FIVE ON KIRRIN ISLAND AGAIN by Enid Blyton

19 A MEETING WITH MARTIN

TIMMY ran round the house and made for the moor behind. It was most extraordinary. Wherever was he going?

'This is awfully queer,' said Julian. 'I'm sure George can't be anywhere in this direction.' 

Timmy went on swiftly, occasionally turning his head to make sure everyone was following him. He led the way to the quarry!

 'The quarry! Did George come here then?' said Dick. 'But why?' 

The dog disappeared down into the middle of the quarry, slipping and sliding down the steep sides as he went. The others followed as best they could. Luckily it was not as slippery as before, and they reached the bottom without accident.

Timmy went straight to the shelf of rock and disappeared underneath it. They heard him give a short sharp bark as if to say 'Come on! This is the way! Hurry up!' 

'He's gone into the tunnel under there,' said Dick. 'Where we thought we might explore and didn't. There must be a passage or something there, then. But is George there?' 

'I'll go first,' said Julian, and wriggled through the hole. He was soon in the wider bit and then came out into the part where he could almost stand. He walked a little way in the dark, hearing Timmy bark impatiently now and then. But in a moment or two Julian stopped.

'It's no good trying to follow you in the dark, Timmy!' he called. 'We'll have to go back and get torches. I can't see a foot in front of me!' Dick was just struggling through the first part of the hole. Julian called to him to go back.

'It's too dark,' he said. 'We must go and get torches. If George for some reason is up this passage, she must have had an accident, and we'd better get a rope, and some brandy.' 

Anne began to cry. She didn't like the idea of George lying hurt in that dark passage. Julian put his arm round her as soon as he was in the open air again. He helped her up the sides of the quarry, followed by Dick.

'Now don't worry. We'll get her all right. But it beats me why she went there and I still can't imagine how Tim and she came from the island, if they are here, instead of on the beach!'

 'Look there's Martin!' suddenly said Dick in surprise. So there was! He was standing at the top of the quarry, and seemed just as surprised to see them as they were to see him!

 'You're up early,' called Dick. 'And goodness me -- are you going gardening or something? Why the spades?' Martin looked sheepish and didn't seem to know what to say. 

Julian suddenly walked up to him and caught hold of his shoulder. 'Look here, Martin! There's some funny business going on here! What are you going to do with those spades? Have you seen George? Do you know where she is, or anything about her? Come on, tell me!' Martin shook his shoulder away from Julian's grip, looking extremely surprised.

'George? No! What's happened to him?' 

'George isn't a him - she's a her,' said Anne, still crying. 'She's disappeared. We thought she'd gone to the island to find her dog -- and Timmy suddenly appeared at Kirrin Cottage, and brought us here!' 

'So it looks as if George might be somewhere near here,' said Julian. 'And I want to know if you've seen her or know anything of her whereabouts?'

'No, Julian. I swear I don't!' said Martin.

'Well, tell me what you're doing here so early in the morning, with spades,' said Julian, roughly. 

'Who are you waiting for? Your father?' 'Yes,' said Martin.