Chapter 1 THE FIVE ARE ALL TOGETHER AGAIN
Chapter 1 THE FIVE ARE ALL TOGETHER AGAIN
'Phew!' said Julian, mopping his wet forehead, 'What a day! Let's go and live at the Equator - it wouldbe cool compared to this!'
He stood leaning on his bicycle, out of breath with a long steep ride up a hill. Dick grinned at him.
'You're out of training, Ju!' he said. 'Let's sit down for a bit and look at the view. We're pretty highup!'
They leaned their bicycles against a nearby gate and sat down, their backs against the lower bars.
Below them spread the Dorset countryside, shimmering in the heat of the day, the distance almostlost in a blue haze. A small breeze came wandering round, and Julian sighed in relief.
'I'd never have come on this biking trip if I'd guessed it was going to be as hot as this!' he said.
'Good thing Anne didn't come - she'd have given up the first day.'
'George wouldn't have minded,' said Dick. 'She's game enough for anything.'
'Good old Georgina,' said Julian, shutting his eyes. 'I'll be glad to see the girls again. Fun to be on ourown, of course - but things always seem to happen when the four of us are together.'
'Five, you mean,' said Dick, tipping his hat over his eyes. 'Don't forget old Timmy. What a dog!
Never knew one that had such a wet lick as Tim. I say - won't it be fun to meet them all! Don't let'sforget the time, Julian. Hey, wake up, ass! If we go to sleep now, we'll not be in time to meet thegirls' bus.'
Julian was almost asleep. Dick looked at him and laughed. Then he looked at his watch, and did alittle calculating. It was half past two.
'Let's see now - Anne and George will be on the bus that stops at Finniston Church at five past three,'
he thought. 'Finniston is about a mile away, down this hill. I'll give Julian fifteen minutes to have anap - and hope to goodness I don't fall asleep myself!'
He felt his own eyes closing after a minute, and got up at once to walk about. The two girls and Timmust be met, because they would have suitcases with them, which the boys planned to wheel alongon their bicycles.
The Five were going to stay at a place called Finniston Farm, set on a hill above the little village ofFinniston. None of them had been there before, nor even heard of it. It had all come about becauseGeorge's mother had heard from an old school friend, who had told her that 2she was taking paying guests at her farm-house - and had asked her to recommend visitors to her.
George had promptly said she would like to go there with her cousins in the summer holidays.
'Hope it's a decent place!' thought Dick, gazing down into the valley, where corn-fields waved in thelittle breeze. 'Anyway, we shall only be there for two weeks - and it will be fun to be together again.'
He looked at his watch. Time to go! He gave Julian a push. 'Hey - wake up!'
'Another ten minutes,' muttered Julian, trying to turn over, as if he were in bed. He rolled against thegate-bars and fell on to the hard dry earth below. He sat up in surprise. 'Gosh - I thought I was inbed!' he said. 'My word, I could have gone on sleeping for hours.'
'Well, it's time to go and meet that bus,' said Dick. 'I've had to walk about all the time you wereasleep, I was so afraid I'd go off myself. Come on, Julian - we really must go!'
They rode down the hill, going cautiously round the sharp corners, remembering how many timesthey had met herds of cows, wide farm-carts, tractors and the like, on their way through this greatfarming county. Ah - there was the village, at the bottom of the hill. It looked old and peaceful andhalf-asleep.
'Thank goodness it sells ginger-beer and ice-creams!' said Dick, seeing a small shop with a big sign inthe window. 'I feel as if I want to hang out my tongue, like Timmy does, I'm so thirsty!'
'Let's find the church and the bus-stop,' said Julian. 'I saw a spire as we rode down the hill, but itdisappeared when we got near the bottom.'
'There's the bus!' said Dick, as he heard the noise of wheels rumbling along in the distance.
'Look, here it comes. We'll follow it.'
'There's Anne in it - and George, look!' shouted Julian. 'We're here exactly on time! Whoo-hoo,George!'
The bus came to a stop by the old church, and out jumped Anne and George, each with a suitcase- and out leapt old Timmy too, his tongue hanging down, very glad to be out of the hot, jerky, smellybus.
'There are the boys!' shouted George, and waved wildly as the bus went off again. 'Julian! Dick!
I'm so glad you're here to meet us!'
The two boys rode up, and jumped off their bikes, while Timmy leapt round them, barking madly.
They thumped the girls on their backs, and grinned at them. 'Just the same old couple!'
3said Dick. 'You've got a spot on your chin, George, and why on earth have you tied your hair into apony-tail, Anne?'
'You're not very polite, Dick,' said George, bumping him with her suitcase. 'I can't think why Anneand I looked forward so much to seeing you again. Here, take my suitcase - haven't you anymanners?'
'Plenty,' said Dick, and grabbed the case. 'I just can't get over Anne's new hair-do. I don't like it, Anne- do you, Ju? Pony-tail! A donkey-tail would suit you better Anne!'
'It's all right - it's just because the back of my neck was so hot,' said Anne, shaking her hair free in ahurry. She hated her brothers to find fault with her. Julian gave her arm a squeeze.
'Nice to see you both,' he said. 'What about some ginger-beer and ice-cream? There's a shop overthere that sells them. And I've a sudden longing for nice juicy plums!'
'You haven't said a word to Timmy yet,' said George, half-offended. 'He's been trotting round you andlicking your hands - and he's so dreadfully hot and thirsty!'
'Shake paws, Tim,' said Dick, and Timmy politely put up his right paw. He shook hands with Juliantoo and then promptly went mad, careering about and almost knocking over a small boy on a bicycle.
'Come on, Tim - want an ice-cream?' said Dick, laying his hand on the big dog's head. 'Hark at himpanting, George - I bet he wishes he could unzip his hairy coat and take it off! Don't you, Tim?'
'Woof!' said Tim, and slapped his tail against Dick's bare legs.
They all trooped into the ice-cream shop. It was half dairy, half baker's. A small girl of about tencame to serve them.
'Mum's lying down,' she said. 'What can I get you? Ice-creams, I suppose? That's what everyonewants today.'
'You supposed right,' said Julian. 'A large one each, please - five in all - and four bottles of ginger popas well.'
'Five ice-creams - do you want one for that dog, then?' said the girl in surprise, looking at Timmy.
'Woof,' he said at once.
'There you are,' said Dick, 'he said yes!'
4Soon the Five were eating their cold ice-creams, Timmy licking his from a saucer. Before he had hadmany licks, the ice-cream slid from the saucer, and Timmy chased it all the way round the shop, as itslid away from his vigorous licks. The little girl watched him, fascinated.
'I must apologize for his manners,' said Julian, solemnly. 'He hasn't been very well brought up.'
He at once had a glare from George, and grinned. He opened his bottle of ginger-beer. 'Nice andcold,' he said.
'Here's a happy fortnight to us all!' He drank half the glass at top speed, and set it down with a greatsigh.
'Well, blessings on the person who invented ice-cream, ginger-pop and the rest!' he said. 'I'd ratherinvent things like that any day than rockets and bombs, Ha - I feel better now. What about youothers? Do you feel like going to find the farm?'
'Whose farm?' asked the little girl, coming out from behind the counter to pick up Timmy's saucer.
Timmy gave her a large, wet and loving lick as she bent down.
'Ooooh!' she said, pushing him away. 'He licked all down my face!'
'Probably thought you were an ice-cream,' said Dick, giving her his hanky to wipe her cheek.
'The farm we want is called Finniston Farm. Do you know it?'
'Oh yes,' said the little girl. 'You go down the village street, right to the end, and turn up the lane there- up to the right. The farmhouse is at the top of the lane. Are you staying with the Philpots?'
'Yes. Do you know them?' asked Julian, getting out some money to pay the bill.
'I know the twins there,' said the girl. 'The two Harries. At least, I don't know them well - nobodydoes. They're just wrapped up in each other, they never make any friends. You look out for their oldGreat-Grand-dad - he's a one, he is! He once fought a mad bull and knocked it out! And his voice -you can hear it for miles! I was real scared of going near the farm when I was little. But Mrs. Philpot,she's nice. You'll like her. The twins are very good to her - and to their Dad, too -work like farm-hands all the holidays. You won't know the other from which, they're so alike!'
'Why did you call them the two Harries?' asked Anne, curiously.
'Oh, because they've both...' began the child, and then broke off as a plump woman came bustling intothe shop.
'Janie - you go and see to the baby for me - I'll see to the shop now. Run along!'
Away went the small girl, scuttling through the door.
'Little gasbag she is!' said her mother. 'Anything more you want?'
5'No thanks,' said Julian, getting up. 'We must go. We're to stay at Finniston Farm, so we may beseeing you again soon. We liked the ice-creams!'
'Oh - so you're going there, are you?' said the plump woman. 'I wonder how you'll get on with theHarries! And keep out of Grand-dad's way - he's over eighty, but he can still give a mighty goodthumping to anyone who crosses him!'
The Five went out into the hot sun again. Julian grinned round at the others. 'Well - shall we go andfind the nice Mrs. Philpot - the unfriendly Harries, whoever they are - and the fearsome Great-Grand-dad? Sounds an interesting household, doesn't it?'
1.侦探团的重逢
侦探团的重逢
“嘘——”朱利安吁了一口气，擦了擦湿漉漉的额头，“天气真热！我们干脆去赤道生活得了，那里虽然热，但至少在那里生活比较酷！”
他靠在自行车上休息。刚刚沿着又长又陡的山坡骑了好一会儿，他已经累得喘不过气来。迪克对他咧嘴一笑。“你平时太缺乏锻炼了，朱利安！”他说，“现在我们所在的位置已经很高了，正好可以坐下来欣赏一下这里的风景。”
他们把自行车推到附近一栋房子的门口，然后靠着门坐下来休息。山脚下就是多塞特郡的乡村，村庄在热辣辣的太阳下闪着明晃晃的光，蒸腾的热气让人无法判断村庄的距离。一阵微风吹过，朱利安舒服地呼了一口气。
“要是早知道天气这么热，我绝对不会参加这次自行车之旅！”他说道，“幸好安妮没来，她要是来了，肯定连一天都受不了。”
“乔治倒不会介意，”迪克说，“她不管什么事都要比个输赢。”
“善良的乔治娜！”朱利安闭着眼睛说道，“真高兴能再次见到那两个女孩。我们四个人的旅行总是很有意思，而且，常常会发生一些特别的事情。”
“应该是五个才对，”迪克说着把帽子拉下来盖在眼睛上，“别忘了还有蒂米。它真是只好狗！每次一见面，它都会用湿漉漉的舌头舔得我满脸都是口水。又要见到她们了，真是太棒了！哦，朱利安，别忘了时间！喂，朱利安！醒醒啊，如果继续睡觉，就来不及去接女孩们了。”
朱利安对于迪克的呼唤丝毫没有反应，他依旧呼呼大睡。迪克笑着摇摇头。他看了下表，大致算了算时间。
“现在是两点半，安妮和乔治乘坐的巴士会在三点零五分时到达芬尼斯顿教堂。芬尼斯顿离这座山有一英里远，时间应该来得及。
那就让朱利安睡十五分钟好了，但愿我自己别跟着睡着了。”
一分钟后，迪克感到自己的眼睛马上就要合上了。于是，他立刻站起来走了几步，让自己清醒清醒。迪克和朱利安必须得去接那两个女孩，因为她们带了一些行李。也正因为如此，男孩们才骑了自行车过来。
他们五个会在一个叫做芬尼斯顿农场的地方待上一阵子。这座农场坐落在芬尼斯顿村附近的一座小山上。他们之前从没去过那里，甚至都没听说过那个地方。这一切都源于乔治妈妈的一位老同学。她告诉乔治的妈妈自己开了一家农舍旅馆，并拜托她推荐一些客人过去。乔治立即表示她想和堂兄弟们一起去那里过暑假。
“希望那是个好玩的地方！”迪克想，他凝视着山谷，玉米在微风中摇曳，形成一道道波浪，“虽然我们只会在那里待两个星期，但大家重新聚到一起一定会很有趣的。”
他看了看手表，该走了。他给了朱利安一拳，说：“嘿，醒醒！”
“再睡十分钟。”朱利安嘟囔着。他以为自己正睡在床上呢，于是想要翻个身。他靠着门翻了个身，结果却摔到了坚硬的地面上。
他大吃一惊，一骨碌坐了起来，说：“天啊，我还以为自己睡在床上呢。我一定睡了好几个小时。”
“起来吧，朱利安，该去接她们了。”迪克说，“你睡着的时候我不得不四处走动，因为我担心自己也跟着睡着了。快点，我们真得走了！”
两个男孩沿着山坡上急转弯的山路小心翼翼地骑着。他们一边骑车，一边默默地数着一路上遇到了多少头奶牛，多少辆宽敞的农用推车，还有多少部拖拉机。他们开心地欣赏着这片广袤的土地。
瞧，村庄就在山脚下，它看起来古老而平静，就像是一位半梦半醒的老人。
“谢天谢地，这有姜汁汽水和冰激凌卖！”迪克看着一间小商店外面的大牌子说道，“我都快渴死了，真想像蒂米那样，把舌头耷拉到嘴外面来。”
“我们得先找到教堂和巴士站再说。”朱利安说，“刚才骑车下山时，我看到了一个尖顶，可当我们来到山下时，它却消失了。”
“好像是巴士来了！”迪克说道。他听见车轮的声音在远处隆隆作响，“看，真的是车来了。我们可以跟在它后面。”
“安妮在车上，还有乔治，快看！”朱利安喊道，“哟呵，乔治，我们来接你们了！”
巴士在一座古老的教堂门口前停了下来，安妮和乔治跳下了车。她们各提着一个手提箱。蒂米也从车里跳了下来，它高兴地吐着舌头，因为它终于能够逃离这辆巴士了——颠簸的巴士里十分闷热，而且充满了难闻的味道。
“男孩们在那儿！”乔治一边喊，一边用力地挥着手，巴士再次启动，开走了，“朱利安！迪克！我真高兴你们能来接我们！”
两个男孩飞快地骑着自行车过来，然后跳下车，大口地喘着气。蒂米兴奋地围着两个男孩“汪汪”地叫着。男孩们则拍着女孩们的背，开心地说笑着。“老朋友又相聚了！”迪克说，“你的下巴上长了一颗痣，乔治。还有你，安妮，你为什么要把头发扎成马尾？”
“你这么说话很不礼貌，迪克。”说着，乔治抡起手提箱轻轻打了他一下，“早知道这样，我和安妮就不这么期待见到你了。嘿，提着我的行李箱，你到底有没有绅士风度啊？”
“这个还用问吗？”迪克一把将乔治的箱子夺过来，说道，“我只是受不了安妮的新发型。我不喜欢这个发型，你呢，朱利安？这是马尾辫吗！我觉得叫驴尾辫应该更贴切吧，哈哈！”
“随便你怎么说。我扎辫子是因为脖子后面太热了。”安妮一边说，一边快速地甩了甩辫子。她可不喜欢被哥哥们挑剔。朱利安则安慰性地拍了拍她的胳膊。
“很高兴又见到你们两个。”朱利安说，“咱们来点姜汁汽水和冰激凌怎么样？那边有一家商店，正好卖这些东西。啊，突然好想吃美味多汁的李子啊！”
“你还没跟蒂米打招呼呢。”乔治有点生气地说道，“它一直在你身边跑着，还不停地舔着你的手，你却理都没理它。要知道，它也又热又渴呢！”
“来，蒂米，握个手。”迪克说道。蒂米礼貌地抬起它的右爪，让迪克抓着它摇了摇，然后它又跟朱利安握了手。感到自己受到重视的蒂米立即撒欢疯跑起来，差点撞倒一个骑自行车的小男孩。
“蒂米，想吃冰激凌吗？”迪克把手放在这只大狗的头上说道，“听，它热得直喘气。乔治，我敢打赌它一定特别希望脱下身上这件毛茸茸的外套！是不是，蒂米？”
“汪汪！”蒂米回应了一声，然后用尾巴拍打着迪克裸露的腿。
他们一起走进了小商店，看到里面还有牛奶和面包卖。一个大约十岁的小女孩走过来招呼他们。
“我妈妈在休息，是我在看店。”她说，“你们想要点什么？我猜是冰激凌，因为今天的客人几乎都买了它。”
“你猜对了！”朱利安说，“每人来一份大的冰激凌，总共五份，再来四瓶姜汁汽水。”
“五份冰激凌，你打算给那只狗也来一份吗？”女孩惊讶地看着蒂米。
“汪汪！”它马上回答道。
“对，”迪克说，“它在说它也要一份！”
很快，五个小伙伴就吃上了冰凉可口的冰激凌。蒂米满足地舔着自己的那份冰激凌，可还没舔几下，冰激凌就从碟子里滑了出来。它越用力舔，地上的冰激凌就滑得越远。于是，蒂米开始在商店里追着冰激凌跑起来。看着它滑稽的样子，小女孩忍俊不禁。
“我必须为它的行为道歉，”朱利安郑重地说，“它太缺乏教养了。”他迅速瞟了一眼乔治，咧嘴笑了起来。
朱利安打开了一瓶姜汁汽水，开心地叫道：“哇，真是清凉又可口啊！为我们即将一起度过愉快的两周，干杯！”他猛地灌下一大口，一下子喝掉了半瓶，然后长舒了一口气，把瓶子放下。
“我要祝福发明了冰激凌、姜汁汽水和各种冷饮的人！”朱利安说道，“我宁愿每个人都来发明冰激凌这样的东西，而不是火箭和炸弹。啊！我现在感觉好多了。你们怎么样？想动身去找找那家农场吗？”
“哪家农场？”小女孩问道。她从柜台后面走出来，捡起蒂米的碟子。她弯下腰时，蒂米用湿漉漉的舌头舔了舔她，以表示感激。
“天啊！”小女孩大叫着把蒂米推开，“你把我的脸都舔湿了！”
“它把你当成冰激凌了。”迪克一边说，一边递给她一块手帕擦脸，“我们要去的农场叫做芬尼斯顿农场，你知道这个地方吗？”
“哦，我知道。”小女孩说，“你们顺着村子里的路一直往前走，到达车道时向右转，农场就在车道的尽头。你们要住在菲尔伯特家吗？”
“是的。你认识他们吗？”朱利安一边问，一边拿出钱来付账。
“我认识他们家的双胞胎，”小女孩说，“两个哈利。不过，我只是认识他们，但不太了解他们，没人了解他们。他们俩关系很亲密，但从来不跟别人交朋友。另外，你们要当心双胞胎的曾祖父，他是个非常厉害的人！他曾经和一头疯牛搏斗过，并最终把那头疯牛击倒了！他的嗓门大得吓人，他一吼，几英里外都能听见！因为他，我从小就很害怕靠近农场。不过菲尔伯特夫人人很好，你们一定会喜欢她的。这对双胞胎对她很好，对他们的爸爸也很孝顺，每当放假，他们都像农场工人一样辛勤地工作。你们一定分不清他们俩，因为他们长得实在太像了！”
“你为什么把他们两个都叫哈利？”安妮好奇地问。
“哦，因为他们两个……”小女孩刚准备解释，就被一个匆匆走进店里的胖女人打断了。胖女人说：“珍妮，你去看着宝宝，换我来看店。快点！”
听了妈妈的话，小女孩连忙跑出了门。
“真是个小话痨！”她妈妈说，“你们还想买点别的吗？”
“不了，谢谢，”朱利安站起身说道，“我们得走了。接下来，我们要在芬尼斯顿农场待上一阵子。或许我们很快就会再见面的——因你家的冰激凌太好吃了！”
“你们要去农场吗？”胖女人说，“我真想知道，你们该怎么跟那两个哈利相处！另外，你们还要当心他们家那位八十多岁的老爷子，不管是谁惹毛了他，都会被他狠狠地教训一顿！”
小伙伴们再次走到了炎热的太阳底下。朱利安对其他人笑了笑说：“我们这就去找菲尔伯特夫人吧，还有两个不友善的哈利，以及可怕的曾祖父！这农场听起来可真有趣，不是吗？”
Chapter 2 FINNISTON FARM
Chapter 2 FINNISTON FARM
The four children, with Timmy trotting beside them, walked down the hot, dusty village street untilthey came to the end, and then saw the lane turning off to the right, just as the little girl had told them.
'Wait a minute,' said Anne, stopping at a curious little shop at the end of the village street. 'Look- here's a queer shop - it sells antiques. Look at those old horse-brasses - I'd like to get one or two ofthose. And just see those lovely old prints!'
'Oh no - not now, Anne,' said Julian, with a groan. 'This awful sudden craze of yours for second-handshops has been going on too long! Horse-brasses! You've got stacks of them already! If you thinkwe're going to go into that dark, smelly little shop and...'
'Oh, I'm not going in now,' said Anne, hurriedly. 'But it does look rather exciting. I'll come by myselfsometime and prowl round.' She glanced at the name on the shop front. 'William Finniston - howfunny to have the same name as the village! I wonder if...'
'Oh, come on, Anne,' said George impatiently, and Timmy tugged at her skirt. Anne gave onebackward glance at the fascinating little shop-window, and hurried after the others, making up hermind to slip down to the shop one day when she was alone.
They all went up the little winding lane, where red poppy-heads jigged about in the breeze, and aftera while they came in sight of the farm-house. It was a big one, three storey's high, with 6whitewashed walls, and the rather small windows belonging to the age in which it was built. Old-fashioned red and white roses rambled over the porch, and the old wooden door stood wide open.
The Five stood on the scrubbed stone entrance, looking into the dim hall. An old wooden chest stoodthere, and a carved chair. A rather threadbare rug lay on the stone floor, and a grandfather clockticked slowly and loudly.
Somewhere a dog barked, and Timmy at once barked back. 'WOOF, WOOF!'
'Be quiet, Timmy,' said George sharply, afraid that a horde of farm-dogs might come rushing out.
She looked for a bell or a knocker, but couldn't see either. Then Dick spotted a beautiful wrought-ironhandle hanging down from the roof of the porch. Could it be a bell?
He pulled it, and at once a bell jangled very loudly somewhere in the depths of the farm-house,making them all jump. They stood in silence, waiting for someone to come. Then they heardfootsteps and two children came up the hallway.
They were exactly alike! The most twinny twins I've ever seen! thought Anne, in amazement.
Julian smiled his friendliest smile. 'Good afternoon - we're the Kirrins - I - er I hope you're expectingus.'
The twins stared at him without a smile. They nodded together. 'Come this way,' they both said, andmarched back down the hall. The four stared at one another in surprise.
'Why so stiff and haughty' whispered Dick, putting on a face exactly like the twins. Anne giggled.
They all followed the twins, who were dressed exactly alike in navy shorts and navy shirts. Theywent right down the long hall, passed a stairway, round a dark corner, and into an enormous kitchen,which was obviously used as a sitting-room as well.
'The Kirrins, Mother!' said the twins, together, and at once disappeared through another door,shoulder to shoulder. The children found themselves facing a pleasant-looking woman, standing by atable, her hands white with flour. She smiled, and then gave a little laugh.
'Oh, my dears! I didn't expect you quite so soon! Do forgive my not being able to shake hands withyou - but I was just making scones for your tea. I'm so pleased to see you. Did you have a goodjourney here?'
It was nice to hear her welcoming voice and see her wide smile. The Five warmed to her at once.
Julian put down the suitcase he was carrying and looked round the room.
'What a lovely old place!' he said. 'You carry on with your scone-making, Mrs. Philpot - we'll lookafter ourselves. Just tell us where to go. It's nice of you to have us.'
7'I'm glad to,' said Mrs. Philpot. 'I expect your aunt told you the farm's not doing too well, and shekindly said she'd send you here for two weeks. I've some other boarders too - an American and hisson - so I'm pretty busy.'
'Well, you don't need to bother too much about us,' said Dick. 'In fact, we'll camp out under ahaystack, if you like - or in a barn. We're used to roughing it!'
'Well - that might be a help,' said Mrs. Philpot, going on with her mixing. 'I've a bedroom that woulddo for the girls all right - but I'm afraid you boys would have to share one with the American boy -and - er - well, you mightn't like him.'
'Oh, I expect we'll get on all right,' said Julian. 'But my brother and I would certainly prefer to be byourselves, Mrs. Philpot. What about putting up camp-beds or something in a barn? We'd love that!'
