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

"All right, but for goodness sake don't get caught," said Fatty. Ern shot off, and ran all the way to Mr Goon's house. He went to the wood-shed, opened it and was thankful to see his bicycle still there. "Good thing Uncle didn't think of it, or he'd have locked it up!" he thought, and rode off at top speed, keeping a wary eye out for Goon. Fortunately he was safely at the police station, very busy indeed.

Soon they were all cycling away down the country lanes, very happy to be going on a picnic to Banshee Hill. The spring sun shone down, the birds sang in the hedges, and the sky was as blue as in summer.

"I can feel some portry coming into my head," said Ern to Bets who was riding beside him.

"Poetry!" said Bets. "Oh, Ern, you're so clever at making up poetry. Do tell it to me! How does it go? "

Ern loved making up what he called his "portry". He went on cycling, his head full of the things he saw around him - primroses in the ditches, cowslips in the fields, new green leaves on the hawthorn, cows grazing, pigeons cooing...

"Well, it hasn't quite come yet," he said. "But I know what I'm going to call it - 'Coo'."

"Oh, is it a song the _doves_ are going to sing - all about the spring?" said Bets. "Say it to me, Ern."

Ern sailed along on his bicycle, loudly chanting the "portry" that had suddenly come into his head.

"Coo, look at them primroses down in the ditch,
Smiling all over their faces.
Coo, listen to all the birds up in the hedge,
And larks in the big open spaces.
Coo, look at the cows and the cowslips too,
And... and..."

"And what?" said Bets. "Do go on, Ern. It's wonderful."

"Can't seem to think of the end of it," said Ern, frowning. "That's the worst of me when I think of portry, Bets - it comes and goes - and now it's gone. P'raps Fatty can think of the ending."

"We'll ask him when we have our lunch," said Bets. "Look - isn't that Bannshee Hill up there?"

"Coo - what a hill!" said Ern, sounding as if he were beginning his "Coo" song again. "I bet we'll have to walk half way up it. I'll push your bike for you, Bets."

Yes, it was Banshee Hall - a very high one, running up steeply, with a winding road twisting to the summit. As they came near to it, the sun suddenly went in and a great black cloud blew up behind it.

"I suppose that's Banshee Towers right at the very top," said Bets. "Queer-looking place - it stands there as if it's glowering down at us. I don't like it very much - especially with that black cloud behind it."

"You're right," said Ern, as they began to cycle slowly up the winding road that led to the top. "Very banshee-ish. I should say. Looks as if it wants to grumble and growl and wail! Buck up, young Bets - I believe it's going to pour with rain. Here, let me wheel your bike for you - it's too steep to ride just here!"

Fatty had just turned round to see if the girls were managing all right, and was pleased to see Ern wheeling Bets' bicycle for her. Ern might be rough and ready sometimes, but he had very nice ways, thought Fatty. He called to Daisy.

"Want any help, Daisy? "

"No, I'm all right," said Daisy, panting. "I just hope we'll get to the top before it pours! I say - that looks a pretty grim place up on the hill, doesn't it?"

"Yes - more like an old fortress than anything!" shouted back Fatty. "Look at the two dogs - we've left them far behind! Never mind - they'll catch us up sometime."

They arrived at the gloomy old place at last, and stacked their bicycles in a convenient shed. Then they made their way to the entrance.

"This way to the Wailing Banshee!" said Larry, grinning at Daisy and Bets. "Make ready to run for your lives!"

"Ass!" said Fatty, seeing Bets' alarmed face. "I'll make _you_ run for your life if you say any more, Larry! Come on - we have to pay to go in so dub up!