Five and the Royal Deed
This story is a work of fan fiction inspired by Enid Blyton’s “Famous Five”. The original characters, settings, and concepts belong to the Enid Blyton Estate and their respective rights holders. This work is entirely non-commercial, created for entertainment only, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the rights holders. No copyright infringement is intended.
Preface
This story is a piece of fan fiction set in the world of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five. viewtopic.php?p=215504#p215504
You’ll meet Julian, Dick, Anne, Georgina and her dog Timmy once again.
The story still takes place in the same setting as Blyton’s originals — the south of England in the early 1960s.
Let’s assume the characters have grown a year older than they were when Mrs Blyton last wrote about their adventures.
Of course there’s a ruined castle, a secret passage and a treasure of sorts.
But this story also tells about their coming of age. Georgina, who wishes to be George, has to take Anne’s girly role for a while. Then there’s Peter, the farm boy, who is into TUGs. And all of them – maybe even Timmy - encounter confusing thoughts about their future.
The names George/Georgina/Ann and the pronouns he/she appear a little inconsistently throughout — but if even Georgina isn’t sure whether or when she is George, how could I possibly know?
Some of you may want to know what they look like. I grew up with the late-1970s UK TV adaptation of the Famous Five. And although I’ve read most of Blyton’s original books and know that the TV characters don’t quite match her descriptions — especially Timmy — those actors are simply my Famous Five.
Part 1:
Chapter One – A Royal Deed to the Rescue viewtopic.php?p=214111#p214111
Chapter Two – An Opening Too Small viewtopic.php?p=214112#p214112
Chapter Three – A Perfect Plan viewtopic.php?p=214113#p214113
Chapter Four - Preparations viewtopic.php?p=214114#p214114
Chapter Five - Meet Ann viewtopic.php?p=214115#p214115
Chapter Six – Meet Peter viewtopic.php?p=214116#p214116
Chapter Seven – TUG he said viewtopic.php?p=214117#p214117
Part 2:
Chapter Eight - Into the Dark viewtopic.php?p=214485#p214485
Chapter Nine - At the Castle Ruins viewtopic.php?p=214486#p214486
Chapter Ten - The other Right viewtopic.php?p=214487#p214487
Chapter Eleven – Into the Barn viewtopic.php?p=214488#p214488
Chapter Twelve – Up on the Hayloft viewtopic.php?p=214489#p214489
Chapter Thirteen - Lady of Two Ruins viewtopic.php?p=214490#p214490
Chapter Fourteen – Eleven Times! viewtopic.php?p=214491#p214491
Part 3:
Chapter Fifteen – Into the Village viewtopic.php?p=214741#p214741
Chapter Sixteen – Third Time Lucky viewtopic.php?p=214743#p214743
Chapter Seventeen – Julian Pulls the Strings viewtopic.php?p=214744#p214744
Chapter Eighteen - A Queer Dream viewtopic.php?p=214745#p214745
Chapter Nineteen - Sometimes it's Necessary viewtopic.php?p=214746#p214746
Website Migration Update
I moved the website to a new host, which I think will be more tolerant of the content this website hosts. Nevertheless, I do want to take a moment to remind everyone that the stories and content posted here MUST follow website rules, as it it not only my policy, but it is the policy of the hosts that permit our website to run on their servers. We WILL continue to enforce the rules, especially critical rules that, if broken, put this sites livelihood in jeapordy.
*CALLING FOR MORE PARTICIPATION*
JUST A SMALL ANNOUNCEMENT TO REMIND EVERYONE (GUESTS AND REGISTERED USERS ALIKE) THAT THIS FORUM IS BUILT AROUND USER PARTICIPATION AND PUBLIC INTERACTIONS. IF YOU SEE A THREAD YOU LIKE, PARTICIPATE! IF YOU ENJOYED READING A STORY, POST A COMMENT TO LET THE AUTHOR KNOW! TAKING A FEW EXTRA SECONDS TO LET AN AUTHOR KNOW YOU ENJOYED HIS OR HER WORK IS THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE THAT MORE SIMILAR STORIES ARE POSTED. KEEPING THE COMMUNITY ALIVE IS A GROUP EFFORT. LET'S ALL MAKE AN EFFORT TO PARTICIPATE.
JUST A SMALL ANNOUNCEMENT TO REMIND EVERYONE (GUESTS AND REGISTERED USERS ALIKE) THAT THIS FORUM IS BUILT AROUND USER PARTICIPATION AND PUBLIC INTERACTIONS. IF YOU SEE A THREAD YOU LIKE, PARTICIPATE! IF YOU ENJOYED READING A STORY, POST A COMMENT TO LET THE AUTHOR KNOW! TAKING A FEW EXTRA SECONDS TO LET AN AUTHOR KNOW YOU ENJOYED HIS OR HER WORK IS THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE THAT MORE SIMILAR STORIES ARE POSTED. KEEPING THE COMMUNITY ALIVE IS A GROUP EFFORT. LET'S ALL MAKE AN EFFORT TO PARTICIPATE.
Famous Five and the Royal Deed (mmmff/mmmff) - Part 3/3 finished
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Jenny_1972
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Famous Five and the Royal Deed (mmmff/mmmff) - Part 3/3 finished
Last edited by Jenny_1972 1 week ago, edited 12 times in total.
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Jenny_1972
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Chapter One – A Royal Deed to the Rescue
When George came home from school that afternoon she was met by a most extraordinary sight. Her parents were both kneeling on the kitchen floor, busy with paint, brushes and two large white boards in front of them.
“No Motorway through our Valley!” and “Don’t Destroy Nature!” George read aloud questioningly. Her parents looked up at her and told her they were just finishing the placards and would explain everything once they had tidied up the kitchen.
“You know the farm up in the Oakbeck valley, the one that belongs to our family but is rented out?” asked her father.
“Yes, but I don’t think I’ve ever been there.” said George.
“Really? Well, that may be so. Anyway, they want to build a motorway through that valley, and your mother and I are against it. The government would pay us for the land, of course, but the whole valley would be covered with concrete and tarmac. So we’re going to a protest against it this Saturday.”
George looked a little uncertain.
“No, you must stay at home” said her father quickly. “Protests are for grown-ups.”
Later, at supper, George’s mother brought up the subject again.
“Actually, things could be quite simple:” she said thoughtfully. “My great-great-grandfather, William Francis Kirrin, was given that farm by the King himself after his military service — for ever and undivided. That’s what it said on the Royal Deed. I remember it well — it used to hang in a frame in the sitting room when we Kirrins still lived on the farm. ‘For ever and undivided’ means that we may pass the land on to our children, but we are not allowed to sell it, not even parts of it. If we still had that deed, the motorway plans would have to be stopped and changed at once! Only the Queen herself could set aside her ancestor’s decree.”
“And where is that deed now?” asked George.
“That’s the trouble” said her mother. “During the war my father hid all the important papers, jewellery, coins and such things in the cellar of the old ruined castle nearby. He thought the vaulted cellar had stood for centuries so it would surely survive another war.”
“I remember that castle” said George eagerly. “We went there once, when daddy bought the new car!”
“Ah yes, that’s right” said her mother. “And your grandfather was quite right — the vault did survive the war. After the war, your grandmother and I fetched the big iron chest from there. But we had other worries then, because the two of us couldn’t manage the farm alone. So we let it to tenants as soon as we could.”
“And the deed?” George asked again.
“We only realised years later that the deed wasn’t in the chest. It must have been left behind because the picture frame was too big to fit in the iron chest with the other papers. It’s probably still there, in the vault where the chest once stood.”
“Why don’t you fetch it now?” said George.
“That’s not so easy” replied her mother. “The castle collapsed two hundred years ago and the entrance to the cellar was buried. You can’t get in from the ruin. There used to be a secret underground passage from the farmhouse to the vault, but that’s been blocked for about a hundred years. However, there’s also a small cottage on the farm — and that had another entrance to the passage. That’s the one mom and I used when we brought up the chest.”
“Then why not just go there, say you need to fetch something from the cottage and be done with it?” George suggested.
“Ah, that would have been possible a hundred years ago” said her father with a smile. “But not today. You mustn't boss around your tenants. Besides, I fear the tenants are in favour of the motorway. So it would be best if they didn’t find out anything about that deed.”
“Do you think the tenants might have found the secret passage by now?” asked George.
“It’s possible” said her mother, “but I rather doubt it. The entrance was just to the left of the fireplace in the cottage and it looked exactly like an ordinary wall panel. Unless you knew that you could lift it upwards, you’d never have guessed there was anything special behind it.”
George listened carefully. Her mother gave her a quick glance as though she already regretted having revealed quite so many Kirrin family secrets.
When George came home from school that afternoon she was met by a most extraordinary sight. Her parents were both kneeling on the kitchen floor, busy with paint, brushes and two large white boards in front of them.
“No Motorway through our Valley!” and “Don’t Destroy Nature!” George read aloud questioningly. Her parents looked up at her and told her they were just finishing the placards and would explain everything once they had tidied up the kitchen.
“You know the farm up in the Oakbeck valley, the one that belongs to our family but is rented out?” asked her father.
“Yes, but I don’t think I’ve ever been there.” said George.
“Really? Well, that may be so. Anyway, they want to build a motorway through that valley, and your mother and I are against it. The government would pay us for the land, of course, but the whole valley would be covered with concrete and tarmac. So we’re going to a protest against it this Saturday.”
George looked a little uncertain.
“No, you must stay at home” said her father quickly. “Protests are for grown-ups.”
Later, at supper, George’s mother brought up the subject again.
“Actually, things could be quite simple:” she said thoughtfully. “My great-great-grandfather, William Francis Kirrin, was given that farm by the King himself after his military service — for ever and undivided. That’s what it said on the Royal Deed. I remember it well — it used to hang in a frame in the sitting room when we Kirrins still lived on the farm. ‘For ever and undivided’ means that we may pass the land on to our children, but we are not allowed to sell it, not even parts of it. If we still had that deed, the motorway plans would have to be stopped and changed at once! Only the Queen herself could set aside her ancestor’s decree.”
“And where is that deed now?” asked George.
“That’s the trouble” said her mother. “During the war my father hid all the important papers, jewellery, coins and such things in the cellar of the old ruined castle nearby. He thought the vaulted cellar had stood for centuries so it would surely survive another war.”
“I remember that castle” said George eagerly. “We went there once, when daddy bought the new car!”
“Ah yes, that’s right” said her mother. “And your grandfather was quite right — the vault did survive the war. After the war, your grandmother and I fetched the big iron chest from there. But we had other worries then, because the two of us couldn’t manage the farm alone. So we let it to tenants as soon as we could.”
“And the deed?” George asked again.
“We only realised years later that the deed wasn’t in the chest. It must have been left behind because the picture frame was too big to fit in the iron chest with the other papers. It’s probably still there, in the vault where the chest once stood.”
“Why don’t you fetch it now?” said George.
“That’s not so easy” replied her mother. “The castle collapsed two hundred years ago and the entrance to the cellar was buried. You can’t get in from the ruin. There used to be a secret underground passage from the farmhouse to the vault, but that’s been blocked for about a hundred years. However, there’s also a small cottage on the farm — and that had another entrance to the passage. That’s the one mom and I used when we brought up the chest.”
“Then why not just go there, say you need to fetch something from the cottage and be done with it?” George suggested.
“Ah, that would have been possible a hundred years ago” said her father with a smile. “But not today. You mustn't boss around your tenants. Besides, I fear the tenants are in favour of the motorway. So it would be best if they didn’t find out anything about that deed.”
“Do you think the tenants might have found the secret passage by now?” asked George.
“It’s possible” said her mother, “but I rather doubt it. The entrance was just to the left of the fireplace in the cottage and it looked exactly like an ordinary wall panel. Unless you knew that you could lift it upwards, you’d never have guessed there was anything special behind it.”
George listened carefully. Her mother gave her a quick glance as though she already regretted having revealed quite so many Kirrin family secrets.
Last edited by Jenny_1972 1 month ago, edited 1 time in total.
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Jenny_1972
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Chapter Two – An Opening Too Small
The next evening George took Timmy for a long walk to the sandy beach of Kirrin Bay. She could tell him everything — he always listened and never gave any secrets away.
“This is a tricky business.” she said. “I could go on a cycling trip to the farm during the holidays. But my parents wouldn’t let me go off on my own — and if I turned up at the tenants’ farm as George Kirrin, they’d be suspicious at once and call my parents straight away.” Timmy understood that.
“I could ask my cousins Julian and Dick” George went on. “Their parents let them go on cycling trips alone for several days — just because they’re boys.” Timmy gave a short bark that clearly meant it was unfair.
While George’s parents were away at the protest on Saturday, George made good use of having the house to herself for a long telephone call with her cousin Julian.
“So Dick and I take our bikes to the Oakbeck Valley” Julian said briskly, “we spend the night at your rented out farm, in their cottage, lift the panel to the left of the fireplace, go down the secret passage, fetch the framed document, and that’s that.”
George was always amazed at how quickly Julian understood things and summed them up. They had given him the nickname 'Commander Julian' some time ago, but now he was more and more living up to it.
“Wait — we’ll probably have to take the document out of its frame and roll it up for the bicycles.” added Julian. “Perhaps inside my sleeping mat. If the weather’s fine, we could do it already the next long weekend — if Dick is free.”
“Splendid! Thanks — I knew I could count on you” said George happily.
Three weeks later, on Sunday evening, the telephone rang at the Kirrin Cottage. It was Julian, asking to speak to George.
“Hello George, can you talk?”
“Hullo Julian — no, not really.”
“All right. We’ve been there. It didn’t work. There’s some sort of wooden frames in front of the wall panels now. We managed to lift the panel with difficulty and there really is a passage behind it. But neither Dick nor I could squeeze through the opening. We’d need either a saw to cut the frames – but that won't go unnoticed — or we find someone slimmer. Also, there’s the tenants’ son, Peter. He’s about our age — quite all right really — but he seemed rather bored and stuck to us all the time. He said we should come again soon.
...
Next week is Grandmother’s birthday party. We'll meet there, then we can talk it all over.”
...
“That’s ... that's just what you wanted, tricking me to Grandmother's party, isn’t it?” said George crossly.
“I love you too, Georgina” said Julian with a laugh, and rang off.
George had been planning to skip Grandmother’s birthday celebration, because she would have to go as Georgina in her Sunday frock — and she hated that. But if it meant meeting her cousins to plan their next step, she supposed she would just have to grin and bear it.
After the call her parents looked at her expectantly.
“Julian, Dick and Anne think it would be nice if all four of us went to Grandmother Barnard’s birthday next week” she fibbed. “And I’ve agreed. That means I'll come with you.”
Her parents exchanged a doubtful glance, wondering whether she meant as George - making her Grandma cross - or as Georgina - making herself cross.
“Yes, I’ll wear that silly dress” she said quickly. “If it still fits. And I won’t have my hair cut till then.”
Her mother looked delighted and at once led Georgina off to her room for a fitting. The dress, from a proper shop in the city, was a pale blue muslin dress with a full skirt, short sleeves and a modest neck line; it would certainly find her grandmother's approval. It had been handed down from one of her older second cousins and it still fitted. In fact it fitted her better than last time. (And better than it had fitted her cousin Dick once, when she let him try it on secretly.) Only her arms, used to rowing and swimming, did not quite suit the dresses short sleeves.
The next evening George took Timmy for a long walk to the sandy beach of Kirrin Bay. She could tell him everything — he always listened and never gave any secrets away.
“This is a tricky business.” she said. “I could go on a cycling trip to the farm during the holidays. But my parents wouldn’t let me go off on my own — and if I turned up at the tenants’ farm as George Kirrin, they’d be suspicious at once and call my parents straight away.” Timmy understood that.
“I could ask my cousins Julian and Dick” George went on. “Their parents let them go on cycling trips alone for several days — just because they’re boys.” Timmy gave a short bark that clearly meant it was unfair.
While George’s parents were away at the protest on Saturday, George made good use of having the house to herself for a long telephone call with her cousin Julian.
“So Dick and I take our bikes to the Oakbeck Valley” Julian said briskly, “we spend the night at your rented out farm, in their cottage, lift the panel to the left of the fireplace, go down the secret passage, fetch the framed document, and that’s that.”
George was always amazed at how quickly Julian understood things and summed them up. They had given him the nickname 'Commander Julian' some time ago, but now he was more and more living up to it.
“Wait — we’ll probably have to take the document out of its frame and roll it up for the bicycles.” added Julian. “Perhaps inside my sleeping mat. If the weather’s fine, we could do it already the next long weekend — if Dick is free.”
“Splendid! Thanks — I knew I could count on you” said George happily.
Three weeks later, on Sunday evening, the telephone rang at the Kirrin Cottage. It was Julian, asking to speak to George.
“Hello George, can you talk?”
“Hullo Julian — no, not really.”
“All right. We’ve been there. It didn’t work. There’s some sort of wooden frames in front of the wall panels now. We managed to lift the panel with difficulty and there really is a passage behind it. But neither Dick nor I could squeeze through the opening. We’d need either a saw to cut the frames – but that won't go unnoticed — or we find someone slimmer. Also, there’s the tenants’ son, Peter. He’s about our age — quite all right really — but he seemed rather bored and stuck to us all the time. He said we should come again soon.
...
Next week is Grandmother’s birthday party. We'll meet there, then we can talk it all over.”
...
“That’s ... that's just what you wanted, tricking me to Grandmother's party, isn’t it?” said George crossly.
“I love you too, Georgina” said Julian with a laugh, and rang off.
George had been planning to skip Grandmother’s birthday celebration, because she would have to go as Georgina in her Sunday frock — and she hated that. But if it meant meeting her cousins to plan their next step, she supposed she would just have to grin and bear it.
After the call her parents looked at her expectantly.
“Julian, Dick and Anne think it would be nice if all four of us went to Grandmother Barnard’s birthday next week” she fibbed. “And I’ve agreed. That means I'll come with you.”
Her parents exchanged a doubtful glance, wondering whether she meant as George - making her Grandma cross - or as Georgina - making herself cross.
“Yes, I’ll wear that silly dress” she said quickly. “If it still fits. And I won’t have my hair cut till then.”
Her mother looked delighted and at once led Georgina off to her room for a fitting. The dress, from a proper shop in the city, was a pale blue muslin dress with a full skirt, short sleeves and a modest neck line; it would certainly find her grandmother's approval. It had been handed down from one of her older second cousins and it still fitted. In fact it fitted her better than last time. (And better than it had fitted her cousin Dick once, when she let him try it on secretly.) Only her arms, used to rowing and swimming, did not quite suit the dresses short sleeves.
Last edited by Jenny_1972 3 weeks ago, edited 5 times in total.
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Jenny_1972
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Chapter Three – A Perfect Plan
“One silly remark and you’ll get a punch on the nose!” said Georgina as she greeted her rather amused cousins — first, second and perhaps even third once removed — at their Grandmother’s birthday party. Most of them knew from painful experience that this was not an empty threat, but seeing Georgina in a dress was just too unusual to go uncommented.
As expected, the 'kids' soon withdrew from the older generation and the four of them found a chance between tea and supper to slip away to a quiet corner.
Julian took a folded piece of cardboard from the bag in which Grandmother’s present had been carried. He unfolded it and it turned out to be shaped like a picture frame.
“This is the size of the opening in the wall panelling of the cottage” he explained “Neither Dick nor I can get through it. Would you like to try, Georgin.. George?” Julian caught George’s warning look just in time and stopped short.
Georgina took off her shoes and her billowing dress. “Dick, give me a hand with the dress, will you?” she said. Dick helped as requested. In her underwear she tried to wriggle through the cardboard frame but Julian stopped her.
“It’s no good, George” he said “You’ll only tear the frame. It seems you and Dick are almost the same build.”
George took that as a compliment, Dick didn’t, but both said nothing.
Then Anne suddenly spoke up. “Well, I bet I could easily get through that!” she said. She kicked off her shoes, took the frame, and before any of the others could say a word, she slipped it over her head, pushed her arms through, twisted and wriggled a little — and in a moment it lay on the floor at her feet. Anne gave a graceful bow and a little wave of her hand. The others applauded, quite impressed.
“Gosh! I’d never have thought you were that much smaller than us.” said Dick and George nodded in agreement.
“Anne” said Julian “you do realise that behind that opening in the wall panelling is a dark secret passage, one that — hopefully — no one has entered for decades?”
Anne nodded, though not very confidently.
“I’ll have a torch and I'll take Timmy with me!” she said quickly “Then nothing serious could happen. And if it got really bad, he could fetch help.”
“Timmy? No” Julian replied at once “George can’t come because of the tenants — I told you that — and Timmy always stays with George.”
“Timmy without George? That has never worked.” said Dick “You remember last time!”
