Новые приключения Великолепной Пятерки

[929] 'They can't get the papers away,' said Julian. 'You've no idea how thick the snow is now, George. We shall be prisoners here for a few days, if this snow goes on, and so will the people in Kirrin Farm-house. If they want to hide the papers, they will have to hide them in the farmhouse! If only we could get over there and hunt round!'

[930] 'Well, we can't,' said Dick. 'That's quite certain. We'd be up to our necks in snow!'

[931] The four children looked gloomily at one another. Dick and Anne could hardly believe that the jolly Mr. Roland was a thief - a spy perhaps, trying to steal a valuable secret from a friendly scientist. And they couldn't stop it.

[932] 'We'd better tell your father,' said Julian at last.

[933] 'No,' said Anne. 'He wouldn't believe it, would he, George?'

[934] 'He'd laugh at us and go straight and tell Mr. Roland,' said George. 'That would warn him, and he mustn't be warned. He mustn't know that we guess anything.'

[935] 'Sh! Aunt Fanny's coming!' whispered Dick, suddenly. The boys slipped out of the room and into bed. Anne hopped across to her own little bed. All was peace and quiet when the children's aunt came into the bedroom.

[936] She said good night and tucked them up. As soon as she had gone down, the four children met together again in George's room.

[937] 'George, tell me now what you were going to say about the Secret Way,' said Julian.

[938] 'Oh yes,' said George. 'Well, there may be nothing in my idea at all - but in the study downstairs, there are eight wooden panels over the mantelpiece - and the floor is of stone - and the room faces east! A bit queer, isn't it? Just what the directions said.'

[939] 'Is there a cupboard there too?' asked Julian.

[940] 'No. But there is everything else,' said George. 'And I was just wondering if by any chance the entrance to the Secret Way is in this house, not in the farm-house. After all, they both belonged to my family at one time, you know. The people living in the farm-house years ago must have known all about this cottage.'

[941] 'Golly, George - suppose the entrance was here!' said Dick. 'Wouldn't it be simply marvellous! Let's go straight down and look!'

[942] 'Don't be silly,' said Julian. 'Go down to the study when Uncle Quentin is there? I'd rather meet twenty lions than face Uncle! Especially after what has happened!'

[943] 'Well, we simply MUST find out if George's idea is right; we simply must,' said Dick, forgetting to whisper.

[944] 'Shut up, idiot!' said Julian, giving him a punch. 'Do you want to bring the whole household up here?'

[945] 'Sorry!' said Dick. 'But, oh golly, this is exciting. It's an Adventure again.'

[946] 'Just what I said,' said George, eagerly. 'Listen, shall we wait till midnight, and then creep down to the study when everyone is asleep, and try our luck? There may be nothing in my idea at all - but we'll have to find out now. I don't believe I could go to sleep till I've tried one of those panels over the mantelpiece to see if something happens.'

[947] 'Well, I know I can't sleep a wink either,' said Dick. 'Listen - is that someone coming up? We'd better go.

Come on, Julian! Meet in George's room at midnight - and we'll creep down and try out George's idea!'

[948] The two boys went off to their own room. Neither of them could sleep a wink. Nor could George. She lay awake, and went over and over in her mind all that had happened those holidays. 'It's like a jigsaw puzzle,' she thought. 'I couldn't understand a lot of things at first -but now they are fitting together, and making a picture.'

[949] Anne was fast asleep. She had to be awakened at midnight. 'Come on!' whispered Julian, shaking her. 'Don't you want to share in this adventure?'

[ 950 ] Chapter Fourteen THE SECRET WAY AT LAST!

[951] THE four children crept downstairs through the dark and silent night. Nobody made a sound at all. They made their way to the study. George softly closed the door and then switched on the light.

[952] The children stared at the eight panels over the mantelpiece. Yes - there were exactly eight, four in one row and four in the row above. Julian spread the linen roll out on the table, and the children pored over it.

[953] 'The cross is in the middle of the second panel in the top row,' said Julian, in a low voice. I'll try pressing it. Watch, all of you!'

[954] He went to the fireplace. The others followed him, their hearts beating fast with excitement. Julian stood on tiptoe and began to press hard in the middle of the second panel. Nothing happened.

[955] 'Press harder! Tap it!' said Dick.

[956] 'I daren't make too much noise,' said Julian, feeling all over the panel to see if there was any roughness that might tell of a hidden spring or lever.