Новые приключения Великолепной Пятерки

[1122] George was hidden among the clothes in the cupboard, waiting her turn to climb down. As she stood there, trying in vain to go over any likely hiding-place in her mind, her hands felt something rustly in the pocket of a coat, she was standing against. It was a mackintosh coat, with big pockets. The little girl's heart gave a leap.

Suppose the papers had been left in the pocket of the coat the man had on when he took them from Mr. Roland? That was the only place the children had not searched - the pockets of the coats in the cupboard! With trembling fingers the girl felt in the pocket where the rustling was.

She drew out a sheaf of papers. It was dark in the cupboard, and she could not see if they were the ones she was hunting for, or not - but how she hoped they were! She stuffed them up the front of her jersey, for she had no big pocket, and whispered to Dick:

[1123] 'Can I come now?'

[1124] CRASH! The door fell in with a terrific noise, and the two men leapt into the room. They looked round. It was empty! But there was the water spilt on the wash - stand and on the floor. Someone must be there somewhere !

[1125] 'Look in the cupboard!' said Mr. Thomas.

[1126] George crept out of the clothes and on to the narrow ledge, beyond the place where the false back of the cupboard used to be. It was still hidden sideways in the wall. The girl climbed down the hole a few steps and then shut the oak door which was now above her head. She had not enough strength to close it completely, but she hoped that now she was safe!

[1127] The men went to the cupboard and felt about in the clothes for anyone who might possibly be hiding there. Mr. Wilton gave a loud cry.

[1128] 'The papers are gone! They were in this pocket! There's not a sign of them. Quick, Thomas, we must find the thief and get them back!'

[1129] The men did not notice that the cupboard seemed to go farther back than usual. They stepped away from it now that they were sure no one was there, and began to hunt round the room.

[1130] By now all the children except George were at the bottom of the hole, standing in the Secret Way, waiting impatiently for George to come down. Poor George was in such a hurry to get down that she caught her skirt or one of the staples, and had to stand in a very dangerous position trying to disentangle it.

[1131] 'Come on, George, for goodness sake!' said Julian.

[1132] Timothy jumped up at the wall. He could feel the fear and excitement of the waiting children, and it upset him. He wanted George. Why didn't she come? Why was she up that dark hole? Tim was unhappy about her.

[1133] He threw back his head and gave such a loud and mournful howl that all the children jumped violently.

[1134] 'Shut up, Tim!' said Julian.

[1135] Tim howled again, and the weird sound echoed round and about in a queer manner. Anne was terrified, and she began to cry. Timothy howled again and again. Once he began to howl it was difficult to stop him.

[1136] The men in the bedroom above heard the extraordinary noise, and stopped in amazement.

[1137] 'Whatever's that?' said one.

[1138] 'Sounds like a dog howling in the depths of the earth, said the other.

[1139] ‘Funny!' said Mr. Wilton. 'It seems to be coming from the direction of that cupboard.'

[1140] He went over to it and opened the door. Tim chose that moment to give a specially mournful howl, and Mr. Wilton jumped. He got into the cupboard and felt about at the back. The oak door there gave way beneath his hand, and he felt it open.

[1141] 'Thomas! There's something queer here,' called Mr. Wilton. 'Bring my torch off the table.'

[1142] Tim howled again and the noise made Mr. Wilton shiver! Tim had a peculiarly horrible howl. It came echoing up the hole, and burst out into the cupboard.

[1143] Mr. Thomas got the torch. The men shone it at the back of the cupboard, and gave an exclamation.

[1144] 'Look at that! There's a door here! Where does it lead to?'

[1145] Mrs. Sanders, who had been watching everything in surprise and indignation, angry that her door should have been broken down, came up to the cupboard.

[1146] 'My!' she said. 'I knew there was a false back to that cupboard - but I didn't know there was another door behind it too! That must be the entrance to the Secret Way that people used in the old days.'

[1147] 'Where does it lead to?' rapped out Mr. Wilton.

[1148] 'Goodness knows!' said Mrs. Sanders. 'I never took much interest in such things.'

[1149] 'Come on, Thomas - we must go down,' said Mr. Wilton, shining his torch into the square black hole, and seeing the iron foot-holds set in the stone. 'This is where the thief went. He can't have got far. We'll go after him. We've got to get those papers back!'