Five on a Hike Together (16 page)

The policeman disappeared. Anne hugged herself. Now that awful couple would be put into safe custody for some time, thank goodness - til she had forgotten about them! Anne hadn"t liked them a bit.

Julian"s tale came to an end. The inspector looked across at the tousle-headed, dirty, untidy group and smiled. He held out his hand. „Shake!" he said. „Al of you! You"re the kind of kids we want in this country - plucky, sensible, responsible youngsters who use your brains and never give up! I"m proud to meet you!"

They all shook hands with him solemnly. Timmy held up his paw too, and the inspector grinned and shook that too.

„And now - what"s your programme?" asked Mr, Gaston, getting up,

„Well - we"re al supposed to be back at school by three o"clock," said Julian. „But I don"t think we can arrive looking like this. We"d get into awful rows! Is there a hotel where we can have a bath and clean ourselves up a bit?"

„You can do that here," said the inspector. „And if you like I"l run you back to your schools in the police car. We can"t do too much for people who produce the Fal onia jewels out of rucksacks, you know. Bless us all - I can"t believe it!"

Mr. Gaston said good-bye and went, saying that he was very proud to have made friends with them. „And don"t you get stuck down any more rabbit-holes!" he said to Timmy, who wuffed happily at him.

They bathed and washed every inch of themselves. They found their clothes neatly folded and brushed, and felt grateful. They brushed their hairs and arrived looking very clean and tidy in the inspector"s private room. He had a man there, inspecting the jewels and label ing them before he put them away into boxes.

„You"l be interested to know that we have picked up your couple," he told them. „The man had a broken ankle and couldn"t stir a step. The woman was thigh deep in the marsh when we found her. They quite welcomed the police, they were so fed up with everything!"

„Oh good!" said the four, and Anne beamed with relief. That settled Maggie and Dirty Dick then!

„And these are the Fallonia jewels," said the inspector. „Not that I had any doubt of it. They are now being checked and label ed. I"ve no doubt the Queen of Fallonia and her titled friend wil be extremely pleased to hear of your little exploit."

A clock struck half past two. Julian looked at it. Half an hour only to get back in time.

Would they do it?

„It"s al right," said the inspector, with his wide grin. „Car"s at the door. I"l come and see you off. You"l all be back at your schools in good time - and if anyone believes your tale I"l be surprised. Come along!"

He saw them into the car, Timmy too. „Good-bye," he said, and saluted them al smartly.

I"m proud to have met you - good luck to you, Famous Five!"

Yes, good luck to you, Famous Five - and may you have many more adventures!