door and flew out of bed to open it. Fatty was there - good old Fatty - his pockets bulging. Buster was with him, and immediately went to rub noses with Bingo.

"Hallo, Ern," said Fatty, pushing his way in quickly to prevent the excited Bingo from rushing out. "Got to be a bit careful - Gardener's here this morning, and he'd better not see you in the shed. He might tell Goon!"

"I'll be very careful, then," said Ern, as Fatty pulled a hastily-wrapped packet from one pocket, and some apples from another.

"Here you are, Ern," he said. "Best I could do for the moment. I didn't dare to take too much from the larder, but there were plenty of eggs, so that was something. How's old Bingo? Was he good last night?"

"Well, he seemed to be hunting round for rats for _hours_," said Ern, unwrapping the packet Fatty gave him. "Coo - hard-boiled egg sandwiches - smashing! And two buttered rolls - with honey inside! You're a brick, Fatty, straight you are."

"You'll find some little bottles of lemonade in that cupboard," said Fatty. "And an opener too. I daren't bring you a pot of tea. Mother would start asking questions!"

Ern sat happily munching his egg sandwiches, a glass of lemonade beside him, with Bingo sitting expectantly at his feet. Buster went sniffing at the bottom of a second cupboard, and Fatty laughed.

"He knows a packet of his biscuits is kept there, and he wants to give old Bingo some," said Fatty, getting up. "Am I right, Buster, old thing?"

"Woof!" said Buster, dancing round excitedly, his tail wagging, Bingo joined him, having heard the word biscuits! Soon he and Buster were amiably sharing a packet, crunching up the biscuits in delight.

Buster was overjoyed to have Bingo to play with. He suddenly went completely mad and began to rush round and round the room at top speed, barking wildly. Bingo joined him, and the two boys hurriedly leapt out of the way.