Anne looked at Mrs. Philpot's kind, tired face, and felt suddenly sorry for her. How awful to have tohave your home invaded by strangers, whether you liked them or not! She went over to her.
'You tell Georgina and me anything you'd like us to do to help,' she said. 'You know - making thebeds, and dusting and things like that. We're used to doing things at home, and...'
'I'm going to enjoy having you!' said Mrs. Philpot, looking round at them all. 'And you won't need tohelp very much. The twins do a great deal - too much, I think, bless them - because they help on thefarm too. Now, you go up the stairs to the very top of the house, and you'll see two bedrooms, one oneach side of the landing - the left-hand one is yours, girls - the other is where the American boy issleeping. And as for you two boys, you can slip out to the barn, and see if you'd like a couple ofcamp-beds there. I'll get the twins to take you.'
The twins came back at this minute, and stood silently shoulder to shoulder, as alike as peas.
George looked at them.
'What's your name?' she said to one twin.
'Harry!' was the answer. She turned to the other. 'And what's yours?'
'Harry!'
'But surely you don't both have the same name?' exclaimed George.
'Well, you see,' explained their mother, 'we called the boy Henry, and he became Harry, of course -and we called the girl Harriet, and she calls herself Harry for short - so they're known as the Harries.'
'I thought they were both boys!' said Dick in amazement. 'I wouldn't know which is which!'
8'Well, they felt they have to be alike,' said Mrs. Philpot, 'and as Harry can't have long hair like a girl,Harriet has to have short hair to be like Harry! I often don't know one from the other myself.'
Dick grinned. 'Funny how some girls want to be boys!' he said, with a sly glance at George, who gavehim a furious look.
'Twins, show the Kirrins up to the top bedroom,' said Mrs. Philpot, 'and then take the boys out to thebig barn. They can have the old camp-beds, if they like the look of the barn.'
'We sleep out there,' said the Harries, both together, and scowled just like George.
'Well, you shouldn't,' said their mother. 'I told you to take your mattresses to the little room off thedairy.'
'It's too stuffy,' said the twins.
'I say, look here - we don't want to cause trouble,' said Julian, feeling that the twins were toounfriendly for words. 'Can't we sleep in the room off the dairy?'
'Certainly not,' said Mrs. Philpot, and sent the Harries a warning glance. 'There's room for you all inthe big barn. Go on, now, twins, do as I tell you, take the four up to the top bedroom, with the cases,and then out to the barn.'
The twins went to pick up the suitcases, still looking mutinous. Dick interposed himself betweenthem and the cases. 'We'll carry them,' he said stiffly. 'We don't want to be any more trouble to youthan we can help.'
And he and Julian picked up a suitcase each, and set off after the Harries, who looked suddenlysurprised. George followed with Timmy, more amused than cross. Anne went to pick up a spoon thatMrs. Philpot had dropped.
'Thank you, dear,' said Mrs. Philpot. 'Look - don't get upset by the twins. They're a funny pair -but good at heart. They just don't like strangers in their home, that's all. Promise you won't mindthem? I do want you to be happy here.'
Anne looked at the kindly, tired face of the woman beside her, and smiled. 'We'll promise not toworry about the twins - if you'll promise not to worry about us!' she said. 'We can look afterourselves, you know - honestly, we're used to it. And please do tell us when you want anything done!'
She went out of the room and up the stairs. The others were already in one of the two bedrooms at thetop of the house. It was a fairly big room, whitewashed, with rather a small window and 9boarded floors. Julian looked at the boards he was standing on. 'I say! Look at the wood this floor'smade of - solid old oak, worn white with the years! My word - this farm-house must be very old. Andlook at the beams running across the walls and into the roof. Hey, twins, this is a fine old house ofyours!'
The twins unbent enough to nod in time together. 'Seems as if you two go by clockwork - you speakthe same words at the same time, you walk in time, you nod your heads in time!' said Dick. 'But, I say- do you ever smile?'
The twins looked at him with dislike. Anne nudged Dick. 'Stop it, Dick! Don't tease them.
Perhaps they'd show you the barn now. We'll unpack some clean things we've brought for you in ourcase, and come down with them when we're ready.'
'Right,' said Dick, and he and Julian went out of the room. Opposite, with its door open, was the otherroom, where the American boy slept. It was so very untidy that Dick couldn't help exclaiming, 'Gosh- how does he get his room into all that mess?'
He and Julian went down the stairs, and Dick turned back to see if the Harries were following.
He saw them standing at the top, each shaking a furious fist at the door of the American boy's room.
And what a furious look on their faces, too!
Whew! thought Dick. The Harries have got some sort of hate on there - let's hope they don't get onefor us, too. 'Well - now for the barn,' he said aloud. 'Don't go so fast, Ju. Wait for the twins -they're just falling over themselves to look after us!'
2.芬尼斯顿农场
芬尼斯顿农场
四个孩子走在乡间小路上，头顶是热辣辣的太阳，脚下尘土飞扬。蒂米在他们身边欢快地跑着。走到了路口时，他们果然看到了一条向右转的车道。
“等一下，”安妮说着，站在了小路尽头一家奇怪的小店门口，“看，这里有一家奇怪的商店，里面卖的都是古董。看看那些古老的马具、铜扣，我真想买两个。看，还有那些可爱的老版画！”
“哦，不，还是别去了吧，安妮，”朱利安叹了口气，“你总是对卖旧玩意的小店这么着迷！你还想买马具上的黄铜扣吗？如果我没记错的话，你好像已经有一堆这种东西了！我们可不打算走进这家黑乎乎、臭烘烘的小店。如果你觉得……”
“哦，我没打算现在进去，”安妮急忙解释说，“但这家店看起来很神秘，我会找个时间自己单独来的，到时候再好好逛一逛。”她瞥了一眼商店大门上的名字，惊讶地说：“威廉•芬尼斯顿，这名字和村庄一样有趣！我在想能不能……”
“哦，快走吧，安妮。”乔治不耐烦地说。蒂米也用嘴巴拽着安妮的裙子。安妮又看了一眼那家商店的橱窗，然后匆忙跟上了伙伴们的步伐。她决定找一天，自己一个人悄悄地溜到商店来逛逛。
大家走上了蜿蜒的车道，路两旁的红色罂粟花在微风中摇晃着脑袋。没走多久，他们就看到了农场的主屋——一幢高大的三层建筑。这座房子的墙壁和窗户都粉刷成了白色，不过墙壁上的窗户都很小。看来这幢房子有些年头了。房子外面的门廊上随意种着一些红玫瑰和白玫瑰，一扇古老的木门敞开着。
门口的石砖已经被磨平了。五个小伙伴站在门口，打量着眼前那昏暗的大厅。大厅里有一个陈旧的木箱，还有一把雕花椅子，石质地板上铺着一块破破烂烂的地毯。屋子里，一座上了年纪的老爷钟嘀嘀嗒嗒地转动着，发出响亮的声音。
屋子里的一只狗看到他们后，立刻大声叫了起来。蒂米马上回了一声：“汪汪！”
“安静点，蒂米！”乔治连忙呵斥道。她担心待会儿会冲出来一大群农场狗。乔治四处寻找着门铃或者门环，但没有找到。这时，迪克发现门廊上方垂着一个漂亮的铁艺把手。这东西会是门铃吗？
他拉了一下，屋子深处的某个地方立刻铃声大作。大家都被吓了一跳。几个小伙伴静静地站着，等着有人出来接待他们。没多久，他们就听到了脚步声。两个孩子出现在走廊上。
这两个孩子长得一模一样！“天啊，他们是我见过的最相似的双胞胎！”安妮惊讶地想。朱利安扬起了嘴角，露出他最友善的笑容说：“下午好，我们是科林家的孩子——我——呃，我希望我们的到来没有打扰到你们。”
双胞胎盯着他看，脸上一丝笑容都没有。“这边走。”他们俩点了点头，异口同声地说，然后沿着大厅往里面走去。前来拜访的四个孩子惊讶地相互看了一眼。
“他们怎么这么冷漠傲慢。”迪克模仿着双胞胎毫无表情的面孔低声说道。安妮“咯咯”地笑了起来。他们跟在穿着同样海军制服的双胞胎后面，往屋子里走去。穿过长长的大厅后，他们走下楼梯，绕过黑暗的角落，进入了一个巨大的厨房——显然，这个厨房被用来当作了起居室。
“科林家的孩子来了，妈妈！”双胞胎一起说道。说完，他们就肩并肩地穿过另一扇门，不见了。孩子们发现他们面前站着一个非常漂亮的女人，她正在桌子旁干活，手上沾满了白面粉。她微微翘起嘴角，开心地笑了起来。
“哦，亲爱的！我没想到你们这么快就到了！请原谅，我没办法跟你们握手，因为我正在为你们做下午茶吃的松饼。很高兴见到你们。你们一路上的旅行愉快吗？”
听到她热情的声音，看到她开怀的笑容，实在让人心情大好。
五个小伙伴立刻向她表达了温暖的问候。朱利安放下手中的行李箱，看了看房间四周。
“这个古老的房子多么可爱啊！”他说，“您继续做松饼吧，菲尔伯特夫人，我们会照顾好自己的。您只需要告诉我们，我们几个该住在哪里就行了。您这么热情地接待我们，真是个大好人。”
“我很高兴你们能来。”菲尔伯特夫人说，“我想你婶婶已经告诉过你们了，我们这个农场经营不善，收入微薄。没想到她这么热心，主动提出照顾我的生意，把你们送到这里待上两个星期。我这里还有其他寄宿客人——一个美国人和他的儿子，所以我很忙。”
“好吧，您不需要太在意我们，”迪克说，“事实上，如果您愿意的话，我们可以在草垛里露营，或者在谷仓里住。我们习惯了野外的粗放生活！”
“好吧，这或许能减轻我的工作。”菲尔伯特夫人一边说，一边继续和着面。
“我们有一间空着的卧室，可以给女孩们住。但恐怕男孩们不得不和那个美国男孩共用一间卧室，而且……呃，好吧，你们可能会不喜欢他。”
“哦，我希望我们能和他好好相处，”朱利安说，“但迪克和我更愿意自己住，菲尔伯特夫人。我们可以睡在谷仓里。您有没有露营床之类的东西？我们喜欢睡在那样的地方！”
安妮看着菲尔伯特夫人善良而又疲惫的脸，突然感到很内疚，让陌生人住到自己家里是一件多么可怕的事啊。无论是否喜欢他们，你都得接受他们！
安妮走到菲尔伯特夫人身边，说：“您有什么需要帮忙的地方，可以告诉乔治和我，比如铺床、除尘，等等。我们在家里都养成了做事的习惯，而且……”
“我一定会非常喜欢你们的！”菲尔伯特夫人说着，挨个打量着他们，“你们不需要帮我做什么。双胞胎已经做了很多事了——他们还在农场里帮忙干活，愿老天保佑他们。你们现在上楼去吧，一直上到顶楼。你们会看到楼梯两侧各有一间卧室——左手边那间是你们女孩的，另一间是那个美国男孩的。至于你们两个男孩，可以到谷仓去。你们去看看是否想要在那儿搭几张露营床，我会让双胞胎带你们去的。”
双胞胎正好在这个时候进来了。他们俩默默地站在一起，就像是一个豆荚里的两颗豌豆，简直一模一样。乔治盯着他们看了又看。
“你叫什么名字？”她问双胞胎中的一个。
“哈利！”那个孩子答道。她又转向另一个问道，“那你的名字叫什么？”
“哈利！”
“但你们两个不应该叫同一个名字，不是吗？”乔治惊呼道。
“哦，我来说吧。”他们的妈妈解释说，“我们给男孩取名叫亨利，结果他被叫成了哈利，我们给女孩取名叫哈丽特，而她自己简化为哈利，所以他们被称为两个哈利。”
“我还以为他们都是男孩！”迪克惊讶地说，“我分不清哪个是哪个！”
“好吧，他们觉得他们两个人必须得一样，”菲尔伯特夫人说，“因为哈利不能像女孩一样留长发，所以哈丽特就剪了短发，把自己打扮得跟哈利一样！事实上，我自己也常常分不清楚。”
迪克咧嘴一笑。“有些女孩总是想像男孩一样，这真好笑！”说完，他故意瞥了一眼乔治。乔治恶狠狠地瞪了他一眼。
“双胞胎，把科林姐妹带到顶楼的卧室去，”菲尔伯特夫人说道，“然后把男孩们带到大谷仓。如果他们想住在那儿，可以睡在旧的露营床上。”
“那是我们睡觉的地方。”两个哈利异口同声地抱怨道，并且像乔治那样皱着眉头。
“从今天开始你们不睡那里了。”他们的妈妈说，“我告诉过你们，让你们把床垫搬到小房间里去，就是奶牛场旁边的那个小房间。”
“那里太闷了。”双胞胎说。
“等一下，我们不想给你们添麻烦，”朱利安说。他感觉双胞胎的语气不太友善，“可以让我们在奶牛场的房间里睡觉吗？”
“当然不行。”菲尔伯特夫人一边说着，一边用眼神给了双胞胎一个警告。
“你们可以都睡在大谷仓里。好了，双胞胎，现在按我说的做，把四位客人还有他们的箱子先带到顶层的卧室，然后去谷仓。”
双胞胎去拿行李箱，他们脸上仍然是愤愤不平的表情。迪克闪身挡在了箱子前面。“我们自己提。”他生硬地说道，“我们不想给你们添任何麻烦。事实上，我们更愿意帮助你们。”
他和朱利安各自拿起一个手提箱，跟着两个哈利上了楼。双胞胎似乎感到很惊讶。乔治带着蒂米跟上了他们，她不觉得生气，反而感到很有趣。
安妮捡起菲尔伯特夫人滑落的汤匙。“亲爱的，谢谢你。”菲尔伯特夫人说，“你们别因为双胞胎的态度而感到困扰。他们是一对有趣的孩子，虽然外表有些冷漠，但心地很善良。他们只是不喜欢陌生人来家里，仅此而已。你不会跟他们计较的，对吗？我希望你们在这里过得快乐。”
安妮看着眼前这位女士善良而疲惫的脸，微笑起来。“我们保证不会跟这对双胞胎计较的。”她说，“您也不用太担心我们，我们完全可以照顾好自己。而且我们已经习惯帮大人干活了，如果您需要帮助，尽管告诉我们！”
她走出房间上了楼梯，其他人已经来到了顶楼的那间卧室里。
这是一个相当大的房间，房间的墙壁已经粉刷过了，墙上有一个小窗户，房间的地上铺着木地板。朱利安看着脚下的地板，说道：“大家看看地板的木头，这都是坚固而古老的橡木。因为时间久远，这些木头都已经发白了！我的天啊，这座农舍一定很古老了，看看屋顶上的横梁就知道了。嘿，双胞胎，你们的老房子棒极了！”
双胞胎伸长了脖子，以便凑到一起同时点头。“你们两个怎么像被上了发条一样——在同样的时刻说同样的话，点起头来也是分毫不差。”迪克说，“我想问一下，你们会笑吗？”
双胞胎不高兴地看着他。安妮轻轻推了推迪克，说：“别这样，迪克！不要取笑他们。他们接下来该带你们去谷仓了，我们把行李箱打开，整理一下，然后给你们拿点干净衣服下去。”
“好的。”迪克说着，和朱利安走出了房间。他们的对面是另一个房间。那个房间的门敞开着，那个美国男孩在里面睡觉。房间里面一片狼藉。迪克忍不住惊呼道：“天啊，他怎么把房间搞得这么乱？”
他和朱利安顺着楼梯往下走。迪克回过头，看看两个哈利是不是跟在他们后面。可此时，两个哈利正站在楼梯口，对着那个美国男孩的房间愤怒地挥着拳头，都是一脸怒气冲天的表情！
迪克心想：“嚯！两个哈利火气挺大的，希望他们不会也恨上我们。”“好了，我们去谷仓吧。”他大声说，“别走那么快，朱利安，等等那对双胞胎。他们只是因为要照顾我们而感到有压力！”
Chapter 3 OUT IN THE BARN
Chapter 3 OUT IN THE BARN
The twins stalked out of the farm-house and took the two boys round the dairy shed, and up to anenormous barn. One of them pushed open the great door.
'I say!' said Julian, gazing into the dark barn. 'I never saw such a fine barn in all my life! It's as old asthe hills - look at those beams soaring up into the roof - it reminds me of a cathedral, somehow. Iwonder why they built the roof so high. What do you store in here, twins?'
'Sacks of meal,' said the Harries together, opening and shutting their mouths as one. The two boyssaw a couple of camp-beds in a corner of the barn.
10
'Look here,' said Julian, 'if you really would rather sleep here alone, we'll sleep in the little room offthe dairy that your mother spoke of.'
Before the twins could answer, a shrill barking came from the direction of the camp-beds, and theboys saw a tiny black poodle there, standing up, quivering in every hair.
'What a tiny thing!' said Julian. 'Is he yours, twins? What's his name?'
'Snippet,' came the answer from both at once. 'Come here, Snippet!'
At once the tiny black poodle hurled himself off the camp-bed and raced over to them. He fawned onthem all, barking in delight, licking everyone in turn. Dick picked him up, but the twins at onceclutched Snippet themselves.
'He's OUR dog!' they said, so fiercely that Dick backed away.
'All right, all right - you can have him. But be careful Tim doesn't eat him!' he said. A look of fearcame over the faces of the Harries, and they turned to one another, anxiously.
'It's all right,' said Julian, hastily. 'Tim's gentle with small things. You needn't be afraid. I say -why do you have to be so dumb? It really wouldn't hurt you to be a bit friendly. And do let us sleep inyour old room - we really don't mind.'
The twins looked at each other again, as if reading one another's thoughts, and then they turnedgravely to the boys, not looking quite so unfriendly.
'We will all sleep here,' they said. 'We will fetch the other camp-beds.' And off they marched, Snippetrunning excitedly at their heels.
Julian scratched his head. 'Those twins make me feel peculiar,' he said. 'I somehow don't feel they arequite real. The way they act and speak together makes me feel as if they're puppets or something.'
'They're just jolly rude and unfriendly,' said Dick, bluntly. 'Oh well - they won't get in our way much.
I vote we explore the farm tomorrow. It looks quite a big one - spreading out over the hill-slopeseverywhere. I wonder if we could get a ride on a tractor?'
At that moment a bell rang loudly from the direction of the house. 'What's that for?' said Dick.
'Tea, I hope!'
The twins came back at that moment with two more camp-beds, which they proceeded to set up as farfrom their own as possible. Dick went to give a hand, but they waved him off, and put up the bedsmost efficiently and quickly by themselves.
11
'Tea is ready,' they said, standing up when the beds were finished, and blankets and pillows set out onthem. 'We will show you where to wash.'
'Thanks,' said Dick and Julian together, and then grinned at one another. 'Better be careful,' saidJulian, 'or we'll catch their habit of speaking exactly at the same moment. I say - isn't that poodle anamusing little fellow - look at him stalking that jackdaw!'
A black jackdaw, the nape of his neck showing grey as he ran in front of Snippet, had flown downfrom somewhere in the roof of the barn. As Snippet danced after him he ran behind sacks, scurriedinto corners, and led the little dog such a dance that the two boys roared. Even the twins smiled.
'Chack!' said the jackdaw, and rose into the air. He settled himself neatly on the middle of thepoodle's back, and Snippet promptly went mad, and tore about the barn at top speed.
'Roll over, Snippet!' shouted the Harries, and Snippet at once flung himself on his back - but thejackdaw, with a triumphant 'chack' rose at once into the air, and alighted on one twin's head.
'I say - is he tame?' said Dick. 'What's his name?'
'Nosey. He's ours. He fell down a chimney and broke his wing,' said the twins. 'So we kept him till itwas well and now he won't leave us.'
'Gosh!' said Dick, starring at them. 'Did you really say all that - or was it the jackdaw? You can talkproperly, after all.'
Nosey pecked at the twin's ear nearest to him, and the twin gave a yell. 'Stop it, Nosey!' The jackdawrose into the air, with a 'chack- chack- chack' that sounded very like a laugh, and disappearedsomewhere in the roof.
Just then the two girls came to find the boys in the barn, sent by Mrs. Philpot, who was sure theyhadn't heard the bell. Timmy was with them, of course, sniffing into every corner, enjoying the farm-smells everywhere. They came to the barn and looked in.
'Oh, there you are!' called Anne. 'Mrs. Philpot said we...'
Timmy began to bark, and she stopped. He had caught sight of Snippet sniffing behind the sacks, stillhunting for the cheeky jackdaw. He stood still and stared. What in the wide world was that funnylittle black creature? He gave another loud bark and shot over towards the poodle, who gave aterrified yelp and leapt into the arms of one of the twins.
'Take your dog away,' said both twins, fiercely, glaring at the four.
12
'It's all right - he won't hurt Snippet,' said George, advancing on Timmy and taking hold of his collar.
'He really won't.'
'TAKE YOUR DOG AWAY!' shouted the twins, and up in the roof somewhere the jackdaw said,'CHACK, CHACK, CHACK!' just as fiercely.
'All right, all right,' said George, glaring as angrily as the twins, 'Come on, Tim. That poodle wouldn'tbe more than a mouthful for you, anyway!'
They all went back to the farm-house in silence, Snippet having been left behind on the camp-bedbelonging to one of the twins. They cheered up when they came into the big, cool kitchen.
Tea was now laid on the farm-house table, a big solid affair of old, old oak. Chairs were set roundand it all looked very homelike.
'Hot scones,' said George, lifting the lid off a dish. 'I never thought I'd like hot scones on a summer'sday, but these look heavenly. Running with butter! Just how I like them!'
The four looked at the home-made buns and biscuits and the great fruit cake. They stared at thedishes of home-made jam, and the big plate of ripe plums. Then they looked at Mrs. Philpot, sittingbehind a very big teapot, pouring out cups of tea.
'You mustn't spoil us, Mrs. Philpot,' said Julian, thinking that really his hostess was doing too much.
'Please don't let us make too much work for you!'
A loud, commanding voice suddenly made them all jump. Sitting in a big wooden armchair near thewindow was someone they hadn't seen - a burly old man with a shock of snowy white hair and aluxurious white beard almost down to his waist. His eyes were startlingly bright as he looked acrossat them.
'TOO MUCH WORK! What's that you say? TOO MUCH WORK? Ha, people nowadays don't knowwhat work is, that they don't! Grumble, grumble, GRUMBLE, asking for this and expecting that!
Pah! PAH, I say!'
'Now now, Grand-dad,' said Mrs. Philpot, gently. 'You just sup your tea and rest. You've been out onthe farm all day, and it's too much work for you.'
That set the old man off again. 'TOO MUCH WORK! Now let me tell you something. When I was ayoung lad, I... hallo, who's this?'
It was Timmy! He had been startled by the sudden shouting of the old man, and had stood up, hishackles rising, and a low growl down in his throat. And then a very curious thing happened.
13
Timmy walked slowly over to the fierce old man, stood by him - and laid his head gently on his knee!
Everyone stared in astonishment, and George could hardly believe her eyes!
At first the old man took no notice. He just let Timmy stay there, and went on with his shouting.
'No one knows anything these days. They don't know a good sheep or a good bull or a good dog.
They...'
Timmy moved his head a little, and the old man stopped again. He looked down at Timmy, andpatted him on the head. 'Now here's a dog - a REAL dog. A dog that could be the best friend any manever had. Ah, he reminds me of my old True, he does.'
George was staring in amazement at Timmy. 'He's never done a thing like that before,' she said.
'All dogs are like that with old Grand-dad,' said Mrs. Philpot softly. 'Don't mind his shouting.
He's like that. See - your Timmy is lying down by Grand-dad - now they'll both be happy.
Grand-dad will have his tea and be nice and quiet. Don't take any notice of him now.'
Still astonished, the children ate a marvellous tea, and were soon talking eagerly to Mrs. Philpot,asking her questions about the farm.
'Yes, of course you can go on the tractor. And we've an old Land-Rover too - you can motor roundthe farm in that, if you like. Wait till my husband comes in - he'll tell you what you can do.'
Nobody saw a little black shadow come in at the door, and sidle softly over to Grand-dad -Snippet the poodle! He had left the barn and come to the kitchen he loved. It was only when Mrs.
Philpot turned round to ask the old man to have another cup of tea that she saw a very strange sightindeed. She nudged the twins, and they turned to look.