They all sat silent for a moment, rather downcast. Even Timmy couldn’t offer a solution — he had to stay home to guard the Kirrin place.
“What if Julian, George, Timmy and I go there — with George pretending to be Dick?” Anne suggested carefully.
“That won’t do” said George “The tenants and their son have already seen Dick.”
“Then Julian, Georgina, Timmy and I?”
“If they tell our parents I was there with two girls but without my brother, how am I supposed to explain that?” said Julian.
“But they haven’t met Anne yet.” said Dick suddenly “They only know we’ve got a sister. So if George goes as Anne — and of course Timmy comes too?”
“Then we’d have three people there who can’t fit through the entrance to the secret passage.” Julian analysed sharply “Or are you planning to send Timmy down to fetch the Royal Deed?”
“What if you hide me?” said Anne.
“How do you mean?” asked Julian.
“Well, we’re only staying there for a few days” said Anne “I could hide in the cottage. No one would see me while I’m exploring the passage.”
"Julian, George as Anne, and I could entertain the tenants' son so that he doesn't come snooping around the cottage." added Dick
“And how do you propose to manage that, when we arrive there and when we leave? Hide the true Anne in my suitcase, perhaps?” said George with a laugh.
“Well” said Julian “not in yours. But if I fetch the big suitcase from our attic, Anne could just about fit in it. It wouldn’t have to be for long.”
“So we tell our parents we’re going to Kirrin farm for a few days because it was so lovely there.” said Dick.
“And I’ll tell mine I’m spending a few days with you.” added George “Then they won’t worry or ask questions.”
“And we’ll tell the tenants that this time we’ve brought our sister Anne with us.” said Julian.
"I look so forward to see you dressed as our girly little sister." Dick made fun of George
"Other than this Sunday dress and my school uniform, I don't know if I have any normal girl's clothes that still fit me." George replied
"Never mind. Your mother will be more than happy to buy you something nice. She'll hope you're finally coming to reason and that your tomboy phase is about to end."
The fist that hit Julian's belly definitely felt like it had come from George, not from Georgina.
“Come back, all of you — supper’s ready!” called one of their aunts from the large dining room.
“One silly remark and you’ll get a punch on the nose!” said Georgina as she greeted her rather amused cousins — first, second and perhaps even third once removed — at their Grandmother’s birthday party. Most of them knew from painful experience that this was not an empty threat, but seeing Georgina in a dress was just too unusual to go uncommented.
As expected, the 'kids' soon withdrew from the older generation and the four of them found a chance between tea and supper to slip away to a quiet corner.
Julian took a folded piece of cardboard from the bag in which Grandmother’s present had been carried. He unfolded it and it turned out to be shaped like a picture frame.
“This is the size of the opening in the wall panelling of the cottage” he explained “Neither Dick nor I can get through it. Would you like to try, Georgin.. George?” Julian caught George’s warning look just in time and stopped short.
Georgina took off her shoes and her billowing dress. “Dick, give me a hand with the dress, will you?” she said. Dick helped as requested. In her underwear she tried to wriggle through the cardboard frame but Julian stopped her.
“It’s no good, George” he said “You’ll only tear the frame. It seems you and Dick are almost the same build.”
George took that as a compliment, Dick didn’t, but both said nothing.
Then Anne suddenly spoke up. “Well, I bet I could easily get through that!” she said. She kicked off her shoes, took the frame, and before any of the others could say a word, she slipped it over her head, pushed her arms through, twisted and wriggled a little — and in a moment it lay on the floor at her feet. Anne gave a graceful bow and a little wave of her hand. The others applauded, quite impressed.
“Gosh! I’d never have thought you were that much smaller than us.” said Dick and George nodded in agreement.
“Anne” said Julian “you do realise that behind that opening in the wall panelling is a dark secret passage, one that — hopefully — no one has entered for decades?”
Anne nodded, though not very confidently.
“I’ll have a torch and I'll take Timmy with me!” she said quickly “Then nothing serious could happen. And if it got really bad, he could fetch help.”
“Timmy? No” Julian replied at once “George can’t come because of the tenants — I told you that — and Timmy always stays with George.”
“Timmy without George? That has never worked.” said Dick “You remember last time!”
They all sat silent for a moment, rather downcast. Even Timmy couldn’t offer a solution — he had to stay home to guard the Kirrin place.
“What if Julian, George, Timmy and I go there — with George pretending to be Dick?” Anne suggested carefully.
“That won’t do” said George “The tenants and their son have already seen Dick.”
“Then Julian, Georgina, Timmy and I?”
“If they tell our parents I was there with two girls but without my brother, how am I supposed to explain that?” said Julian.
“But they haven’t met Anne yet.” said Dick suddenly “They only know we’ve got a sister. So if George goes as Anne — and of course Timmy comes too?”
“Then we’d have three people there who can’t fit through the entrance to the secret passage.” Julian analysed sharply “Or are you planning to send Timmy down to fetch the Royal Deed?”
“What if you hide me?” said Anne.
“How do you mean?” asked Julian.
“Well, we’re only staying there for a few days” said Anne “I could hide in the cottage. No one would see me while I’m exploring the passage.”
"Julian, George as Anne, and I could entertain the tenants' son so that he doesn't come snooping around the cottage." added Dick
“And how do you propose to manage that, when we arrive there and when we leave? Hide the true Anne in my suitcase, perhaps?” said George with a laugh.
“Well” said Julian “not in yours. But if I fetch the big suitcase from our attic, Anne could just about fit in it. It wouldn’t have to be for long.”
“So we tell our parents we’re going to Kirrin farm for a few days because it was so lovely there.” said Dick.
“And I’ll tell mine I’m spending a few days with you.” added George “Then they won’t worry or ask questions.”
“And we’ll tell the tenants that this time we’ve brought our sister Anne with us.” said Julian.
"I look so forward to see you dressed as our girly little sister." Dick made fun of George
"Other than this Sunday dress and my school uniform, I don't know if I have any normal girl's clothes that still fit me." George replied
"Never mind. Your mother will be more than happy to buy you something nice. She'll hope you're finally coming to reason and that your tomboy phase is about to end."
The fist that hit Julian's belly definitely felt like it had come from George, not from Georgina.
“Come back, all of you — supper’s ready!” called one of their aunts from the large dining room.
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Jenny_1972
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Chapter Four - Preparations
After their Grandmother's birthday party, the four of them each had their own tasks to see to.
George told her mother that wearing the dress hadn’t been quite so dreadful after all, and that perhaps she ought to have a few more neat, well-fitting things for a girl to wear in summer. As Julian had predicted, her mother thought this a splendid idea.
Julian fetched the big suitcase down from the attic and brought it to his room, where Anne tried to see if she could fit inside. It was easier than she had expected! But staying inside for a whole hour was dreadfully dull.
After only a few minutes the suitcase said, “e4.” Was his little sister really trying to play blind chess against him? Julian answered “e5,” and at once received “Qh5” in return. On his “Nc6” he heard “Bc4.” He hesitated a moment, then did her the favour of replying “Nf6.” The suitcase said, “Qf7 — checkmate,” but it was quite obvious that neither of them was taking the game seriously.
Then Julian had a brilliant idea for entertaining his imprisoned sister. “I’m going on a trip, and I’m packing… my sister Anne.” That game went on for quite some time.
The harder part of the suitcase trials was for Julian — even with Dick’s help — to carry the suitcase up and down the stairs with Anne inside, simply as a test.
But they managed to keep their preparations quite out of their parents’ sight. It proved Dick’s theory once again: “So long as we keep quiet, make no mess, and our grumpy neighbour doesn’t complain, our parents don’t really bother about what we’re doing.”
Dick’s task was to get permission from their parents, ask George’s parents if she might come along, and then arrange their journey and lodgings. They were to travel by train to Oakbeck Valley, where they would meet George and Timmy, who were coming by train from the opposite direction. From the station they would take a bus to Kirrin farm. George — pretending to be Anne — would meet them there too. Anne was to climb into the suitcase at the station. On the bus, Anne’s large suitcase would, of course, go into the luggage rack underneath. How they would get from the bus-stop to the cottage — well, they would see about that when the time came. At least the suitcase had wheels.
During their school holidays, when the three siblings returned home from their boarding schools, they got on famously. Particularly, whenever it was a matter of standing together against the grown-ups. Only a few days before, their mother had appeared in front of them, holding up a little black brush.
“Which of you has finished off my mascara?” she asked sternly, looking straight at Dick.
He had been under her watchful eye ever since he had dressed up as a witch at a fancy-dress birthday party. He had only meant to help Anne, who had first chosen the same costume — of course two sizes smaller. But when she had put it on, their parents had called it “quite unsuitable”. Only when Dick offered to go as her matching partner-witch did they finally give their permission.
And as for the time he had tried on Georgina’s Sunday frock — well, George and Timmy certainly hadn’t breathed a word about that!
Anne saved the situation at last by admitting that she had been practising with Mother’s mascara in front of the mirror and had probably used far too much. She counted on being forgiven — and she was right. As soon as Mother had left the room, Anne turned to Julian:
“By the way” she said calmly to her elder brother, “you look perfectly ridiculous when you darken that tiny bit of moustache with Mother’s mascara.”
Altogether, everything went smoothly, and the five of them planned to put their scheme into action on the very first weekend of their summer holidays.
After their Grandmother's birthday party, the four of them each had their own tasks to see to.
George told her mother that wearing the dress hadn’t been quite so dreadful after all, and that perhaps she ought to have a few more neat, well-fitting things for a girl to wear in summer. As Julian had predicted, her mother thought this a splendid idea.
Julian fetched the big suitcase down from the attic and brought it to his room, where Anne tried to see if she could fit inside. It was easier than she had expected! But staying inside for a whole hour was dreadfully dull.
After only a few minutes the suitcase said, “e4.” Was his little sister really trying to play blind chess against him? Julian answered “e5,” and at once received “Qh5” in return. On his “Nc6” he heard “Bc4.” He hesitated a moment, then did her the favour of replying “Nf6.” The suitcase said, “Qf7 — checkmate,” but it was quite obvious that neither of them was taking the game seriously.
Then Julian had a brilliant idea for entertaining his imprisoned sister. “I’m going on a trip, and I’m packing… my sister Anne.” That game went on for quite some time.
The harder part of the suitcase trials was for Julian — even with Dick’s help — to carry the suitcase up and down the stairs with Anne inside, simply as a test.
But they managed to keep their preparations quite out of their parents’ sight. It proved Dick’s theory once again: “So long as we keep quiet, make no mess, and our grumpy neighbour doesn’t complain, our parents don’t really bother about what we’re doing.”
Dick’s task was to get permission from their parents, ask George’s parents if she might come along, and then arrange their journey and lodgings. They were to travel by train to Oakbeck Valley, where they would meet George and Timmy, who were coming by train from the opposite direction. From the station they would take a bus to Kirrin farm. George — pretending to be Anne — would meet them there too. Anne was to climb into the suitcase at the station. On the bus, Anne’s large suitcase would, of course, go into the luggage rack underneath. How they would get from the bus-stop to the cottage — well, they would see about that when the time came. At least the suitcase had wheels.
During their school holidays, when the three siblings returned home from their boarding schools, they got on famously. Particularly, whenever it was a matter of standing together against the grown-ups. Only a few days before, their mother had appeared in front of them, holding up a little black brush.
“Which of you has finished off my mascara?” she asked sternly, looking straight at Dick.
He had been under her watchful eye ever since he had dressed up as a witch at a fancy-dress birthday party. He had only meant to help Anne, who had first chosen the same costume — of course two sizes smaller. But when she had put it on, their parents had called it “quite unsuitable”. Only when Dick offered to go as her matching partner-witch did they finally give their permission.
And as for the time he had tried on Georgina’s Sunday frock — well, George and Timmy certainly hadn’t breathed a word about that!
Anne saved the situation at last by admitting that she had been practising with Mother’s mascara in front of the mirror and had probably used far too much. She counted on being forgiven — and she was right. As soon as Mother had left the room, Anne turned to Julian:
“By the way” she said calmly to her elder brother, “you look perfectly ridiculous when you darken that tiny bit of moustache with Mother’s mascara.”
Altogether, everything went smoothly, and the five of them planned to put their scheme into action on the very first weekend of their summer holidays.
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Jenny_1972
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- Joined: 5 months ago
Chapter Five - Meet Ann
Their train arrived on time at Oakbeck Station and Ann — the girl formerly known as George — was already waiting with Timmy.
“Quick! Let’s slip into the waiting-room over there. Our bus up to Kirrin farm leaves in fifteen minutes.” she called. “Timmy and I have been here for almost an hour, and I haven’t seen a soul go in.”
But the three cousins stopped short on the platform and simply stared at her. She was wearing a pink, knee-length pleated skirt, a neat white short-sleeved blouse, and sandals with the tiniest bit of a heel. Her dark hair, though still on the short side, was certainly far too long for a boy, and she had coaxed her natural curls into quite a tidy style. Even her fingernails were painted a pink that matched her skirt.
Such an outfit would have been perfectly ordinary on their sister Anne on a summer’s day — but on their new sister Ann it was utterly unexpected… and, to their surprise, it suited her remarkably well.
Ann stood quite still, aware of the stares from all three of them. They didn’t say a word — not even a silly remark. If only Timmy said something. The silence grew most awkward.
“You… you look like a real girl!” stammered Julian at last — and he was supposed to be the clever one.
“And you look like a boy” Ann retorted. “Now do stop gaping and come along. You can go on gawping when we’re on the bus.”
As they made their way towards the room at the far end of the station, Ann asked Julian quietly “Didn’t your parents ask why you packed such a great, heavy suitcase for such a short trip?”
“Oh, they did.” said Julian. “But look: we have only two suitcases for three people.” And indeed, Anne — the real Anne — carried nothing but a small rucksack. “I told Mother I wanted to be a gentleman and not let my little sister lug about anything heavy.”
“And she actually believed that?” Ann burst out laughing.
“As long as our parents don't receive a complaint from our neighbour or from our school's headmaster, I dare say we are free to decide who carries which suitcase.” Julian answered jokingly.
The waiting-room was quite empty and Timmy seemed to understand that he was to bark if anyone approached.
They sent the real Anne to the lavatory while the others hurriedly sorted the luggage so that Julian’s big suitcase was completely empty. As soon as Anne returned, she climbed into the largest of the three. Just before he shut the lid, Julian tossed two items in after her. She could not see them, of course, for everything went dark the moment the case was closed; but with her free left hand — her right arm was pinned beneath her — she felt what they were.
One felt like a rope: smooth, thin and very strong. There was a lot of it. It might well be Father’s extra-long fishing line, bought during his short-lived enthusiasm for sea-angling.
The other was a piece of clothing — slightly musty, whispery, with a long, firm zip and a rubbery lining like rain-wear. Perhaps Dick’s old rain-suit, the one he had outgrown.
Before Anne could examine either item further, she heard Julian’s voice. “All right, Anne — last chance to change your mind! Once we’re off to the bus, we shan’t know when we can get you out again.”
“Okay” came the voice from inside the suitcase.
Julian lifted one end and wheeled his sister towards the bus-stop, Dick and Ann following close behind. Timmy trotted after them, looking thoroughly puzzled. Didn’t they realise Anne was missing? The suitcase certainly smelt of her — but why would they put her inside?
There were only two other passengers on the bus and neither had any luggage. The driver made no move to help — not very friendly, but at least he didn’t ask tiresome questions about the weight of Julian’s suitcase. Once everything was stowed in the luggage compartment underneath, the children climbed aboard and found seats well away from the others.
“Did you have your ears pierced specially for playing Ann?” Dick asked, admiring the little gold hoops she now wore.
“Partly” she said. “I’ve wanted earrings for nearly two years, but Daddy always said ‘no way!’ while I went about looking like a boy. But now that I’ve become a proper girl for this business, he couldn’t very well refuse. Once this whole charade is over, I shall be George again and change them for plain silver studs that look all right on a boy — even if I must pay for them myself.”
“Did it hurt when they pierced your ears?” Dick asked in awe.
“Dick, you feeble baby!” said Julian, pretending disgust.
The bus was already crawling up the steep, winding road that led towards the farm.
“When Dick and I were on our bicycle tour, we had to pedal up this very road,” said Julian and Ann looked duly impressed. “Two more hairpins and we should be at the turning for the farm.”
Julian was almost right — there were three. The bus halted at last, and the surly driver stayed in his seat, leaving the three children to struggle with their luggage themselves.
Their train arrived on time at Oakbeck Station and Ann — the girl formerly known as George — was already waiting with Timmy.
“Quick! Let’s slip into the waiting-room over there. Our bus up to Kirrin farm leaves in fifteen minutes.” she called. “Timmy and I have been here for almost an hour, and I haven’t seen a soul go in.”
But the three cousins stopped short on the platform and simply stared at her. She was wearing a pink, knee-length pleated skirt, a neat white short-sleeved blouse, and sandals with the tiniest bit of a heel. Her dark hair, though still on the short side, was certainly far too long for a boy, and she had coaxed her natural curls into quite a tidy style. Even her fingernails were painted a pink that matched her skirt.
Such an outfit would have been perfectly ordinary on their sister Anne on a summer’s day — but on their new sister Ann it was utterly unexpected… and, to their surprise, it suited her remarkably well.
Ann stood quite still, aware of the stares from all three of them. They didn’t say a word — not even a silly remark. If only Timmy said something. The silence grew most awkward.
“You… you look like a real girl!” stammered Julian at last — and he was supposed to be the clever one.
“And you look like a boy” Ann retorted. “Now do stop gaping and come along. You can go on gawping when we’re on the bus.”
As they made their way towards the room at the far end of the station, Ann asked Julian quietly “Didn’t your parents ask why you packed such a great, heavy suitcase for such a short trip?”
“Oh, they did.” said Julian. “But look: we have only two suitcases for three people.” And indeed, Anne — the real Anne — carried nothing but a small rucksack. “I told Mother I wanted to be a gentleman and not let my little sister lug about anything heavy.”
“And she actually believed that?” Ann burst out laughing.
“As long as our parents don't receive a complaint from our neighbour or from our school's headmaster, I dare say we are free to decide who carries which suitcase.” Julian answered jokingly.
The waiting-room was quite empty and Timmy seemed to understand that he was to bark if anyone approached.
They sent the real Anne to the lavatory while the others hurriedly sorted the luggage so that Julian’s big suitcase was completely empty. As soon as Anne returned, she climbed into the largest of the three. Just before he shut the lid, Julian tossed two items in after her. She could not see them, of course, for everything went dark the moment the case was closed; but with her free left hand — her right arm was pinned beneath her — she felt what they were.
One felt like a rope: smooth, thin and very strong. There was a lot of it. It might well be Father’s extra-long fishing line, bought during his short-lived enthusiasm for sea-angling.
The other was a piece of clothing — slightly musty, whispery, with a long, firm zip and a rubbery lining like rain-wear. Perhaps Dick’s old rain-suit, the one he had outgrown.
Before Anne could examine either item further, she heard Julian’s voice. “All right, Anne — last chance to change your mind! Once we’re off to the bus, we shan’t know when we can get you out again.”
“Okay” came the voice from inside the suitcase.
Julian lifted one end and wheeled his sister towards the bus-stop, Dick and Ann following close behind. Timmy trotted after them, looking thoroughly puzzled. Didn’t they realise Anne was missing? The suitcase certainly smelt of her — but why would they put her inside?
There were only two other passengers on the bus and neither had any luggage. The driver made no move to help — not very friendly, but at least he didn’t ask tiresome questions about the weight of Julian’s suitcase. Once everything was stowed in the luggage compartment underneath, the children climbed aboard and found seats well away from the others.
“Did you have your ears pierced specially for playing Ann?” Dick asked, admiring the little gold hoops she now wore.
“Partly” she said. “I’ve wanted earrings for nearly two years, but Daddy always said ‘no way!’ while I went about looking like a boy. But now that I’ve become a proper girl for this business, he couldn’t very well refuse. Once this whole charade is over, I shall be George again and change them for plain silver studs that look all right on a boy — even if I must pay for them myself.”
“Did it hurt when they pierced your ears?” Dick asked in awe.
“Dick, you feeble baby!” said Julian, pretending disgust.
The bus was already crawling up the steep, winding road that led towards the farm.
“When Dick and I were on our bicycle tour, we had to pedal up this very road,” said Julian and Ann looked duly impressed. “Two more hairpins and we should be at the turning for the farm.”
Julian was almost right — there were three. The bus halted at last, and the surly driver stayed in his seat, leaving the three children to struggle with their luggage themselves.
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Jenny_1972
- Centennial Club
- Posts: 138
- Joined: 5 months ago
Chapter Six – Meet Peter
“Right, we must go up this road” said Julian. “It passes the cottage before it levels out and ends at the farmhouse. Without Anne in the suitcase it would take us fifteen minutes. With her… well, a bit longer.”
