Famous Five 19 Five Go to Demons Rocks (13 page)

“Famous Five 19 - Five Go To Demon's Rock” By Enid Blyton
54

‘I expect we’d be allowed to keep a few coins ourselves,’ said George. ‘If only we could go straightaway now and hunt in that tunnel! I feel as if I can’t wait!’

‘Woof,’ said Timmy, agreeing though he really hadn’t much idea of what they were talking about!

‘I say - LISTEN to the sea crashing over the rocks between us and the jetty!’ said Julian, startled at the sudden booming. ‘The wind must be working up to a gale!’

‘Well, bad weather’s been forecast for some time,’ saicl Dick gloomily. ‘Blow! It’ll be jolly difficult rowing to and fro in that little Bob-About boat. I doubt if we’d be able to walk across the rocks even at low tide, with a big sea running before the wind.’

‘Oh don’t be so gloomy!’ said Anne.

‘Well, do you want us to be prisoners here in the light-house?’ demanded Dick.

‘It wouldn’t matter - there’s plenty of food,’ said Anne.

‘No there isn’t! Remember there are five of us - and Timmy and Mischief as well,’ said Dick.

‘Shut up, Dick,’ said Julian. ‘You’re scaring Anne and Tinker. This storm will soon blow over - we’ll be able to pop out and do some shopping tomorrow.’

But the storm grew fiercer, and the sky became so dark that Anne lighted the lamps.

Rain slashed against the light-house, and the wind made a loud howling noise that made Timmy growl deep down in his throat.

Anne went to look out of the window. She felt frightened when she saw the great waves that came surging over the rocks below. Some of them broke on the rocks, and the spray flew so high that it spattered the window out of which she was looking! She drew back in alarm.

‘Do you know what hit the window then? It was spray from a great wave!’

‘Whew!’ said Julian, and went to the window himself. What a wonderful sight! The sea was grey now, not blue, and it raced along towards the shore, great waves curling over into white manes, spray flying. Out to sea there were angry waves too, topped with white, which turned into spray as the strong wind caught them. Only a few gulls were out, screaming in excitement, allowing the wind to take them along on their great white wings.

‘Well, I certainly wouldn’t mind being a gull today,’ said Dick. ‘It must be a wonderful feeling to ride on a storm - no wonder they are screaming in joy!’

‘Ee-oo, Ee-oo, EE-OOO, EE-OOOOO!’ cried the gulls, sounding like cats mewing in hunger.

‘I’m sorry for the strips out in this,’ said Julian. ‘Goodness - think of the sailing-ships in the olden days, caught on this rocky coast in a wind like this - it’s almost a hurricane!’

‘And think of that wicked old One-Ear Bill, gloating when he saw a ship sailing nearer and nearer the rocks!’ said George. ‘And even taking the warning-lamp out of its place on the cliff, and bringing it near here to make sure that any ships out that night would make straight for the rocks - CRASH!’

‘Don’t,’ said Anne. ‘I hate to think of things like that.’

‘Let’s have a game,’ said Julian. ‘Where are the cards? Move that lamp a bit closer to the table, Dick. It’s getting so jolly dark. Now no more talk of wrecks! Think of something cheerful - tea-sup, for instance - the treasure - and...’

“Famous Five 19 - Five Go To Demon's Rock” By Enid Blyton
55

‘You know, I think it would be quite easy to find the treasure,’ said Dick, bringing the lamp close to the table. ‘Mischief is a very clever little thing. I’m sure he would remember where he found that coin, and lead us straight to the place.’

‘It might have been just an odd coin, dropped by the man who hid the hoard,’ said Anne.

‘It might - but wherever it was found I think we can safely say that the main hoard wouldn’t be very far away,’ said Dick.

‘Well, if we do go hunting we’ll have to go when the tide is well out,’ said Julian. ‘I don’t really fancy scrabbling about in those caves and tunnels under the rocky sea-bed, when I know that somehow or other when the tide is coming in the water gets under the sea-bed, as well as on it.’

Dick sat frowning, thinking out something. ‘Ju,’ he said at last, ‘you remember the direction we went in, as soon as we were underground this morning? We went left-ish all the way, didn’t we?’

‘Yes, we did,’ said Tinker, at once. ‘I had my little compass with me - look - it clips to my wristwatch - and we went sharp west all the time.’

‘Towards the light-house, that would be,’ said Julian, and drew a quick plan. ‘See -

here’s the light-house, say - and just here is the entrance into the cliff, where we first went - here’s the path we took, curving right back to the sea again, under the rocky beach - here it goes - and that’s a cave, see, then more tunnel, and caves - the way always curving sharply to the left...’

