The Mystery of Banshee Towers (Discontinued-Nearly Finished)

Off to Banshee Hill

Ern had a happy, but very restless night. Bingo kept imagining that he heard rats running round outside the shed, trying to get in, and leapt on and off the camp-bed every few minutes, rushing to sniff round the corners of the shed, his long tail waving in excitement.

  'Bingo! I'd much rather have rats nibbling my toes than you jumping off and on my tummy all night long,' said Ern at last. 'For goodness sake, come and lie down.'

  Tired out at last, Bingo cuddled under the rug and fell asleep. Ern put an arm round him and went to sleep too, dead to the world until morning.

  He awoke to hear a stealthy knocking on the door and flew out of the bed to open it. Fatty was there - good old Fatty - his pockets bulging. Buster was with him, and immediately went to rub noses with Bingo.

  ' Hello, Ern,' said Fatty, pushing his way in quickly to prevent the excited Bingo from rushing out. 'Got to be a bit careful, the gardener's here this morning, and he'd better not see you in the shed. He might tell Mr Goon!'

  'I'll be very careful then,' said Ern, as Fatty pulled a hastily-wrapped packet from one pocket, and some apples from another.

  'Here you are, Ern,' he said. 'Best I could do for the moment. I didn't dare to take too much  from the larder, but there were plenty of eggs, so that was something. How's old Bingo? Was he good last night?'

  'Well, he seemed to be hunting round for rats for hours,' said Ern, unwrapping the packet Fatty gave him. ' Coo, hard-boiled egg sandwiches - smashing! And two buttered rolls - with honey inside! You're a brick, Fatty, straight you are.'

  'You'll find some little bottles of lemonade in that cupboard,' said Fatty. 'And an opener to. I daren't bring you a pot of tea. Mummy would start asking questions!'

  Ern sat happily munching his egg sandwiches, a glass of lemonade beside him, with Bingo sitting expectantly at his feet. Buster went sniffing at the bottom of a second cupboard, and Fatty laughed.

  'He knows a packet of his biscuits is kept there, and he wants to give old Bingo some,' said Fatty, getting up. 'Am I right, Buster, old thing?'

  'Woof!' said Buster, dancing round excitedly, his tail wagging. Bingo joined him, having heard the word 'biscuits'! Soon he and Buster were amiably sharing a packet, crunching up the biscuits in delight.

  Buster was overjoyed to have Bingo to play with. He suddenly went completely mad and began to rush round and round the room at top speed, barking wildly. Bingo joined him, and the two boys hurriedly leapt out of the way.

  'Shut up, Buster,' said Fatty. 'Don't do your racehorse gallop in here. Gosh, there goes the lemonade! BUSTER! Have you gone completely mad?'

  'BINGO! Oh my goodness, he's got hold of the rug now,' said Ern. 'He'll tear it to pieces - look at them having a tug-of-war. Fatty, you'll have to take Buster away. They'll wreck everything!'

  A cautious knock came at the door and the two dogs left their play and rushed to it, barking madly.

  'COME IN!' yelled Fatty. 'MIND THE DOGS!'

  'It was little Bets, come to bring Ern a packet of food. Ern gave her a hug and opened the packet. Bets had made him some potted-meat sandwiches, and brought him two currant buns as well. 'And next time I come, I'll try and bring a pot of jam,' she said. 'Oh, look at Bingo - he's sitting up and begging! Did you teach him that, Ern?'

  'No,' said Ern, in surprise. 'Perhaps Buster did. Good, Bingo, good! You can stop begging now. Those sandwiches are for me.'

  'I brought Bingo a ball,' said Bets, feeling in her coat pocket. 'Here, Bingo - catch!'