They were just about to set off when a small tractor with a trailer came speeding down the hill towards the bus-stop. The driver was a boy about their own age — fair-haired, tall, with a sprinkling of freckles. His faded overalls were patched in all sorts of places.
“That’s Peter, the farmer’s son” Dick explained.
“You said he was Julian’s age. Isn’t he still too young to drive a tractor?” asked Ann.
“I expect it’s all right so long as he keeps to the farm roads” said Julian.
Peter pulled up before them and jumped lightly from the seat.
“Hullo, Julian! Hullo, Dick!” he said, shaking hands with them. “And this must be your sister Anne — and your dog.”
He gave Ann a quick look up and down.
“They told me you were a little girl, not a—”
“I’ve grown quite a bit in the last few months.” Ann cut in smoothly. “And the dog’s name is Timmy.”
“Well, I can give you a lift in the trailer. Not very grand, but better than trudging up the hill.”
Julian, Dick and Peter heaved the luggage — including the suitcase containing the real Anne — onto the trailer, then climbed up themselves.
“Hold on tight” Peter warned. “Though uphill this old thing’s much slower than downhill.”
Indeed, the tractor crawled upwards at little more than walking pace and its noisy engine made talking almost impossible. Still, it was easier than climbing and in ten minutes they reached the cottage. The boys unloaded everything, taking special care that Peter did not handle the big suitcase.
“Well, get yourselves settled in” said Peter. “You two have been here before, so you know all about the door-lock and the taps and the lights. Have a look round and see if you’re short of towels, toilet paper, tea — anything like that. I’ll give you what you need when you come up to the farmhouse for supper. It’s at seven.”
With that he scrambled back onto the tractor. The three children watched with interest as he reversed the trailer neatly onto the track before driving off towards the farmhouse.
“The clutch won’t last long if he keeps that up.” said Julian, eyeing the tractor knowledgeably.
“But he does know how to reverse with a trailer.” Ann pointed out. She had already helped maneuvering trailers with sailboats into the sea at Kirrin Bay and knew how tricky that was. “And did you notice Peter’s wrists and ankles?”
“No, we didn’t stare at Peter quite that closely” taunted Julian — which earned him a sharp punch on the shoulder.
“He had rope marks, and he was trying to hide them with his socks and those long sleeves!” Ann said firmly.
“Rope marks? Do you think Peter’s keen on TUGs as well?” Dick asked.
“A most logical suggestion, my dear Watson” said Julian, pretending to puff at an imaginary pipe.
“Hello?” said a muffled voice suddenly — coming from the big suitcase lying on Julian’s bed.
All three burst out laughing and hurried to release Anne — the real one — from her cramped prison.
Ann — the false one — sent Timmy outside and told him to bark at once if anyone came near.
“Right, we must go up this road” said Julian. “It passes the cottage before it levels out and ends at the farmhouse. Without Anne in the suitcase it would take us fifteen minutes. With her… well, a bit longer.”
They were just about to set off when a small tractor with a trailer came speeding down the hill towards the bus-stop. The driver was a boy about their own age — fair-haired, tall, with a sprinkling of freckles. His faded overalls were patched in all sorts of places.
“That’s Peter, the farmer’s son” Dick explained.
“You said he was Julian’s age. Isn’t he still too young to drive a tractor?” asked Ann.
“I expect it’s all right so long as he keeps to the farm roads” said Julian.
Peter pulled up before them and jumped lightly from the seat.
“Hullo, Julian! Hullo, Dick!” he said, shaking hands with them. “And this must be your sister Anne — and your dog.”
He gave Ann a quick look up and down.
“They told me you were a little girl, not a—”
“I’ve grown quite a bit in the last few months.” Ann cut in smoothly. “And the dog’s name is Timmy.”
“Well, I can give you a lift in the trailer. Not very grand, but better than trudging up the hill.”
Julian, Dick and Peter heaved the luggage — including the suitcase containing the real Anne — onto the trailer, then climbed up themselves.
“Hold on tight” Peter warned. “Though uphill this old thing’s much slower than downhill.”
Indeed, the tractor crawled upwards at little more than walking pace and its noisy engine made talking almost impossible. Still, it was easier than climbing and in ten minutes they reached the cottage. The boys unloaded everything, taking special care that Peter did not handle the big suitcase.
“Well, get yourselves settled in” said Peter. “You two have been here before, so you know all about the door-lock and the taps and the lights. Have a look round and see if you’re short of towels, toilet paper, tea — anything like that. I’ll give you what you need when you come up to the farmhouse for supper. It’s at seven.”
With that he scrambled back onto the tractor. The three children watched with interest as he reversed the trailer neatly onto the track before driving off towards the farmhouse.
“The clutch won’t last long if he keeps that up.” said Julian, eyeing the tractor knowledgeably.
“But he does know how to reverse with a trailer.” Ann pointed out. She had already helped maneuvering trailers with sailboats into the sea at Kirrin Bay and knew how tricky that was. “And did you notice Peter’s wrists and ankles?”
“No, we didn’t stare at Peter quite that closely” taunted Julian — which earned him a sharp punch on the shoulder.
“He had rope marks, and he was trying to hide them with his socks and those long sleeves!” Ann said firmly.
“Rope marks? Do you think Peter’s keen on TUGs as well?” Dick asked.
“A most logical suggestion, my dear Watson” said Julian, pretending to puff at an imaginary pipe.
“Hello?” said a muffled voice suddenly — coming from the big suitcase lying on Julian’s bed.
All three burst out laughing and hurried to release Anne — the real one — from her cramped prison.
Ann — the false one — sent Timmy outside and told him to bark at once if anyone came near.
Last edited by Jenny_1972 1 month ago, edited 2 times in total.
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Jenny_1972
- Centennial Club
- Posts: 138
- Joined: 5 months ago
Chapter Seven – TUG he said
After Anne had climbed out of the suitcase, while still stretching her arms and legs, she examined the two things Julian had thrown in with her. Anne had identified them correctly by touch in both cases: Father’s deep-sea fishing line and Dick’s old rain overall.
“What do we need these for?” asked Anne. Her voice showed that she had a rough idea, but wasn’t entirely happy about it.
“You know from our earlier adventures how dirty one gets in those secret passages. And it’s usually damp and cold in there,” explained Julian. “And as we have only two ordinary suitcases for four people, none of us has brought much spare clothing. You can hose the overall down in the tub and it’ll be dry again by morning.”
That sounded very sensible — typical Julian. “It smells!” Anne said rather sulkily.
“It smells of your brother, so it stays in the family” Dick replied, a little offended.
“And what about the rope?” asked Anne.
“That’s for rescuing you” answered Julian. He looked more serious than Anne had hoped. “Even if you take Timmy into the secret passage with you, I’m not happy about you climbing down there alone. None of us can get through the entrance easily. What if something happens to you? What if you lose your way? What if your torch goes out and you have to find your way back here in the dark?”
Anne did not reply, but she looked rather troubled. Julian was right — she would be quite on her own during this adventure.
“If we get worried about you, or if Timmy comes back to us, we’ll pull the rope three times. If everything is all right, you pull three times too and go on. If you don’t pull three times, we’ll haul you out somehow. With the poker from the fireplace we can break the wooden panelling at the entrance enough for Dick or George to get in and rescue you.”
Anne felt a little queasy, but she didn’t want to disappoint the other three. And if George could bring herself to go about as a girl — with no boys’ clothes in her suitcase at all — then they could expect Anne to step out of her comfort zone a little as well.
Only now did Anne and Ann begin to look around the cottage properly. It had everything one could hope for in a holiday place: two bedrooms — one with a double bed, one with a bunk bed — a kitchen with a cooker and a refrigerator, a bathroom, and a sitting room with an open fireplace (which, of course, they wouldn’t use in summer)… and a secret passage.
“Nice — one could put up with this” said Ann.
“We girls take the double bed!” decided Anne.
Julian threw Dick a slightly annoyed look, for neither of them was a fan of bunk beds. But in this case the two girls surely earned first choice.
“Agreed.” said Dick. He had read Julian’s look correctly.
Julian, Dick and Ann unpacked their things while Anne’s remained in the suitcase.
“Okay, the three of us must soon go up to the farmhouse for dinner” said Julian.
“‘Must’… and I’m left here to starve.” grumbled Anne.
“Yes, alone — but no, you won’t starve.” Dick held up his rucksack. “We’ve done some shopping for you.”
Anne looked inside the rucksack — her brothers had actually bought her favourite foods. She took the rucksack and put everything into the refrigerator.
“When we’re outside, please lock the door and draw the curtains — you never know who else might be creeping about.”
And with that the three left Anne and Timmy in the cottage.
Anne tried on the overall — unfortunately it fitted. Then she turned it inside out and hung it up in the bathroom to air. The task ahead had quite spoiled her appetite, and it was still rather early for dinner. She looked through the little bookcase provided for the guests and found something to read. She settled into the large armchair and Timmy lay across her toes, just as he always did with George. Really it was too warm for it, but as she was all alone she didn’t mind in the least.
Ann, Dick and Julian reached the farmhouse after a good ten minutes. One could see that it was more than two hundred years old, but also that it had been well looked after. When they knocked, Peter opened the door at once. He had not only changed out of the work overalls he had worn that afternoon; Dick had the impression that Peter had “dressed up” a little. Certainly neither Julian nor Dick sat so neatly dressed at the table during their summer holidays. Peter’s parents were very nice, though a little short-spoken. When his father stood up to greet his young guests, the three were rather shocked. He was missing his right leg. Leaning on a crutch, he took a few steps towards them and shook their hands.
“Good to have you back, and good that you brought your sister.” Ann's eyes must have lingered too obviously on his missing leg.
“Silly business, that — got it into the saw. Ten years ago now. I can still do almost everything here on the farm. Only driving the tractor’s become difficult — getting on and off, and the pedals, you see? That’s why Peter is chief tractor-driver now.” Peter looked proudly at them.
Then Peter’s mother came in: a tall, handsome woman. She too shook the guests’ hands warmly. She didn’t seem quite so tongue-tied as her husband. She asked Peter to help her bring in the dinner from the kitchen — but before he could rise, Ann volunteered and followed her to the kitchen. Shortly afterwards they returned with a large soup tureen and a roast. All six sat down at the table. During the meal it did not seem to be the family’s custom to talk much. And so all six were silent until Ann and the mother had carried the dishes back into the kitchen and returned.
“Well, what are you planning for tomorrow?” the mother asked. “The weather is supposed to be lovely for the next few days.”
“We want to show our sister the castle ruins.” said Julian.
“Do be careful then. It really is a ruin. Pieces keep breaking off. Don’t climb up or down anywhere. It’s truly dangerous.”
“I could come along and show them where it’s safe.” offered Peter.
“Weren’t you going to finish mowing the grass tomorrow?” his father asked gruffly.
“Oh, let him! It’ll still be dry the day after tomorrow, and he doesn’t often have visitors his own age.” his mother said.
“Tomorrow morning, after breakfast?” Peter asked eagerly.
“Well, I already know the ruins. And I have Latin to learn. It would be ideal if the two youngsters were out of the house,” said the oh-so-grown-up Julian, pointing at Dick and Ann.
“Maybe we can play something after the ruins.” said Ann.
“It must be wonderful to have two siblings. What do you play together?” asked Peter.
“We rather like playing TUG.” replied Dick without batting an eyelid.
“TAG? Aren’t you a bit old for that?” Peter’s mother wondered.
“Oh no — it never gets old” said Dick. Ann gave Peter a quick wink.
“Well, you seem to have a plan for tomorrow. I don’t want to throw you out, but it’s getting dark and you don’t know the way very well.”
The three said their goodbyes and Peter accompanied them to the door.
“You really said TUG!?” he whispered to Dick. Ann’s observation about Peter’s rope marks had apparently been right. All three nodded. Peter beamed — it was too good to be true!
“Better than TAG, isn’t it — without all the running about?” smiled Ann.
With that they took their leave of their hosts and set off on the already quite dark path back to the cottage. Timmy heard them from afar and woke Anne, who had fallen asleep over her book. While she made up for her missed supper, the three told her everything.
“After Dick and Ann set out tomorrow morning and keep Peter busy, you can pay your first visit to the secret passage while I ‘learn Latin’ here” Julian summed up.
The only one who had a peaceful night was Timmy. The other four awaited the next day with quite some excitement.
[ End of Part 1 - to be continued ]
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After Anne had climbed out of the suitcase, while still stretching her arms and legs, she examined the two things Julian had thrown in with her. Anne had identified them correctly by touch in both cases: Father’s deep-sea fishing line and Dick’s old rain overall.
“What do we need these for?” asked Anne. Her voice showed that she had a rough idea, but wasn’t entirely happy about it.
“You know from our earlier adventures how dirty one gets in those secret passages. And it’s usually damp and cold in there,” explained Julian. “And as we have only two ordinary suitcases for four people, none of us has brought much spare clothing. You can hose the overall down in the tub and it’ll be dry again by morning.”
That sounded very sensible — typical Julian. “It smells!” Anne said rather sulkily.
“It smells of your brother, so it stays in the family” Dick replied, a little offended.
“And what about the rope?” asked Anne.
“That’s for rescuing you” answered Julian. He looked more serious than Anne had hoped. “Even if you take Timmy into the secret passage with you, I’m not happy about you climbing down there alone. None of us can get through the entrance easily. What if something happens to you? What if you lose your way? What if your torch goes out and you have to find your way back here in the dark?”
Anne did not reply, but she looked rather troubled. Julian was right — she would be quite on her own during this adventure.
“If we get worried about you, or if Timmy comes back to us, we’ll pull the rope three times. If everything is all right, you pull three times too and go on. If you don’t pull three times, we’ll haul you out somehow. With the poker from the fireplace we can break the wooden panelling at the entrance enough for Dick or George to get in and rescue you.”
Anne felt a little queasy, but she didn’t want to disappoint the other three. And if George could bring herself to go about as a girl — with no boys’ clothes in her suitcase at all — then they could expect Anne to step out of her comfort zone a little as well.
Only now did Anne and Ann begin to look around the cottage properly. It had everything one could hope for in a holiday place: two bedrooms — one with a double bed, one with a bunk bed — a kitchen with a cooker and a refrigerator, a bathroom, and a sitting room with an open fireplace (which, of course, they wouldn’t use in summer)… and a secret passage.
“Nice — one could put up with this” said Ann.
“We girls take the double bed!” decided Anne.
Julian threw Dick a slightly annoyed look, for neither of them was a fan of bunk beds. But in this case the two girls surely earned first choice.
“Agreed.” said Dick. He had read Julian’s look correctly.
Julian, Dick and Ann unpacked their things while Anne’s remained in the suitcase.
“Okay, the three of us must soon go up to the farmhouse for dinner” said Julian.
“‘Must’… and I’m left here to starve.” grumbled Anne.
“Yes, alone — but no, you won’t starve.” Dick held up his rucksack. “We’ve done some shopping for you.”
Anne looked inside the rucksack — her brothers had actually bought her favourite foods. She took the rucksack and put everything into the refrigerator.
“When we’re outside, please lock the door and draw the curtains — you never know who else might be creeping about.”
And with that the three left Anne and Timmy in the cottage.
Anne tried on the overall — unfortunately it fitted. Then she turned it inside out and hung it up in the bathroom to air. The task ahead had quite spoiled her appetite, and it was still rather early for dinner. She looked through the little bookcase provided for the guests and found something to read. She settled into the large armchair and Timmy lay across her toes, just as he always did with George. Really it was too warm for it, but as she was all alone she didn’t mind in the least.
Ann, Dick and Julian reached the farmhouse after a good ten minutes. One could see that it was more than two hundred years old, but also that it had been well looked after. When they knocked, Peter opened the door at once. He had not only changed out of the work overalls he had worn that afternoon; Dick had the impression that Peter had “dressed up” a little. Certainly neither Julian nor Dick sat so neatly dressed at the table during their summer holidays. Peter’s parents were very nice, though a little short-spoken. When his father stood up to greet his young guests, the three were rather shocked. He was missing his right leg. Leaning on a crutch, he took a few steps towards them and shook their hands.
“Good to have you back, and good that you brought your sister.” Ann's eyes must have lingered too obviously on his missing leg.
“Silly business, that — got it into the saw. Ten years ago now. I can still do almost everything here on the farm. Only driving the tractor’s become difficult — getting on and off, and the pedals, you see? That’s why Peter is chief tractor-driver now.” Peter looked proudly at them.
Then Peter’s mother came in: a tall, handsome woman. She too shook the guests’ hands warmly. She didn’t seem quite so tongue-tied as her husband. She asked Peter to help her bring in the dinner from the kitchen — but before he could rise, Ann volunteered and followed her to the kitchen. Shortly afterwards they returned with a large soup tureen and a roast. All six sat down at the table. During the meal it did not seem to be the family’s custom to talk much. And so all six were silent until Ann and the mother had carried the dishes back into the kitchen and returned.
“Well, what are you planning for tomorrow?” the mother asked. “The weather is supposed to be lovely for the next few days.”
“We want to show our sister the castle ruins.” said Julian.
“Do be careful then. It really is a ruin. Pieces keep breaking off. Don’t climb up or down anywhere. It’s truly dangerous.”
“I could come along and show them where it’s safe.” offered Peter.
“Weren’t you going to finish mowing the grass tomorrow?” his father asked gruffly.
“Oh, let him! It’ll still be dry the day after tomorrow, and he doesn’t often have visitors his own age.” his mother said.
“Tomorrow morning, after breakfast?” Peter asked eagerly.
“Well, I already know the ruins. And I have Latin to learn. It would be ideal if the two youngsters were out of the house,” said the oh-so-grown-up Julian, pointing at Dick and Ann.
“Maybe we can play something after the ruins.” said Ann.
“It must be wonderful to have two siblings. What do you play together?” asked Peter.
“We rather like playing TUG.” replied Dick without batting an eyelid.
“TAG? Aren’t you a bit old for that?” Peter’s mother wondered.
“Oh no — it never gets old” said Dick. Ann gave Peter a quick wink.
“Well, you seem to have a plan for tomorrow. I don’t want to throw you out, but it’s getting dark and you don’t know the way very well.”
The three said their goodbyes and Peter accompanied them to the door.
“You really said TUG!?” he whispered to Dick. Ann’s observation about Peter’s rope marks had apparently been right. All three nodded. Peter beamed — it was too good to be true!
“Better than TAG, isn’t it — without all the running about?” smiled Ann.
With that they took their leave of their hosts and set off on the already quite dark path back to the cottage. Timmy heard them from afar and woke Anne, who had fallen asleep over her book. While she made up for her missed supper, the three told her everything.
“After Dick and Ann set out tomorrow morning and keep Peter busy, you can pay your first visit to the secret passage while I ‘learn Latin’ here” Julian summed up.
The only one who had a peaceful night was Timmy. The other four awaited the next day with quite some excitement.
[ End of Part 1 - to be continued ]
Your feedback is welcome.
Your story was really interesting. Do you accept requests?
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Jenny_1972
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Thank you for your positive feedback.
To be honest, I have already finished writing the whole story. I just didn't want to submit a 60 minute read in a single upload.
But tell me your requests!
Maybe I can still accomodate them in this story - or maybe in the next one.
.
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Jenny_1972
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- Joined: 5 months ago
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harveygasson
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It's an interesting start and I'm not too familiar with the famous five characters but looking forward to reading more.
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Jenny_1972
- Centennial Club
- Posts: 138
- Joined: 5 months ago
Chapter Eight - Into the Dark
The morning began with Timmy barking furiously at the front door shortly before seven o’clock, waking the other four at once. Julian was the first to leap out of bed, and had the presence of mind to check whether the curtains were properly drawn. But by then Timmy had already calmed down again. When Julian opened the front door very cautiously, the alarm turned out to be quite harmless. Hanging from the outside door handle was a bag of fresh bread rolls, and he saw a young woman cycling away in the direction of the farm. That must be Lisa, the farm helper they had heard about the previous evening. She lived in the village and would bring small errands with her on her daily way to the farm. It was rather kind of her to deliver fresh rolls for breakfast. But with one real Anne and one false Ann in the cottage, it was a reminder to them all to be even more cautious.
After breakfast the two boys were, as usual, ready in no time and waited for the girls to come out of their room. George was normally the quickest in the mornings and was often back from walking Timmy before the other three were even ready to start the day. But this time the door to the “girls’ room” stayed shut far longer than usual.
At last Julian knocked and heard Anne call, “Do come in, we shan’t be long. I’m only showing Georgina how to put on a T-shirt.” (Anne truly did seem to have difficulty calling her cousin Ann.) Ann was standing before the mirror, struggling with a T-shirt.