‘A bit farther on and we’d have been almost under the light-house!’ said Dick, in amazement.

‘That’s right,’ said Julian. ‘And maybe in the old days, before this light-house was built, and ships were sent crashing on the rocks on which it now stands, there was a tunnel down from those light-house rocks that joined up with the tunnel we were in this morning

- so that the wreckers would find it very easy to stow away anything valuable they found in a wrecked ship without being seen!’

‘Whew! You mean they waited till the ship smashed up, then waded over the rocks, as we do, took what they could find, and disappeared down a tunnel there to hide it!’

‘And came out the other end!’ said Anne.

George stared at Julian, and her eyes were bright. ‘Maybe the tunnel is still somewhere in these rocks!’ she said. ‘Somewhere down at the edge of them, because we know the sea gets into the tunnel. Julian, let’s look for it tomorrow. I think you’re right. There may be a hole in the rocks here somewhere, that drops down into the tunnel we were in.’

Nobody wanted to play a game after that! They felt much too excited. They studied Julian’s plan again and again, glad that Tinker’s little compass had shown him so clearly that morning that the under-sea passages had led due west to the light-house rocks.

‘Do you suppose that everyone has forgotten the old hole?’ said Dick. ‘Nobody has told us anything about it, not even Jeremiah. Do you think it may have been blocked up?’

Julian frowned, thinking hard.

‘Well, yes - it may have been,’ he said. ‘It is queer that Jeremiah didn’t say anything about it. Anyway we’ll have a good hunt tomorrow.’

‘And if we find it, we’ll drop down and hunt for the treasure!’ said Tinker, his eyes shining. ‘WHAT a shock for Ebenezer and Jacob if we find it first!’

“Famous Five 19 - Five Go To Demon's Rock” By Enid Blyton
56

The storm blew itself out that evening, and next day was much calmer. The sky still looked angry, and rain fell now and again, but it was possible to get out of the lighthouse door in the morning, and go down the steps on to the rocks.

‘Shall we go shopping first - or look for the hole?’ said Julian.

‘Look for the hole,’ said Dick, promptly. ‘The wind is still pretty strong, and the storm might blow up again - just look at that angry sky! We wouldn’t be able to mess about round the edge of the rocks if the sea gets any rougher.’

They spread out and went cautiously over the great rocks on which the light-house was built. At low tide the rocks stood well up, out of the sea. The light-house was built on the highest part, and seemed to tower over the searchers as they clambered here and there, seeking for any hole that looked as if it might lead down into some tunnel below.

‘Here’s a hole!’ called Anne, suddenly, and they all clambered over to her in excitement, Timmy too. Julian looked down to where Anne was pointing. ‘Yes - it does look a likely one,’ he said. ‘Big enough to take a man, too. I’ll climb down and see.’

He slid down the hole, holding on to projecting pieces of rock as he went. The others watched, thrilled. Timmy barked. He didn’t like to see Julian disappearing like this!

But before Julian quite disappeared, he shouted again. ‘I’m afraid it’s no good! It’s come to a sudden end! I’m standing on firm rock, and though I’ve felt all round it with my feet, there’s no opening anywhere. It’s a blind end!’

What a disappointment! ‘Blow!’ said Dick, lying down on the rocks and putting his arm down the hole to help Julian to climb up again. ‘I had high hopes then! Julian - here’s my hand. Do you want any help?’

‘Thanks - it is a bit difficult!’ said Julian. He climbed up with difficulty, and squeezed out of the hole thankfully. ‘I wouldn’t like to get wedged in here!’ he said. ‘Especially with the tide coming in!’

‘It’s beginning to pour with rain again!’ said Anne. ‘Shall we go shopping now - or wait a bit?’

‘Oh, let’s wait,’ said George. ‘I’m cold and wet now. Let’s go into the light-house and make some hot coffee. WHAT a disappointment! Never mind - we can always go down the tunnels we were in yesterday and search around - maybe Mischief will show us where he found the gold coin!’

They all went into the light-house, and once more Julian jammed the door. ‘I wish that locksmith would come,’ he said. ‘If we go down into the caves, we’ll have to leave old Timmy behind on guard - and it is such a shame!’

‘Woof,’ said Timmy, heartily agreeing. They all went upstairs and Anne began to make the coffee. As they were sitting drinking it, Timmy suddenly sprang to his feet with a most blood-curdling growl. Everyone jumped, and Anne spilt her coffee.

