FIVE ON KIRRIN ISLAND AGAIN by Enid Blyton

13 AFTERNOON WITH MARTIN

By the time they reached the coastguard's cottage the sun was out. It was a real April day, with sudden showers and then the sun sweeping out, smiling. Every thing glittered, especially the sea. It was wet underfoot, but the children had on their rubber boots.

They looked for the coastguard. As usual he was in his shed, singing and hammering.

'Good-day to you,' he said, beaming all over his red face. 'I was wondering when you'd come and see me again. How do you like, this railway station I'm making?'

 'It's better' than any I've ever seen in 1the shops,' said Anne, in great admiration. The coastguard certainly had made it well, down to the smallest' detail.

He nodded his head towards some small wooden figures of porters and guards and passengers. 

'Those are waiting to be painted,' he said. 'That boy Martin said he'd come in and do them for me very handy with his paints he is, a proper artist but he's had an accident.'

 'Has he? What happened?' said Julian.

'I don't quite know. He was half-carried home this morning by his father,' said the coastguard. 'Must have slipped and fallen somewhere. I went out to ask, but Mr. Curton was in a hurry to get the boy on a couch. Why don't you go in and ask after him? He's a queer sort of boy -- but he's not a bad boy.' 

'Yes, we will go and ask,' said Julian. 'I say, coastguard, would you mind if we looked through your telescope again?' 

'Now you go and look at all you want to!' said the fellow. 'I tell you, you won't wear it out by looking! I saw the signal from your father's tower last night, Miss George - just happened to be looking that way. He went on flashing for a long time, didn't he?' 

'Yes,' said George 'Thank you. I'll go and have a look now.'

 'She went to the telescope and trained it on her island. But no matter where she looked she could not see Timmy, or her father. They must be down in his workroom, wherever it was. She looked at the glass room in the top of the tower. That was empty too, of course. She sighed. 'It would have been nice to see Timmy.' 

The others had a look through as well, but nobody saw Timmy. It was plain that he was keeping close to his master -- a proper little guard! 

'Well -- shall we go in and see what's happened to Martin?' said 'Julian, when they had finished with the telescope. 'It's just about to pour with rain again - another April: shower! We could wait next-door' till it's over.' 

'Right. Let's go,' 'said, Dick. He looked at George. 'Don't be afraid I shall be rude, George. Now that I know Mr. Curton is a journalist, shan't bother, about 'him.' 

'All the same -- I'm not "blabbing" any more,' said George, with a grin. 'I see your point now even if it doesn't matter, I still shan't "blab" any' more." 

'Good for you!' said Dick, pleased. 'Spoken like a boy!'

 'Ass!' said George, but she was pleased 'all the same. They went through the front gateway of the next cottage. As they filed in, they heard an angry voice.

'Well, you can't! Always wanting to mess about with a brush and paint. I thought I'd knocked that idea out of your head. You lie still and get that ankle-better. Spraining it just when I want your help!' 

Anne stopped, feeling frightened. It was Mr. Curton's voice they could hear through the open window. He was giving Martin a good talking to about something, that was plain. The others stopped too, wondering whether to go in or not. Then they heard a bang, and saw Mr. Curton leaving the cottage from the back entrance. He walked rapidly down the garden there and made for the path, that led to the back of the cliff. There was a road there that went to the village.