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

"Well, well," said Mr Goon, in an unexpectedly hearty voice. "Here you all are - oh, except Frederick. I - er - came to congratulate him - and you all - on helping to solve the mystery of Banshee Towers. Ern, I hear that you were quite clever at spotting a very important clue."

Ern blushed bright red at this compliment, and couldn't find a word to say. There was an awkward silence. Bingo broke it by suddenly giving a loud bark, and rushing at Mr Goon's ankles.

Mr Goon gave a sickly smile, and tried to push him away. "Bingo," said Ern, suddenly, in a stem voice. "Stop that! SIT!"

And Bingo meekly sat down at once, though he still looked longingly at Mr Goon's ankles!

"Ha - well-trained dog that," said Mr Goon, surprised. "Er - I'll be quite pleased to have him back again, Ern. Bring him with you when you come."

There was another awkward and astonished silence. Ern broke it. "Do you really want me to come back, Uncle - and Bingo here, too? He's not a bad dog - just a bit excitable at times, but he's not much more than a pup."

"Oh, he's a fine dog," said Mr Goon, in a hearty voice. "Very fine. Obedient, too. My word, he must have scared that old banshee! Ha ha ha!"

Nobody else laughed. They were all still a bit wary of their old enemy.

"Of course, you know," said Goon, "that banshee business is a bit of a fraud. The sort of thing that Frederick would make a lot of. It's said to wail, I know, but _I've_ never heard it whenever I've been near the Towers! Ho ho - I bet it wouldn't dare to raise its voice if it saw _me_ anywhere near!"

"Well, _we_ heard it all right," said Bets. "It sounded like - oh, let me see... like..."

And then, from outside the window, came a little wail. Just a very little one at first. Then it became louder and pitched higher in tone, and soon the little room was full of the most heart-rending, eerie wailing that Goon had ever heard. Bets jumped at first - but she and the others knew at once that it was only old Fatty showing the disbelieving Mr Goon what a banshee's wail was like!

"Pretend to be scared!" whispered Larry to the others - and at once they clutched one another, and looked so frightened that Mr Goon felt as if _he_ wanted to clutch at somebody too!

Bingo was terrified, and rushed round the room, yelping at the top of his voice, trying to find where the weird noise was coming from. What with the wailing and the barking, and everyone's frightened looks, Mr Goon was scared out of his life.

"Eeee-oooooooo-oh-oh-oh. eeeeeeeeeeeee!" wailed Fatty, enjoying himself thoroughly outside the window. Buster began to yelp as soon as he heard Bingo barking, and when Fatty began another set of wails, Mr Goon could stand it no longer.

"I'll get help!" he panted. "Someone's in danger!" And out of the door he rushed, and up the garden.

It was most unfortunate that Fatty's mother and the old cook were picking early daffodils in the garden just then. They heard the wailing too, and stood upright at once, listening in fright.

"One of the children had been hurt!" said Mrs Trotteville. "Oh, what terrible screams and wails! Quick, we must see what's the matter."

So down to the shed they rushed at top speed, just as Mr Goon was racing up the path as if wild tigers were after him! They met at a corner, and Mr Goon was knocked flying by the plump cook. He sat down heavily in a bed of mint, looking most astonished.

"What's happened, what's happened?" cried Mrs Trotteville. "Has the shed stove fallen over? Has there been an accident?"

But Mr Goon had no breath to reply. He just went on sitting in the mint, panting loudly, hoping that a banshee wouldn't suddenly appear before him. Poor Mr Goon!

Mrs Trotteville and the cook ran to the shed, feeling very anxious indeed. But what in the world was this noise they heard _now_? No wailing - but shrieks of laughter!

"Ha ha ha ha! Oh, I never thought Goon could run like that!"

"Ho ho ho! Good old banshee!"

"Ha ha, ho ho, he he, ho ho..." The laughter went on and on, and didn't stop even when Mrs Trotteville walked into the shed, and gazed round at everyone in indignation.

They had all collapsed into chairs or on the floor. Fatty had climbed back into the room through the window, and was wiping tears from his eyes. He had no breath left to be a wailing banshee any longer! Buster and Bingo had gone completely mad and were barking and tearing round and round the room non-stop.