Five Get Into Trouble (13 page)

— and there's not enough room for George and Timmy — and not enough for either you or Julian, Dick.'

Everyone was astonished. It didn't seem a bit like Richard to offer to do an unselfish or courageous action. Julian felt very doubtful.

'Well — this is a serious thing, you know, Richard,' he said. 'I mean — if you're going to do it, you've got to do it properly — go right through with it — not get frightened in the middle and begin howling, so that the men hear you and examine the boot.'

'I know,' said Richard. 'I think I can do it all right. I do wish you'd trust me a bit.'

'I can't understand your offering to do a difficult thing like that,' said Julian. 'It doesn't seem a bit like you — you've not shown yourself to be at al plucky so far!'

'Julian, I think I understand,' said Anne suddenly, and she pul ed at her brother's sleeve.

'He's thinking of our skins this time, not of his own — or at least he's trying to. Let's give him a chance to show he's got a bit of courage.'

'I only just want a chance,' said Richard in a small voice.

'Al right,' said Julian. 'You shall have it. It'l be a very pleasant surprise if you take your chance and do something helpful!'

'Tell me exactly what I've got to do,' said Richard, trying to keep his voice from trembling.

'Well — once you're in the boot we'll have to shut you in. Goodness knows how long you'l have to wait there in the dark,' said Julian. 'I warn you it wil be jolly stuffy and uncomfortable. When the car goes off it wil be more uncomfortable stil .'

'Poor Richard,' said Anne.

'As soon as the car stops anywhere and you hear the men get out, wait a minute to give them time to get out of sight and hearing — and then scramble out of the boot yourself and go straight to the nearest police-station,' said Julian. 'Tell your story quickly, give this address — Owl's Dene, Owl's Hill, some miles from Middlecombe Woods — and the police wil do the rest. Got all that?'

'Yes,' said Richard.

'Do you stil want to go, now you know what you're in for?' asked Dick.

'Yes,' said Richard again. He was surprised by a warm hug from Anne.

'Richard, you're nice — and I didn't think you were!' said Anne.

He then got a thump on the back from Julian, 'Well, Richard — pul this off and you'l wipe out al the sil y things you've done! Now — what about getting into the boot immediately? We don't know when the men wil be coming out.'

'Yes. I'll get in now,' said Richard, feeling remarkably brave after Anne's hug and Julian's thump. Julian opened the boot. He examined the inside of the boot-cover. 'I don't believe Richard could open it from the inside,' he said. 'No, he couldn't. We mustn't close it tight, then — I'l have to wedge it a bit open with a stick or something. That wil give him a little air, and he'l be able to push the boot open when he wants to. Where's a stick?'

Dick found one. Richard got into the boot and curled himself up. There wasn't very much room even for him! He looked extremely cramped. Julian shut the boot and wedged it with a stick so that there was a crack of half an inch all round.

Dick gave him a sharp nudge. 'Quick — someone's coming!'

18 Hunt for Richard!

Mr Perton could be seen standing at the front door, outlined in the light from the lamp in the hall. He was talking to Rooky, who, apparently, was not going out. It seemed as if only Mr Perton was leaving in the car.

'Good luck, Richard,' Julian whispered, as he and the others melted into the shadows on the other side of the drive. They stood there in the darkness, watching Mr Perton walk over to the car. He got in and slammed the door. Thank goodness he hadn't wanted to put anything in the boot!

The engine started up and the car purred away down the drive. At the same time there came the grating sound of the gate machinery being used.

'Gates are opening for him,' muttered Dick. They heard the car go right down the drive and out of the gateway without stopping. It hooted as it went, evidently a signal to the house. The gates had been opened just at the right moment. They were now being shut, judging by the grinding noise going on.

The front door closed. The children stood in silence for a minute or two, thinking of Richard shut up in the boot.

I'd never have thought it of him,' said George.

'No — but you just simply never know what is in anybody,' said Julian thoughtful y. 'I suppose even the worst coward, the most despicable crook, the most dishonest . rogue can find some good thing in himself if he wants to badly enough.'

'Yes — it's the "wanting-to" that must be so rare, though,' said Dick. 'Look — there's Aggie at the kitchen-door. She's cal ing us in.'

They went to her. 'You can come in now,' she said. 'I can't give you much supper, I'm afraid, because Hunchy wil be here — but I'll put some cake up in your room, under the blankets.'