They saw Timmy lying peacefully down on Grand-dad's big feet - and Snippet the poodle lyingbetween Timmy's great front paws! Well - what an astonishing sight, to be sure!
'Grand- dad's happy now,' said Mrs. Philpot. 'Two dogs at his feet. And now, look - here's myhusband! Come along in, Trevor - we're all here, the dogs as well!'
3.奇怪的谷仓
奇怪的谷仓
双胞胎走出农舍，带着两个男孩走过了奶牛场，来到一个巨大的谷仓门前。其中一个哈利推开了谷仓的大门。
“我说！”朱利安注视着黑暗的谷仓，说，“我这辈子都没见过这么棒的谷仓！它就像山丘一样古老。看那些一直撑到屋顶的梁，不知为什么，它们让我想起了教堂。我想知道为什么人们要做这么高的屋顶。你们把什么东西存放在这里，双胞胎？”
“粮食。”两个哈利齐声说道。说完，他们立刻闭上了嘴巴，同步率实在是惊人。随后，两个男孩看到了躺在谷仓角落里的两张露营床。
“听着，”朱利安说道，“如果你们真的想单独睡在这里，我们可以睡在那个小房间里。就是你妈妈刚刚说的，奶牛场旁边的那个房间。”
双胞胎还没来得及开口，大伙儿就听到一阵尖锐的叫声。叫声是从露营床的方向传来的。男孩们看到那里跑出来一只黑色的小狮子狗。它用两条后腿站了起来，身上的每根毛都在颤抖。
“真是个可爱的小家伙！”朱利安说，“它是你们的吗，双胞胎？
它叫什么名字？”“斯尼帕。”两个人立刻回答道，“过来，斯尼帕！”
这只小小的黑色卷毛狗立刻从露营床上跳了下来，跑到双胞胎的身边。它在这群孩子身边蹦蹦跳跳，高兴地叫着，依次舔着每个人。迪克把斯尼帕抱起来，但是双胞胎立刻把它抢了过去。
“它是我们的狗！”他们恶声恶气地说。迪克不由得往后退了退。
“好吧，好吧，是你们的。但是要小心，别让蒂米把它吃了！”他说道。两个哈利脸上不约而同地露出一丝恐惧，然后焦急地看向对方。
“没事的，”朱利安匆忙解释说，“蒂米对小动物很温柔，你们不必害怕。你们为什么非得这么别扭呢？和气一点不会对你们有害的。让我们在你们的小房间里睡吧。我们真的不介意。”
双胞胎又看了看对方，好像在琢磨彼此的想法。然后他们严肃地转向科林兄弟，一脸的不友好。
“我们一起在这里睡，”他们说道，“我们再去搬两张露营床来。”说完，他们转身走了。斯尼帕兴奋地跟在他们脚边也跑走了。
朱利安挠了挠头。“这对双胞胎真奇怪，”他说，“不知道为什么，我感觉他们不太真实。他们总是同时行动，同时说话。这让我觉得他们好像是木偶什么的。”
“他们太粗鲁了，一点也不友善。”迪克直言不讳道，“不过，我想他们不会妨碍到我们的。明天我们去探索农场怎么样？这座农场看起来相当大，几乎占据了整座山。不知道我们明天能不能乘坐拖拉机去参观农场？”
这时，农舍那边传来了响亮的铃声。“那是什么意思？”迪克问道，“我希望是下午茶！”
就在这时，双胞胎回来了，并且带来了两张露营床。他们尽可能地把床安置在另一边，远离迪克和朱利安的床。迪克跑过去，想给他们搭把手，但是被双胞胎拒绝了。
双胞胎迅速把床铺整理好，铺上毯子，摆好枕头。然后两人一起对迪克他们说道：“下午茶准备好了。我们带你们去洗手的地方。”
“谢谢！”迪克和朱利安异口同声地说。说完，他们俩相视一笑。
“我们得注意，”朱利安说，“不然我们也会染上同时说话的毛病。快看，这个小家伙真有趣，它在追赶那只寒鸦呢！”
寒鸦是从谷仓屋顶的某个地方飞下来的，它全身乌黑，跑向斯尼帕的时候会显露出后颈上的一抹灰。调皮的寒鸦一会儿飞到粮食袋后面，一会儿钻到角落里。斯尼帕则不停地跳起来去追它，惹得迪克和朱利安大笑不止。就连双胞胎也笑了起来。
“喳咳！”寒鸦叫着飞到了空中，然后稳稳地落到了小狮子狗的背上。斯尼帕像发了疯一样，拼命地在谷仓里横冲直撞。
“滚起来，斯尼帕！”两个哈利大喊道。斯尼帕立刻在地上打起滚来，但那只寒鸦却立刻飞到了空中，得意扬扬地大叫着“喳咳”，然后落在双胞胎之一的头顶上。
“它是你们养的吗？”迪克问道，“它叫什么名字？”
“对，它是我们养的。它叫诺斯。有一次，它摔到了烟囱上，折断了翅膀，”双胞胎说，“我们把它救下来，一直给它疗伤，直到它痊愈。伤好后它就留了下来。”
“天啊！”迪克盯着双胞胎说道，“你们竟然说了这么长一段话，还是这些话都是寒鸦说的？其实你们是可以正常说话的，对不对？”
诺斯啄了一下离它最近的双胞胎的一只耳朵。被啄的那个哈利大叫了一声。“住嘴，诺斯！”寒鸦飞到空中，“喳咳，喳咳，喳咳”地大叫着。它的叫声听起来就像是在大笑。紧接着，它就飞到屋顶的某处，消失了。
就在这时，菲尔伯特夫人派两个女孩来到谷仓找男孩们。她们觉得男孩们一定是没听到饭铃声。当然，蒂米也跟着她们一起来了。它四处嗅来嗅去，每个角落都不放过，尽情享受着农场的味道。女孩们来到谷仓，朝里面看去。
“哦，你们在这儿！”安妮叫道，“菲尔伯特夫人说我们……”
蒂米开始大叫起来，以至安妮没办法继续讲下去了。蒂米看到了正在麻袋后面搜索的斯尼帕，它还在寻找那只厚颜无耻的寒鸦——世界上还有什么比这个黑色的小东西更有趣的呢？蒂米又大叫了一声，向小狮子狗猛扑过去。小狮子狗机灵地跳进了某个哈利的怀里。
“把你的狗带走。”双胞胎瞪着科林家的四个孩子凶狠地说。
“没关系，它不会伤害你的狗的，”乔治一边说，一边走到蒂米身边，抓住了它的项圈，“它绝对不会这么做的。”
“把你的狗带走！”双胞胎大喊道。接着，那只寒鸦也在屋顶大叫“喳咳，喳咳，喳咳！”它的声调同样凶狠。
“好吧好吧。”乔治说着，气呼呼地瞪了一眼双胞胎，“来吧，蒂米。反正对你来说，那只狮子狗还不够塞牙缝的！”
大家默不作声地回到了农舍。斯尼帕留在了双胞胎的一张露营床上。孩子们走进厨房之后，不由得欢呼起来——这里又大又凉爽。厨房正中间放着一张大木桌，它是由一棵非常大的老橡树做成的，桌子上是摆好的茶点。桌子周围摆了一圈椅子，看起来非常温馨。
“热热的松饼！”乔治说着，揭开了一个盘子上罩着的盖子，“我从没想过自己在夏天竟然也会想吃热松饼。但这些松饼看起来实在美味极了，还淌着黄油！我喜欢它们！”
四个孩子看了看桌子上摆的各色茶点。有自制的面包、饼干，还有美味的水果蛋糕，另外几个盘子里盛着自制果酱和熟透了的李子。最后，他们看了看菲尔伯特夫人。她坐在一个非常大的茶壶后面，正沏着茶。
“您简直要把我们宠坏了，菲尔伯特夫人，”朱利安说道。他觉得女主人实在太好客了，“请不要因为我们的到来而让您增加太多工作！”
突然，一阵响亮的说话声传来，孩子们全都吓了一跳。窗户旁一把大大的扶手椅上坐着一个他们没见过的人，那是一个身材魁梧的老头儿，他长着白花花的头发和几乎及腰的茂密白胡子，一双炯炯有神的眼睛正看向孩子们。
“你说什么？太多工作？哈，现在的人根本不懂什么是工作，根本不懂！他们只会不停地发牢骚，要这要那！呸！呸！”
“好了，爷爷，”菲尔伯特夫人温柔地说道，“您先喝点茶，歇一下。您在农场里忙了一整天，干太多活儿了。”
这话再次惹火了老头儿。“太多活儿！让我好好给你们说道说道。在我还是个小伙子的时候，我……嘿，这是谁？”
原来是蒂米！它被老人突如其来的喊声吓了一跳，立刻站了起来，脖子后的毛竖着，喉咙里发出低沉的咆哮声。但接下来却发生了一件非常奇怪的事情。
蒂米慢慢走向那个凶悍的老头儿，站在他身边，然后将头轻轻地放在他的膝盖上！所有人都惊讶地盯着这一幕。乔治几乎不敢相信自己的眼睛！
起初，老人并不关心蒂米，他只是让它待在那里，自己仍然大声说着话：“现如今，根本没人知道怎么干活。他们不会分辨哪些是好羊，哪些是好牛，就连狗的好坏也分不清。现在的人……”
蒂米晃了晃头，老头儿又停了下来。他低头看了看蒂米，拍了拍它的头。“好吧，又来了一只狗——一只真正的狗。这只狗可能是某人这辈子最好的朋友。啊，它让我想起了我的老杜。它就是我这辈子最好的老伙计。”
乔治惊讶地看着蒂米说：“它以前从来没和陌生人这样亲近过。”
“所有的狗都喜欢趴在爷爷身上，”菲尔伯特夫人轻声说道，“并且它们也不介意他的喊叫声。爷爷就是这种会吸引狗的人。看，你的蒂米躺在了爷爷身边，现在他们俩都很开心。接下来，爷爷会好好喝他的茶的，不用注意他了。”
听了菲尔伯特夫人的话，尽管孩子们还是感到很惊讶，但是他们还是开始享用美妙的下午茶了，并且热切地拉着菲尔伯特夫人问个不停，问的都是关于农场的问题。
“是的，你们当然可以坐拖拉机。我们还有一辆旧路虎，如果你们愿意，可以在农场四处转转。等我丈夫回来了，他会告诉你们可以在农场里做些什么。”
没有人注意到，门口有一个小黑影正蹑手蹑脚地往爷爷那边走去——是狮子狗斯尼帕！它离开了谷仓，来到了心爱的厨房。菲尔伯特夫人转过身，打算问爷爷是否还想再喝一杯茶。这时，她正好看到那一幕，于是轻轻推了一下双胞胎。他们也转过身来看。
他们看到蒂米安静地躺在曾祖父的大脚上。而那只狮子狗斯尼帕则躺在蒂米的两只前爪之间！哦，这太令人惊讶了！
“爷爷现在可开心了，”菲尔伯特夫人说道，“因为有两只狗躺在他的脚下。哦——是我丈夫回来了！过来，特雷弗，我们都在这里，两只狗也在！”
Chapter 4 JUNIOR!
Chapter 4 JUNIOR!
A big man came into the kitchen, very like the twins to look at. He stooped, and seemed tired. Hedidn't smile, but just nodded.
'Trevor, here are the visitors I told you about,' said Mrs. Philpot. 'Look, this is Julian and...'
'More visitors?' said Trevor, with a groan. 'Good heavens - what a crowd of children! Where's thatAmerican boy? I've got a bone to pick with him. He tried to set the tractor going by himself thismorning, and...'
'Oh Trevor - never mind about that now. Just wash and come and have your tea,' said Mrs.
Philpot. 'I've kept some of your favourite scones for you.'
'Don't want any tea,' said her husband. 'Can't stop - except for just one cup, and that I'll take into thedairy. I've got to go and see to the milking. Bob's off today.'
'We'll help, Dad!' said the twins, speaking together, as usual, and they got up from the table at once.
'No - you sit down,' said their mother. 'You've been on the go from seven o'clock this morning.
Sit down and finish your tea in peace.'
'I could do with your help, twins,' said their father, as he went through the door towards the dairies,'but now your mother's got so many on her hands, she'll need you more than I do!'
'Mrs. Philpot - let the twins go if they want to,' said Julian at once. 'We can help, you know -we're used to helping at home.'
'And what's more, we like it,' said Anne. 'Do let us, Mrs. Philpot - we'll feel much more at home then.
Can't we clear away and wash up and all that, while the twins go and help with the milking?'
'YOU LET 'EM HELP!' shouted old Great-Grand-dad suddenly from his corner, making Timmy andSnippet leap to their feet, startled. 'WHAT ARE CHILDREN COMING TO NOWADAYS,WAITED ON HAND AND FOOT? PAH!'
'Now, now, Grand-dad,' said poor Mrs. Philpot, 'Don't you start worrying. We can manage fine.'
The old man made a loud, explosive noise, and banged his hand down on the arm of his chair.
'WHAT I SAY IS THIS...'
15
But he got no further, for the sound of footsteps could be heard in the hall, coming towards thekitchen, and loud, American voices came nearer and nearer.
'See here, Pop - I wanna come with you! This is a dead-and-alive place. You take me up to Londonwith you, aw, Pop, go on, do!'
'That the Americans?' asked Dick, turning to the twins. Their faces had gone as black as thunder.
They nodded. In came a burly man, looking rather odd in smart town clothes, and a fat pasty-facedboy of about eleven. The father stood at the door and looked round, rubbing his hands.
'Hiya, folks! We've been over to that swell old town, and picked up some fine souvenirs - my, my,they were cheap as dirt! We late for tea? Hallo, who're all these folks?'
He grinned round at Julian and the others. Julian stood up politely. 'We're four cousins,' he said.
'We've come to stay here.'
'Stay here? Where you gonna sleep, then?' demanded the boy, pulling up a chair to the table.
'This is a one-eyed place, ain't it, Pop - no wash-basins, no...'
'Shut up,' said the twins together, and gave the boy such a glare that Anne stared in astonishment.
'Aw, go on, I can say what I like, can't I?' said the boy. 'Free country, isn't it? Gee, you should just seeAmerica! That's something! Mrs. Philpot, I'll have a bit of that cake - looks good to me.'
'CAN'T YOU SAY PLEASE?' roared a voice from the corner. That was Great-Grand-dad, of course!
But the boy took no notice, and merely held out his plate, while Mrs. Philpot cut him an enormousslice of cake.
'I'll have the same as Junior, Mrs. Philpot mam,' said the American, and sat down at the table. He heldout his plate too. 'Say, you should see the things we've bought. We've had a day, haven't we, Junior?'
'Sure, Pop,' said Junior. 'Say, can't I have an iced drink? Look-a-here - who's going to drink hot tea ona day like this!'
'I'll get you some iced orangeade,' said Mrs. Philpot, rising.
'LET HIM GET IT HIMSELF! LITTLE VARMINT!' That was Great-Grand-dad again, of course.
But the twins were already up and on their way to fetch the orangeade themselves.
George caught sight of their faces as they passed her, and had a shock of surprise. Goodness -how those twins hated that boy!
'That old Grand-daddy of yours must be a bit of a nuisance to you,' said the American in a low voiceto Mrs. Philpot. 'Always butting in, isn't he? Rude old fellow, too.'
16
'NOW DON'T YOU SET THERE WHISPERING!' shouted Grand-dad. 'I CAN HEAR EVERYWORD!'
'Now, now, Grand-dad, don't upset yourself,' said poor Mrs. Philpot. 'You just sit there and have anap.'
'No. I'm going out again,' said Great-Grand-dad, heaving himself up. 'There's some people that fairmake me ill!'
And out he went, leaning on his stick, a magnificent figure with his head of snow-white hair and hislong beard.
'Like someone out of the Old Testament,' said Anne to Dick. Timmy got up and followed the old manto the door, with Snippet close behind him. Junior saw Timmy at once.
'I say! Look at that big dog!' he said. 'Who's he? I've not seen him before. Hey, you, come and have abun.'
Timmy took not the slightest notice. George addressed Junior in an icy voice. 'That's my dog Timmy.
I don't allow anyone to feed him except myself.'
'Shucks!' said Junior, and threw the cake down on the floor, so that it slid to Tim's feet. 'That's foryou, dog!'
Timmy looked down at the cake, and stood perfectly still. Then he looked at George. 'Come here,Timmy,' said George, and he walked straight to her. The cake lay on the floor half-broken intocrumbs.
'My dog is not going to eat that,' said George. 'Better pick it up, hadn't you? It's made a bit of a messon the floor.'
'Pick it up yourself,' said Junior, helping himself to another bun. 'My, my - what a glare you've got!
Makes me want my sunglasses, brother!' He gave George a sudden sharp dig in the ribs, and shegasped. Timmy was beside her in a moment, growling so deeply that Junior slid out of his seat inalarm.
'Say, Pop - this dog's fierce!' he said. 'He made to bite me!'
'He did not,' said George. 'But he might bite if you don't do what I said, and pick up that bun!'
'Now, now,' said Mrs. Philpot, really distressed. 'Leave it - it can be swept up afterwards. Will youhave another piece of cake, Mr. Henning?'
It really was an embarrassing meal, and Anne longed for it to be over. Junior quietened downconsiderably when he saw Timmy lying down between his chair and George's, but his father 17made up for that by talking non-stop about the 'wunnerful' things he had bought that day.
Everyone was extremely bored. The twins came back with a jug of orangeade, which they placed onthe table, with two glasses, in case Mr. Henning wanted some. They then disappeared.
'Where have they gone?' demanded Junior, having poured a glass of orangeade straight down histhroat in a most remarkable manner. 'Gee, that was good.'
'The twins have gone to help with the milking, I expect,' said Mrs. Philpot, looking suddenly veryweary. Julian looked at her. She must find these meals very tiring, he thought, coping with so manypeople. Junior piped up at once.
'I'll go and help with the milking,' he said, and slid off his chair.
'I'd rather you didn't, Junior,' said Mrs. Philpot. 'You upset the cows a bit last time, you know.'
'Aw gee - that was because I was new to it,' said Junior. Julian looked at Mr. Henning, expecting himto forbid Junior to go, but he said nothing. He lighted a cigarette and threw the match down on thefloor.
George scowled when she saw Junior heading for the door. How dare he go out to the milking againstthe wishes of his hostess? She murmured a few words to Timmy, and he got up at once and ran to thedoor, barring it against Junior.
'Get outa my way, you,' said Junior, stopping. Timmy growled. 'Say, call him back, will you?'
said Junior, turning round. No one said anything. Mrs. Philpot rose and began to gather thingstogether. It seemed to George as if she had tears in her eyes. No wonder, if this kind of thinghappened every day!
As Timmy stood like a statue in the doorway, giving small threatening growls every now and again,Junior decided to give up. He dearly longed to give the dog a kick, but didn't dare to. He walked backto his father.
'Say, Pop - coming for a walk?' he said. 'Let's get out of here.'
Without a word father and son walked out of the other door. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.
'You go and sit down and have a rest, Mrs. Philpot,' said Anne. 'We'll do the washing-up. We'd loveto!'
'Well - it's really kind of you,' said Mrs. Philpot. 'I've been on the go all day, and twenty minutes'
rest will do me good. I'm afraid Junior gets on my nerves. I do hope Timmy won't bite him!'
'He'll probably give him a nip before long,' said George cheerfully, collecting cups and saucers withAnne. 'What are you boys going to do? Go to the milking-shed?'
18
'Yes. We've milked cows plenty of times,' said Dick. 'Nice job! I like the smell of cows. See youlater, girls - and if that little Pest tries any tricks, just give us a call! I'd love to rub his face into thatcrumby mess on the floor!'
'I'm just going to sweep it up,' said Anne. 'See you at supper-time!'
The boys went out, whistling. Mrs. Philpot had disappeared. Only George, Anne and Timmy wereleft, for Snippet had gone out with the Harries.
'I rather wish we hadn't come,' said George, carrying out a tray to the scullery. 'It's an AWFULlot for Mrs. Philpot to do. Still - if she needs the money...'
'Oh well - we can help - and we'll be out most of the day,' said Anne. 'We shan't see much of Junior -little beast!'
You're wrong, Anne. You'll see far too much of him! It's a good thing Timmy's there - he's the onlyone that can manage people like Junior!