‘Timmy! What’s up?’ said George, in alarm. Timmy was standing with his nose towards the closed door of the room, his hackles rising up on his neck. He looked truly fierce!

‘What on earth is the matter, Tim?’ said Julian, going to the door. ‘There can’t be anyone on the stairway - the entrance door’s jammed!’

“Famous Five 19 - Five Go To Demon's Rock” By Enid Blyton
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Timmy raced out of the door as soon as Julian opened it and tore down the spiral stairway at such a speed that he fell, and rolled to the bottom. George gave a terrified scream. ‘Timmy! Have you hurt yourself?’

But Timmy leapt to his feet at once, and ran to the entrance door, growling so ferociously that Anne felt really frightened. Julian ran down and went to the door. It was still well and truly jammed.

‘Timmy! Maybe it’s just the poor milkman, come with some milk again,’ he said, and unjammed the door. He took hold of the handle to open it.

It wouldn’t open! Julian pulled and tugged, but it was of no use, The door simply would NOT open!

By this time everyone was down beside him. ‘Let me try,’ said Dick. ‘The door must just have stuck.’

No - he couldn’t open it either! Julian looked gravely round at everyone. ‘I’m afraid - very much afraid - that SOMEBODY has locked us in!’ he said.

There was a horrified silence. Then George cried out in anger. ‘Locked us in! How dare they! Who’s done this!’

‘Well - I think we can guess,’ said Julian. ‘It was whoever came and stole our key the other day!’

‘Ebenezer - no, Jacob!’ cried Dick. ‘One of the two, anyway. How DARE they? What are we to do? We can’t get out. Why have they done this - this - silly - wicked thing?’

‘I’m afraid it’s because they think we might go looking for the treasure - and find it,’ said Julian, his face grave. ‘We felt sure that Mischief might remember where he had found that gold coin - and lead us there - and I’m pretty sure they think the same. So this is their way of making sure they have time to find the treasure, before we do!’

‘They’re wicked, they’re wicked!’ cried George, taking hold of the handle of the door, and pulling it violently. ‘We’re prisoners!’

‘Don’t pull the handle off, old thing,’ said Julian. ‘That wouldn’t help at all. Let’s go upstairs and talk about it. We’ll have to think of some way out of this unexpected difficulty.’

They went soberly upstairs again, and sat down in the living-room. Yes - they were certainly prisoners!

‘What are we going to do?’ said Dick. ‘We are in a real fix, Julian.’

‘Yes. You’re right,’ said Julian, looking worried. ‘We can’t get out of the light-house, that’s certain. On the other hand - how can we get help? No telephone. Shouting would never be heard. Can’t use our boat. No one would ever know we are prisoners - they’ve seen us going in and out of the light-house, and if we suddenly don’t appear any more, they’ll simply think we have gone home, and that the light-house is empty again!’

‘We shall die of starvation!’ said Anne, scared.

‘Oh no - I expect we shall think of something,’ said Dick, seeing that Anne was really frightened. ‘All the same, it’s a puzzle. We can’t get out - and no one can get in!

Whoever locked that door has certainly taken the key away with him.’

They talked and they talked, and finally they felt hungry, so they had a meal - though they felt that they ought to eat sparingly, in case their food ran short too quickly.

‘And I feel so hungry,’ complained George. ‘I keep feeling hungry here.’

‘That’s what I told you. Living in a light-house somehow makes you feel hungry all the time!’ said Tinker.

“Famous Five 19 - Five Go To Demon's Rock” By Enid Blyton
58

‘We’ll try and catch the milkman tomorrow morning,’ said Julian, suddenly. ‘Let’s see, now - we could write a note, and push it under the door, so that he would see it tomorrow when he comes. We could put “HELP - WE ARE LOCKED IN.”’

‘It would blow away,’ said George. ‘You know it would.’

‘We could pin it down our side - and then it wouldn’t,’ said Anne. ‘Half of it would still stick out under the door.’

‘Well, it’s worth trying,’ said Dick, and immediately wrote out the note on a large sheet of paper. He shot downstairs to pin it to the mat - and shoved half the paper underneath so that it stuck out on the other side of the door.

He ran back upstairs. ‘I don’t for a moment think that the milkman will come across the rocks in this weather,’ he said. ‘They’ll be almost impassable. Still we’ll hope for the best!’

There didn’t seem anything else to do. The evening came early, for the sky was very dark again, and the wind once more got up, and howled dismally. Even the gulls decided that it was no longer a good idea to glide to and fro.