GOOD OLD SECRET SEVEN by Enid Blyton

19 A FRIEND IN NEED!

'Isay! This is a sickening thing to happen!' said Peter, rubbing himself where hehad fallen against the hard stone floor. 'What bad luck to run headlong intothose men!'

'Peter! What happened to the pictures?' saidGeorge, in a whisper.

'We managed to drop them and give them a good kickdown the hill,' answered Peter. 'I hope they're still rolling!'

'What are we going to do?' asked Colin, who feltdecidedly scared.

'I don't see that we can do anything at themoment,' said Peter. 'What a pity we weren't able to signal to the girls, afterall! Then we'd know help was coming.'

'What do you suppose those men are doing?' askedGeorge. 'Looking for the pictures?'

'I should think so,' said Peter. They'll be downhere soon enough, when they can't find them anywhere!'

Nobody liked hearing that! Their hearts sank.Peter began to wonder if he could possibly get out of the castle and signalhome. No. He couldn't. One of the men would be sure to be watching at the topof the dungeon steps.

And then something most astonishing happened!There was no man at the top of the steps, only the woman, who had been told to shout if the boys tried to escape.Quite suddenly the boys heard her give a scream, and then she shouted, 'Oh,what is it, what is it?'

Then something bounded down the steps at topspeed, and flung itself on top of Peter, whining in delight!

'Scamper!' cried Peter, in the utmostastonishment. 'Whatever are you doing here? How did you find us? Oh good dog,clever dog! Oh, how glad I am to see you!'

Scamper whined and barked and licked every one ofthe boys. What a long, long trek he had had, following their trail ... but now, here he was, just at the right moment! He leapt up at Peter,and went almost mad with joy.

The boys felt braver at once. Scamper would be areal help! The woman's screams had brought the men up at once, and they shoutedto her.

'What's happening? What is it?'

'Oh, something pushed by me in the dark and shotdown into the dungeon!' she said. 'It seemed to be a dog!'

Scamper immediately produced an extremely fiercegrowl down at the bottom of his throat ... it startled even Peter, who was used to Scamper's barks and growls.

'Urrrrr. urrrrrr, urrrrrrr!'

'You be careful of our dog!' yelled Peter. 'He'llattack you if you don't let us go.'

'You tell us where you've put those pictures andwe'll let you go all right,' came back the angry answer. 'Otherwise we'll keepyou here for a week!'

'Stuff!' shouted back Peter. 'Our people will sooncome after us. We don't mind staying here. Makes a nice change!'

All the same, the boys didn't at all like beingdown in the dungeons. They were dark and full of shadows ... and they were very cold indeed! One of the men decided to give the boysa scare and came rushing down the steps, hallooing at the top of his voice. Hecertainly startled the boys ... butas he also had the effect of making Scamper go wild with rage, it didn't do himmuch good! The spaniel flew at him, and nipped him smartly on the leg. The mangave a howl and went up the steps as quickly as he had come down!

'Good dog, Scamper,' said Peter, pleased. 'Gosh,I'm glad you trailed us tonight! What a long walk you've had, old fellow!You're a jolly good friend!'

For about an hour nothing happened. What were themen doing? Having a meal? Looking for the pictures? Nobody could guess. Theyall felt very thankful that Scamper was there to protect them.

'We wouldn't have had a chance without him!' saidPeter. Then he stiffened as he heard a distant noise. 'Listen ... something's going on! Hark at that shouting and yelling!'

They listened ... and Scamper suddenly gave a delighted whine and tore up the stone stepsat top speed.

'Hey, come back!' yelled Peter ... but Scamper took no notice.

'Let's go and see what's happening,' said Peter,and started up the steps. 'There can't be anyone guarding us now, if Scampershot away like that.'

They all went cautiously up the steps ... and, as Peter said, there was no one on guard at the top. But outsidethe castle there was certainly something going on! Shouts and yells and thesound of feet stamping about  whata to-do! Scamper was in the midst of it, barking and nipping whenever he had achance! Quick, Peter ... where'syour torch?