4.居里尔
居里尔
一个身材高大的男人走进厨房。他的模样跟双胞胎很像。这个男人弯着腰，似乎很疲惫。他没有笑，只是冲孩子们点了点头。
“特雷弗，这是我跟你说过的客人。”菲尔伯特夫人说，“这是朱利安……”
“有客人来？”特雷弗郁闷地说道，“天啊——又是一群孩子！那个美国男孩在哪里？我得好好教训教训他。他今天早上想要自己独自驾驶拖拉机，结果……”
“哦，特雷弗，现在别提这些了。去洗一下手，然后来喝茶吧。”菲尔伯特夫人说道，“我准备了一些烤松饼，是你最喜欢的。”
“我不能吃，”特雷弗说，“因为一吃起来就停不下嘴。就给我来一杯茶吧，我带去奶牛场喝。我得去给奶牛挤奶。鲍勃今天休息。”
“我们也去帮您，爸爸！”双胞胎像往常一样异口同声地说道，并且立刻从桌子旁站了起来。
“快坐下。”他们的妈妈说，“你们从今天早上七点钟就开始忙活了，赶紧歇歇吧，安心地喝完茶。”
“我倒是需要你们帮忙，双胞胎，”他们的爸爸一边往奶牛场走，一边说，“但现在你们的妈妈手上有这么多活儿，她比我更需要你们！”
“菲尔伯特夫人，让双胞胎去吧，如果他们愿意的话。”朱利安马上说，“我们可以帮您，您知道，我们已经习惯了在家里帮大人做事。”
“更重要的是，我们喜欢帮忙，”安妮说，“就让我们帮您吧，菲尔伯特夫人，这样我们感觉会更自在一些。能不能让我们来负责洗碗、打扫卫生这些事？这样双胞胎就可以去帮忙挤奶了。”
“你让他们帮忙！”曾祖父突然从他坐的角落里喊了一句，把蒂米和斯尼帕都吓了一跳，“现在的孩子生出来是干什么的，难道就等着衣来伸手，饭来张口吗？呸！”
“好了，爷爷，”菲尔伯特夫人说道，“您就别担心了，我们能处理好的。”
老人发出一声雷鸣般响亮的呵斥，手砸在椅子的扶手上，说：“我刚刚说什么……”
但他没有继续往下说了，因为大厅里响起了脚步声。响亮的脚步声越来越接近厨房，美国人的说话声音也越来越近。
“哦，爸爸，我想跟您一起去！这个地方无聊死了。您带我去伦敦吧，行吗？爸爸，就带我去吧！”
“是那个美国人吗？”迪克问道，转身看向双胞胎。他们俩的脸像雷雨天一样阴沉。双胞胎不约而同地点了点头。这时，从门外走进来一个魁梧的男人。他穿着一身时髦的衣服，打扮得像个城里人——那身装扮跟这里的环境格格不入。美国人的身边站着一个胖胖的小男孩，他大约十一岁，脸看上去就像面糊一样白。那位美国父亲站在门口，环顾四周，搓着双手。
“你们好！伙计们！我们去逛了逛那个大大的老城区，顺便买了一些精美的纪念品，我的天，它们就像泥巴一样便宜！我们迟到了吗？这些人都是谁？你们好啊。”
他对朱利安和其他人笑了笑，朱利安礼貌地站了起来。“我们四个是堂兄弟姐妹，”他说道，“来这里住几天。”
“住在这里？那你们在哪里睡觉？”美国男孩一边问，一边把椅子拉到桌子旁，“这地方太简陋了，是不是，爸爸？没有洗脸盆，没有……”
“闭嘴！”双胞胎说着，瞪了那个美国男孩一眼。安妮惊讶地睁大了眼睛。
“哦，别来这一套。我想说什么就说什么，”美国男孩说，“这是个自由的国家，不是吗？哎，你应该去看看美国！那才叫棒呢！菲尔伯特夫人，给我一点蛋糕。我觉得它看起来还不错。”
“你能不能说声‘请’？”从角落里传来一声咆哮。那是曾祖父在训话！但美国男孩当没听到，仍然把盘子伸了出去。菲尔伯特夫人给他夹了一大块蛋糕。
“我和居里尔吃一样的，菲尔伯特夫人。”坐在桌旁的美国人说道。他也直接伸出了自己的盘子，“我说，你们真应该看看我们买的东西。我们今天过得棒极了，对吗，居里尔？”
“当然，爸爸。”居里尔说，“我说，能不能来点冰镇饮料？看看这热死人的天，谁会在这样的天气喝热茶啊！”
“我去给你们拿一些冰镇橘子汁。”说着，菲尔伯特夫人站了起来。
“让他自己去拿！小坏蛋！”曾祖父又喊了起来。但双胞胎已经站起身去拿橘子汁了。他们经过乔治身边时，乔治看了一眼他们脸上的表情，不禁大吃一惊——老天爷，这对双胞胎该有多恨那个美国男孩啊！
“那个老爷子一定给你添了不少麻烦吧？”美国人对菲尔伯特夫人低声说，“他总是打断别人说话，不是吗？并且他还是个粗鲁的老家伙。”
“别给我说悄悄话！”曾祖父喊道，“我每句都听得清清楚楚！”
“好了，爷爷，不要自寻烦恼了，”可怜的菲尔伯特夫人说道，“您就坐在那里睡一会儿午觉吧。”
“不，我要出去待一会儿。”曾祖父站了起来，“有些人让我感觉不舒服！”
他拄着拐棍走了出去，那雪白的头发和长长的胡须实在让人印象深刻。
“他就像《圣经》中的某个人一样。”安妮低声对迪克说。蒂米起身跟着老人走到门口。斯尼帕紧紧跟在后面。居里尔第一次看到了蒂米。
“快看那只大狗！”他说道，“它是谁？我以前没见过它。嘿，过来，我给你面包吃。”
蒂米看都没看面包一眼。乔治冷冰冰地对居里尔说道：“那是我的狗，叫蒂米。我不允许除了我之外的任何人喂它。”
“没那回事！”居里尔一边说，一边把蛋糕扔到地上，好让它滑到蒂米的脚下，“这是给你的，笨狗！”
蒂米静静地站着。它低头看了看蛋糕，然后看了看乔治。“过来，蒂米。”乔治说道。蒂米径直走向了她。蛋糕被遗弃在地板上，几乎被踩成了碎屑。
“我的狗不会吃那个的。”乔治说，“你最好把它捡起来，免得把地板搞得脏兮兮的。”
“要捡你自己捡。”居里尔说着，又去拿了一块面包，“我的天啊！你瞪人的眼神可真刺眼！我都想戴上太阳眼镜了，兄弟！”他突然戳了一下乔治的肋骨，乔治疼得叫了起来。蒂米立刻来到她身边。它大声咆哮着，吓得居里尔立刻从椅子上跳了起来。
“爸爸，这只狗很凶！”他说，“它想咬我！”
“它没有。”乔治说，“但如果你不按我说的话去做，它就会咬你。请捡起那块蛋糕！”
“好了，好了，”饱受折磨的菲尔伯特夫人说道，“别管它了，一会儿我来打扫。你还想再来一块蛋糕吗，亨宁先生？”
这真是一顿令人尴尬的下午茶，安妮希望它赶快结束。居里尔看到蒂米躺在他和乔治的椅子中间，终于安静了下来。但他爸爸却又开始讲个不停。他滔滔不绝地说着他们今天买的各种好东西，大家都感到非常无聊。双胞胎带着一罐橘子汁回来。他们把橘子汁放在桌子上。双胞胎还拿了两个杯子，以备亨宁先生也喝一些，然后他们就不见了。
“他们去哪儿了？”居里尔问道。他往喉咙里倒了一杯橘子汁，那动作十分惹人注目，“天啊，这感觉棒极了。”
“我想双胞胎可能去帮忙挤奶了。”菲尔伯特夫人好像突然感到非常疲惫。朱利安看着她。他想：“菲尔伯特夫人每天都得准备这么多食物，应付这么多人，她一定非常累。”居里尔听到挤奶的事，马上跳了起来。
“我可以去帮忙挤奶。”说着，他离开了椅子。
“我宁愿你待在这里，居里尔，”菲尔伯特夫人说，“上次你都惹得奶牛有些不高兴了。”
“哎呀，那是因为我还不熟悉怎么操作。”居里尔说。朱利安看着亨宁先生，希望他能阻止居里尔去。但他什么都没说，而是点燃了一根香烟，然后将火柴直接扔到了地板上。
乔治看着居里尔走向门口，皱起了眉头。他怎么敢违背女主人的意愿，硬要去挤奶呢？她对蒂米低声说了几句话。蒂米马上起身跑到门口，冲着居里尔叫了起来。
“别挡我的路，你这个家伙。”居里尔停了下来，但蒂米仍然咆哮着。“我说，把它叫回去好吗？”居里尔转过身来说道。没有人作声。菲尔伯特夫人站起来，开始收拾桌上的餐具。乔治好像看到她的眼里含着泪水。也难怪，如果每天都发生这种事情的话，谁能受得了！
蒂米像一尊雕像一样站在门口，不时咆哮几声以示威胁。居里尔决定放弃挤奶。他很想踢蒂米一脚，但又不敢这么做，只好走回他爸爸身边。
“爸爸，咱们去散会儿步吧？”他说道，“别待在这里了。”
父子俩一言不发地从另一扇门走了出去，大家这才都松了一口气。
“您去坐下休息吧，菲尔伯特夫人，”安妮说，“我们来洗碗。我们喜欢帮忙！”
“谢谢，你们真的很乖，”菲尔伯特夫人说，“我一整天都在忙，休息二十分钟可以让我解解乏。这个居里尔总是让我感到紧张，希望蒂米不会真的咬他！”
“要不了多久它就会咬他一口的。”乔治兴高采烈地说着，然后和安妮一起去收拾杯子和碟子，“你们男孩们打算去做什么？去挤奶棚？”
“是的。我们已经挤过很多次奶了，”迪克说，“那是很有趣的工作！我喜欢奶牛的味道。一会儿见，女孩们，如果那个小坏蛋再敢耍什么花样，就大声叫我们！我巴不得把他的脸按进他弄到地板上的那堆残渣里面去！”
“我正打算把那些残渣清扫掉呢，”安妮说，“晚餐时见！”
男孩们吹着口哨出去了，菲尔伯特夫人也走了，只剩下乔治、安妮和蒂米——因为斯尼帕之前和两个哈利一起出去了。
“我宁愿我们没来过这里，”乔治说着，把一个托盘拿到洗碗机上，“对菲尔伯特夫人来说，多一个客人就得多添很多麻烦。不过，如果她需要钱……”
“嗯，不过如果我们大部分时间都待在外面，她应该就不会这么累了。”安妮说，“而且，还不用经常看到居里尔那个小坏蛋！”
“你错了，安妮，你会经常看到他的！幸好有蒂米在，只有它才能管住居里尔这种家伙！”乔治说。
Chapter 5 EVENING AT THE FARM
Chapter 5 EVENING AT THE FARM
George and Anne went out to find the others in the milking-shed. There were plenty of cows there,swishing their tails. The milking was almost finished, and the twins were driving some of the cowsback to their field.
'Hallo - how did you get on?' asked Anne.
'Fine - it was fun,' said Dick. 'My cows did better than Julian's, though - I sang to them all the time,and they loved it!'
'Ass!' said George. 'Did you have a talk with the farmer?'
'Yes - he says he's got an old Land-Rover and he'll take us all over the farm tomorrow,' said Dick,pleased. 'And we can ride on that tractor, if Bill - that's one of his farm-hands - will let us.
He says Bill won't have Junior on the tractor at any price - so maybe there'll be ructions if he sees uson it!'
'Well, I'm all ready for a ruction, and so is Timmy,' said George grimly. 'Sooner or later I'm going totell Junior a few home-truths.'
19
'We'd all like to do that,' said Julian. 'But let's hold our horses till a good moment comes - I don't wantthat nice Mrs. Philpot upset - and you know, if we caused her to lose the two Americans she mightsuffer badly - in her pocket! I bet they pay well.'
'Well - I understand all that too, Ju,' said George. 'But Timmy doesn't. He's longing to have a go atJunior!'
'And how I share that feeling!' said Dick, rubbing Timmy's big head. 'What's the time? Shall we gofor a walk?'
'No,' said Julian. 'My legs feel stiff with cycling up so many Dorset hills today. I vote we just strollaround a bit, not go for miles.'
The Five set off together, wandering round the farm buildings. They were all very old, some of themfalling to pieces. The roofs had great Dorset tiles, made of stone, uneven and roughly shaped. Theywere a lovely grey, and were brilliant with lichen and moss.
'Aren't they gorgeous?' said George, stopping to look at the tiles on a small out-house. 'Look at thatlichen, did you ever see such a brilliant orange? But what a pity - half of them have gone from thisroof, and someone has replaced them with horrid cheap tiles!'
'Maybe the Philpots sold them,' said Julian. 'Old tiles like that, brilliant with lichen, can fetch quite abit of money - especially from Americans. There's many a barn out in America covered with old tilesfrom this country, moss and all. A bit of old England!'
'If I had a lovely old place like this I wouldn't sell one single tile, or one single bit of moss!' saidGeorge, quite fiercely.
'Maybe you wouldn't,' said Dick. 'But some would - if they loved their farm enough and didn't wantto see it go to pieces for lack of money. Their fields would be worth more than old tiles to them!'
'I bet old Grand-dad wouldn't sell them if he could help it!' said Anne. 'I wonder if the American hastried to buy any of these tiles? I guess he has.'
They had an interesting time wandering round. They found one old barn-like shed stacked withancient cast-away junk, and Julian rummaged in it with great interest.
'Look at this giant cart-wheel!' he said, peering into a dark corner. 'It's almost as tall as I am! Myword - they must have made all their own wheels here in the old days - in this very shed, perhaps.
And maybe their own tools too. Look at this old tool - what in the world is it?'
20
They gazed at the curious curved tool, still as strong and as good as it had been two or three centuriesbefore. It was heavy, and Julian thought that he wouldn't have liked to use it for more than tenminutes at a time!
'But I bet old Grand-dad could use it for a whole day and never get tired,' he said. 'When he was ayoung man, I mean. He must have been as strong as an ox, then.'
'Well, you remember what the girl at the dairy said,' put in Anne. 'She said he had once fought a bulland knocked it out. We must ask him about that. I bet he'd love to tell us.'
'He's a real old character!' said Julian. 'I like him, shouts and temper and all. Come on - it's gettinglatish. We didn't ask about the evening meal. I wonder what time we ought to get back for it?'
'Half past seven,' said George. 'I asked. We'd better go back now, because we'll have to get ourselvesclean - and Anne and I want to help lay the table.'
'Right. Back we go,' said Julian. 'Come on, Tim. Stop sniffing about that old rubbish. Surely you can'tsmell anything exciting there!'
They went back to the farm-house, and the girls went to wash at the kitchen sink, seeing Mrs.
Philpot already preparing for supper. 'Won't be a minute!' called Anne. 'We'll do those potatoes foryou, Mrs. Philpot. I say, what a lovely farm this is. We've been exploring those old sheds.'
'Yes - they need clearing out,' said Mrs. Philpot, who looked better for the rest she had had. 'But oldGreat-Grand-dad, he won't have them touched. Says he promised his Grand-dad not to let them go toanyone! But we did sell some of those lovely old grey tiles once - to an American, of course, a friendof Mr. Henning's - and Grand-dad almost went out of his mind. Shouted day and night, poor oldchap, and went about with a pitch-fork in his hand all the time, daring any stranger even so much asto walk over the fields! We had such a time with him.'
'Good gracious!' said Anne, having a sudden vision of the grand old man stalking about his fields,shouting, and waving a great pitch-fork.
Supper was really a very pleasant meal, for Mr. Henning and Junior didn't come in. There was muchtalk and laughter at the table, though the twins, as usual, said hardly anything. They puzzled Anne.
Why should they be so unfriendly? She smiled at them once or twice, but each time they turned theireyes away. Snippet lay at their feet, and Timmy lay under the table. Great-Grand-dad was not there,nor was Mr. Philpot.
21
'They're both making the best of the daylight,' said Mrs. Philpot. 'There's a lot to do on the farm justnow.'
The children enjoyed the meat-pie that Mrs. Philpot had baked, and the stewed plums and rich creamthat followed. Anne suddenly yawned a very large yawn.
'Sorry!' she said. 'It just came all of a sudden. I don't know why I feel so sleepy.'
'You've set me off now,' said Dick, and put his hand in front of an even larger yawn. 'Well, I don'twonder we feel sleepy. Ju and I set off at dawn this morning - and I know you girls had a jolly longbus-ride!'
'Well, you go to bed, all of you, as early as you like,' said Mrs. Philpot. 'I expect you'll want to be upbright and early in the morning. The Harries are always up about six o'clock - they just will not stayin bed!'
'And what time does Junior get up?' asked George, with a grin. 'Six o'clock too?'
'Oh, not before nine o'clock usually,' said Mrs. Philpot. 'Mr. Henning comes down about eleven -he likes his breakfast in bed. So does Junior.'
'WHAT? You don't mean to say you take breakfast up to that lazy little pest?' said Dick, astounded.
'Why don't you go and drag him out by the ankles?'
'Well - they are guests and pay well for being here,' said Mrs. Philpot.
'I'll take Junior his breakfast,' said George, much to everyone's astonishment. 'Timmy and I together.
We'd like to. Wouldn't we, Timmy?'
Timmy made a most peculiar noise from under the table. 'That sounded like a laugh to me,' said Dick.
'And I'm not surprised! I'd just like to see Junior's face if you and Tim walked in on him with hisbreakfast!'
'Do you bet me I won't do it?' demanded George, really on her mettle now.
'Yes. I do bet you,' said Dick at once. 'I bet you my new pocket-knife you won't!'
'Taken!' said George. Mrs. Philpot looked puzzled. 'No, no, my dears,' she said. 'I can't have oneguest waiting on another. Though I must say those stairs are a trial to my legs, when I'm carrying uptrays!'
'I'll take up Junior's tray and Mr. Henning's too, if you like,' said George, in a half-kind, half-fiercevoice.
'NOT Mr. Henning's,' said Julian, giving George a warning look. 'Don't go too far, old thing. JustJunior's tray will be enough.'
22
'All right, all right,' said George, rather sulkily. 'Aren't Junior and Mr. Henning coming in to supper?'
'Not tonight,' said Mrs. Philpot, in a thankful voice. 'They're dining at some hotel in Dorchester, Ithink. I expect they get a bit tired of our simple farm-house meals. I only hope they won't be too lateback. Great-Grand-dad likes to lock up early.'
The children were really glad when the evening meal was cleared away and washed up, for they allfelt heavy with sleep. The good strong air, the exciting day and the many jobs they had done hadreally tired them.
'Good night, Mrs. Philpot,' they said, when everything was done. 'We're off to bed. Are the twinscoming too?'
The twins actually condescended to nod. They looked tired out. Julian wondered where Mr.
Philpot and old Great-Grand-dad were - still out working, he supposed. He yawned. Well, he was forbed - and even if he had had to sleep on the bare ground that night, he knew he would sleep well! Hethought longingly of his camp-bed.
They went their various ways - the twins and Julian and Dick to the big barn - the girls upstairs to theroom opposite Junior's. George peeped into it. It was even untidier than before, and obviously Juniormust have been eating nuts up there, for the floor was strewn with shells.
They were soon in bed - the girls cuddled together in the big, rather hard, old bed, the boys in theirseparate camp-beds. Timmy was on George's feet, and Snippet slept first on one twin's feet, and thenon the other's. He was always perfectly fair in his favours!
A crashing noise awoke the girls about two hours later, and they sat upright in bed, alarmed.
Timmy began to bark. George crept to the top of the stairs, hearing Grand-dad's loud voice below,and then crept back to Anne.
'It's Mr. Henning and Junior come back,' she said. 'Apparently old Grand-dad had locked up, and theycrashed and banged on the knocker. My, what a to-do! Here comes Junior!' And indeed, here Juniordid come, stamping up the stairs, and singing loudly.
'Little pest!' said George. 'Wait till I take him his breakfast tomorrow!'
5.农场之夜
农场之夜
乔治和安妮出去找挤奶棚里的小伙伴们。她们到那里的时候，发现那里有很多奶牛，但挤奶工作快要结束了，双胞胎正在将一些奶牛赶回它们的草场。
“你们好！干得怎么样？”安妮问道。
“很好，很有趣，”迪克说，“不过，我的奶牛比朱利安的奶牛做得更好。我一直给它们唱歌，它们可喜欢听我的歌声了！”
“胡说八道！”乔治说道，“你跟农场主谈过了吗？”
“谈过了。他说他有一辆旧路虎，明天会带我们参观整个农场。”迪克高兴地说，“我们可以乘坐那辆拖拉机——如果农场里的工人比尔愿意载我们的话。他说比尔无论如何都不会再让居里尔上拖拉机了，所以如果居里尔看到我们在拖拉机上，可能会闹脾气！”
“好吧，我已做好对付他的准备了，蒂米也一样。”乔治阴沉着脸说道，“我迟早要教训居里尔一顿，让他学学到别人家做客的礼节。”
“我们都想那样做，”朱利安说，“但是，我们得找个合适的机会。我不希望那位善良的菲尔伯特夫人感到不安。你们知道的，如果我们让她失去了两个美国客人，她可能会遭受巨大的损失——是金钱方面的损失！我敢打赌他们一定出了一大笔钱。”
“好吧，我也明白这一点，朱利安，”乔治说，“但蒂米并不知道这个。它一定很想给居里尔来一下子！”
“我也想！”迪克揉着蒂米的大脑袋说道，“现在几点？我们去远足吧。”
“不行。”朱利安说，“今天在多塞特山上骑了半天自行车，我的腿都累断了。我们就近随便走走吧，不要去太远的地方。”
小伙伴们一起动身，在农场周围转了转。农场的房子都很古老，其中有一些已经坍塌了。每个屋顶都砌着独特的多塞特砖，它们是由石头制成的。这些石头表面粗糙，形状不均匀，呈现出一种可爱的灰色，在地衣和苔藓的映衬下显得美极了。
“它们真美啊！”乔治停下来看着一间小屋外的砖块说，“看那个地衣，你见过这么棒的橘色吗？可惜，这个屋顶的一半已经换上了可怕的廉价瓷砖！”
“也许菲尔伯特卖掉了它们，”朱利安说，“像这样的老砖块，在地衣的衬托下显得十分精致，可以卖很多钱。美国人尤其喜欢。美国有很多谷仓。他们的谷仓里面铺满了从我们国家买去的砖块、苔藓，还有其他各种老物件。他们想重现古老的英格兰！”
“如果我有一栋像这样可爱的老房子，我一定不会卖掉一块砖，或者一块苔藓！”乔治语气激烈地说道。
“也许你不会，”迪克说，“但有些人会这么做。因为他们更热爱自己的农场，不想因为缺钱而眼睁睁地看着它衰败。他们的田地比砖块更值钱！”
“我敢打赌，曾祖父如果能帮上忙的话，一定不会卖掉它们！”安妮说，“我想知道那个美国人是否打算买这些砖块。我猜他肯定想过。”
他们逛了好一会儿，感觉这里非常有趣。他们发现了一个旧谷仓，这个谷仓就像积年的废弃垃圾堆一样。朱利安非常感兴趣，把它翻了个遍。
“看看这个巨大的车轮！”他盯着一个黑暗的角落说，“它几乎和我一样高！我的天，他们过去一定亲自制造过轮子，也许就在这个棚子里。也许他们还自己制造工具。看看这个古老的工具，它是什么年代的？”
孩子们好奇地看着一种工具。这个工具以一个奇怪的角度弯曲着。但它仍然像两三百年前一样坚固完好。它很重，朱利安认为，如果他来使用这个工具的话，一定连十分钟都坚持不了！
“但我敢打赌，那个老爷爷可以用上一整天，而且还不觉得累。”他说道，“我的意思是，在他还是个年轻人的时候，就一定像牛一样强壮。”
“你还记得乳品店的女孩说的话吗？”安妮插嘴道，“她说他曾经和一头公牛打过架，并且把它打倒了。我们一定得问问他这件事。
我敢打赌他肯定愿意跟我们讲。”
“他是一位很不错的老人家！”朱利安说，“我喜欢他。我喜欢他大喊大叫，脾气暴躁的样子。走吧，天越来越晚了。我们没有问过晚餐的时间。我想知道，我们什么时候回去合适呢？”
“我问过了，是七点半。”乔治说，“我们最好现在就往回走，因为我们还得洗一下手。另外，安妮和我想帮忙摆餐具。”
“好的，我们回去吧。”朱利安说道，“走了，蒂米，别在那堆旧垃圾上嗅来嗅去的，那儿没有什么特别的东西！”
五个小伙伴回到了农舍。女孩们去厨房的水槽旁洗手。她们看到菲尔伯特夫人已经开始做晚餐了。“我们马上就好！”安妮说道，“我们来帮您削土豆，菲尔伯特夫人。这是一个多么可爱的农场啊。我们一直在那些旧棚屋里探险。”
“是啊，那些地方需要清理。”菲尔伯特夫人说道。她经过短暂的休息，气色已经好多了，“但是爷爷不让我们动那些棚屋。他答应过他的祖父，不把它们卖给任何人！不过，我们还是卖了一些可爱的灰色砖块，卖给了一个美国人，他是亨宁先生的朋友。爷爷已经忘记这件事了。可怜的老人家，他从早到晚大声喊叫着，手里一直拿着一把干草叉，不让任何人到我们地里来！曾经有段时间他一直都那么干。”
“我的天啊！”安妮感叹道。她脑海中突然浮现出这样的场景——那个老头儿大声喊叫着，挥舞着长长的干草叉，护卫着自己的土地。
晚餐吃得非常愉快，因为亨宁先生和居里尔不在。大家都在桌旁说说笑笑，但双胞胎还是像往常一样没作声。他们的态度让安妮感到疑惑不解，他们为什么要表现得这么不友好呢？安妮对他们微笑了一两次，但每次他们都转眼看向其他地方。斯尼帕躺在他们的脚下，蒂米躺在桌子底下。曾祖父不在，菲尔伯特先生也不在。
“他们都在干活。趁着天还没完全黑，他们得再干一些活儿。”菲尔伯特夫人说，“农场里有很多活儿要做。”
孩子们很喜欢菲尔伯特夫人烤的肉馅饼，以及随后端上来的炖李子和浓郁的奶油。安妮突然打了一个大大的哈欠。
“对不起！”她说，“我没想到会打哈欠。我不知道为什么会这么困倦。”
“你把我也传染了。”迪克说，他用手挡住嘴，打了一个更大的哈欠，“我倒是并不奇怪。我们之所以这么早就困了，是因为朱利安和我今天一大早就出发了，我们知道女孩们乘坐公共汽车很快就会到！”
“嗯，你们早点上床睡觉吧。”菲尔伯特夫人说，“我希望你们明天早点起来，并且都精神抖擞的。两个哈利大约在六点钟起床——他们不愿意待在床上睡懒觉！”
“居里尔几点起床？”乔治笑着问道，“也是六点钟吗？”
“哦，通常情况下九点之前他是不会起床的。”菲尔伯特夫人说。“亨宁先生大约十一点下来，他喜欢在床上吃早餐。居里尔也是这样。”
“什么？您该不会是说，您每天得把早餐送到那个懒虫的床边吧？”迪克吃惊地问道，“您怎么不把他拽下床呢？”
“唉，他们是客人，并且他们支付了很高的费用。”菲尔伯特夫人解释说。
“明天让我去给居里尔送早餐，”乔治说道。她的话让大伙儿吃了一惊，“我和蒂米一起。我们愿意这么做，对吗，蒂米？”
蒂米在桌子底下发出了一种奇怪的声音。“我觉得蒂米在笑。”迪克说道，“我只想看看，如果是你和蒂米送早餐过去，居里尔脸上会是什么表情！”
“你是打赌我不会这样做吗？”乔治问道。她一副义愤填膺的样子。
“是的。我打赌，”迪克立刻说道，“我用我的新折叠刀打赌，你不会去的！”
“赌就赌！”乔治说。菲尔伯特夫人看起来很迷惑，她不知道他们要干什么。
“不不，亲爱的。”她说道，“我不能让一位客人去侍候另一位客人。虽然我不得不承认，那些楼梯对我的腿是个考验，尤其当我端着托盘的时候！”
“如果您愿意的话，我会把居里尔的托盘和亨宁先生的托盘都端上去的。”乔治一半好心，一半愤慨地说道。
“不用给亨宁先生端，”朱利安给乔治使了个眼色，提醒道，“你只需把居里尔的托盘端去就够了。”
“好吧。”乔治闷闷不乐地说道，“居里尔和亨宁先生不来吃晚餐吗？”
“今晚不来。”菲尔伯特夫人一脸感激地说，“我想，他们一定正在多彻斯特的一家酒店用餐。我倒宁愿他们厌倦了我们这里简单的农家饭。我只希望他们不会太晚回来。爷爷喜欢早早地把门锁上。”
收拾完桌子，洗完餐具后，孩子们都很高兴。因为他们早就困了。清新凉爽的空气，令人兴奋的一天，以及农场里的各种活儿，这些都让孩子们感到非常疲惫。
“晚安，菲尔伯特夫人，”一切收拾妥当后，孩子们说道，“我们准备上床睡觉了。双胞胎也来吗？”
双胞胎不情不愿地点了点头，他们看上去累坏了。朱利安想知道菲尔伯特先生和老曾祖父在哪里，他猜想他们应该还在外面干活。朱利安打了个哈欠。他实在太困了。哪怕是睡在裸露的地面上，他也会睡得很香的！现在，他恨不得立刻就躺到自己的那张露营床上去。
大伙儿各自休息去了。双胞胎、朱利安和迪克去了大谷仓。女孩们上了楼，进了居里尔对面的房间。乔治悄悄瞄了一眼居里尔的房间——里面比之前更乱了。居里尔一定是在房间里吃了坚果，因为地板上到处散落着果壳。
孩子们很快就上床休息了。女孩们在一张古老却很坚硬的大床上相拥而眠，而男孩们则睡在各自独立的露营床上。蒂米躺在乔治的脚边。斯尼帕先在双胞胎其中一人的脚边躺着，随后又跑到了另一个人的脚边。它对两个双胞胎非常公平！
大约两个小时后，一声巨响惊醒了女孩们。她们警觉地坐了起来。蒂米开始大叫。乔治溜到楼梯旁。她听到曾祖父在大声说着什么，然后她又悄悄溜回安妮身边。
“是亨宁先生和居里尔回来了，”她说，“显然，曾祖父已经把门关上了。他们使劲地撞门。天啊，他们竟然会做出这种事！听，是居里尔上来了！”她说得没错，的确是居里尔上来了。他“噔噔噔”地跑上楼梯，大声唱着歌。
“坏家伙！”乔治说道，“看我明天怎么给他送早餐！”
Chapter 6 A LITTLE EXCITEMENT FOR BREAKFAST!