“But you’ve managed to put on T-shirts perfectly well in the past.” remarked Julian in puzzled tones.
“Georgina puts on T-shirts like a boy, not as a girl ought to.” explained Anne.
“Is there a difference?” Dick asked in astonishment.
“You two have seen me dress a thousand times. And you never noticed that I handle T-shirts differently from you?”
“No?”
“When you boys take off a shirt, you grab it at the collar, tug it over your head, stretch it all out of shape and mess up your hair — because you don’t care a bit.”
Somehow her brothers felt rather caught out. “And?”
“We girls take hold of the hem at the bottom and draw it up carefully, turning it inside-out as we do so.”
Ann demonstrated. She crossed her arms, caught the hem of the shirt and drew it gently upwards. That she now stood in her bra before her cousins didn’t seem to trouble her in the least.
“All right, we’ve seen it!” said Julian quickly. “But do see that you both get finished. I don’t want Peter growing impatient and coming here to fetch Dick and Ann.”
“Dick, help me push up the wall panel that blocks the entrance to the secret passage.” Julian could move the panel easily without his brother’s help; he had just wanted to usher him out of the girls' room.
Anne came over to them and cast an uneasy glance at the opening, behind which a dark, tiny room could be seen with a flight of stairs leading downstairs to the left. By then Ann was dressed as well — knee-length dark-blue shorts, a pink short-sleeved shirt with nautical patterns, white socks and sandals with a heel.
“If you really mean to scramble about in the ruins, you ought to wear different shoes” warned Anne, who had more experience with heels than her older cousin.
A little disappointed, Ann changed into more sensible footwear and then she and Dick set off. Timmy did not quite understand why George looked so strange and smelt so unusually nice, but he accepted that his task today was to stay behind and look after Julian and Anne.
“Georgina is truly a bit inexperienced” Anne complained to Julian. “First before the mirror and then with the shoes. She wanted to wear her knee-length skirt today! It took her a while to grasp why I wouldn’t dream of wearing a skirt for scrambling about or for TUGs with that Peter.”
“She hasn’t known for very long that she’s a girl.” joked Julian. He had the feeling that after only half a day with Ann, Anne already longed for their familiar cousin George — but he didn’t say so aloud.
“Pop to the lavatory once more and then put on the overall.”
A moment later Anne stood before him in the yellow suit. With her usual summer-holiday attire consisting only of shorts and a T-shirt, the inside of the overall felt clammy and a little sticky against her bare arms and legs.
“It’ll fit me for another two years.” she remarked.
Julian said nothing, but came up to her with the long rope. He slipped it round the back of her neck and down over her shoulders, then pulled the loose end until it reached the ground. He tied a complicated knot in front of Anne’s chest, led both sides of the rope under her arms and crossed them at her back, brought them forward again and fastened them to the knot in front.
“That’s how we learnt it at school during civil-defence training.” explained Julian proudly.
He tried to lift Anne a little with the rope. It was surprisingly strong for something so thin, but it cut painfully into her armpits.
“I might be able to find my way back with it, and you could find me if I got lost. But you won’t be able to recover me with this.” Anne said sceptically.
'We'd rescue you; if hope we'll never have to recover anyone!' Julian thought, but decided it was better to explain the difference another time.
“I’ve tied the other end to the wooden slat of the panelling. That way the panel I had to push up can’t fall back down.”
Anne nodded reluctantly.
“Here’s the torch. Fresh batteries.”
Julian handed her the largest torch she had ever held. Then he called Timmy inside.
“Timmy, you stay with me. Yes, we’re going in there” commanded Anne, guiding Timmy to the entrance. “You look after me. If anything dangerous comes, you bark.”
Timmy understood; this wasn’t his first secret-passage adventure.
“Once more: how will you proceed inside?” asked Julian.
“First I climb down the stairs. Then I go straight ahead. After about fifty yards there should be a junction. There I turn right towards the ruin. I’ll know when I’ve reached it because of the stonework and the arches. Then I search for a large picture-frame with a document titled Royal Deed. When I find it, I turn back. Whenever there are three tugs on my rope from you, I tug three times in return to show all is well. If I come back and your big suitcase stands in front of the entrance here at the cottage, I know the coast isn’t clear, so I wait quietly. And if the passage is blocked anywhere, I take no risks — I simply turn back and we make a new plan, Commander Julian.”
“I’m proud of you” Julian replied — and meant it.
“Yours is the right of passage.” with that he stepped aside and helped Anne squeeze through the narrow opening, then handed her the torch. Last of all he sent Timmy after her. For Timmy the entrance was almost as tight a squeeze as for Anne, but he had no intention of leaving her to go alone. Inside, Anne straightened up and shone the torch into the darkness. The passage was high enough for her to stand upright — Julian would have had to stoop a little — and just wide enough for her and Timmy side by side. At least, that’s how it was at the beginning; the rest remained to be discovered.
“All right, Anne. Good luck — and do, please, take no risks.”
“Good-bye” said Anne, and set off carefully. The flight of stairs was rather steep and slightly uneven, but she and Timmy had soon reached its end from where the passage continued flat. Timmy ran a little ahead, but never farther than the beam of her torch reached. If Anne felt he was going too far, she lowered the beam slightly, and Timmy waited in the darkness until she caught up. When Anne turned round she realised she could no longer see the dim light that was coming down the stairs from the cottage. Apparently the passage curved ever so slightly.
Julian tentatively drew in the rope until he felt a slight resistance, then tugged it three times. Anne, who had already noticed that the rope was no longer slack, wasn’t surprised by Julian’s signal and tugged three times in return. Julian and Anne both felt relieved. Now came the waiting for Julian. He was far too excited to study Latin or read anything at all. Instead he looked around the cottage a little and found a small brass bell of the sort lambs or calves sometimes wore.
“If I tie this to my end of the rope, I ought to hear it when Anne pulls” he thought and tied it on with a neat, practised knot.
He sat down in the armchair beside the fireplace and wondered how Dick and Ann were getting on.
The morning began with Timmy barking furiously at the front door shortly before seven o’clock, waking the other four at once. Julian was the first to leap out of bed, and had the presence of mind to check whether the curtains were properly drawn. But by then Timmy had already calmed down again. When Julian opened the front door very cautiously, the alarm turned out to be quite harmless. Hanging from the outside door handle was a bag of fresh bread rolls, and he saw a young woman cycling away in the direction of the farm. That must be Lisa, the farm helper they had heard about the previous evening. She lived in the village and would bring small errands with her on her daily way to the farm. It was rather kind of her to deliver fresh rolls for breakfast. But with one real Anne and one false Ann in the cottage, it was a reminder to them all to be even more cautious.
After breakfast the two boys were, as usual, ready in no time and waited for the girls to come out of their room. George was normally the quickest in the mornings and was often back from walking Timmy before the other three were even ready to start the day. But this time the door to the “girls’ room” stayed shut far longer than usual.
At last Julian knocked and heard Anne call, “Do come in, we shan’t be long. I’m only showing Georgina how to put on a T-shirt.” (Anne truly did seem to have difficulty calling her cousin Ann.) Ann was standing before the mirror, struggling with a T-shirt.
“But you’ve managed to put on T-shirts perfectly well in the past.” remarked Julian in puzzled tones.
“Georgina puts on T-shirts like a boy, not as a girl ought to.” explained Anne.
“Is there a difference?” Dick asked in astonishment.
“You two have seen me dress a thousand times. And you never noticed that I handle T-shirts differently from you?”
“No?”
“When you boys take off a shirt, you grab it at the collar, tug it over your head, stretch it all out of shape and mess up your hair — because you don’t care a bit.”
Somehow her brothers felt rather caught out. “And?”
“We girls take hold of the hem at the bottom and draw it up carefully, turning it inside-out as we do so.”
Ann demonstrated. She crossed her arms, caught the hem of the shirt and drew it gently upwards. That she now stood in her bra before her cousins didn’t seem to trouble her in the least.
“All right, we’ve seen it!” said Julian quickly. “But do see that you both get finished. I don’t want Peter growing impatient and coming here to fetch Dick and Ann.”
“Dick, help me push up the wall panel that blocks the entrance to the secret passage.” Julian could move the panel easily without his brother’s help; he had just wanted to usher him out of the girls' room.
Anne came over to them and cast an uneasy glance at the opening, behind which a dark, tiny room could be seen with a flight of stairs leading downstairs to the left. By then Ann was dressed as well — knee-length dark-blue shorts, a pink short-sleeved shirt with nautical patterns, white socks and sandals with a heel.
“If you really mean to scramble about in the ruins, you ought to wear different shoes” warned Anne, who had more experience with heels than her older cousin.
A little disappointed, Ann changed into more sensible footwear and then she and Dick set off. Timmy did not quite understand why George looked so strange and smelt so unusually nice, but he accepted that his task today was to stay behind and look after Julian and Anne.
“Georgina is truly a bit inexperienced” Anne complained to Julian. “First before the mirror and then with the shoes. She wanted to wear her knee-length skirt today! It took her a while to grasp why I wouldn’t dream of wearing a skirt for scrambling about or for TUGs with that Peter.”
“She hasn’t known for very long that she’s a girl.” joked Julian. He had the feeling that after only half a day with Ann, Anne already longed for their familiar cousin George — but he didn’t say so aloud.
“Pop to the lavatory once more and then put on the overall.”
A moment later Anne stood before him in the yellow suit. With her usual summer-holiday attire consisting only of shorts and a T-shirt, the inside of the overall felt clammy and a little sticky against her bare arms and legs.
“It’ll fit me for another two years.” she remarked.
Julian said nothing, but came up to her with the long rope. He slipped it round the back of her neck and down over her shoulders, then pulled the loose end until it reached the ground. He tied a complicated knot in front of Anne’s chest, led both sides of the rope under her arms and crossed them at her back, brought them forward again and fastened them to the knot in front.
“That’s how we learnt it at school during civil-defence training.” explained Julian proudly.
He tried to lift Anne a little with the rope. It was surprisingly strong for something so thin, but it cut painfully into her armpits.
“I might be able to find my way back with it, and you could find me if I got lost. But you won’t be able to recover me with this.” Anne said sceptically.
'We'd rescue you; if hope we'll never have to recover anyone!' Julian thought, but decided it was better to explain the difference another time.
“I’ve tied the other end to the wooden slat of the panelling. That way the panel I had to push up can’t fall back down.”
Anne nodded reluctantly.
“Here’s the torch. Fresh batteries.”
Julian handed her the largest torch she had ever held. Then he called Timmy inside.
“Timmy, you stay with me. Yes, we’re going in there” commanded Anne, guiding Timmy to the entrance. “You look after me. If anything dangerous comes, you bark.”
Timmy understood; this wasn’t his first secret-passage adventure.
“Once more: how will you proceed inside?” asked Julian.
“First I climb down the stairs. Then I go straight ahead. After about fifty yards there should be a junction. There I turn right towards the ruin. I’ll know when I’ve reached it because of the stonework and the arches. Then I search for a large picture-frame with a document titled Royal Deed. When I find it, I turn back. Whenever there are three tugs on my rope from you, I tug three times in return to show all is well. If I come back and your big suitcase stands in front of the entrance here at the cottage, I know the coast isn’t clear, so I wait quietly. And if the passage is blocked anywhere, I take no risks — I simply turn back and we make a new plan, Commander Julian.”
“I’m proud of you” Julian replied — and meant it.
“Yours is the right of passage.” with that he stepped aside and helped Anne squeeze through the narrow opening, then handed her the torch. Last of all he sent Timmy after her. For Timmy the entrance was almost as tight a squeeze as for Anne, but he had no intention of leaving her to go alone. Inside, Anne straightened up and shone the torch into the darkness. The passage was high enough for her to stand upright — Julian would have had to stoop a little — and just wide enough for her and Timmy side by side. At least, that’s how it was at the beginning; the rest remained to be discovered.
“All right, Anne. Good luck — and do, please, take no risks.”
“Good-bye” said Anne, and set off carefully. The flight of stairs was rather steep and slightly uneven, but she and Timmy had soon reached its end from where the passage continued flat. Timmy ran a little ahead, but never farther than the beam of her torch reached. If Anne felt he was going too far, she lowered the beam slightly, and Timmy waited in the darkness until she caught up. When Anne turned round she realised she could no longer see the dim light that was coming down the stairs from the cottage. Apparently the passage curved ever so slightly.
Julian tentatively drew in the rope until he felt a slight resistance, then tugged it three times. Anne, who had already noticed that the rope was no longer slack, wasn’t surprised by Julian’s signal and tugged three times in return. Julian and Anne both felt relieved. Now came the waiting for Julian. He was far too excited to study Latin or read anything at all. Instead he looked around the cottage a little and found a small brass bell of the sort lambs or calves sometimes wore.
“If I tie this to my end of the rope, I ought to hear it when Anne pulls” he thought and tied it on with a neat, practised knot.
He sat down in the armchair beside the fireplace and wondered how Dick and Ann were getting on.
Last edited by Jenny_1972 4 weeks ago, edited 1 time in total.
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Jenny_1972
- Centennial Club
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- Joined: 5 months ago
Chapter Nine - At the Castle Ruins
When Dick and Ann reached the farmhouse, Peter was already waiting for them, full of excitement. He slung his little rucksack onto his back and asked, “Where have you left your dog — Timmy, isn’t he?”
“He’s looking after Julian and testing him on his Latin vocabulary.” said Dick. “Honestly, on a strange farm with all the animals about, one never knows what Timmy might get up to.”
“Good idea.” agreed Peter, and set off ahead of them.
The path to the castle ruins was a gently sloping farm track. Somehow all three of them were rather quiet that morning. Ann tried to start a conversation about the weather, Dick attempted one about the cows and Peter about school, but none of the topics really took hold. After scarcely ten minutes they reached the ruin.
“So — that’s our ruin.” said Peter. “The castle must have been much bigger once, but now it’s crumbling more and more. Do you see that half-arch of a window up there? I can still remember when it was whole.”
“When was the castle built, and who put it here?” asked Dick.
“Some count in the Middle Ages” Peter replied. “I believe there was a quarrel between two brothers over the inheritance, and in the end neither of them got it — and so it stayed a ruin.”
Dick and Ann had hoped for a little more than that. Peter noticed the disappointment on Ann’s face.
“It isn’t really our castle.” he said quickly. “My family only rents the farm. The owners might have known more, but they moved to the coast twenty years ago. The present owner is some odd sort of scientist who knows nothing about farm work and only comes as seldom as he can. My dad said he has a daughter about our age, but I’ve never seen her here…
Long ago the farm belonged to the castle, and now it’s the other way round — the ruins belong to the farm. Beneath the walls you can see, there are supposed to be vaults. But the entrance is blocked.”
“Have you ever searched for a way in?” asked Dick eagerly.
“Oh yes, of course I have! But then my parents forbade me, because the walls are all unstable. And besides, the ghosts of the two brothers are said to haunt down there.”
Dick and Ann didn’t quite know whether to take that seriously. It wasn’t their first ruined castle, nor their first underground vaults — but they didn’t let Peter notice that. To him, these were his ruins and his vaults.
Dick, who had been allowed to borrow his father’s camera, took a photograph of the ruin. Then he set the camera on a large stone and used the self-timer to take a picture of Peter, Ann and himself.
After that Peter took a bottle of lemonade and three cups from his rucksack, which was still rather full even without the bottle.
“You said you play TUGs.” Peter ventured at last, coming to what really interested him.
“Yes” said Ann. “The three of us have done so for several years.”
“How do you manage it, among the three of you?” Peter wanted to know.
She was about to tell Peter proudly about Kirrin Island, which belonged to her and where the four could play TUGs undisturbed all day, but she remembered just in time that this would have blown her cover dreadfully.
“When there are three of us” Ann explained “we do it like this: one of us — say me — ties up the other two, Julian and Dick, as equally as possible. For example, both have their legs bound together and both have their hands tied behind their backs with the same rope and the same knots.”
“All right…”
“Then there’s a sort of contest between the two to see who can get free the quickest. The winner — say Julian — then gets to tie up the other two next time, which would be Dick and me.”
“That does sound exciting” Peter admitted.
“Yes, but it’s becoming a bit dull with Julian.” Dick put in. “He claims he’s ‘too grown-up’ now to be trussing up his younger siblings. And besides, he’s gotten far too good at it. When he ties us, we can’t get free at all.”
“Oh! And what do you do then?”
“Well, then the contest goes into extra time, so to speak. We stay tied until we both give up, then Julian frees us. But of course whoever gives up first is the loser.”
“You really have thought of everything.”
“Well, growing up together helps. I can’t imagine having no brothers or sisters… well — perhaps sometimes I can,” said Ann, giving Dick a sideways look that made Peter laugh.
“And you, Peter?” Dick asked.
“I’m on my own with my TUGs here on the farm. And when I’m not at school, I have to help with the work quite often. You saw my dad yesterday. There isn’t much time left. And of course I always have to make sure I can free myself again.”
“Yesterday — when you fetched us from the bus stop with the tractor — it must have been a close call, wasn’t it?” asked Dick very directly.
Peter was startled and blushed scarlet. “How did you… Did you really notice the rope marks?” he stammered.
“It takes one to know one.” Dick reassured him.
“Happens to the best of us.” Ann comforted him.
“All right — but you mustn’t ever tell my parents. Because what happened yesterday was perhaps a stroke of good luck. You see, I’d hidden myself up in the hayloft of the barn. As you rightly noticed from the rope marks, I overdid it and couldn’t get free again. I was terribly upset. Luckily I hadn’t put a gag in my mouth. I was just wondering whom to call — my mother or my father — and both would have been simply dreadful. Then Lisa, our farm helper, came into the barn. You may have seen her — she was supposed to bring you your rolls this morning.”
“Julian saw her.” said Dick.
“Well, she came into the barn and called for me. So she must have known I’d been up there for some time. I made a noise and she climbed up to me. She didn’t seem surprised at all to see me lying there all tied up — and she freed me very quickly indeed. As if she knew all about ropes and knots! I thanked her and begged her not to tell my parents. And do you know what she said?”
“You’d have to give her all your pocket money from now on to keep her quiet?” suggested Dick — earning an elbow in the ribs from Ann. The thought seemed to alarm Peter terribly; it clearly hadn’t occurred to him.
“No, quite the opposite! Lisa said that if ever I needed someone to free me again at the end, I should simply tell her beforehand.”
“Well, that really is a stroke of luck — congratulations!” Ann said gladly.
“All right — now do show us at last what you’ve brought along in that rucksack of yours.” Dick said, growing impatient.
When Dick and Ann reached the farmhouse, Peter was already waiting for them, full of excitement. He slung his little rucksack onto his back and asked, “Where have you left your dog — Timmy, isn’t he?”
“He’s looking after Julian and testing him on his Latin vocabulary.” said Dick. “Honestly, on a strange farm with all the animals about, one never knows what Timmy might get up to.”
“Good idea.” agreed Peter, and set off ahead of them.
The path to the castle ruins was a gently sloping farm track. Somehow all three of them were rather quiet that morning. Ann tried to start a conversation about the weather, Dick attempted one about the cows and Peter about school, but none of the topics really took hold. After scarcely ten minutes they reached the ruin.
“So — that’s our ruin.” said Peter. “The castle must have been much bigger once, but now it’s crumbling more and more. Do you see that half-arch of a window up there? I can still remember when it was whole.”
“When was the castle built, and who put it here?” asked Dick.
“Some count in the Middle Ages” Peter replied. “I believe there was a quarrel between two brothers over the inheritance, and in the end neither of them got it — and so it stayed a ruin.”
Dick and Ann had hoped for a little more than that. Peter noticed the disappointment on Ann’s face.
“It isn’t really our castle.” he said quickly. “My family only rents the farm. The owners might have known more, but they moved to the coast twenty years ago. The present owner is some odd sort of scientist who knows nothing about farm work and only comes as seldom as he can. My dad said he has a daughter about our age, but I’ve never seen her here…
Long ago the farm belonged to the castle, and now it’s the other way round — the ruins belong to the farm. Beneath the walls you can see, there are supposed to be vaults. But the entrance is blocked.”
“Have you ever searched for a way in?” asked Dick eagerly.
“Oh yes, of course I have! But then my parents forbade me, because the walls are all unstable. And besides, the ghosts of the two brothers are said to haunt down there.”
Dick and Ann didn’t quite know whether to take that seriously. It wasn’t their first ruined castle, nor their first underground vaults — but they didn’t let Peter notice that. To him, these were his ruins and his vaults.
Dick, who had been allowed to borrow his father’s camera, took a photograph of the ruin. Then he set the camera on a large stone and used the self-timer to take a picture of Peter, Ann and himself.
After that Peter took a bottle of lemonade and three cups from his rucksack, which was still rather full even without the bottle.
