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

"It's not," said Ern. "It's just right. That's how my Ma likes it, anyway."

"And you've put too much tea in the pot," said Mr Goon, peering in, holding the lid in his hand. It was hot and he had to drop it very suddenly. It fell to the floor and broke. He glared at Ern as if _he_ had dropped it!

Ern gave a sudden giggle, and his uncle went red in the face. "Pick them pieces up," he commanded, "and take that grin off your face, Ern."

"I can't. It's stuck there," said Ern, suddenly feeling cheeky.

"ERN!" said Mr Goon, in a terrifying voice, and stood up. Ern promptly stood up too, and ran to the door. He opened it and Goon came after him. Ern went down the hall to the front door and opened that, and then shot down the front path with his uncle on his heels - at exactly the same moment as Fatty and the rest, with Buster and Bingo, came in at the gate.

Somehow or other Mr Goon became mixed up with the two excited dogs as they raced towards the front door - and down he went with a thud. Bingo leapt up at the astonished Ern, and tried his hardest to lick him in as many places as he could, barking madly all the time. Buster, finding his old enemy, Goon, on the ground, and at his mercy, sailed in gleefully to the attack! It really was a sight to be seen!

"BINGO! You've come back!" shouted Ern in joy, and lifted up the delighted dog, who at once plastered his face with loving licks.

"CLEAR ORF, ALL OF YOU!" roared poor Mr Goon, trying to push Buster away. "I'll tell your parents of this! WILL you order this dog away, Frederick Trotteville? One of these days I'll clap you in a cell, yes, and the dog too. Get away, you brute! Lemme get up! Ern help me up."

It was Fatty who pulled the heavy policeman to his feet and dusted him down, murmuring apologies in a polite voice that simply infuriated Mr Goon!

"Bad luck, sir! Did you trip over your feet? I say, you'll scare the girls, if you roar like that. Buster, behave yourself. BUSTER! Are you deaf? Stop dancing round poor Mr Goon. Here, let me help you up, sir - up we come - that's it - upsadaisy. You all right now, Mr Goon?"

Mr Goon glared. He saw that quite a crowd had gathered round his front gate - and some of them were daring to laugh! Laughing at the Law! What were things coming to? Most majestically Mr Goon went to the gate and scowled at everyone there. "What's all this? Clear orf, now! You're creating a nuisance, you are. Move on, there. MOVE ON!"

Only a few people moved away, Fatty felt sorry for poor Mr Goon. "Perhaps if you told them to Move OFF instead of Move ON, they'd understand better," he suggested. "Let me help you, Mr Goon." And Fatty waved an imperious hand and shouted in a suddenly enormous voice, "MOVE OFF, WILL YOU! MOVE OFF!"

And, rather astonished, the lookers-on moved off at once. Fatty was rather astonished too - he hadn't thought it would be so easy! Mr Goon was more than astonished. He was exceedingly angry.

"Think you're in the police force now, do you?" he said, fiercely. "Well, what about _you_ Moving Off - _or_ on - I don't care which. Funny how trouble always comes when you're about, isn't it. Master Trotteville? Now I'm going back to finish my tea in peace and quiet. Clear orf, all of you! I'm sick of the sight of you. You get indoors, Ern - and take that dog to the wood-shed. Tripping me up like that. You can consider him arrested and put into a cell, see? And there he'll stay out in the wood-shed, night and day!"

"Oh _no_, Uncle - that would be cruel!" said Ern, upset. "Fatty, tell him. He might listen to you. You can't lock up a dog, night and day."

"All right then, you go home!" stormed Mr Goon. "I do a kindness and take you in - and that fatheaded dog too - and this is what happens. Go on home! Catch the measles!"

Ern didn't know what to do - but Fatty did. He whispered something in Erns ear, and Ern's face broke into a delighted smile. He took hold of Fatty's hand and shook it hard. "You're a friend, Fatty - yes, that's what you are, a friend," said Ern warmly. "I'll go and get my things straightaway. Would you mind Bingo for me, till I come out? Uncle's in such a temper, he might whip him. WHAT a pity he tripped over Bingo!"

Bets and Daisy had been very scared by all the upset, but the boys had rather enjoyed it. Fatty couldn't help feeling a little sorry for Mr Goon. The policeman did not shine when things went wrong; but Fatty felt sure he would be sorry and feel guilty when he had had time to ponder over things. That was the worst of a hot temper - it led you into doing silly, rash things you were sorry for afterwards - and then it was probably too late.

Ern had disappeared into his uncle's bouse. He was there about three minutes and then came out again, carrying a canvas bag. Bingo trotted joyfully over to him. Ern was beaming all over his round face.

"Where are you going, Ern?" asked Bets, in surprise. "Home? But you can't go there, with measles about!"

They all went out of the gate together, leaving Mr Goon staring after them. He was just beginning to wish that he hadn't lost his temper.

"Ern, come back! You come and apologize and I'll let you stay!" he shouted.

"Sorry, Uncle," shouted back Ern. "I can't stay where I'm not wanted - or where my dog will be locked up night and day. Sorry, Uncle!"

"Where's Ern going?" asked Pip.

"He's going to stay in my workroom till his family are clear of the measles," said Fatty. "_And_ Bingo as well. Nice dog, Bingo. Be good for Buster to have company too. The workroom is nice and warm, and I can put a camp-bed there. But nobody is to know, see? You are all to Keep Your Mouths Shut. Ern is our friend, and we've got to stand by him."