Chapter 6 A LITTLE EXCITEMENT FOR BREAKFAST!
It was fun to sleep in the barn. Dick tried to keep awake for a while, and enjoy the barn-smell, and thesight of the stars in the sky seen through the open door, where a cool little night- breeze camewandering in.
Julian fell asleep at once, and did not even hear the crashing of the knocker at the front door of thefarmhouse when the Hennings came in, or the loud voices. He awoke with a start at about one o'clockin the morning, and sat straight up in bed, his heart beating fast. What on earth was that noise he hadheard?
He heard it again and laughed. 'What an ass I am! It's only an owl. Or maybe more than one. Andgosh, what was that high little scream? A mouse - or a rat? Perhaps the owls are hunting in here?'
He lay still and listened. He suddenly felt a rush of cool air over his face, and stiffened. That musthave been an owl's soft-feathered wings! Owls' wings made no noise, he knew. The feathers were sosoft that not even a quick-eared mouse could hear an owl swooping silently down!
There came another little high-pitched squeak. 'The owl's doing his job well,' thought Julian.
'What a fine hunting-place for him - a barn where food-stuffs are stored - over-run with mice and rats,of course. I bet this owl is worth his weight in gold to the farmer. Well, owl, do your job -but for goodness' sake don't mistake my nose for a mouse! Ah - there you go again - just over myhead. I saw you then - a shadow passing by!'
He fell asleep once more and didn't wake until the sun streamed into the barn, lighting up hundreds oftiny motes floating in the air. Julian looked at his watch.
'Half past seven! And I meant to be up at seven. Dick! Wake up!'
Dick was so sound asleep that he didn't wake even when Julian shook him. He merely rolled over andsettled down again. Julian glanced across the barn, and saw that the twins' camp-beds were empty.
They had stacked their pillows and bed-clothes in neat piles, and disappeared silently out of the door.
Without waking us! thought Julian, pulling on his socks. I wonder if I can wash at the big kitchen-sink. 'Dick - will you wake up?' he said loudly. 'It might be TENO'CLOCK for all you care!'
24
Dick heard the two shouted words and sat up at once, looking aghast. 'Ten o'clock? Oh no! Gosh, Imust have slept all round the clock, Oh, I say - I didn't mean to be late for breakfast. I... '
'Calm down,' grinned Julian, brushing his hair. 'I only said, 'It might be ten o'clock for all you care!'
Actually, it's just gone half past seven.'
'Thank goodness for that,' said Dick, lying back in bed. 'Oh for ten minutes more!'
'The twins have gone already,' said Julian. 'I wonder if the girls are up. Oh my goodness, what's that?'
Something had jabbed him sharply in the back, making him jump violently. Julian swung round,expecting it to be Junior or one of the twins playing a silly joke.
'Oh - it's you - Nosey the jackdaw!' he said, looking at the cheeky bird, now perched on his pillow.
'You've got a jolly sharp beak!'
'Chack!' said the jackdaw, and flew to his shoulder. Julian felt flattered - until the jackdaw pecked hisear! 'Here - you take the bird,' he said to the unwary Dick and handed Nosey to him.
Nosey promptly pounced on the watch lying beside Dick's pillow and flew off with it. Dick gave anangry yell.
'Bring that back, you ass of a bird! Don't you know a watch when you see one? He's taken my watch,Ju - goodness knows where he'll hide it!'
'He's gone into the roof,' said Julian. 'We'd better tell the twins. Perhaps they can deal with him.
Now WHY doesn't he take Junior's watch - that would be a trick I should really applaud!'
'CHACK, CHACK, CHACK,' said Nosey, exactly as if he agreed. He had to open his beak to say'chack' and the watch promptly fell out. It bounced on to a sack far below, and the bird swoopeddown to get it. Dick also swooped, and as the watch had now slipped between two sacks, he managedto get it before the jackdaw.
Nosey flew up into the roof, and chacked angrily. 'Don't use such bad language,' said Dick severely,strapping on his watch. 'You ought to be ashamed of yourself!'
They went out of the barn and round to the farmhouse. There were sounds of people about, and thetwo boys felt quite ashamed of being so late! Breakfast was on the table, but already quite a numberof people seemed to have had it!
'The girls haven't had theirs,' said Dick, looking at the places set in front of the chairs where Georgeand Anne had sat the night before. 'But the twins have. It looks as if everyone has, except us four,apparently! Ah - here's Mrs. Philpot. Sorry we're late. We overslept, I'm afraid.'
25
'That's all right!' said Mrs. Philpot, smiling. 'I don't expect my visitors to be up early. Anyone cansleep late on a holiday!'
She held a tray in her hands, and set it down on the table. 'That's for Mr. Henning - he'll ring when hewants his breakfast. That's Junior's tray over there. I make the coffee when they ring,'
she said, and went out again.
There was cold ham for breakfast, boiled eggs and fruit. The two boys tucked in, and looked roundreprovingly when the two girls came, with Timmy behind them, still sleepy-eyed.
'Overslept, I suppose?' said Dick, pretending to be shocked. 'Sit down. I'll pour you some coffee.'
'Where's Junior - not down yet, I hope?' said George anxiously. 'I've not forgotten my bet abouttaking up his breakfast!'
'I say - do you think it's all right to let George take up Junior's breakfasts,' said Julian, after a pause.
'George, don't throw the tray at him or anything, will you?'
'I might,' said George, eating a boiled egg. 'Anything to get your new pocket-knife from you!'
'Well, don't go too far in teasing Junior,' said Julian warningly. 'You don't want to make the Henningfamily walk out and leave Mrs. Philpot high and dry!'
'All right, all right,' said George. 'Don't nag. I think I'll have another egg, Dick. Pass one over, please.
I don't know why I'm so hungry.'
'Leave a bit of room for this ham,' said Dick, who had cut himself two good slices. 'It's out of thisworld! Simply too good to be true! I could eat it all day.'
The two girls tucked into their breakfast, and just as they were finishing, a bell rang very loudly in thekitchen, jangling just above their heads. They jumped violently. Mrs. Philpot came into the room atonce. 'That's Mr. Henning's bell,' she said. 'I must make his coffee.'
'I'll take up his tray,' said Anne. 'George is going to take up Junior's.'
'Oh no - I really don't like you to do that,' said Mrs. Philpot, distressed. Just then another bell rang. Itjangled to and fro for a very long time.
'That's Junior's bell,' said Mrs. Philpot. 'He always seems to think I'm quite deaf!'
'Bad-mannered little beast!' said Dick, and was pleased to find that Mrs. Philpot didn't disagree!
Anne waited till Mr. Henning's tray was ready, and then firmly put her hands to the sides. 'I'm goingto take it to Mr. Henning,' she said in a most determined voice, and Mrs. Philpot smiled gratefullyand let her lift it. 'Bedroom on the left of the stairs, first floor!' she said. 'And he likes his curtainspulled, too, when his breakfast is brought.'
26
'And does Junior like his pulled as well?' inquired George, in such a sugary voice that the two boyslooked round at her suspiciously. What was she up to now?
'Well - I do pull them for him,' said Mrs. Philpot, 'but don't you pull them if you don't feel like it!
Thank you very much, dear!'
Anne had already gone upstairs with Mr. Henning's tray, and now George set off with Junior's.
She winked at Dick. 'Get that pocket-knife ready for me!' she said, and disappeared through the door,grinning wickedly. She went carefully upstairs with Timmy close at her heels, wondering whateverGeorge was doing with a tray!
George came to Junior's door. It was shut. She gave it a violent kick and it flew open. She entered,clattering with her feet, and set the tray down on a table with a jolt that upset the coffee.
She went whistling to the windows, and pulled the curtains back across the poles so that they made aloud clattering noise.
Junior had apparently fallen asleep again, his head under the clothes. George upset a chair with acrash. That made Junior sit up, half scared. 'What's going on here?' he began. 'Can't you bring mybreakfast without ...' Then he saw that it was George in the room, not the kindly Mrs. Philpot.
'Get out!' he said angrily. 'Crashing about like that! Pull the curtains across again. The sun's toostrong. And look how you've spilt the coffee! Why didn't Mrs. Philpot bring my breakfast? Sheusually does. Here - put the tray on my knees, like she does!'
George whipped the bed-clothes off him, took up the tray and set it down violently on his pyjama'dknees. The hot coffee got a violent jerk and some drops fell on to his bare arm. They were hot, and heyelled loudly. He lashed out at George, and hit her hard on the shoulder.
That was a very great mistake. Timmy, who was at the door watching, leapt on to the bed at once,growling. He pulled the terrified boy on to the floor, and kept him lying there, standing over him,deep growls coming from the depths of his great body.
George took absolutely no notice. She went round the room, humming a little tune, putting this andthat straight, tidying the dressing-table, not seeming to notice what Timmy was doing. She shut thedoor so that no one would hear Junior's howls.
'George - take this dog off me!' begged Junior. 'He'll kill me! GEORGE! I'll tell my Pop of you.
I'm sorry I hit you. Oh no, take this dog off me, PLEASE do!'
27
He began to weep, and George looked scornfully down at him. 'You nasty spoilt little pest,' she said.
'I've a good mind to leave you here all morning, with Timmy on guard! But this time I'll be generousto you. Come here, Tim. Leave that funny little worm there on the floor!'
Junior was still weeping. He crept into bed and wrapped the blankets round him. 'I don't want anybreakfast,' he wept. 'I'll tell Pop about you. He'll lam you all right.'
'Yes, you tell him,' said George, tucking him in so tightly that he couldn't move. 'You tell him -and I'll whisper into Timmy's ear that you've told tales of me - and honestly, I simply don't knowwhat he'll do!'
'You are the most horrible boy I've ever met,' said Junior, knowing when he was beaten. Georgegrinned. So he thought she was a boy, did he? Good!
'Mrs. Philpot isn't going to bring up your breakfast any more,' she said. 'I'm going to - with Timmy.
See? And if you dare to ring that bell more than once each morning, you'll be sorry!'
'I don't want my breakfast brought up,' said Junior, in a small voice. 'I'd rather get up and godownstairs for it. I don't want you to bring it.'
'Right. I'll tell Mrs. Philpot,' said George. 'But if you change your mind, just tell me. I'll bring it upany morning - with Timmy!'
She went out and banged the door, Timmy trotting down the stairs in front of her, puzzled butpleased. He didn't like Junior any more than George did.
George went into the kitchen. Dick and Julian were still there. 'You've lost your bet, Dick,' saidGeorge. 'Pocket-knife, please. I not only took up his breakfast, and accidentally spilt hot coffee onhim, but Timmy here pulled him out of bed and stood over him, growling. What a sight that was!
Poor Junior doesn't want his breakfast in bed any more! He's coming down for it each morning.'
'Good for you, George!' said Dick, and slid his pocket-knife across the table. 'You deserve to win.
Now - sit down and finish your breakfast and mind - I'm not betting anything else for a long, longtime!'
6.特别的早餐
特别的早餐
在谷仓里睡觉很有趣，迪克想在床上躺一会儿，感受一下谷仓的味道。他透过敞开的门看到了天空中的星星，一阵阵凉爽的夜风不时地吹来。
而朱利安一上床就睡着了，他甚至没有听到亨宁父子回来时剧烈的敲门声，或是响亮的说话声。半夜一点钟，朱利安突然被一种声音惊醒了。他猛地坐起来，心怦怦直跳。他听到的究竟是什么声音呢？
过了一会儿，朱利安又听到了这个声音，他忽然笑了起来。“我真是个蠢蛋！那只是一只猫头鹰在叫。或许不止一只。天啊，那个又尖又细的声音是什么？是老鼠还是仓鼠？难道是猫头鹰正在这里打猎？”
朱利安静静地躺着倾听。突然，他感觉到脸上扇过一阵冷风，他不由得身体一阵僵硬。那一定是猫头鹰翅膀上柔软的羽毛，他知道猫头鹰扇动翅膀时没有声音。猫头鹰的羽毛非常柔软，即使是听觉灵敏的老鼠也听不到它悄悄俯冲下来的声音！
又是一声尖利的吱吱声。“猫头鹰的工作做得很好。”朱利安心想，“这个存放着食物的谷仓到处都是老鼠和仓鼠，所以这对猫头鹰来说是一个很好的狩猎场所。我敢打赌，对农民来说，这只猫头鹰抵得上跟它同等重量的金子。喂，猫头鹰，好好干！但千万不要误以为我的鼻子是老鼠。啊，你又来了，就在我头上。我看到你了，就是那个掠过的影子！”
朱利安又睡着了，直到阳光照进谷仓，他才醒过来。阳光点亮了成百上千个飘浮在空中的小微粒。朱利安看了看自己的手表。
“都七点半了！我本来打算七点就起床的。迪克！醒醒！”
迪克睡得很沉，朱利安猛烈地晃动他的身子都没把他摇醒。他只是翻了个身，又睡着了。朱利安瞥了一眼谷仓的另一边——双胞胎的露营床是空的。他们把枕头和毯子叠得整整齐齐的，然后悄无声息地出了门。他们没有叫醒我们，朱利安提着袜子想：“我想知道我能不能在大厨房的水槽那里洗漱。”“迪克，你能醒醒吗？”他大声说道，“都快到十点啦！”
迪克一听到朱利安说到了“十点”，就立刻坐了起来。他好像被吓到了。“十点钟？糟了！天啊，我一定睡了一整天！哦，我不是故意要拖到这么晚吃早餐的。我……”
“冷静下来，”朱利安哈哈大笑地梳着头发说，“我只是说‘可能到了十点钟！’实际上，现在才七点半。”
“谢天谢地，”迪克说着，又躺回床上，“哦，那我要再多睡十分钟！”
“双胞胎已经走了。”朱利安说，“我想知道，女孩们是不是也起来了。噢，天啊，那是什么？”
有什么东西突然扎了迪克一下，他猛地从床上弹了起来。朱利安转过身来。他还以为是居里尔或双胞胎在搞恶作剧呢。
“是你，寒鸦诺斯！”他说道。那只厚脸皮的鸟正站在他的枕头上，“你的嘴巴真是又尖又快！”
“喳咳！”寒鸦大叫着飞到他的肩膀上，朱利安感到受宠若惊。
结果寒鸦啄了一下他的耳朵。“来，你来对付这只鸟。”朱利安一边对依然睡意蒙眬的迪克说，一边把诺斯交给他。诺斯迅速扑向迪克枕头旁边的手表，叼起它就飞走了。迪克愤怒地喊道：“把它还给我，你这只臭鸟！你不知道这是块手表吗？它抢走了我的手表，朱利安——谁知道它会把表藏在哪里！”
“它钻进了屋顶，”朱利安说，“我们最好告诉双胞胎。也许他们知道怎么对付诺斯。为什么它不叼走居里尔的手表呢，那样的话，我一定会为它鼓掌的！”
“喳咳，喳咳，喳咳！”诺斯叫道，它好像在表示自己完全同意这个说法。它张开嘴大叫“喳咳”的时候，手表掉了下来，落地时反弹到远处的一个粮食袋下面。诺斯朝手表猛扑过去，与此同时，迪克也冲了过去。手表滑进了两个麻袋之间，所以迪克抢在诺斯前面拿到了它。
诺斯飞到屋顶，愤怒地大叫着。“别大吼大叫的，”迪克把手表戴在手腕上，严厉地说道，“你应该为自己的行为感到羞耻！”
两个男孩走出谷仓，来到了农舍。农舍里有人在说话，这两个男孩为自己起晚了而感到非常惭愧！桌子上摆着早餐，但似乎已经有人吃完了！
“女孩们还没来。”迪克说。他看到乔治和安妮的早餐还都没动，“但双胞胎吃过了。很明显，除了我们四个大家都吃过早餐了！
啊，是菲尔伯特夫人来了。对不起，我们迟到了。恐怕我们睡过头了。”
“没关系！”菲尔伯特夫人笑着说道，“我没指望我的客人们早起。谁都可以在度假时睡个懒觉！”
她把手里的托盘放在桌子上。“那是亨宁先生的。他想吃早餐的时候，就会摇铃。那边的是居里尔的早餐托盘。他们摇铃时我再来煮咖啡。”她说着走出了厨房。
早餐有冷火腿、煮鸡蛋和水果。两个男孩坐到桌旁。两个女孩进来的时候，他们责备地看了她们一眼。蒂米跟在她们身后，一副睡眼惺忪的样子。“我猜，你们是睡过头了吧。”迪克假装感到震惊地说道，“坐下吧。我来给你们倒点咖啡。”
“居里尔在哪里？我希望他还没下来，”乔治焦急地说道，“我还记得我们打过赌，关于我是否会给他送早餐！”
“迪克，你认为让乔治给居里尔送早餐没问题吗？”朱利安想了一会儿说道，“乔治，不要把托盘或其他东西扔在他身上，好吗？”
“我倒是有可能这么做，”乔治一边说，一边吃着煮鸡蛋，“只要能赢得你的新折叠刀就行！”
“好吧，我们不要做得太过分了。尽量不要嘲笑居里尔，”朱利安警告道，“你不想气走亨宁父子，让菲尔伯特夫人难堪吧？”
“好吧，好吧，”乔治说道，“别唠叨了。我得再吃一个鸡蛋，迪克。请递一个鸡蛋给我。我不知道自己怎么会这么饿。”
“麻烦让个位子，我好切火腿。”迪克说道。他给自己切了整整两大片，“哇，美味极了！真是太好吃了！我可以一整天都吃这个。”
两个女孩埋头吃早餐。他们刚吃完，厨房里就响起一阵响亮的铃声。铃铛在他们的头顶叮当作响，把他们吓了一跳。菲尔伯特夫人立刻走进了厨房。“那是亨宁先生的铃声，”她说，“我得为他煮咖啡了。”
“我来端他的托盘，”安妮说，“乔治来端居里尔的。”
“哦，不，我真的不想让你们这样做。”菲尔伯特夫人心疼地说道。就在这时，铃声又响了，而且来回摇动了很长一段时间。
“那是居里尔的铃声，”菲尔伯特夫人说道，“他似乎总觉得我是个聋子听不见！”
“真是个没有礼貌的小野种！”迪克骂道。他高兴地发现，菲尔伯特夫人这次并没有表示反对。
亨宁先生的早餐准备好之后，安妮坚定地将双手放在托盘两侧。“就让我把它端到亨宁先生那里吧。”她坚持说道。菲尔伯特夫人感激地笑了笑，让她端起了托盘。
“他在楼梯左边的卧室，一楼！”她说道，“他吃早餐前，喜欢别人把窗帘拉开。”
“那么居里尔也喜欢把窗帘拉开吗？”乔治故意甜甜地问道。两个男孩满腹狐疑地看着她，她现在到底在打算做什么？
“对，我确实会帮他把窗帘拉开。”菲尔伯特夫人说道，“但如果你不喜欢这样做，就不用做！非常感谢你，亲爱的！”
安妮已经端着亨宁先生的托盘离开了。现在，乔治也端着居里尔的托盘出发了。她对迪克眨了眨眼。“准备好把你的小刀给我吧！”说着，她咧嘴一笑，然后从门后消失了。乔治小心翼翼地走上楼，蒂米紧紧地跟在她脚边，它想知道乔治打算用托盘做什么！
乔治来到居里尔的房门口。门还关着，她朝房门猛地踢了一下，门一下子弹开了。乔治走了进去，用脚把地板踩得嘎嘎响。她把托盘重重地放在桌子上，咖啡杯被震得直晃荡。接着，她吹着口哨往窗户边走去。她沿着横杆拉动窗帘，发出响亮的咔哒声。
居里尔显然又睡着了，他把头埋在被单下面。乔治用力拖动一把椅子，这动静让居里尔一下子坐了起来。他半是惊醒，半是害怕。“这 里 发 生 了 什 么 事？”他 问 道，“你 就 不 能 安 静 地 把 早餐……”这时，他才看到房间里的是乔治，而不是好心的菲尔伯特夫人。
“你吵死了！”他气愤地说，“快把窗帘拉上，阳光太刺眼了。看看你，咖啡都洒出来了！为什么不是菲尔伯特夫人送早餐过来？一般是她送的。放这儿——把托盘放在我的膝盖上，就像她一样！”
乔治把毯子从居里尔身上扯下来。她端起托盘，重重地放在居里尔穿着睡衣的膝盖上。热咖啡猛地晃起来，溅到了他光着的手臂上。咖啡很烫，居里尔疼得大叫了一声。他朝乔治破口大骂，并使劲地打了一下她的肩膀。
这下子，居里尔可犯了个大错，门口的蒂米立即跳到他床上，朝他低吼起来。蒂米把吓坏了的居里尔从床上拖到了地板上，然后站在他身上，并从它庞大的身躯深处发出一阵低沉的咆哮。
乔治假装完全没有注意到这回事。她在房间里晃来晃去，哼着小调，装模作样地整理着梳妆台。当然，她并没忘记把门关上，这样就不会有人听到居里尔的哀号了。
“乔治，把这只狗从我身上赶走，”居里尔恳求道，“它会咬死我的！乔治，对不起，我不该打你。哦不，快把这只狗从我身上拽走，求你了！”
居里尔开始哭起来。乔治轻蔑地看着他。“你这个被宠坏了的小坏蛋，”她说，“我真想让你整个上午都待在这里，由蒂米看守着！
但是这次我先放过你。来吧，蒂米。别管地板上那个小坏蛋了！”
居里尔悄悄溜回床上，把毯子裹得紧紧的。“我再也不想吃早餐了，”他哭着说道，“我要告诉爸爸你做了些什么，他会教训你的。”
“是的，你去跟他说吧，”乔治说着，把毯子紧紧压住，压得居里尔无法动弹，“快去告诉他。而我则会悄悄地告诉蒂米，你说我的坏话了。老实说，我根本不知道它会干出什么事！”
“你简直是我见过的最可怕的男孩。”居里尔说。乔治咧嘴一笑。居里尔居然认为她是个男孩，这太好了！
“菲尔伯特夫人不再为你送早餐了，”乔治说，“以后都换我来送，我和蒂米一起送，明白了吗？如果你每天早上摇铃的次数超过一次，你一定会后悔的！”
“我不想在房间里吃早餐了，”居里尔小声说道，“我宁愿起床去楼下吃。我不想让你送早餐上来。”
“好的，我会告诉菲尔伯特夫人的。”乔治说道，“但如果你改变主意了就告诉我，不管哪天早上，我都会把早餐送上来的——我和蒂米一起来！”
乔治走了出去。她“砰”的一声把门关上，蒂米在她前面走下楼梯。它很疑惑刚才发生的事，但它的心情很好，因为它跟乔治一样不喜欢居里尔。
乔治走进厨房。迪克和朱利安还在那里。“你输掉了赌注，迪克，”乔治说，“把折叠刀拿来吧。我不仅把他的早餐送上去了，还不小心把热咖啡洒在他身上。而蒂米把他从床上拖下来，还站在居里尔身上低声咆哮。那场面真是精彩！可怜的居里尔再也不想在床上吃早餐了！他会每天早上都下楼来吃的。”
“干得漂亮，乔治！”迪克一边说着，一边把他的小刀从桌面上滑过来。
“这是你赢得的。现在，坐下来好好静一静，吃完你的早餐。一段时间内我都不会再打任何赌了！”
Chapter 7 THE TWINS CHANGE THEIR MINDS
Chapter 7 THE TWINS CHANGE THEIR MINDS
The twins, Harry and Harriet, had had their breakfast some while ago. They now came into the bigkitchen, Snippet at their heels, and scowled to see the Five still having breakfast there. Anne was infits of laughter over George's account of the way she had dealt with Junior.