“You said you play TUGs.” Peter ventured at last, coming to what really interested him.
“Yes” said Ann. “The three of us have done so for several years.”
“How do you manage it, among the three of you?” Peter wanted to know.
She was about to tell Peter proudly about Kirrin Island, which belonged to her and where the four could play TUGs undisturbed all day, but she remembered just in time that this would have blown her cover dreadfully.
“When there are three of us” Ann explained “we do it like this: one of us — say me — ties up the other two, Julian and Dick, as equally as possible. For example, both have their legs bound together and both have their hands tied behind their backs with the same rope and the same knots.”
“All right…”
“Then there’s a sort of contest between the two to see who can get free the quickest. The winner — say Julian — then gets to tie up the other two next time, which would be Dick and me.”
“That does sound exciting” Peter admitted.
“Yes, but it’s becoming a bit dull with Julian.” Dick put in. “He claims he’s ‘too grown-up’ now to be trussing up his younger siblings. And besides, he’s gotten far too good at it. When he ties us, we can’t get free at all.”
“Oh! And what do you do then?”
“Well, then the contest goes into extra time, so to speak. We stay tied until we both give up, then Julian frees us. But of course whoever gives up first is the loser.”
“You really have thought of everything.”
“Well, growing up together helps. I can’t imagine having no brothers or sisters… well — perhaps sometimes I can,” said Ann, giving Dick a sideways look that made Peter laugh.
“And you, Peter?” Dick asked.
“I’m on my own with my TUGs here on the farm. And when I’m not at school, I have to help with the work quite often. You saw my dad yesterday. There isn’t much time left. And of course I always have to make sure I can free myself again.”
“Yesterday — when you fetched us from the bus stop with the tractor — it must have been a close call, wasn’t it?” asked Dick very directly.
Peter was startled and blushed scarlet. “How did you… Did you really notice the rope marks?” he stammered.
“It takes one to know one.” Dick reassured him.
“Happens to the best of us.” Ann comforted him.
“All right — but you mustn’t ever tell my parents. Because what happened yesterday was perhaps a stroke of good luck. You see, I’d hidden myself up in the hayloft of the barn. As you rightly noticed from the rope marks, I overdid it and couldn’t get free again. I was terribly upset. Luckily I hadn’t put a gag in my mouth. I was just wondering whom to call — my mother or my father — and both would have been simply dreadful. Then Lisa, our farm helper, came into the barn. You may have seen her — she was supposed to bring you your rolls this morning.”
“Julian saw her.” said Dick.
“Well, she came into the barn and called for me. So she must have known I’d been up there for some time. I made a noise and she climbed up to me. She didn’t seem surprised at all to see me lying there all tied up — and she freed me very quickly indeed. As if she knew all about ropes and knots! I thanked her and begged her not to tell my parents. And do you know what she said?”
“You’d have to give her all your pocket money from now on to keep her quiet?” suggested Dick — earning an elbow in the ribs from Ann. The thought seemed to alarm Peter terribly; it clearly hadn’t occurred to him.
“No, quite the opposite! Lisa said that if ever I needed someone to free me again at the end, I should simply tell her beforehand.”
“Well, that really is a stroke of luck — congratulations!” Ann said gladly.
“All right — now do show us at last what you’ve brought along in that rucksack of yours.” Dick said, growing impatient.
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Jenny_1972
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Chapter Ten - The other Right
Meanwhile in the cottage Julian was also growing impatient. He had been able to follow Anne’s progress deeper and deeper into the secret passage by watching how the rope he had tied to her unwound from the reel. At first it had run out steadily enough. Then it had slowed almost to a stop. After that it had begun to move more quickly again. But now it hadn’t shifted at all for quite some time.
He bent over the opening and listened, but could hear nothing — neither Anne nor Timmy. And there was still no sign of the beam from her torch.
When he tried giving the rope three short tugs, he first had to pull up quite a length of loose line from the passage. Anne must already be on her way back. For a moment he feared the rope had come loose, but then he felt a soft resistance. He tugged three times; at once he felt Anne tug back.
A moment later he heard Timmy barking, and soon the dog squeezed out of the opening. At last Julian could see the beam of Anne’s torch swinging up the staircase. When she reached the entrance he helped her through the narrow gap. She was clearly not carrying any ancient document.
“At last! I was beginning to worry.” said Julian in relief.
He had half a mind to give her a hug, but she was far too muddy for that. Her overall was covered in earth. Carefully — not wanting to spread too much dirt about the cottage — Anne went into the bathroom. As she tried to take off the overall, she noticed she was still tied to the rope and that Julian’s rescue harness prevented her from undressing.
After a good deal of effort she managed to undo Julian’s knots, put the filthy overall in the bath, changed into ordinary clothes and came to give her report.
“As far as the turning, the description of the passage that Aunt Fanny has given to George was quite right. And afterwards the passage did indeed get a little wider and higher and smoother. But then I came to a place where part of the ceiling had fallen in.”
“That must have been when the rope stopped moving.” said Julian anxiously. “You should have turned back at once instead of taking any risks.”
“I meant to, but Timmy squeezed through the gap and simply disappeared to the other side.”
“So of course you had to follow him?” Julian asked disapprovingly.
“It was only loose earth. I did what Timmy did and wriggled my way through somehow.”
“I can see that.” said Julian, pointing to the trail of crumbs of earth leading from the entrance to the bathroom.
“On the other side of the heap the passage goes on for quite a bit. Right at the end there are some stone steps leading upwards and then there’s a bricked-up doorway. That’s all. No chamber. No side-passages.”
Julian thought hard. It didn’t match the description Aunt Fanny had given George — unless perhaps…
“After the turning, did the passage slope slightly downwards or slightly upwards?”
“Well” said Anne, looking a little uncomfortable, “if you put it like that… I suppose it went slightly upwards.”
“Anne… how shall I put this… are you quite sure you turned right at the fork?”
She glanced to her left side as she tried to remember.
She bit her lip and confessed, “I’m afraid it was the other right.”
Julian gave her a comforting hug.
When they parted, Anne cast a quick look at Julian’s wrist-watch.
“Is there still time for a second try?”
“Yes, I should think so. Do you really want to go again straight away?”
“Would you take Timmy out for a moment? I’ll go back to the bathroom.”
“All right. And could you roll the rope up again afterwards?”
About ten minutes later Anne was back, dressed, roped up and ready, with Timmy and the torch beside her.
“Good luck!” said Julian, helping his sister squeeze into the opening.
Descending the staircase Anne admired her older brother for not saying anything like “This time really to the right.” Neither George nor Dick nor she herself would have been able to resist.
Julian watched for a moment as Anne carried more and more rope with her into the darkness.
Then he sat down and wondered how George and Dick were doing.
Meanwhile in the cottage Julian was also growing impatient. He had been able to follow Anne’s progress deeper and deeper into the secret passage by watching how the rope he had tied to her unwound from the reel. At first it had run out steadily enough. Then it had slowed almost to a stop. After that it had begun to move more quickly again. But now it hadn’t shifted at all for quite some time.
He bent over the opening and listened, but could hear nothing — neither Anne nor Timmy. And there was still no sign of the beam from her torch.
When he tried giving the rope three short tugs, he first had to pull up quite a length of loose line from the passage. Anne must already be on her way back. For a moment he feared the rope had come loose, but then he felt a soft resistance. He tugged three times; at once he felt Anne tug back.
A moment later he heard Timmy barking, and soon the dog squeezed out of the opening. At last Julian could see the beam of Anne’s torch swinging up the staircase. When she reached the entrance he helped her through the narrow gap. She was clearly not carrying any ancient document.
“At last! I was beginning to worry.” said Julian in relief.
He had half a mind to give her a hug, but she was far too muddy for that. Her overall was covered in earth. Carefully — not wanting to spread too much dirt about the cottage — Anne went into the bathroom. As she tried to take off the overall, she noticed she was still tied to the rope and that Julian’s rescue harness prevented her from undressing.
After a good deal of effort she managed to undo Julian’s knots, put the filthy overall in the bath, changed into ordinary clothes and came to give her report.
“As far as the turning, the description of the passage that Aunt Fanny has given to George was quite right. And afterwards the passage did indeed get a little wider and higher and smoother. But then I came to a place where part of the ceiling had fallen in.”
“That must have been when the rope stopped moving.” said Julian anxiously. “You should have turned back at once instead of taking any risks.”
“I meant to, but Timmy squeezed through the gap and simply disappeared to the other side.”
“So of course you had to follow him?” Julian asked disapprovingly.
“It was only loose earth. I did what Timmy did and wriggled my way through somehow.”
“I can see that.” said Julian, pointing to the trail of crumbs of earth leading from the entrance to the bathroom.
“On the other side of the heap the passage goes on for quite a bit. Right at the end there are some stone steps leading upwards and then there’s a bricked-up doorway. That’s all. No chamber. No side-passages.”
Julian thought hard. It didn’t match the description Aunt Fanny had given George — unless perhaps…
“After the turning, did the passage slope slightly downwards or slightly upwards?”
“Well” said Anne, looking a little uncomfortable, “if you put it like that… I suppose it went slightly upwards.”
“Anne… how shall I put this… are you quite sure you turned right at the fork?”
She glanced to her left side as she tried to remember.
She bit her lip and confessed, “I’m afraid it was the other right.”
Julian gave her a comforting hug.
When they parted, Anne cast a quick look at Julian’s wrist-watch.
“Is there still time for a second try?”
“Yes, I should think so. Do you really want to go again straight away?”
“Would you take Timmy out for a moment? I’ll go back to the bathroom.”
“All right. And could you roll the rope up again afterwards?”
About ten minutes later Anne was back, dressed, roped up and ready, with Timmy and the torch beside her.
“Good luck!” said Julian, helping his sister squeeze into the opening.
Descending the staircase Anne admired her older brother for not saying anything like “This time really to the right.” Neither George nor Dick nor she herself would have been able to resist.
Julian watched for a moment as Anne carried more and more rope with her into the darkness.
Then he sat down and wondered how George and Dick were doing.
Last edited by Jenny_1972 4 weeks ago, edited 1 time in total.
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Jenny_1972
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Chapter Eleven – Into the Barn
Meanwhile Peter had emptied the contents of his rucksack in front of Ann and Dick. There were several ropes of different lengths and a handful of neckerchiefs.
'The ropes are far too long and they’re all the same thickness — beginner’s kit' thought Dick, though he kept the remark to himself.
“One can certainly do something with that.” said Ann encouragingly.
“Give me your hands!” Peter demanded firmly, picking up a longer piece of rope.
Ann held her wrists together in front of her. But Peter took only one, tied the rope around it, swung her arm swiftly behind her back, spun Ann round so she faced away from him, grabbed her other hand and in no time at all had tied both her wrists together behind her.
Peter suddenly seemed unsure whether that bold beginning had been a little too cheeky. But Ann merely grinned and said, “All right.”
Then Peter turned to Dick and held up the loose end of the rope. Dick understood what Peter meant to do. It wasn’t quite how he’d imagined this, but he was curious to see how Peter would technically manage to tie him up with only one loose end to work with — the other already being attached to Ann. He turned around, put his hands behind his back, and let Peter get on with it. It took a bit longer, but in the end Peter had Dick’s hands tied as well. The rope between Ann and Dick was about six feet long.
“Well” said Peter, “I suggest we do the rest in the barn, up in the hay-loft.”
“What? You expect us to walk across the farm tied together like this?” asked Dick in astonishment.
“If anyone sees us, I’ll just say I caught two tramps sneaking around." said Peter. “As long as you laugh and look cheerful, why should anyone bother?”
That seemed reasonable — if rather daring. Maybe the four had always been too cautious when they played their TUGs.
“Besides, my parents and Lisa are busy at the far end of the farm mending the fences today. And… being nearly caught is half the fun, isn’t it?”
Ann and Dick were beginning to realise they had run into a genuine TUG enthusiast.
“Off we go!” commanded Peter and the three set out for the barn.
Walking with their hands tied behind them was nothing new for either Ann or Dick and the rope between them was exactly the right length — not so long that they tripped over it, not so short that they bumped into each other. And Peter had judged the knots well: firm, but not cutting into their wrists. Without saying so aloud, both were rather impressed.
It took them only a few minutes to reach the barn. It stood a good distance from the farmhouse — ideal for TUGs. Peter swung open the barn door and let them inside.
“I’ll close it from the inside. Then we shan’t be disturbed” he said, turning to the heavy old door.
At once Dick turned so he and Ann were standing back-to-back and began feeling for the knots that tied her wrists. He managed to loosen them soon enough, leaving only one last loose knot to stop the rope falling to the floor. Then Ann started on Dick’s knots and managed to free him just when Peter came back.
“The hay-loft is up that ladder. Do you dare climb it?” Peter pointed to a long wooden ladder. “Not with your hands tied, of course.”
“Of course not.” smiled Ann triumphantly, bringing her freed hands out from behind her back. Dick did the same. Now Peter looked impressed.
“Your knot-work and rope-handling are quite good already, Peter.” said Dick in a slightly schoolmasterly tone. “But you didn’t consider that we might help each other. A useful lesson for next time.”
Ann’s sharp elbow dug into his ribs as a reward for the remark. Peter stuffed the rope on the floor back into his rucksack and climbed the ladder without another word.
Ann followed. She was used to wooden ladders at home. Dick somehow managed to scramble up after them. It was very warm up under the roof. The hay-loft turned out to be a large, level wooden floor with only two small piles of hay, one to each side.
“These two piles are what's left of last year’s.” Peter explained. “Once I’ve cut the grass, we’ll have fresh hay.”
The frown-up way he said it impressed Ann rather more than she liked to admit.
"Okay, I'll start." Ann said somewhat businesslike. "I know what my brother Dick can take. But not you, Peter."
Meanwhile Peter had emptied the contents of his rucksack in front of Ann and Dick. There were several ropes of different lengths and a handful of neckerchiefs.
'The ropes are far too long and they’re all the same thickness — beginner’s kit' thought Dick, though he kept the remark to himself.
“One can certainly do something with that.” said Ann encouragingly.
“Give me your hands!” Peter demanded firmly, picking up a longer piece of rope.
Ann held her wrists together in front of her. But Peter took only one, tied the rope around it, swung her arm swiftly behind her back, spun Ann round so she faced away from him, grabbed her other hand and in no time at all had tied both her wrists together behind her.
Peter suddenly seemed unsure whether that bold beginning had been a little too cheeky. But Ann merely grinned and said, “All right.”
Then Peter turned to Dick and held up the loose end of the rope. Dick understood what Peter meant to do. It wasn’t quite how he’d imagined this, but he was curious to see how Peter would technically manage to tie him up with only one loose end to work with — the other already being attached to Ann. He turned around, put his hands behind his back, and let Peter get on with it. It took a bit longer, but in the end Peter had Dick’s hands tied as well. The rope between Ann and Dick was about six feet long.
“Well” said Peter, “I suggest we do the rest in the barn, up in the hay-loft.”
“What? You expect us to walk across the farm tied together like this?” asked Dick in astonishment.
“If anyone sees us, I’ll just say I caught two tramps sneaking around." said Peter. “As long as you laugh and look cheerful, why should anyone bother?”
That seemed reasonable — if rather daring. Maybe the four had always been too cautious when they played their TUGs.
“Besides, my parents and Lisa are busy at the far end of the farm mending the fences today. And… being nearly caught is half the fun, isn’t it?”
Ann and Dick were beginning to realise they had run into a genuine TUG enthusiast.
“Off we go!” commanded Peter and the three set out for the barn.
Walking with their hands tied behind them was nothing new for either Ann or Dick and the rope between them was exactly the right length — not so long that they tripped over it, not so short that they bumped into each other. And Peter had judged the knots well: firm, but not cutting into their wrists. Without saying so aloud, both were rather impressed.
It took them only a few minutes to reach the barn. It stood a good distance from the farmhouse — ideal for TUGs. Peter swung open the barn door and let them inside.
“I’ll close it from the inside. Then we shan’t be disturbed” he said, turning to the heavy old door.
At once Dick turned so he and Ann were standing back-to-back and began feeling for the knots that tied her wrists. He managed to loosen them soon enough, leaving only one last loose knot to stop the rope falling to the floor. Then Ann started on Dick’s knots and managed to free him just when Peter came back.
“The hay-loft is up that ladder. Do you dare climb it?” Peter pointed to a long wooden ladder. “Not with your hands tied, of course.”
“Of course not.” smiled Ann triumphantly, bringing her freed hands out from behind her back. Dick did the same. Now Peter looked impressed.
“Your knot-work and rope-handling are quite good already, Peter.” said Dick in a slightly schoolmasterly tone. “But you didn’t consider that we might help each other. A useful lesson for next time.”
Ann’s sharp elbow dug into his ribs as a reward for the remark. Peter stuffed the rope on the floor back into his rucksack and climbed the ladder without another word.
Ann followed. She was used to wooden ladders at home. Dick somehow managed to scramble up after them. It was very warm up under the roof. The hay-loft turned out to be a large, level wooden floor with only two small piles of hay, one to each side.
“These two piles are what's left of last year’s.” Peter explained. “Once I’ve cut the grass, we’ll have fresh hay.”
The frown-up way he said it impressed Ann rather more than she liked to admit.
"Okay, I'll start." Ann said somewhat businesslike. "I know what my brother Dick can take. But not you, Peter."
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Jenny_1972
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Chapter Twelve – Up on the Hayloft
She emptied the contents of Peter's backpack onto the floor and laid the ropes out lengthwise.
"Don't you have any thinner ropes?" she asked.
"Yes, but not here. I can bring them next time."
'Next time?' Dick wondered.
Ann took a rope that seemed the right length, stood behind Peter and grabbed his right arm. She twisted it behind his back so that his forearm was horizontal. She did the same with his left arm, twisting it behind his back as well. Finally, Peter held each elbow with his other hand. Ann tied his arms in this position.
"Is that okay? Julian and Dick don't have any problems with it." Ann asked, but her mention of her brothers' toughness left Peter little choice for his answer.
"Neither do I." Peter smiled very charmingly. He had only tied up himself so far. Being tied up by another person, a girl at that, felt … different.
With a piece of rope, Ann now tied Dick's arms in the same way. She noticed how much more muscular Peter's farmboy arms were compared to Julian's or Dick's schoolboy arms.
"On your stomach!" Ann commanded, holding Peter firmly so he wouldn't fall on his face. He had blue eyes, freckles, and a cute, slightly upturned nose, she noticed. She knew Dick didn't need any help.
One after the other, she tied both boys' legs, around the ankles and knees.
"Okay, Peter, please be honest if you get cramps or your legs go numb."
Peter was surprised by the question, since the tying up so far had been harmless compared to what he had already done to himself. But now Ann brought his ankles up to the back of his thighs and pulled the rope from his feet further and further towards his arms.
"Is this going to be a real hogtie?" Peter asked enthusiastically "I've read about that, but I've never managed it on my own."
"What are friends for?" Ann replied, finally tying the rope securely and musing what Peter was reading.
'Friends' – that thought lingered in Peter's mind for a long time.
She quickly tied Dick up in the same way. Finally, she took two of the scarves and blindfolded them both.
"Now, feel free to free yourselves!" Ann called out and lay down in one of the haystacks.
"Ann, it seems to me you're stronger than your brother Dick, how come?" Peter asked admiringly.
"Rowing and swimming" Ann answered shyly, feeling found out.
"Don't be so modest!" Dick added imaginatively "For three years now, she's been the best in her age group in our district for the 400m freestyle swim and the single scull."
Anyone who had ever seen George rowing or swimming in the sea at Kirrin Bay knew that this clever fabrication was only half a lie.
"If it's too hot for you up here, feel free to take your clothes off — we can't see anything anyway." Peter offered. Neither he nor Ann knew how serious he was.
"I can give you a real cleave gag too." Ann countered.
Dick listened to the two of them, amused, busily struggling with the knots in his back. But not only Julian's, also George's tying technique was improving, it seemed. However, he soon understood why he wasn't making much progress with his attempts to escape: Ann had used one of those knots that were indisputably considered a foul in the TUGs between Julian, George and himself. (Anne of course participated too, but not competitively.) Fouls never happened to George. Either Ann had been so distracted and unfocused by Peter, or she wanted to make sure that Dick lost this round and Peter could free himself before him. He opted for the latter, didn't shout "Foul!" and half-heartedly tried to free himself further — much to Ann's relief.
Little by little, Peter was able to move his hands and arms further and finally free himself from the rope. After a short time, he had also untied his legs, stood up, and shouted, "First!"
"That was really quick!" Ann praised — even though she knew a time of 6 minutes and 30 seconds for this escape was rather mediocre.
She stood up and freed Dick while Peter thoughtfully examined the ropes that lay ready.
"A short break" Dick demanded. Ann realized that in the next round, Peter would now tie up both her and Dick.
