FIVE GO TO SMUGGLER'S TOP by Enid Blyton

21 A JOURNEY THROUGH THE HILL

'I'm coming!' said everyone at once. As if they would let George go alone!

So down the dark tunnel they went, feeling the string and following it. Julian ran it through his fingers, and the others followed behind, holding hands. It would not do for anyone to get lost.

After about ten minutes they came to the rounded cave where Sooty and George's father had been the night before. They were not there now, of course - they were on their way down to the marsh!

'Hallo, look! This is where they must have been!' cried Julian, shining his torch round. 'A bench - with tumbled rugs - and an over-turned lamp. And look here, scraps of paper torn into bits! Something's been happening here!'

Quick-witted George pieced it together in her mind. 'Mr. Barling took them here and left them. Then he came back with some sort of proposal to Father, who refused it! There must have beeen a struggle of some sort and the lamp got broken. Oh - I do hope Father and Sooty got away all right.'

Julian felt gloomy. CI hope to goodness they haven't gone wandering about these awful tunnels. Even Sooty doesn't know a quarter of them. I wish I knew what's happened.'

Someone's coming!' suddenly said Dick. 'Snap out the light, Ju.'

Julian snapped off the torch he carried. At once they were all four in darkness. They crouched at the back of the cave, listening.

Yes - footsteps were coming. Rather cautious footsteps. 'Sounds like two or three people,' whispered Dick. They came nearer. Whoever was coming was plainly following the tunnel where the string was.

'Mr. Barling perhaps - and Block,' whispered George. 'Come to have another talk with Father! But he's gone!'

A brilliant light flashed suddenly round the cave -and picked out the huddled children. There was a loud exclamation of astonishment.

'Good heavens! Who's here? What's all this?'

It was Mr. Barling's voice. Julian stood up, blinking in the bright light.

'We came to took for my uncle and Sooty,' he said. 'Where are they?'

'Aren't they here?' said Mr. Barling, seeming surprised. 'And is that horrible brute of a dog gone?'

'Oh - was Timmy here?' cried George, joyfully. 'Where is he?'

There were two other men with Mr. Barling. One was Block. The other was his servant. Mr. Barling put down the lantern he was carrying.

'Do you mean to say you don't know where the others are?' he said, uneasily. 'If they've gone off on their own, they'll never come back.'

Anne gave a little scream. 'It's all your fault, you horrid man!'

'Shut up, Anne!' said Julian. 'Mr. Barling,' he said, turning to the angry smuggler, 'I think you'd better come back with us and explain things. Mr. Lenoir is now talking to the police.'

'Oh, is he?' said Mr. Barling. 'Then I think it would be as well for us all to stay down here for a while! Yes, you too! I'll make Mr. Lenoir squirm! I'll hold you all prisoners - and this time you shall be bound so that you don't go wandering off like the others! Got some rope, Block?'

Block stepped forward with the other man. They caught hold of George first, very roughly.

She screamed loudly. 'Timmy! Timmy! Where are you? Timmy, come and help! Oh, TIMMY!' >

But no Timmy came. She was soon in a corner with her hands tied behind her. Then they turned to Julian.

'You're mad' Julian said to Mr. Barling, who was standing nearby, holding the lantern. 'You must be mad to do things like this.'