'You should have seen his face when I planked the breakfast tray on his knees, and the hot coffeesplashed him!' said George. 'He let out a yell that startled even old Timmy. And when he hit me, andTimmy leapt on the bed and dragged him out on to the floor, his eyes nearly fell out of his head!'
'No wonder he's decided to come down to breakfast each morning, then,' said Julian. 'He'll be scaredstiff of you appearing with a breakfast tray again!'
The twins listened to this in amazement. They looked at one another, and nodded. Then they walkedup to the breakfast table, and for once in a way, only one twin spoke. Whether it was Harry orHarriet, nobody knew, for they both looked so much alike.
'What's happened?' said the twin to George. 'Why did you take up Junior's breakfast tray.'
'Because we were all so fed up with the way Junior - and his Pop - impose on your mother,' saidGeorge. 'Fancy a boy having breakfast in bed!'
'So old George took it into her head to take up his breakfast herself, and said she'd teach him such alesson he'd be a bit more considerate of your mother in future,' said Dick. 'What's more, I was idioticenough to bet George she wouldn't do it - and now she's won my best pocket-knife off me - look!'
George proudly displayed the knife. The twins each gave a sudden loud laugh, which surprised theothers very much. 'Well, I'm blessed!' said Dick. 'Fancy you being able to laugh! You always look sofierce and unfriendly. Well, now that you've condescended to talk to us, let me tell you this - we thinkyour mother is absolutely tops, and far from giving her more trouble, we're all going to help as muchas we can. Got that?'
Both twins were smiling broadly now. They took it in turns to speak, which was really much morefriendly than their usual stiff way of talking in unison.
'We hate Junior!' said one twin. 'He thinks our mother is a kind of slave, to come when he rings forher, or shouts for her.'
29
'His father's the same,' said the other twin. 'Wanting this and that, and sending our mother all over theplace to fetch and carry for him. Why doesn't he go and stay at a hotel?'
'He doesn't because he's so set on snooping out our old things and buying them,' said the other twin. 'Iknow for a fact that Mother has sold him some of her own things - but she just had to have somemoney; things are so expensive, and we grow out of our clothes so quickly.'
'I say - it is nice to hear you talking properly,' said Julian, clapping the twin on the back. 'And nowwould you mind letting us know how to tell which of you is which? I know one's a boy and one's agirl, but you both look exactly alike to me - you might be two boys!'
The twins gave sudden, mischievous grins. 'Well - don't you tell Junior, then,' said one. 'You canalways tell me by this scar on my hand, see? Harriet hasn't any scar. I'm Harry.'
The four looked at the long thin scar on the boy's hand. 'I got that by tearing the back of my hand onbarbed wire,' said Harry. 'Now you'll know us from each other! I say - tell us all about George and thebreakfast tray, from beginning to end. Good old George. She looks just as much a boy as Harrietdoes.'
It was very pleasant to find the twins so friendly, after their stiff, sullen dislike. The four warmed tothem - and when Mrs. Philpot suddenly appeared in the kitchen to clear away breakfast, she wasastounded to see her twins talking and laughing gaily with the others. She stood and stared, adelighted smile on her face.
'Mother! Junior's not going to have breakfast in bed any more!' said Harry. 'Listen why!' And thestory had to be told all over again. George went red. She was half afraid that Mrs. Philpot would bereally displeased. But no, she threw back her head and laughed.
'Oh, that really does me good,' she said. 'But I hope Junior doesn't tell his father, and they don't bothgo off in a hurry! We do need their money, you know, much as I hate having them here.
Now I must clear away breakfast!'
'No, you mustn't. That's our job,' said Anne. 'Isn't it, twins?'
'YES!' said both twins together. 'We're all friends now, Mother - let them belong to the family.'
'Well, I'll go and see to the chickens, then, if you're going to clear away,' said Mrs. Philpot. 'You canwash up, too, bless you!'
'Look - how would you like to go round the farm in our old Land-Rover today?' said Harry to theothers. 'It's the best way to see over the farm. I think Bill's got to go round this morning, and check onthe fields and the stock. He'll take you, if I ask him.'
30
'Fine!' said Julian. 'What time?'
'In about half an hour,' said Harry. I'll find Bill - and when you hear a horn hooting, come on out.
By the way, Bill isn't much of a talker, but if he takes to you, he'll be quite pally.'
'Right,' said Julian. 'Can Dick and I do something while the girls are clearing away?'
'Gosh yes, there's ALWAYS something to do on a farm,' said Harry. 'Come on up to the chicken-houses - Harriet and I are patching them up to stop the rain leaking in.'
Julian and Dick, with Timmy behind them, immediately went off with the twins, now as merry andfriendly as before they had been dour and sullen! What a change!
'Well, thank goodness I took Junior's breakfast up to him, and put him in his place,' said George,folding up the table-cloth. 'It was apparently just the one thing that would make the twins friendly!
Hark, Anne, I believe that's Junior coming.'
She slipped behind the dresser, while Anne set the chairs straight round the table. Junior camecreeping in very quietly indeed, and looked round fearfully. He seemed very relieved to find onlyAnne there. He considered that she was quite harmless!
'Where's that dog?' he asked.
'What dog?' said Anne innocently. 'Snippets?'
'No - that great ugly mongrel - and that awful boy he belongs to,' said Junior, still fearful.
'Oh, you mean George, I suppose,' said Anne, amused that Junior thought George was a boy.
'Well, look over there!'
Junior saw George advancing on him from behind the dresser, gave one agonized yell and fled,fearing that she had Timmy somewhere behind her. George laughed.
'We shan't have much trouble with him in future,' she said. 'I just hope he doesn't say too much to hisPop!'
After a while they heard the sound of a hooter outside. 'That's the Land-Rover,' said George, excited.
'Well, we've just finished the washing-up. Hang up the tea-cloths to dry, Anne. I'll pop these dishesinto the cupboard...'
Soon they were out of the great kitchen door and down the passage that led to the yard. Not far offwas a van-like car, the Land-Rover. It was an old one, very dirty, and a bit lop-sided. Dick and Julianyelled to the girls.
'Buck up! Didn't you hear us hooting?'
31
The girls ran to the Land-Rover. Bill, the farmhand, was at the wheel. He grinned at them andnodded. Timmy greeted George as if he hadn't seen her for a year and almost knocked her down inhis playfulness.
'Tim! Don't be such an ass!' said George, 'planting your great muddy paws all over me! Where are thetwins? Aren't they coming?'
'Naw,' said Bill. 'They be busy.'
They all got in, and were just about to set off when someone else appeared. 'Wait! I'm coming!
Wait, I say!'
And up ran Junior, full of himself as usual. 'Jump down, Tim - go to him,' said George, in a lowvoice. And very willingly indeed Timmy leapt down and ran full-tilt towards the unsuspecting Junior.
He gave one loud yell, turned, and fled for his life.
'Well, that's got rid of him!' said Dick, with much satisfaction. 'Look at Timmy - he's laughing allover his hairy old face! You love a joke, don't you, Tim?'
It did indeed look as if Tim was laughing, for he had his mouth wide open, showing all his teeth, andhis tongue was hanging out happily. He leapt back into the car.
'Sensible dog, that,' said Bill, and then relapsed into his usual silence as he started up the Land-Roverwith a really shattering noise. It moved off towards the fields.
How it jolted! The four clung to the sides of the van, almost bumped off their seats as the Land-Roverjerked its way over field-paths, uphill and downhill, jolting in and out of deep ruts, appearing to be onthe point of overturning at any minute. Anne wasn't sure that she liked it much, but the othersenjoyed every minute.
'Now you'll see the farm-land,' said Bill, as they came to the top of the hill. 'Look yonder! Could bethe finest farm in the county, if Mester Philpot had the money!'
7.化敌为友
化敌为友
吃过早餐的哈利和哈丽特又回到了厨房里，斯尼帕紧随其后。
他们看到朱利安他们还在那里吃早餐，不由得皱起了眉头。安妮正在听乔治说着教训居里尔的事，她笑得很开心。
“你真应该看看我把早餐托盘放在他的膝盖上，热咖啡溅到他身上时，他脸上的表情！”乔治说，“他大叫了一声，甚至连蒂米都吓了一跳。他打我的时候，蒂米一下子跳上床，把他拖到地板上。他的眼珠子差点吓得掉出来了！”
“难怪他决定以后每天早上都要下楼来吃早餐呢，”朱利安说，“他害怕又是你端着托盘上去！”
双胞胎惊讶地听着他们谈论的这件事。他们互相对视了一眼，点了点头，然后走到餐桌旁。这是他们第一次主动开口说话。孩子们不知道说话的是哈利还是哈丽特——没有人知道，因为他们两个人看起来实在太像了。
“怎么回事？”双胞胎之一问乔治，“为什么是你给居里尔送早餐？”
“因为我们都讨厌居里尔的行为，还有他爸爸的行为。他们简直就是在压榨你妈妈的劳动，”乔治说道，“一个身体健全的男孩子居然要在床上吃早餐！”
“所以乔治想到了一个主意。她来给居里尔送早餐，然后趁机给他一个教训，这样他才会对你妈妈好一些。”迪克说，“更重要的一点是，我居然蠢到去跟她打赌，说她不会这样做，结果呢，她赢走了我最好的折叠刀，看！”
乔治自豪地展示了这把刀。双胞胎突然笑了起来。这让四个小伙伴大吃一惊。“好吧，我很幸运！”迪克说，“居然还能看到你们笑的样子！你们看上去总是凶巴巴的，一点也不友好。现在，既然你们找我们说话，我就告诉你们吧，我们认为你们的妈妈绝对是最棒的女主人。我们不想给她带来更多麻烦。我们几个会尽可能多地为你们提供帮助，明白了吗？”
两个双胞胎笑得很开心。他们轮流说着话，这种说话的方式友善多了。他们平时总是异口同声地说话，显得硬邦邦的。
“我们讨厌居里尔！”双胞胎之一说，“他把我们的妈妈当成了奴隶。他总是摇铃吩咐她做这做那，还朝她大喊大叫。”
“他爸爸也一样，”双胞胎中的另一个说，“他总是要这要那，把妈妈指使得团团转。他为什么不去酒店住呢？”
“他不去酒店是因为他一直在探听我们家的旧东西，他想要把这些老物件买走。”双胞胎中的另一个说道，“我知道妈妈已经把自己的一些东西卖给了他。不过她必须得换点钱回来，因为我们日常开销的费用很高，瞧，我们的衣服很快就穿不下了。”
“很高兴听到你们正常说话，”朱利安拍了拍双胞胎的背说道，“现在，你们能不能告诉我们，怎么才能区分开你们俩？我只知道你们一个是男孩，一个是女孩。但你们两个看起来太像了——就像是两个男孩子！”
双胞胎的脸上突然露出狡黠的笑容。“好吧。但你们不能告诉居里尔，”他们中一个说，“你们可以通过我手上的伤疤来区分。看到了吗？哈丽特没有伤疤。我是哈利。”
四个孩子看了看男孩手上那道又长又细的疤痕。“铁丝网划破了我的手背，留下了这道伤疤。”哈利说，“现在我们彼此了解了！给我们讲讲关于乔治和早餐托盘的事吧，把所有细节从头到尾讲一遍。我们的好姐姐乔治，看起来跟哈丽特一样，就像是男孩子。”
看到原本态度生硬的双胞胎变得这么友好，大家都感到很开心。四个小伙伴与双胞胎真诚以待。菲尔伯特夫人来到厨房里收拾餐具的时候，看到她的双胞胎和其他几个孩子快乐地交谈着，感到十分震惊。她站在那儿盯着孩子们看了又看，脸上露出愉快的笑容。
“妈妈！居里尔再也不会在床上吃早餐了！”哈利说道。
“你得听听这是为什么！”大家又把这个故事重新讲了一遍。乔治的脸红了起来。她既有些不好意思，还有些担心菲尔伯特夫人会不高兴她这样做。然而菲尔伯特夫人并没有不开心，她甩了甩头，笑了起来。
“哦，这对我来说真是件好事，”她说道，“但我希望居里尔没有告诉他爸爸，并且他们不会匆忙离开！虽然我不喜欢他们住在这里，但我们的确很需要他们的钱。现在我得收拾餐具了！”
“不，您不需要做这些，那是我们的工作，”安妮说道，“对吗，双胞胎？”
“是的！”两个双胞胎异口同声地说。“我们现在是朋友了。妈妈，让他们融入到我们的家庭中吧。”
“好吧，如果你们来收拾餐具的话，那我就去看看小鸡，”菲尔伯特夫人说道，“你们也可以把餐具洗了。愿上天保佑你们这群好心的孩子！”
“你们今天想不想搭我们的旧路虎车去农场转转？”哈利对几个小伙伴说，“这是参观农场的最佳方式。我想比尔今天早上一定会去查看田地和家畜，我跟他说一声，他会带你们去的。”
“太好了，”朱利安说道，“什么时候？”
“大概半个小时以后，”哈利说道，“我去找比尔。你们听到喇叭声就出来。顺便说一句，比尔一般不怎么说话，但如果他跟你们聊得来，他就会说个没完。”
“好的，”朱利安说，“女孩们收拾餐具的时候，迪克和我可以做些什么吗？”
“当然可以，农场里随处都有活儿，”哈利说道，“到鸡舍来吧。
哈丽特和我正在修补鸡舍，以防漏雨。”
朱利安和迪克立刻和双胞胎一起走了，蒂米跟在他们身后。现在，双胞胎不再像以前那样闷闷不乐，而是开心友好地畅谈起来，这是多么大的变化呀！
“谢天谢地。今天幸亏我把居里尔的早餐送了上去，并且让他好好守规矩，”乔治说着，把桌布叠了起来，“显然是这件事让双胞胎变得友好起来！听，安妮，我猜是居里尔来了。”
乔治在碗柜后面洗洗涮涮，安妮则把椅子一一摆在桌子旁边。
的确是居里尔来了。他悄悄地溜了进来，惊惶地四处打量着。居里尔看到只有安妮一个人在这儿，似乎松了一口气——他认为安妮没有什么攻击性！
“那只狗在哪里？”他问道。
“什么狗？”安妮困惑地说，“斯尼帕？”
“不，是那个丑陋的杂种，还有它的主人——那个可怕的男孩。”居里尔提起他们来还有些后怕。
“哦，我猜你是在说乔治。”安妮说，心想居里尔还以为乔治是个男孩，“喏，看那边！”
居里尔看到乔治从碗柜后面朝他走来，惊恐地大叫一声逃走了。他害怕蒂米从乔治身后什么地方突然冒出来。乔治大笑了起来。
“以后他不会给我们惹什么麻烦了，”乔治说，“我只希望他别告诉他爸爸！”
过了一会儿，他们听到了外面的喇叭声。“是那辆路虎，”乔治兴奋地说道，“正好，我们刚刚把餐具都洗完了。安妮，将桌布挂起来晾干。我来把这些碟子都放进橱柜……”
很快，女孩们就走出了厨房的大门。她们来到院子里，看到不远处停了一辆路虎牌的小货车。这辆车又脏又旧，还有点晃。迪克和朱利安大声朝女孩们喊着：“快上来！你们没听到我们在喊你们吗？”
女孩们跑到那辆路虎旁。农场工人比尔坐在驾驶室里。他对孩子们笑了笑，点了点头。蒂米激动地跑向乔治，好像他们有一年没见面似的，差点把乔治撞倒。
“蒂米！别这么讨厌！”乔治嗔怪道，“你的爪子上全是泥，把我身上都弄脏了！双胞胎在哪里？他们来了吗？”
“他们没来，”比尔说，“他们很忙。”
孩子们都上了车。正准备出发时，他们突然听到有人在大喊：“等等！我来了！给我等等！”
是居里尔跑了过来。他像往常一样，只考虑到自己。“跳下去，蒂米，逮住他。”乔治低声说道。这话正合蒂米的心意，它跳下车，朝着毫无防备的居里尔全力扑去。居里尔大叫了一声，转身逃命去了。
“好吧，这样就可以摆脱他了！”迪克非常满意地说道，“看看蒂米，它那张毛茸茸的老脸笑得多开心！蒂米，你喜欢不时地开个玩笑，是吧？”
蒂米看起来确实像在笑。它张大嘴巴，露出了所有的牙齿；舌头伸到外面，愉快地摆动着。赶走居里尔后，蒂米又跳回到车里。
“聪明的狗。”比尔说道。说完，他就闭上了嘴巴，然后启动了路虎。车子发出一阵震耳欲聋的噪声，朝着田野开去。
路上实在太颠簸了，四个小伙伴紧紧扒着车的两侧。这辆路虎在田间小路上颠簸着，爬上坡又冲下坡，越过一个个坑洼，似乎随时都有可能翻车。有好几次，孩子们都差点被抛出了座位。安妮不确定自己是否喜欢这样的旅程，但其他几个孩子都很喜欢。他们一路上的每一分钟都很开心。
“现在你们可以看到农田了。”比尔说道。他们已经来到了山顶，“看吧！如果菲尔伯特老板有钱的话，这一定是郡里最好的农场！”
Chapter 8 ALL ROUND THE FARM
Chapter 8 ALL ROUND THE FARM
The Five thoroughly enjoyed their ride over the big farm. It spread out in all directions overundulating hills, and the van swung up and down and continually lurched round corners. It stoppedevery now and again so that the children might see the magnificent views.
32
Bill told them the names of the great fields as they passed them. 'That's Oak-Tree Field - that'sHangman's Copse over there - that's Tinker's Wood Field - and that's Faraway Field - the furthestfrom the farm-house.'
Name after name came from his lips, and it seemed as if the sight of the fields he knew and lovedsuddenly set his tongue going. He told them about the stock too. 'Them's the new cows over there- give good milk they do - helps a farmer no end to get money every week for milk, you know.
And them's the bulls, down in that field. Fine creatures, too - cost a mint of money. But MesterPhilpot, he believes in good animals. He'd rather go without a new car than buy poor stock.
Them's the sheep right away over there - see, dotted about on those slopes. Can't take you to see'em today, though. You'd like Shepherd. He's been here so long and is so old, he knows every inch ofthe farm!'
He relapsed into silence after this unusual spate of talk, and turned down a path that took the childrenback towards the farm-house, using a different route, to show them even more fields.
There were glorious fields of corn, golden in the sun, waving in the breeze with a wonderful rustlingnoise. 'I could sit here for hours and look at that, and listen,' said Anne.
'Then don't you marry a farmer, if so be you wants to do that, for a farmer's wife has no time to sit!'
said Bill dryly, and was silent again.
They jolted along, shaken to the bones, but loving every minute. 'Cows, calves, sheep, lambs, bulls,dogs, ducks, chickens,' chanted Anne. 'Corn, kale, beet, cauliflower - ooh, Bill, look out!'
The van had gone at such speed into a deep rut that Anne was nearly flung out. Timmy shot throughthe back entrance of the van, and landed on the ground, rolling over and over. He got slowly to hisfeet, looking most amazed.
'Timmy! It's all right! It was only a bigger hole than usual!' shouted George. 'Buck up - jump in!'
As the Land-Rover didn't stop, Timmy had to gallop after it, and enter with a flying leap from theback. Bill gave a snort of laughter, which made the wheel wobble dangerously. 'This here old car'salmost human,' he said. 'Just jigs about for joy on a day like this!'
And he drove headlong over a slanting path and straight down into a hollow, making poor Annegroan again. 'All very well for Bill!' she said, in Julian's ear. 'He's got the wheel to hang on to!'
In spite of the jolting and bumping the Five immensely enjoyed their ride round the farm. 'Now wereally know what it's like!' said Julian, as the Land-Rover came to a very sudden stop near the farm-house, throwing them all on top of one another. 'My word - no wonder old Great-Grand-33dad, and Mr. and Mrs. Philpot love the place. It's GRAND! Thanks awfully, Bill. We've enjoyed ittremendously! Wish my people had a farm like this!'
'Farm like this? Ay. It's taken centuries to grow,' said Bill. 'All them names I told you - they'mcenturies old too. Nobody knows now who was hanged down in Hangman's Copse - or what Tinkerscame to Tinkers Wood. But they'm not forgot as long as they fields are there!'
Anne stared at Bill in wonder. Why, that was almost poetry, she thought. He turned and saw hergazing at him. He nodded at her.
'You unnerstand all right, miss, don't you?' he said. 'There's some that don't, though. That Mr.
Henning, he raves about it all - but he don't unnerstand a thing. As fer that boy of his!' And to Anne'ssurprise he turned and spat into the ditch, 'That's what I thinks of him!'
'Oh - it's just the way he's been brought up, I expect,' said Anne. 'I've met heaps of fine Americanchildren, and ...'
'Well, that one wants a hiding!' said Bill, grimly. 'And if it wasn't that Mrs. Philpot begged me tokeep my hands offen him, he'd be black and blue, that boy! And so I tell you! Trying to ride on themscarey calves and chasing the hens till they're scared off egg-laying - and stoning the ducks, poorcritturs - and slitting sacks of seed just for the fun of seeing it dribble out and waste! Hoo, wouldn't Ilike to shake him till his bones rattled!'
The four listened in silence, horrified. Junior was much worse than they had thought, then.
George felt very very pleased that she had taught him a lesson that morning.
'Don't you worry any more about Junior,' said Julian grimly. 'We'll keep him in order while we'rehere!'
They said good-bye and walked back to the farmhouse, stiff and sore from the bumpy, bone-shakingride, but with their minds full of the lovely sloping hills, the blue distance, the waving corn, and thefeel of a farmland in good heart.
'That was good,' said Julian, voicing the feelings of the others. 'Very good. I somehow feel moreEnglish for having seen those Dorset fields, set about by hedges, basking in the sun.'
'I liked Bill,' said Anne. 'He's so - so solid and real. He belongs to the land, just as the land belongs tohim. They're one!'
'Ah - Anne has discovered what farming really means!' said Dick. 'I say, I'm most awfully hungry,but I really don't like to go and ask for anything at the farm-house. Let's go down to the village andget buns and milk at the dairy.'
34
'Oh yes!' said Anne and George, and Timmy gave a few sharp, short barks as if he thoroughly agreed.
They set off down the lane that led to the village, and soon came to the little ice-cream shop, halfbaker's half dairy. Janie, the small talkative girl, was there again. She smiled at them in delight.