When Dick had finished his stretching exercises, Peter commanded "Okay, now stand facing each other. Closer, even closer!"
Ann and Dick stood so close to each other that their noses were almost touching.
"What's this all about?" Dick asked
Peter didn't answer, but knelt down and positioned Ann and Dick's feet so that Ann's right foot was between Dick's feet. Their knees were touching. He tied their feet in this position with a piece of rope. Then he stood up, stood behind Dick, took Ann's arms, pulled them behind Dick's back and tied her wrists together. Ann's arms were now encircling Dick's torso. Then he stood behind Ann, took Dick's arms and tied them the same.
"Shall I whistle you a romantic tune?"
Peter was right. Dick and Ann were tied in a position like a slow dancing couple locked in a close embrace. And had they rocked gently from side to side, they could have moved gradually across the hayloft.
"Tying the other two together is rather unusual for us. Have you ever tried this yourself, Peter?" Ann asked.
"With whom?" Peter replied, a bit frustrated.
"You get pretty close to one another" Dick remarked, getting slightly uncomfortable.
"Then you'd better try to free yourselves" Peter laughed. "Watching you is quite funny, but I'd like to try this as the victim myself."
Both Ann and Dick quickly discovered that their attempts to free themselves — whether successful or not — only resulted in an even closer embrace and more physical contact. The thought of losing this round and then being tied to Peter like this in the next round didn't appeal to either of them. To her dismay, Ann realized that Dick was making faster progress behind her back than she did behind his.
She gave him a pleading look, but he didn't seem to understand or was too engrossed in freeing himself. In fact, he managed to free himself in an impressively short time. He tried to help Ann, but it was difficult behind his back. Peter finally freed Ann's hands and both their feet.
Next it was up to Dick to devise a way to tie Peter and Ann together. Now he understood Ann's earlier look. 'Don't worry!' he thought, tying Ann to Peter the way she had been tied to him before would insult Dick's ingenuity. But he still wanted to tie them together somehow. After all, there were sturdy wooden posts in the hayloft supporting the roof.
Finally, Ann gave him a signal that she had paused long enough. The previous tying up wasn't particularly strenuous or long, just too close for comfort.
Dick ordered the two of them to one of the square wooden posts. They each had to stand with their backs to the post, on opposite sides. Their arms were placed slightly behind them, on either side of the post. First, he tied their wrists, Peter's right to Ann's left and Peter's left to Ann's right. Then, with another piece of rope, Dick tied their feet to the post. Finally, he took the longest rope and began to tie them tightly together from top to bottom, with the post between their backs.
"So, who will win now? We can only both free ourselves at the same time." Peter asked, before Ann could ask the same question.
"You won't free yourselves. If you do, then of course I've lost. And according to our rules, I won't let you go until both of you have asked for it." Dick explained.
Then he came back to the two of them with two scarves and blindfolded them.
"I will take my clothes off, because it's really hot up here." Dick said, and you could hear him rustling as he settled down on the haystack.
Peter tested how much freedom of movement Dick's bindings allowed him. But Ann soon complained, "If you move your upper body away from the pole, I can't breathe."
To demonstrate, Ann tried to push her upper body away from the post. Peter, who was stronger, could still breathe, but he understood the problem.
"What if we both take a deep breath at the same time?" Peter suggested.
"A very obvious suggestion." Dick commented from his camp. In fact, it was no use, because Dick had been expecting this attempt to free themselves.
Ann finally understood Dick's intention: The Five of them (Timmy as an observer) had already tried this bondage several times in George's room at Kirrin Cottage, where there was a similar ceiling post. In almost every combination, including her with Anne. No one had ever managed to escape; it always ended with them giving up. And their actual mission wasn't to play competitive TUGs with Peter, but to prevent him from tracking down Julian and Anne.
Now Peter tried to untie their bound hands. From what Ann could tell, Peter wasn't clumsy, but it was no use. Perhaps because she wasn't helping him. Finally, Peter gave up. Ann half-heartedly tried to free her feet, also without success. Finally, Peter tried to free his shoulders.
"I think Dick, you did a really excellent job with the ties." Peter had to admit.
"I know." replied Dick, who was on the verge of falling asleep.
"Do you have any idea how we can get out of here?" Peter whispered to Ann.
"No." It came back.
"Okay Dick, I give up!" said Peter. That was much too soon for Ann's and Dick's intention.
"Ann?" asked Peter.
"No, I'm not giving up yet. And sometimes I enjoy being tied up for a while. I'm held by the ropes and have a perfect excuse to daydream." came her unexpected reply.
"But..."
"Isn't that also part of the fun of TUGs: being totally dependent on people you hardly know for a day?"
Peter hadn't even considered how much he had willingly placed himself in a position of dependence.
"Besides, would you rather give up sooner than a girl?"
With that, she hooked her pinky with his, so – within the limits of their bind - they were almost holding hands, hoping Dick wouldn't see.
A hush fell over the hayloft. Each of the three seemed lost in their own — very different — thoughts. When Peter inhaled, Ann felt the rope tighten around her chest, and vice versa. Soon, they were both breathing in and out in perfect sync.
She emptied the contents of Peter's backpack onto the floor and laid the ropes out lengthwise.
"Don't you have any thinner ropes?" she asked.
"Yes, but not here. I can bring them next time."
'Next time?' Dick wondered.
Ann took a rope that seemed the right length, stood behind Peter and grabbed his right arm. She twisted it behind his back so that his forearm was horizontal. She did the same with his left arm, twisting it behind his back as well. Finally, Peter held each elbow with his other hand. Ann tied his arms in this position.
"Is that okay? Julian and Dick don't have any problems with it." Ann asked, but her mention of her brothers' toughness left Peter little choice for his answer.
"Neither do I." Peter smiled very charmingly. He had only tied up himself so far. Being tied up by another person, a girl at that, felt … different.
With a piece of rope, Ann now tied Dick's arms in the same way. She noticed how much more muscular Peter's farmboy arms were compared to Julian's or Dick's schoolboy arms.
"On your stomach!" Ann commanded, holding Peter firmly so he wouldn't fall on his face. He had blue eyes, freckles, and a cute, slightly upturned nose, she noticed. She knew Dick didn't need any help.
One after the other, she tied both boys' legs, around the ankles and knees.
"Okay, Peter, please be honest if you get cramps or your legs go numb."
Peter was surprised by the question, since the tying up so far had been harmless compared to what he had already done to himself. But now Ann brought his ankles up to the back of his thighs and pulled the rope from his feet further and further towards his arms.
"Is this going to be a real hogtie?" Peter asked enthusiastically "I've read about that, but I've never managed it on my own."
"What are friends for?" Ann replied, finally tying the rope securely and musing what Peter was reading.
'Friends' – that thought lingered in Peter's mind for a long time.
She quickly tied Dick up in the same way. Finally, she took two of the scarves and blindfolded them both.
"Now, feel free to free yourselves!" Ann called out and lay down in one of the haystacks.
"Ann, it seems to me you're stronger than your brother Dick, how come?" Peter asked admiringly.
"Rowing and swimming" Ann answered shyly, feeling found out.
"Don't be so modest!" Dick added imaginatively "For three years now, she's been the best in her age group in our district for the 400m freestyle swim and the single scull."
Anyone who had ever seen George rowing or swimming in the sea at Kirrin Bay knew that this clever fabrication was only half a lie.
"If it's too hot for you up here, feel free to take your clothes off — we can't see anything anyway." Peter offered. Neither he nor Ann knew how serious he was.
"I can give you a real cleave gag too." Ann countered.
Dick listened to the two of them, amused, busily struggling with the knots in his back. But not only Julian's, also George's tying technique was improving, it seemed. However, he soon understood why he wasn't making much progress with his attempts to escape: Ann had used one of those knots that were indisputably considered a foul in the TUGs between Julian, George and himself. (Anne of course participated too, but not competitively.) Fouls never happened to George. Either Ann had been so distracted and unfocused by Peter, or she wanted to make sure that Dick lost this round and Peter could free himself before him. He opted for the latter, didn't shout "Foul!" and half-heartedly tried to free himself further — much to Ann's relief.
Little by little, Peter was able to move his hands and arms further and finally free himself from the rope. After a short time, he had also untied his legs, stood up, and shouted, "First!"
"That was really quick!" Ann praised — even though she knew a time of 6 minutes and 30 seconds for this escape was rather mediocre.
She stood up and freed Dick while Peter thoughtfully examined the ropes that lay ready.
"A short break" Dick demanded. Ann realized that in the next round, Peter would now tie up both her and Dick.
When Dick had finished his stretching exercises, Peter commanded "Okay, now stand facing each other. Closer, even closer!"
Ann and Dick stood so close to each other that their noses were almost touching.
"What's this all about?" Dick asked
Peter didn't answer, but knelt down and positioned Ann and Dick's feet so that Ann's right foot was between Dick's feet. Their knees were touching. He tied their feet in this position with a piece of rope. Then he stood up, stood behind Dick, took Ann's arms, pulled them behind Dick's back and tied her wrists together. Ann's arms were now encircling Dick's torso. Then he stood behind Ann, took Dick's arms and tied them the same.
"Shall I whistle you a romantic tune?"
Peter was right. Dick and Ann were tied in a position like a slow dancing couple locked in a close embrace. And had they rocked gently from side to side, they could have moved gradually across the hayloft.
"Tying the other two together is rather unusual for us. Have you ever tried this yourself, Peter?" Ann asked.
"With whom?" Peter replied, a bit frustrated.
"You get pretty close to one another" Dick remarked, getting slightly uncomfortable.
"Then you'd better try to free yourselves" Peter laughed. "Watching you is quite funny, but I'd like to try this as the victim myself."
Both Ann and Dick quickly discovered that their attempts to free themselves — whether successful or not — only resulted in an even closer embrace and more physical contact. The thought of losing this round and then being tied to Peter like this in the next round didn't appeal to either of them. To her dismay, Ann realized that Dick was making faster progress behind her back than she did behind his.
She gave him a pleading look, but he didn't seem to understand or was too engrossed in freeing himself. In fact, he managed to free himself in an impressively short time. He tried to help Ann, but it was difficult behind his back. Peter finally freed Ann's hands and both their feet.
Next it was up to Dick to devise a way to tie Peter and Ann together. Now he understood Ann's earlier look. 'Don't worry!' he thought, tying Ann to Peter the way she had been tied to him before would insult Dick's ingenuity. But he still wanted to tie them together somehow. After all, there were sturdy wooden posts in the hayloft supporting the roof.
Finally, Ann gave him a signal that she had paused long enough. The previous tying up wasn't particularly strenuous or long, just too close for comfort.
Dick ordered the two of them to one of the square wooden posts. They each had to stand with their backs to the post, on opposite sides. Their arms were placed slightly behind them, on either side of the post. First, he tied their wrists, Peter's right to Ann's left and Peter's left to Ann's right. Then, with another piece of rope, Dick tied their feet to the post. Finally, he took the longest rope and began to tie them tightly together from top to bottom, with the post between their backs.
"So, who will win now? We can only both free ourselves at the same time." Peter asked, before Ann could ask the same question.
"You won't free yourselves. If you do, then of course I've lost. And according to our rules, I won't let you go until both of you have asked for it." Dick explained.
Then he came back to the two of them with two scarves and blindfolded them.
"I will take my clothes off, because it's really hot up here." Dick said, and you could hear him rustling as he settled down on the haystack.
Peter tested how much freedom of movement Dick's bindings allowed him. But Ann soon complained, "If you move your upper body away from the pole, I can't breathe."
To demonstrate, Ann tried to push her upper body away from the post. Peter, who was stronger, could still breathe, but he understood the problem.
"What if we both take a deep breath at the same time?" Peter suggested.
"A very obvious suggestion." Dick commented from his camp. In fact, it was no use, because Dick had been expecting this attempt to free themselves.
Ann finally understood Dick's intention: The Five of them (Timmy as an observer) had already tried this bondage several times in George's room at Kirrin Cottage, where there was a similar ceiling post. In almost every combination, including her with Anne. No one had ever managed to escape; it always ended with them giving up. And their actual mission wasn't to play competitive TUGs with Peter, but to prevent him from tracking down Julian and Anne.
Now Peter tried to untie their bound hands. From what Ann could tell, Peter wasn't clumsy, but it was no use. Perhaps because she wasn't helping him. Finally, Peter gave up. Ann half-heartedly tried to free her feet, also without success. Finally, Peter tried to free his shoulders.
"I think Dick, you did a really excellent job with the ties." Peter had to admit.
"I know." replied Dick, who was on the verge of falling asleep.
"Do you have any idea how we can get out of here?" Peter whispered to Ann.
"No." It came back.
"Okay Dick, I give up!" said Peter. That was much too soon for Ann's and Dick's intention.
"Ann?" asked Peter.
"No, I'm not giving up yet. And sometimes I enjoy being tied up for a while. I'm held by the ropes and have a perfect excuse to daydream." came her unexpected reply.
"But..."
"Isn't that also part of the fun of TUGs: being totally dependent on people you hardly know for a day?"
Peter hadn't even considered how much he had willingly placed himself in a position of dependence.
"Besides, would you rather give up sooner than a girl?"
With that, she hooked her pinky with his, so – within the limits of their bind - they were almost holding hands, hoping Dick wouldn't see.
A hush fell over the hayloft. Each of the three seemed lost in their own — very different — thoughts. When Peter inhaled, Ann felt the rope tighten around her chest, and vice versa. Soon, they were both breathing in and out in perfect sync.
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Jenny_1972
- Centennial Club
- Posts: 138
- Joined: 5 months ago
Chapter Thirteen - Lady of Two Ruins
Suddenly all three of them jumped at a loud bang; at the same moment the hayloft went nearly dark and the wind began to howl through every crack in the roof and the walls of the old barn. Dick and Ann were quite at a loss, but Peter calmed them:
“It must have been the gable door blowing shut. The wind’s shifted and picked up. Dick, you’d better untie me now! If rain’s on the way, I must get the grass cut today.”
Ann thought that sounded remarkably grown-up. To keep to their TUG rules she added, “Dick, I’m giving up too – you may untie us. And if we go on playing later: I won that round.”
In the half-darkness of the loft, Dick freed them. Once Peter had worked his legs loose, he went to the gable door the wind had slammed shut, pushed it open a little to look out, then closed and bolted it properly.
“I can’t see any rainclouds yet, thank goodness, but this wind will bring bad weather before nightfall. I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you now. Go out by the side-door, will you? Then you won’t have to wrestle with the big barn door.”
As he spoke he was already climbing down the ladder.
“Shall we put the ropes into your rucksack?” Ann called after him.
“Yes, please, that would be a help. And tuck it behind the left hay-stack, no one will see it there. See you later!”
Dick and Ann heard the side-door open and shut, and then Peter was gone.
“I got quite a fright earlier.” Dick admitted. “Not just the bang – everything went dark so suddenly. You didn’t see that, of course, with your eyes blindfolded.”
“If you can’t see and can’t move either, that’s no more comfortable.” Ann replied.
By now their eyes had adjusted to the dimness. Dick pulled his shirt back on, while Ann gathered the scattered ropes and stuffed them into Peter’s rucksack.
“Commander Julian would give you a proper telling-off for throwing the ropes in like that. You could take a bit more trouble for your Peter.”
Ann stuck out her tongue at him, though he probably didn’t notice in the gloom. But he was right. And she did, after all, know how it ought to be done. She took the ropes out again, coiled them neatly and laid them in the rucksack so they wouldn’t tangle.
“Do you dare climb down the ladder in the dark?” Ann asked anxiously.
“Of course – then I can’t see how far I might fall” Dick answered with a touch of irony. “And it was a silly idea to lie down in the hay with no shirt on. My whole back’s full of prickles.”
At last they both made it down, locked the side-door from the outside again and stood by the barn. The air out here was much fresher than inside the stuffy loft.
“What shall we do now?” Dick asked.
“Have you still got a picture left on your camera's film?”
“Two, actually.”
“Then I’d love to go back to the castle ruins. Perhaps you could take my photo in front of them?”
“Lady Georgina before her castle” Dick joked.
“My castle?”
“Well, the castle – even if it’s just a ruin – belongs to the farm. And Kirrin farm will one day belong to you, even if it’s leased out.”
Ann had never thought of it that way.
“Sir George before his castle!” she corrected.
“Sir? You don’t look very masculine today. More like ‘Lady of Two Ruins’” he teased.
Ann looked at him in mild astonishment, then had to admit he was right. Not many boys or girls her age owned two ruined castles – this one on Kirrin Farm and the other out on Kirrin Island.
They walked the path back towards the ruins – this time without tied arms.
“Peter does handle ropes rather well.” Ann remarked.
“Yes, but you can tell he hasn’t much practice tying other people up.” Dick countered.
“How would he?” Ann defended him.
After a bend in the path, the castle ruins came into view.
“Perhaps take the picture so the old tower is behind me.” Ann suggested.
“Then we’ll have to go round to the far side, or the light will be all wrong and your face will be as dark as your hair.”
“Do you understand the story about the two brothers who ruined the castle rather than share it?” Ann asked. “Look at the size of these ruins. In its time it must have been big enough for both of them."
“Well, a brother can be your best friend but also your worst enemy.”
“What do you mean?” Ann said surprised.
“You’re an only child.”
“But I’ve got you three!” she protested.
“That’s different. If there’s a nuisance in your class, you keep out of his way.”
“Of course.”
“The four of us only have to get on until the day after tomorrow at 11:40, when your train leaves for the coast and ours for London. But imagine the nuisance never going away – sharing your room year after year, knowing everything about you, and your parents expecting you to get on with him!”
Ann stared at him, shocked.
“Then I could rather understand those brothers – better destroy the castle than live in it together. Maybe they got on better afterwards, without those stupid stones to quarrel over. … Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think Julian and I—? Oh nonsense! That was… pure speculation. Cain and Abel are in the Bible, too.”
He put an arm round Ann to reassure her.
Their embrace was broken by sudden, joyful barking, for – as if out of nowhere – Timmy bounded round them.
“Where did you spring from?” Dick exclaimed. “And where’s Anne?”
But Timmy didn’t seem inclined to explain that. He stayed quietly by Ann and - after having missed her for so long - made no sign of leaving her side.
“Splendid – Timmy can be in the picture.” Ann reminded Dick of their purpose.
Dick set the camera just as his father had taught him and snapped a photograph of the lady of the castle and her loyal companion.
“Let’s go back to the cottage, perhaps there’s news.” Dick said.
As they set off, Timmy suddenly dashed to a corner of the castle yard, stood still and barked – not angrily or fearfully, but almost casually.
Dick and Ann hurried after him and saw that he was barking down into a hole in the ground. Once they had seen it for themselves, Timmy stopped barking and trotted towards the track leading back to the cottage.
“I think he just wanted to show us this hole. Do you suppose he came out of here?”
“The vaults of the castle ought to be underneath. And if he came with Anne through the secret passage…”
“Anne! Anne!” Ann and Dick called into the hole, but there was no reply.
“It’s far too small for either of us – and probably even for Anne.” Dick judged. “Let’s get back to the cottage; they may need our help.”
Suddenly all three of them jumped at a loud bang; at the same moment the hayloft went nearly dark and the wind began to howl through every crack in the roof and the walls of the old barn. Dick and Ann were quite at a loss, but Peter calmed them:
“It must have been the gable door blowing shut. The wind’s shifted and picked up. Dick, you’d better untie me now! If rain’s on the way, I must get the grass cut today.”
Ann thought that sounded remarkably grown-up. To keep to their TUG rules she added, “Dick, I’m giving up too – you may untie us. And if we go on playing later: I won that round.”
In the half-darkness of the loft, Dick freed them. Once Peter had worked his legs loose, he went to the gable door the wind had slammed shut, pushed it open a little to look out, then closed and bolted it properly.
“I can’t see any rainclouds yet, thank goodness, but this wind will bring bad weather before nightfall. I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you now. Go out by the side-door, will you? Then you won’t have to wrestle with the big barn door.”
As he spoke he was already climbing down the ladder.
“Shall we put the ropes into your rucksack?” Ann called after him.
“Yes, please, that would be a help. And tuck it behind the left hay-stack, no one will see it there. See you later!”
Dick and Ann heard the side-door open and shut, and then Peter was gone.
“I got quite a fright earlier.” Dick admitted. “Not just the bang – everything went dark so suddenly. You didn’t see that, of course, with your eyes blindfolded.”
“If you can’t see and can’t move either, that’s no more comfortable.” Ann replied.
By now their eyes had adjusted to the dimness. Dick pulled his shirt back on, while Ann gathered the scattered ropes and stuffed them into Peter’s rucksack.
“Commander Julian would give you a proper telling-off for throwing the ropes in like that. You could take a bit more trouble for your Peter.”