They went into the kitchen. It was pleasant with a log-fire and the mellow light from an oil-lamp. Hunchy was at the far end doing something with a rag and polish. He gave the children one of his familiar scowls. 'Take that dog out and leave him out,' he ordered.

'No,' said George.

'Then I'l tel Rooky,' said Hunchy. Neither he nor Aggie seemed to notice that there were only four children, not five.

'Well, if Rooky comes here I've no doubt Timmy wil bite his other hand,' said George.

'Anyway — won't he be surprised to find Timmy stil alive and kicking?'

Nothing more was said about Timmy. Aggie silently put the remains of a plum-pie on the table. 'There's your supper,' she said.

There was a very small piece each. As they were finishing, Hunchy went out. Aggie spoke in a whisper.

'I heard the wireless at six o'clock. There was a police message about one of you —

cal ed Richard. His mother reported him missing — and the police put it out on the wireless.'

'Did they real y?' said Dick. 'I say — they'l soon be here then!'

'But do they know where you are?' asked Aggie, surprised. Dick shook his head.

'Not yet — but I expect we'll soon be traced here.'

Aggie looked doubtful. 'Nobody's ever been traced here yet — nor ever wil be, it's my belief. The police did come once, looking for somebody, and Mr Perton let them in, all polite-like. They hunted everywhere for the person they said they wanted, but they couldn't find him.'

Julian nudged Dick. He thought he knew where the police might have found him — in the little secret room behind that sliding panel.

'Funny thing,' said Julian. 'I haven't seen a telephone here. Don't they have one?'

'No,' said Aggie. 'No phone, no gas, no electricity, no water laid on, no nothing. Only just secrets and signs and comings and goings and threats and . . .'

She broke off as Hunchy came back, and went to the big fire-place, where a kettle was slung over the burning logs. Hunchy looked round at the children.

'Rooky wants the one of you that's cal ed Richard,' he said, with a horrible smile. 'Says he wants to learn him a few lessons.'

Al the four felt extremely thankful that Richard was not there. They felt sure he wouldn't have liked the lessons that Rooky wanted to teach him.

They looked round at one another and then all round the room. 'Richard? Where is Richard?'

'What do you mean — where's Richard?' said Hunchy, in a snarling voice that made Timmy growl. 'One of you is Richard — that's all I know.'

'Why — there were five children — now there's only four!' said Aggie, in sudden astonishment. 'I've only just noticed. Is Richard the missing one?'

'Dear me — where's Richard gone?' said Julian, pretending to be surprised. He cal ed him 'Richard! Hey, Richard, where are you?'

Hunchy looked angry. 'Now, none of your tricks. One of you's Richard. Which one?'

'Not one of us is,' answered Dick. 'Gracious, where can Richard be? Do you suppose we've left him in the grounds, Ju?'

'Must have,' said Julian. He went to the kitchen window and swung it wide open.

'RICHARD!' he roared. 'You're wanted, RICHARD!'

But no Richard answered or appeared, of course. He was miles away in the boot of the black Bentley!

There came the sound of angry footsteps in the hall and the kitchen door was flung open. Rooky stood there, scowling, his hand done up in a big bandage. With a delighted bark Timmy leapt forward. George caught him just in time.

'That dog! Didn't I say he was to be poisoned?' shouted Rooky, furiously. 'Why haven't you brought that boy to me, Hunchy?'

Hunchy looked afraid. 'He don't seem to be here,' he answered sullenly. 'Unless one of these here children is him, sir.'

Rooky glanced over them. 'No — he's not one of them. Where is Richard?' he demanded of Julian.

'I've just been yel ing for him,' said Julian, with an air of amazement. 'Funny thing. He was out in the grounds al day with us — and now we're indoors, he just isn't here. Shal I go and hunt in the grounds?'

'I'l shout for him again,-' said Dick, going to the window. 'RICHARD!'

'Shut up!' said Rooky. 'I'l go and find him. Where's my torch? Get it, Aggie. And when I find him — he'll be sorry for himself, very, very sorry!'

'I'l come too,' said Hunchy. 'You go one way and I'l go another.'

'Get Ben and Fred too,' ordered Rooky. Hunchy departed to fetch Ben and Fred, whoever they were. The children supposed they must be the other men who had arrived with Rooky the night before.