'You're here again!' she said, in pleasure. 'Mum's made some macaroons this morning. See - all gooeyand fresh!'
'Now how did you guess that we are all very partial to macaroons?' said Dick, sitting down at one ofthe two little tables there. 'We'll have a plateful, please.'
'What, a whole plateful?' exclaimed Janie. 'But there's about twenty on a plate!'
'Just about right,' said Dick. 'And an ice-cream each, please. Large. And don't forget our dog, willyou?'
'Oh no, I won't,' said Janie. 'He's a very nice dog, isn't he? Have you noticed what lovely smiley eyeshe has?'
'Well, yes, we have. We know him quite well, you see,' said Dick, amused. George looked pleased.
She did so like Timmy to be praised. Timmy liked it too. He actually went up to Janie and licked herhand!
Soon they had a plateful of delicious macaroons in front of them - and they were indeed nice, andvery 'gooey' inside, as Janie had so rightly said. George gave Timmy one, but it was really wasted onhim, because he gave one crunch, and then swallowed it! He also chased his ice-cream all over thefloor again, much to Janie's delight.
'How do you like it at Mrs. Philpot's?' she asked. 'Kind, isn't she?'
'Very!' said everyone together.
'We love being at the farm,' said Anne. 'We've been all over it this morning, in the Land-Rover.'
'Did Bill take you?' asked Janie. 'He's my uncle. But he don't usually say much to strangers.'
'Well, he said plenty to us,' said Julian. 'He was most interesting. Does he like macaroons?'
'Oooh yes,' said Janie, rather astonished. 'Everyone likes Mum's macaroons.'
'Could he eat six, do you think?' asked Julian.
'Ooooh yes,' said Janie, still astonished, her blue eyes opened wide.
'Right. Put six in a bag for me,' said Julian. 'I'll give them to him in return for a jolly fine ride.'
35
'That's right down nice of you,' said Janie, pleased. 'My uncle's been on Finniston Farm all his life.
You ought to get him to show you where Finniston Castle used to stand, before it was burnt down,and...'
'Finniston Castle!' exclaimed George, in surprise. 'We went all over the farm this morning, and sawevery field - but we didn't see any ruined castle.'
'Oh no, you wouldn't see anything!' said Janie. 'I told you - it was burnt down. Right to the ground,ages ago. Finniston Farm belonged to it, you know. There's some pictures of it in a shop down theroad. I saw them, and...'
'Now Janie, Janie, how many times have I told you not to chatter to customers?' said Janie's mother,bustling in, frowning. 'That tongue of yours! Can't you learn that people don't want to hear yourchatter, chatter, chatter?'
'We like talking to Janie,' said Julian, politely. 'She's most interesting. Please don't send her away.'
But Janie had fled, red-cheeked and scared. Her mother began to arrange the goods on the counter.
'Let's see now - what did you have?' she said. 'Good gracious, where are all those macaroons gone?
There were at least two dozen there!'
'Er - well - we had almost twenty - and the dog helped, of course - and Janie put six in a bag for us -let's see now...'
'There were twenty-four on that plate,' said Janie's mother, still amazed. 'Twenty-four! I countedthem!'
'And five ice-creams,' said Julian. 'How much is that altogether? Most delicious macaroons theywere!'
Janie's mother couldn't help smiling. She totted up the bill, and Julian paid. 'Come again,' she said,'and don't you let that little gas-bag of mine bore you!'
They set off down the street, feeling very pleased with life. Timmy kept licking his lips as if he couldstill taste macaroon and ice-cream! They walked to the end of the street, and came to the little lanethat led up to the farm. Anne stopped.
'I'd like to go and look at the horse-brasses in this little antique shop,' she said. 'You go on. I'll comelater.'
36
'I'll come in with you,' said George, and she turned to the little shop-window. The boys walked on bythemselves. 'We'll probably be helping on the farm somewhere!' shouted back Dick. 'So long!'
Just as Anne and George were going into the shop, two people came out and almost bumped intothem. One was Mr. Henning the American, the other was a man they hadn't seen before. 'Goodmorning,' Mr. Henning said to them, and went into the street with his friend. Anne and Georgewalked into the dark little shop.
There was an old man there, drumming on the counter, looking quite angry. He gave the two girlssuch a glare that they felt quite frightened!
'That man!' said the old man, and frowned so fiercely that his glasses fell off. Anne helped him to findthem among the clutter of quaint old trinkets on his counter. He fixed them on his nose again andlooked sternly at the two girls and Timmy.
'If you've come to waste my time, please go,' he said. 'I'm a busy man. Children are no good to me.
Just want to nose round and touch this and that, and never buy anything! That American boy now -he's... ah, but you don't know what I'm talking about, do you? I'm upset. I'm always upset whenpeople want to buy our beautiful old things and take them away to a country they don't belong to.
Now...'
'It's all right, Mr. Finniston,' said Anne, in her gentle voice. 'You are Mr. Finniston, aren't you? I justwanted to look at those lovely old horse-brasses, please. I won't bother you for long. We're staying atFinniston Farm, and...'
'Ah - at Finniston Farm, did you say?' said the old man, his face brightening. 'Then you've met mygreat friend, dear old Jonathan Philpot. My very great friend!'
'Is that Mr. Philpot, the twins' father?' asked George.
'No, no, no - it's old Great-Grand-dad! We went to school together,' said the old man, excited.
'Ah - I could tell you some tales of the Finnistons and the castle they once owned. Yes, yes - I'm adescendant of the owners of that castle, you know - the one that was burnt down. Oh, the tales I couldtell you!'
And it was just at that moment that the Adventure began - the Finniston Farm adventure that theFive-were never to forget!
8.农场美景
农场美景
孩子们和蒂米尽情享受着驰骋大农场的乐趣。农场在起伏的山丘上向四面八方蔓延。小货车沿着田间小路上下颠簸着，不断盘旋。比尔不时停下来让孩子们看看壮丽的景色。
每当经过大片田地的时候，比尔就告诉孩子们田地的名字。“那是橡树田。”“那里是刽子手灌木丛。”“那是修补匠林场。”“那是远田——离农舍主屋最远的地方。”
比尔的嘴里冒出一个又一个名字，似乎他一看到自己熟悉和热爱的田地，舌头就会自动发出声音来。比尔还跟他们讲起家畜的事：“那边是新进的奶牛，它们产的牛奶非常棒，一直全心全意地产奶来帮助农民挣钱。这块地上的是公牛，公牛也是很棒的家畜，它们是老板花了很多钱买来的。菲尔伯特老板认为好的家畜很重要，他宁愿不买新车，也不愿购买劣等的家畜。那边是羊群，看，斜坡上那些白色的小点就是羊。但是，今天不能带你们去看羊群了，如果你们见到那个羊倌，一定会喜欢他的。他待在这儿很久了，已经很老了，对农场的每一寸土地都了如指掌！”
说了这么多话后，比尔又重新陷入了沉默之中。他没有沿原路返回，而是换了另外一条路回去。这样，他就可以带孩子们参观更多的地方。
农场里有大片的玉米田。一株株玉米在阳光下闪着耀眼的金黄色。玉米秆在微风中摇动着，发出美妙的沙沙声。“我可以在这里坐上几个小时。我喜欢看着玉米在风中摇曳的身姿，听它们发出美妙的声音。”安妮说道。
“如果你喜欢那样做，那你千万别嫁给农夫，因为农夫的妻子可没有时间坐着发呆！”比尔干巴巴地说了一句，又沉默下来。
大家一起在车上摇摇晃晃，骨头都快被摇散架了，但大家每一分钟都很开心。“牛，小牛，羊，羊羔，公牛，狗，鸭，鸡，”安妮开心地唱了起来，“玉米，羽衣甘蓝，甜菜，花椰菜……呃，比尔，小心！”
车子飞快地冲进了一条深深的车辙。安妮差点被抛到车外去。
蒂米被甩出了车门，跌落在地上，滚了好几圈后，它才慢慢地站起来，一脸惊讶的表情。
“蒂米！没事的！刚刚的车辙有点深而已。”乔治喊道，“快跳进来！”
由于路虎并没有停下来，蒂米不得不跟在车子后面飞奔。它高高跃起，从后门跳上车。比尔哈哈大笑，引得车轮危险地晃动着。“这辆老爷车就像人一样聪明，”比尔说，“它喜欢在这样欢乐的日子里开开玩笑！”
比尔开着车猛地冲向一条斜坡，直接掉到了一个坑里。可怜的安妮被颠得再次呻吟了起来。“比尔倒是好得很！”她在朱利安耳边说道，“他居然还能握住方向盘坚持开下去！”
尽管一路上十分颠簸，但小伙伴们仍然非常喜欢他们的农场之旅。“现在我们知道整个农场是什么样的了。”朱利安说道。那辆路虎在农舍附近停下来。比尔将孩子们一个一个放下来，“天哪，难怪老爷爷，还有菲尔伯特先生和夫人都爱这个地方，这儿真是太棒了！比尔，非常感谢您，我们非常享受这次农场之旅！真希望我们家那里也能建一个这样的农场！”
“建成这样的农场？那可不容易。这个农场花了好几个世纪才建成现在这个样子，”比尔说道，“这里的田地的名字都有几百年历史了，就是我刚刚告诉你们的那些名字。现在没有人知道到底是谁被处死在刽子手灌木丛里，或者哪个修补匠来到了修补匠林场。但只要他们的田地还存在，他们就不会被人们忘记！”
安妮惊讶地盯着比尔。她心想：“他说的那几句话真像一首优美的诗歌。”比尔转过身，看到安妮盯着他瞧，便冲安妮点了点头。
“你完全听懂了我说的话，是吗，小姐？”他问道，“不过，有些人就听不懂。比如亨宁先生——虽然对这一切赞不绝口，但他根本什么都理解不了。他那个孩子跟他一样！”比尔转身往沟里吐了一口痰，“这就是我对他们的看法！”安妮惊讶地看着他。
“哦，我希望那只是因为没人好好教育他，”安妮说道，“我遇到过很多优秀的美国孩子……”
“那孩子确实挺欠揍的，”比尔冷笑着说，“要不是菲尔伯特夫人恳求我不要动手，我一定会把那个家伙揍得鼻青脸肿！我告诉你他都做了些什么——他试图去骑小牛犊，结果把它们都吓坏了。然后他又去追母鸡，搞得母鸡们连蛋都不生了。他还用石头去砸可怜的鸭子，甚至还把装种子的麻袋割开，仅仅为了看种子哗哗地淌出来，浪费掉！哼，我真想把他的骨头都摇散架！”
四人默不作声地听着，他们对居里尔的所作所为感到十分愤慨。居里尔比他们想象的要顽劣得多，乔治非常高兴早上教训了他一顿。
“您不用再担心居里尔了，”朱利安冷冷地说道，“只要我们在这儿，就一定会让他守规矩的！”
他们跟比尔道了别，然后走回农舍。虽然刚才一路的颠簸让他们全身像散架了一样，但是那些可爱的山丘、美丽的蓝天还有摇曳的玉米不时地浮现在脑海中，农田里的舒适自然让他们回味无穷。
“这里的风景简直棒极了！”朱利安说道。其他几个人也是同样的感受，“那些多塞特郡的田地，环绕着树篱，沐浴着阳光，看过之后，我感觉自己更像英格兰人了。”
“我喜欢比尔，”安妮说道，“他是如此……如此粗犷和真实。他属于这片土地，就像这片土地属于他一样。他们是一体的！”
“啊，安妮已经发现了干农活的真正含义！”迪克说道，“我现在饿极了，但我实在不想去主屋。我们一起去村里的小商店买点面包和牛奶吧。”
“哦，太好了！”安妮和乔治都表示赞同，蒂米也发出几声又尖又短的叫声，表示它完全同意。他们沿着通往村庄的小路出发，很快就来到了那家卖冰激凌的小店。这次又是小话唠珍妮在看店。看到孩子们来了，她高兴地冲他们笑了笑。
“你们又来了！”她愉快地说，“妈妈今天早上做了一些蛋白杏仁饼干。看，又黏稠又新鲜！”
“你怎么猜到我们喜欢吃蛋白杏仁饼干？”迪克问。孩子们坐到店里的两张小桌子旁，“请给我们来一整盘。”
“什么，一整盘？”珍妮惊讶地喊道，“但是一盘有二十多个呢！”
“我们差不多就要这么多。”迪克说道，“还有，请给我们每人来一碟冰激凌，大份的。哦，别忘了我们的狗，好吗？”
“哦，我不会忘的，”珍妮说道，“它是一只非常棒的狗，不是吗？你们有没有注意到，它的眼睛总是笑眯眯的？”
“嗯，是的，我们知道。我们非常了解它。”迪克说着笑了起来。乔治看上去很高兴。她非常喜欢蒂米受到赞扬。蒂米也喜欢，它还走到珍妮身边，舔了舔她的手！
没过多久，孩子们面前就出现了一盘美味的蛋白杏仁饼干。这些饼干确实美味极了。正如珍妮所说的那样，饼干夹心的部分非常“黏稠”。乔治给了蒂米一个，但那样做其实有些浪费，因为蒂米根本没有细细品尝，而是一口吞了下去！蒂米又在地板上追着它的冰激凌跑，这再次让珍妮开心地大笑起来。
“你们喜欢菲尔伯特夫人吗？”她问道，“她很亲切，不是吗？”
“她非常亲切！”大家齐声说道。
“我们喜欢待在农场，”安妮说，“今天早上，我们坐着路虎参观了整个农场。”
“是比尔带你们去的吗？”珍妮问道，“他是我的叔叔。但他通常不会跟陌生人说太多话。”
“不过，他对我们说了很多话，”朱利安说，“而且很有趣。他喜欢蛋白杏仁饼干吗？”
“噢，是的，”珍妮说道。朱利安的问题让她感到有些意外，“每个人都喜欢妈妈做的蛋白杏仁饼干。”
“你觉得他能不能吃下六块饼干？”朱利安问道。
“哦，可以。”珍妮说道。她的表情仍然很惊讶，蓝色的眼睛睁得大大的。
“好的，那就拿六个装在袋子里，”朱利安说道，“我要把这袋饼干送给他作为谢礼。我们非常感谢他提供了这趟精彩的农场之旅。”
“你们真是太好了！”珍妮欣慰地说道，“我的叔叔一辈子都待在芬尼斯顿农场，你们应该让他带你们去看芬尼斯顿城堡的遗址。它被烧毁之前就矗立在那儿，并且……”
“芬尼斯顿城堡！”乔治惊讶地喊道，“今天早上，我们参观了农场每一片田地，但我们可没看到什么被烧毁的城堡。”
“哦，不，你们当然看不到！”珍妮说，“我刚刚跟你们说过，它被烧毁了，很久以前就被烧没了。芬尼斯顿农场是属于这座城堡的。路上的商店里有一些图片，我曾经看到过，而且……”
“别说了，珍妮。我跟你说过多少次，让你不要和顾客聊天！”珍妮的妈妈挤了进来，皱着眉头说道，“你真是管不住自己的舌头！难道你不知道吗？别人根本不想听你喋喋不休地说这说那。”
“我们喜欢和珍妮说话，”朱利安礼貌地说道，“她非常有趣。请不要让她离开。”
但是珍妮害怕妈妈责备，她红着脸飞快地溜走了。她的妈妈开始整理柜台上的货物。“让我看看，你们买了些什么？”她问道，“我的老天爷，那些蛋白杏仁饼干跑哪里去了？我拿来了至少两打！”
“呃，我们吃了差不多二十个。当然我们的狗也吃了点。而且珍妮为我们在袋子里装了六个。现在我们来看看……”
“那个盘子里有二十四个，”珍妮的妈妈说道。她仍然一脸惊讶，“整整二十四个，我数过的！”
“还有五份冰激凌，”朱利安说，“这些一共多少钱？这些蛋白杏仁饼干简直是世界上最美味的点心了！”
珍妮的妈妈忍不住笑了起来。她算清楚账单，朱利安付了钱。
“下次再来，”她说，“别让我家那个小话唠把你们给惹烦了！”
他们沿着街道走着，大家都感到心满意足。蒂米一直舔着嘴唇，好像还在回味蛋白杏仁饼干和冰激凌！他们走到村口，来到通向农场的小路。安妮停了下来。
“我想去这家小古董店里逛逛。我想看看店里的马鞍黄铜扣。”她说道，“你们先走吧，我一会儿就来。”
“我和你一起去。”说着，乔治转身走向商店的小橱窗。男孩们则继续往前走。“我们可能会在农场的某个地方帮忙干活！”迪克喊道，“一会儿见！”
安妮和乔治正要往古董店里走。这时候，两个人从店里出来，差点把她们撞到。一位是亨宁先生，另一位是他们从没见过的一个男人。“早上好！”亨宁先生对他们说。然后他就和他的朋友一起离开了。安妮和乔治走进了黑乎乎的小古董店。
这家店的主人是个老头儿。他正在柜台上敲来敲去，看上去很生气。老头儿凶巴巴地看了两个女孩一眼。他的眼神让女孩们感到非常害怕！
“那个人……”老头儿皱眉说道。他的眼镜掉了下来，落在柜台上那些古怪的小装饰品中。安妮帮他找到了眼镜。老头儿再次将眼镜挂在鼻子上，严肃地看着两个女孩和蒂米。
“如果你们是来浪费我的时间的话，请离开，”他说道，“我忙得很，没工夫陪孩子玩。孩子们总是摸摸这个，看看那个，什么都不买！那个美国男孩，他……啊，但你们不知道我在说什么，对吗？
我现在很难过。每当有人想购买我的那些漂亮的老物件，并将它们带到异国他乡时，我总是很难过。现在……”
“没关系，芬尼斯顿先生，”安妮用温柔的声音说道，“您就是芬尼斯顿先生，对吗？我只是想看看那些可爱的旧马鞍铜扣。我不会打扰您很久的。我们住在芬尼斯顿农场，并且……”
“啊，你刚刚说芬尼斯顿农场？”老人一下子变得开心起来。
“那么，你一定见过我的好朋友——亲爱的老乔纳森•菲尔伯特。他是我非常要好的朋友！”
“您指的是双胞胎的父亲，菲尔伯特先生吗？”乔治问道。
“不，是他们的曾祖父！我们一起上过学。”老人兴奋地说道，“啊，我可以告诉你们一些关于芬尼斯顿家族和他们曾经拥有过的城堡的故事。是的，我就是那座城堡主人的后代。那座城堡被烧毁前，我的祖先就住在那里。哦，我会把自己知道的故事都告诉你们的！”
就在那一刻，冒险开始了——侦探团永远难忘的芬尼斯顿农场冒险！
Chapter 9 A VERY INTERESTING TALE!
Chapter 9 A VERY INTERESTING TALE!
Anne and George looked at the quaint old man, fascinated, as he talked to them. He stood therebehind the counter of his little dark antique shop, surrounded by things even older than himself, alittle bent old man with only a few hairs on his head. He had a kindly wrinkled face with eyes sohooded with drooping lids that they seemed to look out through slits.
The two girls were thrilled to hear that old Mr. Finniston was actually descended from the long-agoFinnistons, who lived in Finniston Castle.
'Is that why your name's Finniston?' asked Anne. 'Tell us about the castle. We only heard about it forthe first time today. But we don't even know exactly whereabouts it stood. I didn't see a single stonewhen we went round the farm this morning!'
'No, no, you wouldn't,' said Mr. Finniston. 'It was burnt right down to the ground, you see - andthrough the centuries people have taken the old stones for building walls. Ah well - it was a long,long time ago!'
'How long?' asked George.
'Let's see now - it was burnt down in 1192 - the twelfth century,' said Mr. Finniston. 'Norman times,you know. Ever heard of the Normans? Schooling isn't what it was, I know, so maybe...'
'Of course we've heard of the Normans!' said George, indignantly. 'Every child knows them!
They conquered England, and the first Norman king was William the First, 1066!'
'Hmm - that's right. You've had some schooling, then,' said Mr. Finniston. 'Well, it was a Normancastle - look, like that one in this picture, see?' And he showed them a copy of an old print. Theygazed at the stone castle pictured there.
'Yes. It's a Norman castle,' said George. 'Was Finniston Castle just like that?'
'I've got a copy of an old drawing of it somewhere,' said the old fellow. 'I'll find it and show it to yousometime. A small castle, of course - but a very fine specimen. Well, well, you won't be interested insuch details, I know. How it was burnt down, I don't know. Can't find out for certain. The story goesthat it was attacked at night by the enemy, and there were traitors in the castle itself, who set fire to it- and while the castle folk were fighting the fire, the enemy walked in and slew nearly all of them.'
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'So the castle was no use for living in after that, I suppose,' said Anne. 'But it's strange there isn't evena stone to be seen anywhere.'
'Oh, but that's where you're wrong!' said Mr. Finniston, triumphantly. 'There are stones from thecastle - all over the farm. But only I and old Great-Grand-dad know where they are now! There's anold wall with some of the castle stones at the bottom - and there's a well - but no, I mustn't tell youthese secrets. You might tell them to the Americans who come here and buy up all our old treasures!'
'We won't! We promise!' said both girls at once, and Timmy thumped his tail on the floor, as if he tooagreed.
'Well, maybe Great-Grand-dad will show you one or two of the old castle stones,' said Mr.
Finniston. 'But I doubt it - I doubt it! I'll tell you one thing you can see at the farm-house, though- everybody knows about it, so it's no secret. Have you seen the old kitchen door, that leads out intothe yard?'
'Yes. That oak door, studded with iron knobs, do you mean?' said Anne at once. 'They're quitefashionable now as front doors in ordinary houses, you know. Surely that farmhouse door isn't a realold one?'
Mr. Finniston put his head into his hands and groaned as if he were in pain.
'Fashionable! FASHIONABLE! What will they do next? Surely you can't mix up that fine old doorwith the trashy copies you've seen in modern houses? What's the world coming to? Couldn't you feelthat that door was real - was as old as the centuries - and once hung on great hinges in a castle? Don'tyou know when things are grand with the weight of years?'
'Well,' said Anne, rather out of her depth, 'I did notice the door - but, you see, it's very dark just there,and we really can't see it very clearly.'
'Ah well - most people go about with their eyes shut half the time!' said Mr. Finniston. 'You have alook at that door - feel it - look at the great knocker on it. Think of the old Norman folk whohammered on the door with it, all those ages ago!'
George sighed. This kind of thing didn't interest her as much as it interested Anne. A thoughtsuddenly struck her.
'But Mr. Finniston - if the castle was built of stone - how was it burnt to the ground?' she said.
'What happened?'
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'I can't find out,' said Mr. Finniston sadly. 'I've been into every old library in the county, and lookedup every old book of that period - and I've delved into the old records in Finniston church. As far as Ican make out, the castle was stormed by enemies - and, as I said, a traitor inside set fire to it at thesame time. The floors fell in, and the castle was left blazing from top to bottom. The great walls fellinwards and covered the base - and the Finniston family fled. Lord Finniston was killed - but hisLady took the children and hid them - it's said she hid them in the old chapel, near the barns of thefarm. Maybe she took them down a secret underground passage, leading from the dungeons to the oldchapel itself.'
'An old chapel - is it still there?' asked Anne. 'Or was it burnt too?'
'No - it wasn't burnt. It's still standing,' said Mr. Finniston. 'Old Great-Grand-dad will show you.'
He shook his head sorrowfully. 'It's a store-house for grain now. Sad, sad. But, mind you - it's stillfull of prayer!'
The girls stared at him, wondering what he meant. They began to think he must be a little mad.
He stood with his head bent, saying nothing for a while. Then he looked up.
'Well, that's the story, my dears - and it's not only a story, it's history! It happened over seven hundredyears ago. And I'll tell you something else...'
'What?' asked the two girls.
'That castle had cellars - and dungeons!' said the old man. 'The fire only burnt down to the groundfloor, which was made of earth flattened down, not wood, so it wouldn't burn. The cellars anddungeons can't have been destroyed - are they still there, undamaged? That's what's been in my mindall these long years. What was down in those cellars - and is it still there?'
He spoke in such a hollow voice that the girls felt quite scared. George recovered herself first.
'But why were the dungeons never uncovered?' she asked. 'I mean, surely someone must havethought of them and wondered about them?'