Ann stuck out her tongue at him, though he probably didn’t notice in the gloom. But he was right. And she did, after all, know how it ought to be done. She took the ropes out again, coiled them neatly and laid them in the rucksack so they wouldn’t tangle.
“Do you dare climb down the ladder in the dark?” Ann asked anxiously.
“Of course – then I can’t see how far I might fall” Dick answered with a touch of irony. “And it was a silly idea to lie down in the hay with no shirt on. My whole back’s full of prickles.”
At last they both made it down, locked the side-door from the outside again and stood by the barn. The air out here was much fresher than inside the stuffy loft.
“What shall we do now?” Dick asked.
“Have you still got a picture left on your camera's film?”
“Two, actually.”
“Then I’d love to go back to the castle ruins. Perhaps you could take my photo in front of them?”
“Lady Georgina before her castle” Dick joked.
“My castle?”
“Well, the castle – even if it’s just a ruin – belongs to the farm. And Kirrin farm will one day belong to you, even if it’s leased out.”
Ann had never thought of it that way.
“Sir George before his castle!” she corrected.
“Sir? You don’t look very masculine today. More like ‘Lady of Two Ruins’” he teased.
Ann looked at him in mild astonishment, then had to admit he was right. Not many boys or girls her age owned two ruined castles – this one on Kirrin Farm and the other out on Kirrin Island.
They walked the path back towards the ruins – this time without tied arms.
“Peter does handle ropes rather well.” Ann remarked.
“Yes, but you can tell he hasn’t much practice tying other people up.” Dick countered.
“How would he?” Ann defended him.
After a bend in the path, the castle ruins came into view.
“Perhaps take the picture so the old tower is behind me.” Ann suggested.
“Then we’ll have to go round to the far side, or the light will be all wrong and your face will be as dark as your hair.”
“Do you understand the story about the two brothers who ruined the castle rather than share it?” Ann asked. “Look at the size of these ruins. In its time it must have been big enough for both of them."
“Well, a brother can be your best friend but also your worst enemy.”
“What do you mean?” Ann said surprised.
“You’re an only child.”
“But I’ve got you three!” she protested.
“That’s different. If there’s a nuisance in your class, you keep out of his way.”
“Of course.”
“The four of us only have to get on until the day after tomorrow at 11:40, when your train leaves for the coast and ours for London. But imagine the nuisance never going away – sharing your room year after year, knowing everything about you, and your parents expecting you to get on with him!”
Ann stared at him, shocked.
“Then I could rather understand those brothers – better destroy the castle than live in it together. Maybe they got on better afterwards, without those stupid stones to quarrel over. … Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think Julian and I—? Oh nonsense! That was… pure speculation. Cain and Abel are in the Bible, too.”
He put an arm round Ann to reassure her.
Their embrace was broken by sudden, joyful barking, for – as if out of nowhere – Timmy bounded round them.
“Where did you spring from?” Dick exclaimed. “And where’s Anne?”
But Timmy didn’t seem inclined to explain that. He stayed quietly by Ann and - after having missed her for so long - made no sign of leaving her side.
“Splendid – Timmy can be in the picture.” Ann reminded Dick of their purpose.
Dick set the camera just as his father had taught him and snapped a photograph of the lady of the castle and her loyal companion.
“Let’s go back to the cottage, perhaps there’s news.” Dick said.
As they set off, Timmy suddenly dashed to a corner of the castle yard, stood still and barked – not angrily or fearfully, but almost casually.
Dick and Ann hurried after him and saw that he was barking down into a hole in the ground. Once they had seen it for themselves, Timmy stopped barking and trotted towards the track leading back to the cottage.
“I think he just wanted to show us this hole. Do you suppose he came out of here?”
“The vaults of the castle ought to be underneath. And if he came with Anne through the secret passage…”
“Anne! Anne!” Ann and Dick called into the hole, but there was no reply.
“It’s far too small for either of us – and probably even for Anne.” Dick judged. “Let’s get back to the cottage; they may need our help.”
Last edited by Jenny_1972 3 weeks ago, edited 1 time in total.
-
Jenny_1972
- Centennial Club
- Posts: 138
- Joined: 5 months ago
Chapter Fourteen – Eleven Times!
Back at the cottage Julian had been able to follow Anne’s progress for quite some time by watching the rope slowly unroll — and this time, he hoped, she would turn the right way. At last more than three-quarters of the coil had unwound when it suddenly stopped. He gave three firm tugs, and… nothing happened. His heart thumped. He tried again, harder this time, and to his relief he soon felt three answering pulls. After that there was silence for what felt like an age, until he finally heard Anne’s footsteps slowly coming up the stairs.
That’s odd, he thought. He had expected Timmy to come scampering ahead and surely the beam of Anne’s powerful torch should have reached him long before her footsteps did. He helped her wriggle out of the opening.
Before he could speak, she burst out with a short, sharp word he would never have credited his little sister with — and which need not be repeated in this story!
“Everything’s gone wrong!” she said crossly. “And it’s all Timmy’s fault! I think we’d gone quite a long way. The ground changed — no more hard earth, but stone. And I’m almost sure I saw a faint light in the distance. But just then Timmy began barking like mad. I tried to hold his mouth shut, but he tore himself free. When I grabbed for him, the torch slipped from my hand and fell on the stone floor — and the bulb must have blown. After that, I was in complete darkness. I called him several times, but he’d gone — no bark, no patter of paws, nothing. With my feet I tried to find the torch. Once I had picked it up I felt for the rope and followed it all the way back.
Oh — and thank you, by the way. The rope worked splendidly. And when you tugged three times, I answered ‘all right’ because I wasn’t really in danger.”
“Good for you, little sister! I hadn’t meant you to have quite that much adventure — but you behaved bravely and absolutely sensibly.”
He gave her a quick hug and untied her from the rope. Anne disappeared into the bathroom while he examined the torch. Once he had taken it apart, he saw she had been right — the bulb really had blown.
No matter, he thought, there’s a spare bulb in the end cap. Moments later Anne heard Julian shout an expression that was so far new to her. She hurried out.
“What’s wrong?” she asked anxiously.
“The spare bulb’s blown as well! Before we left home I even checked that a spare was there — only it never occurred to me it might be a useless one.”
“That must be Father’s fault!” Anne said. “He always takes the big torch with him when he goes night-fishing. What do we do now?”
Just then voices and a cheerful burst of barking sounded outside the front door. Julian peered carefully through the curtains and saw Dick, Ann and Timmy — and no one else. Everything was fine. When they came in, it took quite a while for everyone to bring each other up to date.
“Well” Julian summed up in his commander’s style “we now know the secret passage does reach the cellars, so it hasn’t collapsed. When Timmy heard George speaking with Dick up in the castle ruins no one could stop him. And the hole Timmy escaped through is too small for anyone — even Anne — to squeeze through. So nobody else has entered from that side. George and Dick — excellent work keeping Peter occupied. All we lack now is a silly torch bulb! When we got onto the bus yesterday I noticed a hardware shop opposite the station. They should have the right sort. I expect the village shops close at five. It’s just after three now. If I set off at once, I should be there in good time — and back for supper.”
“You want to walk alone all the way down to the village and back again — uphill?” Anne asked in doubt.
“Yes. I’ll be quickest on my own.” None of the other three argued with that.
“Take Timmy with you at least!” Anne suggested.
“Timmy would run off halfway and trot back to George — or flop down in the village and expect me to carry him home again.”
Dick and Anne laughed. George stuck her tongue out at him, but said nothing — Julian was quite right.
He pulled on his walking shoes, stuffed his raincoat and wallet into his rucksack and filled his water-bottle at the sink. Just as he reached the door, Anne stopped him, holding a small object between her fingers.
“Take the blown bulb with you — so you get the right size.”
Julian hadn’t thought of that in his haste. Feeling a little foolish, he thanked her, packed the bulb carefully and set off.
“I do hope Julian gets back dry.” Anne said to George and Dick as she shut the door. “It looks very much like rain later.”
“That wouldn’t be nice for him — but at least Peter will stay busy mowing and won’t drop in on us.” George hoped.
“But if he does come, the moment Timmy barks you must slip into the trunk — quickly. All right?” Dick reminded her.
Meanwhile Anne fetched the chess set she had found in the cottage games box and set it up on the table.
“Oh no! We already know you play better than we do now.” George complained.
“Yes — and I’m dreadfully sorry about that. But I know a handicap for myself so you’ll stand a chance.” Anne said, climbing into Julian’s big travelling trunk — the very one she had been carried in.
“What — you’re going to play blindfold chess?” Dick asked, impressed.
“Yes. I’ll take Black, so you two start!”
“I remember Anne used to be so nervous whenever things were dark and cramped.” George whispered to Dick. “But since last year she seems to seek such situations out. I do hope she doesn’t push herself too far.”
“She’s facing her fears on purpose.” Dick whispered back.
Anne lost the first game only narrowly. The second ended in a draw after an argument in the middlegame about whether White might still castle. And in the third, Dick and George walked straight into a sharp opening trap Anne had prepared with great care.
“Shew! That was hard work.” Anne said, lifting the lid a little before climbing out.
“A morning in a dark passage, an afternoon in a trunk — don’t complain afterwards that you didn’t get much out of this trip!” Dick teased.
Anne joined them at the table and the three talked in detail about the day’s events and impressions.
After listening to Ann tell about their TUGs with Peter for quite some time, Anne couldn't hold back any longer and suddenly exclaimed, “Georgina is in love! Georgina is in love!”
Her cousin retorted hotly, “Absolutely not!”
But Dick said, “Eleven times!” Both girls stared at him.
“Eleven times you’ve mentioned Peter in the last fifteen minutes” he explained with a grin — to his sister’s enormous delight.
George stuck her tongue out at them, got up and went to the door.
Outside she checked on Timmy. He had curled up in a sheltered corner; the wind had freshened sharply and clouds were racing across the sky.
“No, Timmy, you can’t come inside. You must stay here and watch — and bark the moment anyone comes, please.” she said. Timmy always liked it when George said please. “But the two inside are being far too childish today. I’d much rather stay out here with you for a bit.”
[ End of Part 2 - to be continued ]
Your feedback is welcome.
Back at the cottage Julian had been able to follow Anne’s progress for quite some time by watching the rope slowly unroll — and this time, he hoped, she would turn the right way. At last more than three-quarters of the coil had unwound when it suddenly stopped. He gave three firm tugs, and… nothing happened. His heart thumped. He tried again, harder this time, and to his relief he soon felt three answering pulls. After that there was silence for what felt like an age, until he finally heard Anne’s footsteps slowly coming up the stairs.
That’s odd, he thought. He had expected Timmy to come scampering ahead and surely the beam of Anne’s powerful torch should have reached him long before her footsteps did. He helped her wriggle out of the opening.
Before he could speak, she burst out with a short, sharp word he would never have credited his little sister with — and which need not be repeated in this story!
“Everything’s gone wrong!” she said crossly. “And it’s all Timmy’s fault! I think we’d gone quite a long way. The ground changed — no more hard earth, but stone. And I’m almost sure I saw a faint light in the distance. But just then Timmy began barking like mad. I tried to hold his mouth shut, but he tore himself free. When I grabbed for him, the torch slipped from my hand and fell on the stone floor — and the bulb must have blown. After that, I was in complete darkness. I called him several times, but he’d gone — no bark, no patter of paws, nothing. With my feet I tried to find the torch. Once I had picked it up I felt for the rope and followed it all the way back.
Oh — and thank you, by the way. The rope worked splendidly. And when you tugged three times, I answered ‘all right’ because I wasn’t really in danger.”
“Good for you, little sister! I hadn’t meant you to have quite that much adventure — but you behaved bravely and absolutely sensibly.”
He gave her a quick hug and untied her from the rope. Anne disappeared into the bathroom while he examined the torch. Once he had taken it apart, he saw she had been right — the bulb really had blown.
No matter, he thought, there’s a spare bulb in the end cap. Moments later Anne heard Julian shout an expression that was so far new to her. She hurried out.
“What’s wrong?” she asked anxiously.
“The spare bulb’s blown as well! Before we left home I even checked that a spare was there — only it never occurred to me it might be a useless one.”
“That must be Father’s fault!” Anne said. “He always takes the big torch with him when he goes night-fishing. What do we do now?”
Just then voices and a cheerful burst of barking sounded outside the front door. Julian peered carefully through the curtains and saw Dick, Ann and Timmy — and no one else. Everything was fine. When they came in, it took quite a while for everyone to bring each other up to date.
“Well” Julian summed up in his commander’s style “we now know the secret passage does reach the cellars, so it hasn’t collapsed. When Timmy heard George speaking with Dick up in the castle ruins no one could stop him. And the hole Timmy escaped through is too small for anyone — even Anne — to squeeze through. So nobody else has entered from that side. George and Dick — excellent work keeping Peter occupied. All we lack now is a silly torch bulb! When we got onto the bus yesterday I noticed a hardware shop opposite the station. They should have the right sort. I expect the village shops close at five. It’s just after three now. If I set off at once, I should be there in good time — and back for supper.”
“You want to walk alone all the way down to the village and back again — uphill?” Anne asked in doubt.
“Yes. I’ll be quickest on my own.” None of the other three argued with that.
“Take Timmy with you at least!” Anne suggested.
“Timmy would run off halfway and trot back to George — or flop down in the village and expect me to carry him home again.”
Dick and Anne laughed. George stuck her tongue out at him, but said nothing — Julian was quite right.
He pulled on his walking shoes, stuffed his raincoat and wallet into his rucksack and filled his water-bottle at the sink. Just as he reached the door, Anne stopped him, holding a small object between her fingers.
“Take the blown bulb with you — so you get the right size.”
Julian hadn’t thought of that in his haste. Feeling a little foolish, he thanked her, packed the bulb carefully and set off.
“I do hope Julian gets back dry.” Anne said to George and Dick as she shut the door. “It looks very much like rain later.”
“That wouldn’t be nice for him — but at least Peter will stay busy mowing and won’t drop in on us.” George hoped.
“But if he does come, the moment Timmy barks you must slip into the trunk — quickly. All right?” Dick reminded her.
Meanwhile Anne fetched the chess set she had found in the cottage games box and set it up on the table.
“Oh no! We already know you play better than we do now.” George complained.
“Yes — and I’m dreadfully sorry about that. But I know a handicap for myself so you’ll stand a chance.” Anne said, climbing into Julian’s big travelling trunk — the very one she had been carried in.
“What — you’re going to play blindfold chess?” Dick asked, impressed.
“Yes. I’ll take Black, so you two start!”
“I remember Anne used to be so nervous whenever things were dark and cramped.” George whispered to Dick. “But since last year she seems to seek such situations out. I do hope she doesn’t push herself too far.”
“She’s facing her fears on purpose.” Dick whispered back.
Anne lost the first game only narrowly. The second ended in a draw after an argument in the middlegame about whether White might still castle. And in the third, Dick and George walked straight into a sharp opening trap Anne had prepared with great care.
“Shew! That was hard work.” Anne said, lifting the lid a little before climbing out.
“A morning in a dark passage, an afternoon in a trunk — don’t complain afterwards that you didn’t get much out of this trip!” Dick teased.
Anne joined them at the table and the three talked in detail about the day’s events and impressions.
After listening to Ann tell about their TUGs with Peter for quite some time, Anne couldn't hold back any longer and suddenly exclaimed, “Georgina is in love! Georgina is in love!”
Her cousin retorted hotly, “Absolutely not!”
But Dick said, “Eleven times!” Both girls stared at him.
“Eleven times you’ve mentioned Peter in the last fifteen minutes” he explained with a grin — to his sister’s enormous delight.
George stuck her tongue out at them, got up and went to the door.
Outside she checked on Timmy. He had curled up in a sheltered corner; the wind had freshened sharply and clouds were racing across the sky.
“No, Timmy, you can’t come inside. You must stay here and watch — and bark the moment anyone comes, please.” she said. Timmy always liked it when George said please. “But the two inside are being far too childish today. I’d much rather stay out here with you for a bit.”
[ End of Part 2 - to be continued ]
Your feedback is welcome.
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Jenny_1972
- Centennial Club
- Posts: 138
- Joined: 5 months ago
Chapter Fifteen – Into the Village
Julian was a sturdy walker, but he certainly wasn’t foolish. So he marched first to the little bus stop where Peter had picked them up with the tractor the day before. Unfortunately, the timetable was not his friend. The next bus into the village would arrive well after the shops closed and there was no bus at all going back up the hill afterwards.
He looked at his wrist-watch and calculated that he ought to reach the village in time if he set off at a good pace. The footpath was well marked and led steadily downhill. 'That’s in my favour now' he thought 'But the way back up will be a real slog.'
With the doubtful weather closing in, Julian was almost alone on the path. At one fork there were two arrows pointing to Oakbeck — one reading two miles, the other one and a half. It soon became clear why the shorter, steeper way, which Julian chose of course, was less used: he had to climb over two stone walls where the stiles had broken and in one place the path grew so narrow that the nettles brushed against his legs on both sides. Just as he began to wonder whether he had taken a wrong turning after all, Oakbeck suddenly appeared beyond a bend, far closer than he had expected.
Twenty minutes before closing time Julian stood in the little hardware shop by the station. As he had hoped, they had the right kind of torch-bulb. He bought two at once, and even had time to pick up some provisions for Anne and himself.
“Got far to walk, have you?” the shopkeeper asked, eyeing Julian’s rucksack and sturdy boots.
“To Kirrin Farm.” Julian answered.
“Well then, the climb will keep you warm—and in the rain you won’t freeze at least.”
“There isn’t a bus at this hour.” Julian said, in the faint hope the man might offer him a lift.
But the fellow merely launched into a tale of his army days, and all the marches he’d done there. Julian excused himself politely, saying he wanted to get as far as possible before the rain began.
'Why does everyone think I’m interested in the army?' he wondered as he left the shop, smiling, because Julian kept a secret: 'Just you squares wait once our brilliant little school band smashes the clubs from Liverpool to Hamburg and I'll be the lead singer.'
The return journey was long, tiring, and increasingly wet. Soon Julian knew exactly which parts of his trusted rain-jacket were no longer waterproof. But there was nothing for it — he had to press on. And if he wasn’t back at the farmhouse by supper-time, Dick and Ann would have to invent a very good excuse.
At least it stayed light for hours on summer evenings and the wind hadn’t grown any stronger. The thought of stumbling through the woods in darkness, with branches crashing down in a storm, was not a pleasant one.
When at last he reached the cottage, Timmy barked first — then gazed at him with the most pitiful expression. Drenched Julian opened the door and stepped inside. Dick and George were playing cards.
“Whose is that third hand of cards?” Julian remarked smiling. “You really ought to have packed them away!” he added, knocking on the lid of the large suitcase where Anne had hidden herself in great haste.
He sat down, unpacked his rucksack, and only now realised how exhausting the tramp to the village and back had truly been.
He had just enough time to change into dry clothes when the three of them had to set off to the farmhouse for dinner. The rain had eased a little. Anne stayed behind alone. She peeped into the shopping-bag Julian had brought from the village — at least she wouldn't starve.
Dinner at the farmhouse was hearty but very quiet. Peter and his parents were weary from the day’s farm work — they had finished just in time before the rainfall. Julian, too, was worn out.
“Yes, even Latin homework can make you tired.” he explained. As neither Peter nor his parents had ever learned Latin, they couldn’t very well contradict him. With Dick obviously counting words, Ann spoke to Peter only as much as was proper, so as not to give Dick or Julian any further reason for suspicion.
Soon after the meal they took their leave. Peter insisted that they all meet the next morning, as their bus for the station wasn’t due until midday. The three promised, and set off back to the cottage.
When they arrived and opened the door, they were dazzled by a bright light.
“I’ve fixed the torch!” Anne announced eagerly. “As far as I’m concerned, we can start at once!”
She had already put on the overall and wound the rope neatly again.
“You don’t mean to climb into the secret passage so late in the evening, when it’s getting dark?” Dick asked in astonishment.
“It’s always pitch-dark in there, day or night.” Anne replied, and no-one contradicted her. “And we certainly won’t get any unwelcome visitors at this hour. Besides — who knows, we may need a fourth try in the morning.”
“She’s right.” Julian decided. “If you’re willing, Anne, we’ll try again now. You’ll be doing the real work. We three won’t let you down.”
He tied the rope around her and helped her — for the third time that day — through the opening. George asked Timmy to go with her once more and look after her. Soon the passage swallowed them and neither sound nor the torch’s glow was visible from the entrance.
The remaining three settled themselves on the sofa and the comfortable chairs arranged around the dormant fire place.
“With all this rain, the whole cellar vault may be quite damp now. I only hope the document is still legible after all those years!” Julian murmured.