Rooky went out of the kitchen door with his powerful torch. Anne shivered. She was very, very glad that Richard couldn't be found, however hard the men looked for him. Soon there came the sound of other voices in the grounds, as the four men separated into two parties, and began to search every yard.

'Where is he, the poor boy?' whispered Aggie.

'I don't know,' said Julian, truthful y. He wasn't going to give any secrets away to Aggie, even though she seemed real y friendly to them.

She went out of the room and the children clustered together, speaking in low voices.

'I say — what a blessing it was Richard that went off in the Bentley and not one of us,'

whispered George.

'My word, yes — I didn't like the look on Rooky's face when he came into the kitchen just now,' said Julian.

'Well, Richard's got a little reward for trying to be brave,' said Anne. 'He's missed some il -

treatment from Rooky!'

Julian glanced at a clock in the kitchen. 'Look — it's almost nine. There's a wireless on that shelf. Let's put it on and see if there's a message about Richard.'

He switched it on and twiddled the knob til he got the right station. After a minute or two of news, there came the message they wanted to hear.

'Missing from home since Wednesday, Richard Thurlow Kent, a boy of twelve, well-built, fair hair, blue eyes, wearing grey shorts and grey jersey. Probably on a bicycle.'

So the message went on, ending with a police telephone number that could be cal ed.

There was of course no message about Julian and the others. They were relieved. That means that Mother won't be worrying,' said George. 'But it also means that unless Richard can get help nobody can possibly find out we're here — if we're not missed we can't be searched for, and I don't real y want to be here much longer.'

Nobody did, of course. Al their hopes were now on Richard. He seemed rather a broken reed to rely on — but you never knew! He just might be successful in escaping unseen from the boot and getting to a police station.

After about an hour Rooky and the others came in, all in a furious temper. Rooky turned on Julian.

'What's happened to that boy? You must know.'

'Gr-r-r-r-r,' said Timmy at once. Rooky beckoned to Julian to come into the hall. He shut the kitchen door and shouted at Julian again.

'Well — you heard what I said — where's that boy?'

'Isn't he out in the grounds?' said Julian, putting on a very perturbed look. 'Good gracious — what can have happened to him? I assure you he was with us al day. Aggie wil tell you that — and Hunchy too.'

'They've already told me,' said Rooky. 'He's not in the grounds. We've gone over every inch. Where is he?'

'Well, would he be somewhere in the house, then?' suggested Julian, innocently.

'How can he be?' raged Rooky. 'The front door's been closed and locked al day except when Perton went out. And Hunchy and Aggie swear he didn't come into the kitchen.'

'It's an absolute mystery,' said Julian. 'Shall I hunt all over the house? The others can help me. Maybe the dog wil smell him out.'

'I'm not having that dog out of the kitchen,' said Rooky. 'Or any of you, either! I believe that boy's about somewhere, laughing up his sleeve at us al — and I believe you know where he is too!'

'I don't,' said Julian. 'And that's the truth.'

'When I do find him, I'l . . . I'll . . .' Rooky broke off, quite unable to think of anything bad enough to do to poor Richard.

He went to join the others, stil muttering. Julian went thankful y back to the kitchen. He was very glad Richard was well out of the way. It was pure chance that he had gone —

but what a very good thing! Where was Richard now? What was he doing? Was he stil in the boot of the car? How Julian wished he knew!

19 Richard has his own adventure

Richard had been having a much too exciting time. He had gone with the car, of course, crouching in the boot at the back, with a box of tools digging into him, and a can of petrol smel ing horribly nearby, making him feel sick.

Through the gates went the car, and down the hil . It went at a good pace, and once stopped very suddenly. It had gone round a corner and almost collided with a stationary lorry, so that Mr Perton had put the brake on in a hurry. Poor Richard was terrified. He bumped his head hard on the back of the boot and gave a groan.

He sat curled up, feeling sick and scared. He began to wish he had not tried to be a hero and get help. Being any kind of a hero was difficult — but this was a dreadful way of being heroic.

The car went on for some miles; Richard had no idea where it was going. At first he heard no other traffic at all — then he heard the sound of many wheels on the road, and knew he must be getting near a town. Once they must have gone by a railway station or railway line because Richard could distinctly hear the noise of a train, and then a loud hooting.