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

They shot out of the shed door and the others heard them racing up the garden. Pip stood up then, and yanked Bets to her feet. "Come along, Bets," he said. "You look half asleep. Telephone us, Fatty, when there's a Meeting again."

"I should think Bets is tired out with the long bicycle ride," said Fatty, giving Bets a hug. "Goodbye, Bets - and don't dream of banshees tonight!"

"I hope I'm not being a nuisance to you. Fatty," said Ern, when the others had gone. "Staying here in your shed."

"No - no, of _course_ you're not a nuisance, Ern," said Fatty. "Hallo - who's this coming - I seem to know those heavy footsteps."

"It's Uncle!" said Ern, in alarm. "He must have heard that I've not gone home. Fatty, hide me!"

"There's nowhere to hide you," said Fatty, looking round. "He'd look in that cupboard at once! Listen now, Ern, I'll lock the door - and when your uncle comes knocking on it, you slip quietly out of the window, see? I'll hand Bingo to you. Hide somewhere and come back when Goon is gone."

Bang-bang-bang! That was Goon at the shed door. Fatty had quickly turned the key in the lock, so the policeman could not open it. A roar came from the other side.

"Frederick Trotteville, you open this door. I know you've got Ern in there. I saw him through the window. You open this door or I'll go to your father."

"_Ern?_ Ern in _here_, Mr Goon! You must be seeing things!" shouted Fatty, going to the door. "Wait a minute - it's locked. Shut up, Buster, making that row!"

Buster and Bingo were certainly making a terrific noise. Neither of them liked Mr Goon, and they had recognized his voice at once. Ern was now getting out of the window at the side of the shed. He patted the sill and Bingo came running to him, and leapt into his arms. "Sh!" said Ern. "No barking, now." He crept off to where a thick clump of bushes grew, and squeezed into the middle of them.

Fatty quietly shut the window after him and ran back to the door, on which Goon was still angrily hammering. "Be patient, Mr Goon," said Fatty. "The key seems to have stuck - ah - it's all right now - there we are!"

He turned the key smartly, and flung open the door. The angry policeman stormed into the shed at once, shouting at the top of his voice "Ern! ERN! You come alonga me. You never went home! You disobeyed me! You just wait and see what..."

But Goon didn't finish what he had to say because Buster flung himself on him with enormous delight, trying to nip his ankles through the thick trousers.

"GAH!" said Mr Goon, kicking out. "That dog again! Where's Ern? I saw him, I know I did!"

"Well, have a good look round, Mr Goon," said Fatty, politely. "He may be under that stool - or behind the books in the bookcase - or in the dog's basket. Buster, stop that row."

Goon was quite at a loss as he stood staring round the room. He _had_ seen Ern there, he knew he had. It didn't occur to him that Ern had had time to slip out of the window. He glared at Fatty, and glared at Buster, and turned to go. Buster gave a blood-curdling growl, and Goon shot out of the door at top speed.

"You wait!" he shouted, as Fatty shut the door. "I'll get Ern all right - ho yes, I'll get him!" And away he went, muttering to himself. "That toad of a boy - too clever by half, he is. Where _is_ Ern? Just wait till I get hold of him. He won't sit down properly for a week, that he won't!"



10 - BANSHEE TOWERS AGAIN


When the policeman had gone, Ern crept out of the middle of the bush, and went back to Fatty's shed, grinning. "Thanks, Fatty," he said. "You're a pal! I say - you're sure you don't mind if I go up to Banshee Towers with you tomorrow?"

"Be nice to have your company, Ern," said Fatty, and meant it! "Also, you may be useful. You see - I do want to snoop around a bit, and if there are people there, you might be able to take up their attention somehow... so that no one will be watching _me_."

"But how do I take up anyone's attention?" said Ern. alarmed. "I'm no good at play-acting, Fatty, you know that."

"Oh, Ern, you can do a sudden bit of tap dancing - or sing a little song - or pretend to faint," said Fatty. "I'll signal to you like this, if I want you to turn people's attention to you, and away from me!"

And Fatty smoothed back his hair three times. "See? Don't look so alarmed. Nobody will lock you up, or box your ears. They'll just stay still in astonishment, and forget all about me and what I'm doing."

"All right. Fatty," said Ern, in a mournful voice, and settled down to read one of Fatty's books. "Coo, the books you've got, Fatty - you must have over a thousand. This one's smashing."