“Does Anne know she’s looking for something that might be worthless by now?” George asked in horror.
“No, of course not. We must assume the deed is there and readable — right up until the moment we know otherwise.”
“Yes indeed, Commander Julian.” Dick muttered under his breath. He couldn’t decide whether he was shocked or secretly impressed by his older brother.
Their conversation faded. Before long, Julian had fallen asleep. Dick and George continued to talk quietly.
Julian was a sturdy walker, but he certainly wasn’t foolish. So he marched first to the little bus stop where Peter had picked them up with the tractor the day before. Unfortunately, the timetable was not his friend. The next bus into the village would arrive well after the shops closed and there was no bus at all going back up the hill afterwards.
He looked at his wrist-watch and calculated that he ought to reach the village in time if he set off at a good pace. The footpath was well marked and led steadily downhill. 'That’s in my favour now' he thought 'But the way back up will be a real slog.'
With the doubtful weather closing in, Julian was almost alone on the path. At one fork there were two arrows pointing to Oakbeck — one reading two miles, the other one and a half. It soon became clear why the shorter, steeper way, which Julian chose of course, was less used: he had to climb over two stone walls where the stiles had broken and in one place the path grew so narrow that the nettles brushed against his legs on both sides. Just as he began to wonder whether he had taken a wrong turning after all, Oakbeck suddenly appeared beyond a bend, far closer than he had expected.
Twenty minutes before closing time Julian stood in the little hardware shop by the station. As he had hoped, they had the right kind of torch-bulb. He bought two at once, and even had time to pick up some provisions for Anne and himself.
“Got far to walk, have you?” the shopkeeper asked, eyeing Julian’s rucksack and sturdy boots.
“To Kirrin Farm.” Julian answered.
“Well then, the climb will keep you warm—and in the rain you won’t freeze at least.”
“There isn’t a bus at this hour.” Julian said, in the faint hope the man might offer him a lift.
But the fellow merely launched into a tale of his army days, and all the marches he’d done there. Julian excused himself politely, saying he wanted to get as far as possible before the rain began.
'Why does everyone think I’m interested in the army?' he wondered as he left the shop, smiling, because Julian kept a secret: 'Just you squares wait once our brilliant little school band smashes the clubs from Liverpool to Hamburg and I'll be the lead singer.'
The return journey was long, tiring, and increasingly wet. Soon Julian knew exactly which parts of his trusted rain-jacket were no longer waterproof. But there was nothing for it — he had to press on. And if he wasn’t back at the farmhouse by supper-time, Dick and Ann would have to invent a very good excuse.
At least it stayed light for hours on summer evenings and the wind hadn’t grown any stronger. The thought of stumbling through the woods in darkness, with branches crashing down in a storm, was not a pleasant one.
When at last he reached the cottage, Timmy barked first — then gazed at him with the most pitiful expression. Drenched Julian opened the door and stepped inside. Dick and George were playing cards.
“Whose is that third hand of cards?” Julian remarked smiling. “You really ought to have packed them away!” he added, knocking on the lid of the large suitcase where Anne had hidden herself in great haste.
He sat down, unpacked his rucksack, and only now realised how exhausting the tramp to the village and back had truly been.
He had just enough time to change into dry clothes when the three of them had to set off to the farmhouse for dinner. The rain had eased a little. Anne stayed behind alone. She peeped into the shopping-bag Julian had brought from the village — at least she wouldn't starve.
Dinner at the farmhouse was hearty but very quiet. Peter and his parents were weary from the day’s farm work — they had finished just in time before the rainfall. Julian, too, was worn out.
“Yes, even Latin homework can make you tired.” he explained. As neither Peter nor his parents had ever learned Latin, they couldn’t very well contradict him. With Dick obviously counting words, Ann spoke to Peter only as much as was proper, so as not to give Dick or Julian any further reason for suspicion.
Soon after the meal they took their leave. Peter insisted that they all meet the next morning, as their bus for the station wasn’t due until midday. The three promised, and set off back to the cottage.
When they arrived and opened the door, they were dazzled by a bright light.
“I’ve fixed the torch!” Anne announced eagerly. “As far as I’m concerned, we can start at once!”
She had already put on the overall and wound the rope neatly again.
“You don’t mean to climb into the secret passage so late in the evening, when it’s getting dark?” Dick asked in astonishment.
“It’s always pitch-dark in there, day or night.” Anne replied, and no-one contradicted her. “And we certainly won’t get any unwelcome visitors at this hour. Besides — who knows, we may need a fourth try in the morning.”
“She’s right.” Julian decided. “If you’re willing, Anne, we’ll try again now. You’ll be doing the real work. We three won’t let you down.”
He tied the rope around her and helped her — for the third time that day — through the opening. George asked Timmy to go with her once more and look after her. Soon the passage swallowed them and neither sound nor the torch’s glow was visible from the entrance.
The remaining three settled themselves on the sofa and the comfortable chairs arranged around the dormant fire place.
“With all this rain, the whole cellar vault may be quite damp now. I only hope the document is still legible after all those years!” Julian murmured.
“Does Anne know she’s looking for something that might be worthless by now?” George asked in horror.
“No, of course not. We must assume the deed is there and readable — right up until the moment we know otherwise.”
“Yes indeed, Commander Julian.” Dick muttered under his breath. He couldn’t decide whether he was shocked or secretly impressed by his older brother.
Their conversation faded. Before long, Julian had fallen asleep. Dick and George continued to talk quietly.
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Jenny_1972
- Centennial Club
- Posts: 138
- Joined: 5 months ago
Chapter Sixteen – Third Time Lucky
On their third venture into the secret passage, Anne and Timmy made good progress. Before long they reached once more the place where the earthen floor gave way to stone, and after only a few steps more the passage opened into a broad cellar with a surprisingly high, arched ceiling. Unlike their visit earlier in the day, everything down here was now damp, cold, and a slippery, thanks to the heavy rain above.
Anne swept the strong beam of the torch across the entire chamber. Along one wall neat rows of unused building stones had been stacked. Against the opposite wall lay several enormous wine-barrels, though not a single one was still intact. In the middle of the room stood a few wooden shelves, some of them filled with rusty tins.
“What a pity. I always imagine castle cellars far more exciting – but here, not a single golden ingot.” Anne told Timmy as she began to examine the place more closely. The old tins held food — tomatoes, sauerkraut, salted meat, and so on.
“Supplies from George’s grandparents, I expect.” she said, holding Timmy firmly with both hands. If George had been watching, Anne would have said she was merely stroking the dog. That his thick fur warmed her chilled fingers delightfully was only a happy bonus.
On the side opposite side of the secret passage the vaulted ceiling had collapsed and the far end of the chamber was piled high with rubble and heavy stones from the old castle walls. Timmy barked softly and stared upwards. She shone her lamp into the direction Timmy was looking and discovered a small opening in the ceiling, just at the top of the rubble.
“Ah, that must be the hole you escaped through this afternoon. But now you must stay with me, do you understand?” Timmy did.
In the deepest corner of the vault Anne finally spotted something brown and rectangular, exactly the sort of shape the back of the missing picture-frame might have. It leaned with its front side against the wall and was propped up on two stones so that moisture from the floor could not reach it. Anne was just stepping forward to see whether her guess was right when she was brought up short by a sharp tug. Five steps from her goal, the safety-line reached its end.
Without the slightest hesitation she began undoing the knots. Just as she was freeing herself, three strong pulls ran through the rope.
“We haven't been moving. Now someone’s getting worried about us!” she said to Timmy, pulled three times in answer, let the rope fall, and at last crossed to the object in the corner.
She turned it over carefully. Yes - an old document, beautifully written in curling letters, though very hard to read. At least the royal crest was clear enough in the beam of her torch. Even the glass pane was still intact. She held the frame with both hands, for it was far too large to tuck under her arm. But that meant she could not manage the torch properly. And she certainly didn’t dare drop it again — she might smash the new bulb, and her fingers were growing stiff with cold again.
After a few steps she had a brilliant idea. The frame was far too large to carry easily — and it wouldn't fit through the narrow entrance at the cottage anyway! She turned it over and opened the back. Then she drew out the document with great care and rolled it gently. Now she could hold the roll safely in one hand and the torch just as securely in the other.
The way back was almost familiar to her now and soon she could see a faint glow from the staircase ahead.
“Go on, Timmy — run!” she told him.
Dick and George were startled when Timmy suddenly appeared beside the fireplace — had Anne sent him to fetch help? They stared anxiously into the opening of the passage, but to their great relief saw Anne’s torchlight drawing nearer and nearer.
“George, I’ve brought something for you” Anne proclaimed, handing her cousin the rolled-up parchment, which George spread out at once on the kitchen table. Meanwhile Dick helped Anne wriggle through the entrance. The commotion woke Julian, who had been fast asleep in one of the armchairs. Soon all four were gathered around the document.
“This bit at the top reads Royal Deed and the date at the bottom looks like 1815. The rest is too hard to make out. But it must be the right one — you’ve done it, little sister!” Julian announced proudly.
George hugged Anne at once and thanked her for retrieving the long-lost deed for her parents. Then Julian and Dick embraced their brave little sister too.
“That was jolly brave of you. But why did you untie the safety-line?” Julian asked worried.
“It was exactly five steps too short.” Anne replied. “And now I really must change and warm my fingers.”
While she was away, George asked
“1815 – do you think mom's ancestor received this farm after he fought against Napoleon in the battle of Waterloo?”
“Oh, this would make perfect sense.” Julian looked at her impressed and was a little disappointed that he hadn't made this connection himself.
Then she packed the document safely in her suitcase, and Dick and Julian rewound the rope. Their father might overlook that they had 'borrowed' it secretly, but they would certainly get into trouble if they failed to return it. Last of all, they slid the wooden panel back into place in front of the entrance. Once more the panelling beside the fireplace looked like before the Five had arrived. When Anne returned, the others were already getting ready for bed. Her full report of the passage and the cellar had to wait until breakfast.
Next morning Julian was up unusually early. He dressed and went outside with Timmy. A little later Dick heard him talking — not in the tone one used for a dog, but as if to another person. Shortly afterwards Julian came in, a bag of fresh rolls in his hand and a broad, satisfied grin on his face. Dick emerged from the boys’ room.
“Who were you talking to out there?” he asked.
“To Lisa, the farm-hand. She brought us some rolls from the village.” Julian replied. Dick sensed at once that his brother would not disclose the reason for that grin, so he asked no more. Instead he began laying breakfast, clattering the plates and cups loudly enough to wake both Annes in the girls’ room.
When the two girls got up and started getting dressed, Anne's gaze fell upon something strange in Georgina's closet. It looked like a long, stretchy, flesh-coloured bandage.
"What's that?" Anne asked her cousin somewhat naively.
"That—" Georgina hesitated. "It's like George's bra. I've been wearing it for six months."
It took Anne a moment to understand; her eyes widened, and then she said, a little sheepishly, "Oh."
"Would you like to try it?" Georgina offered, just to be polite.
"No, no, maybe another time" Anne replied hastily.
"You're probably right, it wouldn't make much of a difference for you yet." Georgina taunted her, at which point Anne stuck her tongue out at her.
At breakfast Anne finally had the chance to recount in full her adventures in the old vault, and was thoroughly praised for her courage. At last Julian said,
“We’d better pack our cases at once. We promised to visit Peter, and we’ve no idea how long it will take to tear ourselves away—and whether Peter will drive us to the bus stop as he did the other day. The bus certainly won’t wait for us!”
“If Peter drives downhill as recklessly as he did when he fetched us, I’d rather drag my case all the way myself!” Ann said. Julian and Dick agreed.
Julian packed his things into Dick’s suitcase, Anne packed hers into George’s, and finally Julian placed the long rope and the overall into the big case in which Anne would travel to the station.
Ann, who had put on her skirt and smart sandals this time, instructed Timmy to take good care of Anne and to bark at once should anyone approach the cottage. At last Julian, Dick and Ann set off for the farmhouse to meet Peter, leaving Timmy and Anne behind.
Anne wandered several times around George’s suitcase before she finally opened it and peered inside, fascinated. She was far too well brought up to meddle with other people’s belongings — but George wasn't 'other people', she was her cousin, and she had offered it to her earlier in any case. After a few attempts she stood before the mirror, looking at herself sideways. Sadly, Georgina had been right — it didn’t make much difference yet. But Anne suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for her cousin, who - wanting to be George - had to spend all summer bound up so tightly. She did her best to roll the bandage back exactly as George had done and replaced it in the suitcase.
Then she curled up on the sofa beside the hearth and began to read. But her thoughts wandered again and again to the secret passage hidden just behind the panelling. Could those old tins really still be edible after all these years? Or Were there other things down there George's mother had never discovered? Such thoughts kept drifting through her head. But to go in there alone — that would be far too risky. Besides, she realised sadly, she lacked the strength to push the pinched wooden panel upwards on her own.
At last she forced her mind onto something else: the changes she had noticed in the others — and in herself too. All four of them — no, all five of them, for Timmy was getting older as well. What troubled her most was George’s effortless transformation into the girlish Ann — and how the boys reacted to it. Once she had been the only girl among two and a half boys. But now…
'I do hope Ann turns back into George soon!' she caught herself thinking.
On their third venture into the secret passage, Anne and Timmy made good progress. Before long they reached once more the place where the earthen floor gave way to stone, and after only a few steps more the passage opened into a broad cellar with a surprisingly high, arched ceiling. Unlike their visit earlier in the day, everything down here was now damp, cold, and a slippery, thanks to the heavy rain above.
Anne swept the strong beam of the torch across the entire chamber. Along one wall neat rows of unused building stones had been stacked. Against the opposite wall lay several enormous wine-barrels, though not a single one was still intact. In the middle of the room stood a few wooden shelves, some of them filled with rusty tins.
“What a pity. I always imagine castle cellars far more exciting – but here, not a single golden ingot.” Anne told Timmy as she began to examine the place more closely. The old tins held food — tomatoes, sauerkraut, salted meat, and so on.
“Supplies from George’s grandparents, I expect.” she said, holding Timmy firmly with both hands. If George had been watching, Anne would have said she was merely stroking the dog. That his thick fur warmed her chilled fingers delightfully was only a happy bonus.
On the side opposite side of the secret passage the vaulted ceiling had collapsed and the far end of the chamber was piled high with rubble and heavy stones from the old castle walls. Timmy barked softly and stared upwards. She shone her lamp into the direction Timmy was looking and discovered a small opening in the ceiling, just at the top of the rubble.
“Ah, that must be the hole you escaped through this afternoon. But now you must stay with me, do you understand?” Timmy did.
In the deepest corner of the vault Anne finally spotted something brown and rectangular, exactly the sort of shape the back of the missing picture-frame might have. It leaned with its front side against the wall and was propped up on two stones so that moisture from the floor could not reach it. Anne was just stepping forward to see whether her guess was right when she was brought up short by a sharp tug. Five steps from her goal, the safety-line reached its end.
Without the slightest hesitation she began undoing the knots. Just as she was freeing herself, three strong pulls ran through the rope.
“We haven't been moving. Now someone’s getting worried about us!” she said to Timmy, pulled three times in answer, let the rope fall, and at last crossed to the object in the corner.
She turned it over carefully. Yes - an old document, beautifully written in curling letters, though very hard to read. At least the royal crest was clear enough in the beam of her torch. Even the glass pane was still intact. She held the frame with both hands, for it was far too large to tuck under her arm. But that meant she could not manage the torch properly. And she certainly didn’t dare drop it again — she might smash the new bulb, and her fingers were growing stiff with cold again.
After a few steps she had a brilliant idea. The frame was far too large to carry easily — and it wouldn't fit through the narrow entrance at the cottage anyway! She turned it over and opened the back. Then she drew out the document with great care and rolled it gently. Now she could hold the roll safely in one hand and the torch just as securely in the other.
The way back was almost familiar to her now and soon she could see a faint glow from the staircase ahead.
“Go on, Timmy — run!” she told him.
Dick and George were startled when Timmy suddenly appeared beside the fireplace — had Anne sent him to fetch help? They stared anxiously into the opening of the passage, but to their great relief saw Anne’s torchlight drawing nearer and nearer.
“George, I’ve brought something for you” Anne proclaimed, handing her cousin the rolled-up parchment, which George spread out at once on the kitchen table. Meanwhile Dick helped Anne wriggle through the entrance. The commotion woke Julian, who had been fast asleep in one of the armchairs. Soon all four were gathered around the document.
“This bit at the top reads Royal Deed and the date at the bottom looks like 1815. The rest is too hard to make out. But it must be the right one — you’ve done it, little sister!” Julian announced proudly.
George hugged Anne at once and thanked her for retrieving the long-lost deed for her parents. Then Julian and Dick embraced their brave little sister too.
“That was jolly brave of you. But why did you untie the safety-line?” Julian asked worried.
“It was exactly five steps too short.” Anne replied. “And now I really must change and warm my fingers.”
While she was away, George asked
“1815 – do you think mom's ancestor received this farm after he fought against Napoleon in the battle of Waterloo?”
“Oh, this would make perfect sense.” Julian looked at her impressed and was a little disappointed that he hadn't made this connection himself.
Then she packed the document safely in her suitcase, and Dick and Julian rewound the rope. Their father might overlook that they had 'borrowed' it secretly, but they would certainly get into trouble if they failed to return it. Last of all, they slid the wooden panel back into place in front of the entrance. Once more the panelling beside the fireplace looked like before the Five had arrived. When Anne returned, the others were already getting ready for bed. Her full report of the passage and the cellar had to wait until breakfast.
Next morning Julian was up unusually early. He dressed and went outside with Timmy. A little later Dick heard him talking — not in the tone one used for a dog, but as if to another person. Shortly afterwards Julian came in, a bag of fresh rolls in his hand and a broad, satisfied grin on his face. Dick emerged from the boys’ room.
“Who were you talking to out there?” he asked.
“To Lisa, the farm-hand. She brought us some rolls from the village.” Julian replied. Dick sensed at once that his brother would not disclose the reason for that grin, so he asked no more. Instead he began laying breakfast, clattering the plates and cups loudly enough to wake both Annes in the girls’ room.
When the two girls got up and started getting dressed, Anne's gaze fell upon something strange in Georgina's closet. It looked like a long, stretchy, flesh-coloured bandage.
"What's that?" Anne asked her cousin somewhat naively.
"That—" Georgina hesitated. "It's like George's bra. I've been wearing it for six months."
It took Anne a moment to understand; her eyes widened, and then she said, a little sheepishly, "Oh."
"Would you like to try it?" Georgina offered, just to be polite.
"No, no, maybe another time" Anne replied hastily.
"You're probably right, it wouldn't make much of a difference for you yet." Georgina taunted her, at which point Anne stuck her tongue out at her.
At breakfast Anne finally had the chance to recount in full her adventures in the old vault, and was thoroughly praised for her courage. At last Julian said,
“We’d better pack our cases at once. We promised to visit Peter, and we’ve no idea how long it will take to tear ourselves away—and whether Peter will drive us to the bus stop as he did the other day. The bus certainly won’t wait for us!”
“If Peter drives downhill as recklessly as he did when he fetched us, I’d rather drag my case all the way myself!” Ann said. Julian and Dick agreed.
Julian packed his things into Dick’s suitcase, Anne packed hers into George’s, and finally Julian placed the long rope and the overall into the big case in which Anne would travel to the station.
Ann, who had put on her skirt and smart sandals this time, instructed Timmy to take good care of Anne and to bark at once should anyone approach the cottage. At last Julian, Dick and Ann set off for the farmhouse to meet Peter, leaving Timmy and Anne behind.
Anne wandered several times around George’s suitcase before she finally opened it and peered inside, fascinated. She was far too well brought up to meddle with other people’s belongings — but George wasn't 'other people', she was her cousin, and she had offered it to her earlier in any case. After a few attempts she stood before the mirror, looking at herself sideways. Sadly, Georgina had been right — it didn’t make much difference yet. But Anne suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for her cousin, who - wanting to be George - had to spend all summer bound up so tightly. She did her best to roll the bandage back exactly as George had done and replaced it in the suitcase.
Then she curled up on the sofa beside the hearth and began to read. But her thoughts wandered again and again to the secret passage hidden just behind the panelling. Could those old tins really still be edible after all these years? Or Were there other things down there George's mother had never discovered? Such thoughts kept drifting through her head. But to go in there alone — that would be far too risky. Besides, she realised sadly, she lacked the strength to push the pinched wooden panel upwards on her own.
At last she forced her mind onto something else: the changes she had noticed in the others — and in herself too. All four of them — no, all five of them, for Timmy was getting older as well. What troubled her most was George’s effortless transformation into the girlish Ann — and how the boys reacted to it. Once she had been the only girl among two and a half boys. But now…
'I do hope Ann turns back into George soon!' she caught herself thinking.