'Well, when the castle fell, and the walls collapsed, any underground entrances must have beencompletely covered with enormously heavy stones,' said Mr. Finniston, peering at them earnestly.
'The peasants and farm-hands living around couldn't possibly move them, and maybe they were tooscared to, anyhow. They probably lay there for years, till the wind and weather broke them up. Thenthey were taken to build walls and line wells. But by that time everyone had forgotten aboutdungeons. Might have been centuries later, you see.'
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He stood and brooded for a while, and the girls waited politely for him to go on. 'Yes - everyoneforgot ... and everyone still forgets,' he said. 'Sometimes I wake up in the night and wonder what'sunderground there. Bones of prisoners? Chests of money? Things stored away by the Lady of thecastle? I wake up and wonder!'
Anne felt uncomfortable. Poor old man! He lived absolutely in the past! His mind had weaved forhim a living fantasy, a story that had no certain foundation, no real truth. She was sorry for him. Shewished she could go and see the place where the old castle had once stood! It would be overgrownwith grass and weeds, nettles would wave there, and poppies dance in the summer.
There would probably be nothing at all to show where once a proud castle had stood, its towers highagainst the sky, flags flying along the battlements. She could almost hear the cries of the enemy,galloping up on horseback, and the fearful clash of swords! She shook herself and stood up straight.
'I'm as bad as this old man!' she thought. 'Imagining things! But what a tale! The others will love tohear it. I wonder if the American knows it.'
'Does that American, Mr. Henning, know the old story?' she asked, and the old man straightened upat once.
'Not the whole of it - only what he has heard in the village!' he said. 'He comes here and pesters me.
He'd like to bring in men and dig up the whole thing! I know him! He'd buy up all the farm, just forthe sake of getting that castle site - if he really knew there was something worth having, deep underthe ground where it once stood. You won't tell him what I've told you, will you? I've talked too much.
I always do when someone's upset me. Ah - to think my ancestors once lived in Finniston Castle -and here I am now - a poor old man in a little antique shop that nobody comes to!'
'Well, we've come to it,' said Anne. 'I did want to buy some horse-brasses, but I'll come another time.
You're upset now. You go and have a rest!'
They went out of the little shop, almost on tiptoe! 'My word!' said George, thrilled. 'I just can't wait totell the boys! What a story - and it really sounded true, Anne, didn't it? I vote we find out where thatold castle really stood, and then go and have a look round. Who knows what we might find! Comealong - let's get back to the farm as quickly as we can!'
9.神秘传说
神秘传说
安妮和乔治看着那个古怪的老头儿。他一开始讲故事，就变得非常吸引人——他是一个驼背的小老头，头上只有几根头发，一张脸布满了皱纹，眼睑往下垂着，眼睛似乎是透过一条缝在向外看。
昏暗的古董店里，他站在那个小小的柜台后面，周围全都是比他还要老的各种古董。
芬尼斯顿先生说自己实际上是芬尼斯顿家族的后裔。很久以前，他的祖先就住在芬尼斯顿城堡里。听到这个，两个女孩很是兴奋。
“所以您的名字才叫芬尼斯顿吗？”安妮问道，“给我们讲讲关于城堡的事吧。我们今天才第一次听说这个城堡。但我们甚至不知道它的确切位置在哪里。今天早上我们去参观农场时，连它的影子都没有看到！”
“不，你们看不到什么的，”芬尼斯顿先生说，“城堡被彻底烧毁了。并且几个世纪以来，人们一直挪用城堡的旧石头砌墙。毕竟那是很久很久以前的事了！”
“多久了？”乔治问道。
“我们来算算看。城堡在1192年被烧毁了，距离现在已经将近八个世纪了，”芬尼斯顿先生说，“那是在诺曼时代。你们有没有听说过诺曼人？我知道，现在的学校可不怎么教这些东西，所以也许……”
“我们当然听说过诺曼人！”乔治有些气愤地说，“每个孩子都知道！他们征服了英格兰。第一个诺曼国王是威廉一世，他是1066年登基的！”
“看来你在学校确实学了点东西。”芬尼斯顿先生说，“嗯，这是一座诺曼城堡。它看起来就像这张图片中的建筑，看到了吗？”芬尼斯顿先生向两个女孩展示了一幅老版画。她们凝视着版画里的那座石头城堡。
“是的。那是一座诺曼城堡，”乔治说，“芬尼斯顿城堡就是那样子的吗？”
“我有一张旧图纸的副本，但不知道放哪儿去了，”老头儿说，“等我什么时候找到了，就给你们看看。当然，那是一座小城堡，但它是一个非常精细的样本。好吧，你们不会对这些细节感兴趣的，这我知道。我不知道这座城堡是如何被烧毁的，没人能确定。传说，敌人在夜间袭击了城堡，而城堡内部又有叛徒，他们在城堡里放了一把火。城堡里的人正在灭火时，敌人溜了进去，几乎杀光了城堡里的所有人。”
“我猜，从那之后这座城堡就不再用于居住了。”安妮说，“但奇怪的是，到处都没看到城堡遗留下来的石头，连一块也没有。”
“哦，那你就错了！”芬尼斯顿先生得意地说道，“整座农场到处都是来自城堡的石头。但只有我和老曾祖父知道它们现在在哪里！
有一面旧墙的底部有一些城堡石头，还有一口井就是用城堡的石头砌成的。但是，我不能告诉你们这些秘密，你们会告诉那些美国人的。然后他们就会到这里来，把我们所有古老的宝藏都买走！”
“我们不会这样做的！我们保证！”两个女孩立刻说道。蒂米也把它的尾巴往地板上一甩，好像它也作出了同样的保证。
“好吧，也许曾祖父会给你们看一两块古老的城堡石头，”芬尼斯顿先生说，“但我不确定！我可以告诉你们关于农舍的一件事，不过，每个人都知道这件事，所以这不是秘密。你们见过那扇通往院子的旧厨房门吗？”
“是的。那个橡木门。那扇门上镶满了铁门钉，您想说什么？”安妮立刻说道，“这种门现在非常流行，很多房屋的前门都是那个样子的。那农舍的门一定不是真的古董门吧？”
芬尼斯顿先生把头埋进手中呻吟了几声，他好像很痛苦。
“流行！流行！接下来他们会做什么？你们怎么能把这两种东西混为一谈呢？农舍里那扇精美的门是真正的古董。你们在现代住宅中看到的那种门，只不过是些粗制滥造的仿制品。这个世界到底怎么了？难道你们不觉得那扇门是真正的古董吗？它有十几个世纪那么古老。它曾经挂在城堡的大铰链上。难道你们不知道，这些东西一旦有了年头，就变得无比珍贵吗？”
“好吧，”安妮诚恳地说道，“我确实注意到了那扇门。但是那里很黑，我们看得不是很清楚。”
“好吧，大多数人有一半的时间都是睁眼瞎！”芬尼斯顿先生说，“你们好好看看那扇门，感受一下，然后再摸摸那上面古老的门环。想想看，几百年以前，古老的诺曼人就是捶打着这个门环敲门的！”
乔治叹了口气，她对这种事情并不像安妮那样感兴趣。她突然有了一个想法。
“但是，芬尼斯顿先生，如果这座城堡是用石头砌成的，它是怎么被烧光的？”她问道，“发生了什么事？”
“我查不到具体是怎么回事，”芬尼斯顿先生伤心地说，“我去过县里的每个旧图书馆，查阅过那段时期的每本旧书，也深入研究了芬尼斯顿教堂的古老卷宗。据我所知，城堡被敌人攻了进去，一个叛徒同时从城堡内部放了一把火。地板塌掉了，城堡从上到下被烧了个精光，巨大的墙壁向内倒塌，并覆盖了地基。而芬尼斯顿家族的人四散逃离——芬尼斯顿城堡的领主被杀了，但是他的夫人带着孩子们藏了起来。据说她把孩子们藏在一座古老的小礼拜堂里，那座礼拜堂就在农场的谷仓附近。也许她把孩子们带到了一个秘密的地下通道里。这样，他们就可以从地牢逃到小礼拜堂了。”
“一座古老的小礼拜堂。它还在那里吗，”安妮问道，“还是说它也被烧毁了？”
“不，那座小礼拜堂没有被烧毁，它仍然在那里，”芬尼斯顿先生说，“曾祖父会带你们去看的。那个小礼拜堂现在是粮仓，这真让人伤心难过。但是，请注意，那里面仍然充满了祷告的气息！”他悲伤地摇了摇头。
女孩们盯着芬尼斯顿先生，想知道他的话是什么意思。刚开始，她们以为芬尼斯顿先生是在生气——他低着头站着，沉默了好一会儿。接着他抬起头来，又说道：“这就是关于城堡的故事，孩子们，但它不仅仅是一个故事，它是历史！这件事发生在七百多年前。而且我再告诉你们一些事……”
“什么事？”两个女孩问道。
“那座城堡有地窖和地牢！”老人说道，“火只烧掉了地面以上的部分。城堡一楼的地面是夯平的泥土，而不是木头，所以它不会燃烧，地窖和地牢也不可能被摧毁。它们还完好无损地存在吗？这就是我长久以来一直在思考的问题。那些地窖里有什么东西？那些东西还放在那里面吗？”
他用一种空洞的声音絮絮叨叨，女孩们感到非常害怕。乔治首先回过神来。“但为什么地窖从未被人发现呢？”她问道，“我的意思是，肯定会有人想到了它们，并且想要去挖开看看，不是吗？”
“但是，城堡烧毁时，墙壁倒塌了。通往地下的所有入口都被巨大且沉重的石块盖住了，”芬尼斯顿先生严肃地看着她们说道，“住在附近的农夫和农场工人不可能搬动那些石块——也许是他们不敢搬，可能各种原因都有。那些石块在那里躺了许多年，多年的风吹日晒让它们逐渐风化变小了。然后，它们就被用来建造墙壁和井壁。但那个时候，大家都已经忘记了地牢的事，毕竟已经过了好几个世纪了。”
芬尼斯顿先生站了起来，沉思了一会儿。女孩们礼貌地等待着他继续往下讲。“是的，每个人都忘记了……并且，大家现在依然没有想起这件事。”他说道，“有时候我会在夜里醒来，好奇地想象城堡地下会有什么。是囚犯的遗骸？钱箱？还是领主夫人收藏的珍宝？每到这个时候，我就会立刻醒过来，不停地猜想！”
安妮心中涌起一阵同情——可怜的老头儿，他完全生活在过去的历史中！他的大脑为他编织了一个活生生的幻想，这是一个没有任何事实基础，没有真相的故事。她为那个老头儿感到难过。她希望能去看看那个地方，那座古老城堡曾经矗立的位置！那个地方现在一定长满了野草，荨麻会在草丛间摇摆，罂粟花会在那里跳舞。
也许没有任何东西可以证明，那是一座城堡矗立过的地方。它曾经骄傲地站在那里，塔楼高高地耸立在天空中，旗帜飘扬在城垛上。
她几乎能听到敌人的叫喊声，他们在马背上疾驰，挥舞着寒光闪闪的刀剑！安妮摇了摇头，挺直了身子。
“我变得像这个老头儿一样了！”她想，“我陷入了幻想中！但这个故事真的很棒！其他人一定会喜欢这个故事的。我不知道美国人是否知道这个故事。”
“那个美国人——亨宁先生，知道这个古老的故事吗？”安妮问道。那个老头儿马上挺直了身子。
“他只在村里打听到了一点，没听到全部细节。”老头儿说，“他来到这里缠着我，让我讲给他听。他想带些人来，把这里挖个底朝天！我知道他这种人，如果他知道城堡地下埋藏着值钱的东西的话，会买下整个农场的。你不会告诉他我给你们讲的事情，对吗？
我说得太多了。每当有人让我心烦时，我总是会这样。唉，想到我的祖先曾经住在芬尼斯顿城堡里，而我现在却在这里。我这个可怜的老头儿独自守在小小的古董店里，没人光顾！”
“好吧，毕竟我们来光顾您的店了，”安妮安慰他道，“我确实想买一些马鞍黄铜扣，不过，我还是下次再来买吧。您现在精神有些差，去休息一下吧！”
两个女孩几乎是踮着脚尖走出了这家小店！“我的天！”乔治激动地说道，“我都等不及要告诉那两个男孩了！这个故事太棒了，它听起来就像是真的，是不是，安妮？我建议我们先去打听一下那座古老城堡的遗址，然后再去附近看看，说不定我们会发现些什么。
来吧，我们尽快回农场去！”
Chapter 10 QUITE A BIT OF SHOUTING
Chapter 10 QUITE A BIT OF SHOUTING
Anne and George, with Timmy running in front, went back to the farm to find the boys, but theycouldn't see them anywhere and gave it up. Then they went indoors and found Mrs. Philpot shellingpeas. They took over the job at once.
'The boys are still helping to mend the hen-house,' said Mrs. Philpot. 'The Harries are pleased to havetwo more pairs of hands to help them! Something always seems to need repairing! If only we couldget a few things we need so badly - a new tractor, for instance. But they cost so much!
The barns want mending too, and the hen-houses are almost falling down!'
'I hope the harvest will be good for you,' said Anne. 'That will help, won't it?'
'Oh yes - we'll keep our fingers crossed for fine weather from now on!' said Mrs. Philpot. 'Thankgoodness the cows are such good milkers! What we should do without our milk-money, I really don'tknow! But there - why should I bother you with my troubles when you're here for a nice holiday!'
'You don't bother us - and we think it's awfully nice of you to let us help,' said Anne. 'We shouldn'tlike it if you didn't!'
The girls had no chance of telling the boys what old Mr. Finniston had told them, until the afternooncame. They were up at the hen-houses with the two Harries and Snippet, happily hammering andsawing. Snippet was delighted to have so many people whistling cheerily round him, and busily tookbits of wood from one boy to another, under the mistaken impression that he was a great help!
Nosey the jackdaw was there too, but he wasn't nearly so popular as Snippet! He pounced on anybright nail or screw he saw, and flew off with it, heedless of the exasperated shouts that followed him.
'Blow that jackdaw!' said Julian, looking up crossly. 'He's just taken the very nail I wanted!
Nosey by name and nosey by nature!'
The twins laughed. They seemed entirely different children now that they were friendly -amusing, helpful and most responsible. Julian and Dick admired them - no work was too hard, nohours were too long if they could help their mother or father.
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'We hated you coming here because we knew it would give Mother so much more work,' said Harry.
'We thought if we were beastly to you, you'd go. But you don't make more work! You help an awfullot. It's fun to have you here.'
'I hope the girls are back,' said Dick. 'I know your mother wants help with the peas - such a lot ofpeople to shell for - let me see - counting in your Great-Grand-dad, there will be about a dozenpeople in to dinner. Whew! I certainly do hope the girls are in. Ah - here comes that nosey jackdawagain. Look out, Dick, he's after those screws. Snippet, chase him!'
Away went the tiny poodle after the cheeky jackdaw, barking in his high little voice, thoroughlyenjoying having so many children round him. Nosey flew up on to the top of the hen-house, andflapped his wings, chacking rude things in a very loud voice indeed.
Dinner was rather a crowded meal, for everyone was there. Great-Grand-dad frowned when he sawMr. Henning come in with Junior. Junior strutted to his place at table, giving George his best scowl.
However, she was just as good at scowling as Junior, and Mr. Henning, who happened to catch sightof her giant-size scowl, had quite a shock.
'Now, now, my boy,' he said to her. 'Why pull such an ugly face?'
Nobody told him that George was a girl. Mrs. Philpot was really very much amused. She likedGeorge, and couldn't help thinking she would have made a very good boy indeed!
'Er - Mrs. Philpot - would it be all right if I bring a friend to lunch here tomorrow?' asked Mr.
Henning. 'He's called Durleston - Mr. Durleston - and he's a great authority on antiques. He's goingto give me some advice. You'll remember that you told me you had a quaint old hole in the wall inone of the bedrooms - where in the old days people used to heat embers for warming-pans, and bricksto put in between the bed-sheets. I thought I...'
'You thought you could buy 'em, I suppose!' suddenly shouted old Great-Grand-dad from his place atthe head of the table. He thumped on the cloth with the handle of his knife. 'Well, you ask mypermission first, see? This place is still mine. I'm an old man, I'm nearly ninety, but I've still got allmy wits about me. I don't like this selling of things that have been in our family for donkeys' years!
That I don't! And...'
'Now, now, Grand-dad, don't excite yourself,' said Mrs. Philpot, in her gentle voice. 'Surely it's betterto sell old things that we shall never use, in order to buy a new set of tools, or wood to mend thebarns?'
43
'Why can't we sell 'em to our own folks, then?' shouted Great-Grand-dad, banging with his fork aswell. 'Taking them out of the country! Part of our history, they are! Selling our birthright, that's whatwe're doing - for a mess of pottage! That's out of the Bible, let me tell you, Mr.
Henning, in case you don't know.'
'SHURE I KNOW,' said Mr. Henning, getting up and shouting back at Great-Grand-dad. 'I'm not asignorant as you seem to think. You ought to be glad that a poor, run-down, back-dated country likeBritain has got anything to sell to a fine upstanding one like America! You...'
'That's enough, Mr. Henning,' said Mrs. Philpot, with such dignity that Mr. Henning blushed red, andsat down in a great hurry. 'Sorry, mam,' he said. 'But that old man, he gets under my skin.
Sure he does! What's gotten into him? All I want is to buy things you want to sell. You want newtractors - I want old junk and I'm willing to pay for it. That's all there is to it - buying and selling!'
'OLD JUNK!' shouted Great-Grand-dad again, banging with his glass now. 'Do you call that great oldcart-wheel you bought OLD JUNK? Why, that's more than two hundred years old! My Great-Grand-dad made it - he told me so, when I was a mite of a boy. You won't find another wheel like it inEngland. HOO - that wheel was made before the first American was born! I tell you...'
'Now, now, Grand-dad, you know you'll feel ill if you go on like this,' said Mrs. Philpot, and she gotup and went to the old man, who was shaking with fury. 'You belong to old times, and you don't likethe new times, and I don't blame you. But things change, you know. Calm yourself, and come withme and have a lie-down.'
Surprisingly, the old fellow allowed Mrs. Philpot to lead him out of the room. The seven children hadall sat silent while the shouting had been going on. Mr. Philpot, looking worried, broke his habitualsilence and addressed a few words to the equally worried-looking Mr. Henning.
'Storm in a tea-cup,' he said. 'Soon blow over.'
'Hmmmm,' said Mr. Henning. 'Spoilt my dinner! Selfish, ignorant, rude old man.'
'He's not,' said one of the twins, in a voice trembling with anger. 'He's...'
'Enough, Harry!' said his father, in such a stern voice, that Harry subsided at once, but began to grindhis teeth, to show that he was still angry, making a most remarkable noise at the now silent table.
Junior had sat as still as a mouse all the time, scared of the angry old man. Timmy had 44given a few small growls, and Snippet had shot straight out of the kitchen as soon as Great-Grand-dad had begun to shout!
Mrs. Philpot came back, and sat down, looking sad and tired. Julian began to talk to her about Janieand the macaroons, and soon succeeded in making her smile. She even laughed out loud whenGeorge told her that they had six macaroons to give Bill for taking them out in the Land-Rover.
'I know those macaroons,' announced Junior. 'I buy about thirty a week. They're just wunnerful!'
'Thirty! No wonder you're so pasty-faced, then,' said George, before she could stop herself.
'Aw shucks! Pasty-face yourself!' retorted Junior, feeling safe with his father near him.
He heard a sudden ominous growl under the table, felt hot breath on his bare leg, and decided to sayno more. He had forgotten all about the watchful Timmy!
Julian thought it was about time to have some bright conversation, and began to tell Mrs. Philpotabout the hen-houses and what a good job they were making of patching them to make them rain-proof. Mr. Philpot listened too, nodded, and actually joined in.
'Yes - you're good with your hands, you boys. I had a look when I came by. Fine work!'
'Harriet's good, too,' said Harry at once. 'She did that corner where the rats get in. Didn't you, Harry?'
'I wanted to help, Pop, but they shooed me off, like I was a hen!' said Junior in an aggrieved tone.
'Seems as if they don't want me around. That makes it pretty lonely, Pop. Can't I come out with youthis afternoon?'
'No,' said Pop, shortly.
'Aw, c'mon, Pop,' said Junior, in a whiny voice. 'Aw shucks, Pop, lemme come!'
'NO!' said Pop, exasperated. Timmy gave a growl again. He didn't like cross voices. He couldn'timagine why there was so much quarrelling here, and sat up, tense and still, until George gave him agentle push with her toe. Then he lay down again, his head across her feet.
Everyone was glad when the meal was over, delicious though the food had been. The girls andHarriet insisted that Mrs. Philpot should go and have a rest while they did all the clearing-away andwashing-up. 'Now try not to be unkind to Junior this afternoon,' she said, as she went. 'He'll be allalone when his father's gone. Do let him be with you.'
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Nobody answered. They hadn't the least intention of allowing Junior to be with them. 'Spoilt, bad-mannered little idiot!' thought George, clearing away with such vigour that she almost knocked Anneover.
'Julian,' she said in a low voice, catching him at the door as he went out, 'Anne and I have somethinginteresting to tell you. Where will you be this afternoon?'
'Up in the hen-houses, I expect,' said Julian. 'We'll watch out for you and Anne. See you in about halfan hour.'
Junior had sharp ears. He heard exactly what George had said, and he was full of curiosity at once.
What was this interesting thing George wanted to tell the boys? Was it a secret? All right -he'd be on hand somewhere to hear it!
And so, when the girls had finished their work, and set off to the hen- houses, Junior followeddiscreetly behind! He kept well out of sight until he saw George and Anne disappear into a hen-house, where the others were working - and then he crept to a corner outside and put his ear to aknot-hole in the wood. I'll get my own back now! he thought. I'll make them smart for leaving me outof things! Just see if I don't!
10.大喊大叫
大喊大叫
蒂米在前面跑着，安妮和乔治跟在后面。她们一起回到农场去找那两个男孩，但到处都没看到男孩们的身影，最后她们只好放弃了。女孩们走进了农舍主屋，发现菲尔伯特夫人在剥豌豆，于是立刻接手了这个活儿。
“男孩们在帮忙修补鸡舍，”菲尔伯特夫人说，“两个哈利很高兴有帮手帮助他们。农场里似乎总是有东西需要修理，真希望我们能买得起一些急需的东西，比如一辆新拖拉机，但那些东西都太贵了。谷仓也需要修补，而鸡舍都快要塌了！”
“希望你们今年能有好的收成，”安妮说，“那会对你们有所帮助，是吗？”
“哦，是的。从现在开始，我们一直在祈祷今年风调雨顺！”菲尔伯特夫人说，“谢天谢地，奶牛一直在好好产奶！如果没有牛奶换点钱，我真的不知道我们该怎么过活！不过，唉，你们是到这来度假的，我不该拿这些事让你们烦心。”
“我们并不会觉得烦心。您愿意让我们帮忙，这就很好了，”安妮说道，“如果您不让我们帮忙，我们反而会不开心的！”
直到下午，女孩们才找到机会跟男孩们说话。男孩们跟两个哈利还有斯尼帕在修补鸡舍，他们开心地又是锤又是锯。斯尼帕很高兴有这么多人在它身边，并且大家都愉快地吹着口哨。它忙着把木块从一个男孩那儿叼到另一个男孩那儿，还天真地以为自己帮了大忙！
寒鸦诺斯也在鸡舍里，但它并不像斯尼帕那么受欢迎。它只要看到任何闪着亮光的钉子或螺钉，就会叼起来飞走，全然不顾身后传来一阵恼怒的叫喊声。
“把那只寒鸦赶走！”朱利安气愤地抬头说道，“它刚好叼走了我需要的钉子！它不愧叫诺斯 ，竟然这么爱管闲事！”
双胞胎哈哈大笑了起来。他们似乎变了一个人，现在的他们非常友善，活泼有趣，乐于助人，而且非常有责任心。朱利安和迪克很佩服双胞胎，他们从不会嫌活儿不好干，或是需要干很长时间，只要是可以帮助母亲或父亲的事，他们就会去做。
“之前我们讨厌你们到这里来，是因为我们知道这会给妈妈带来更多的工作。”哈利说，“我们以为，如果我们对你们凶一点，你们就会离开的。但是你们并没有添麻烦，反而帮了很多忙！你们待在这里让我们感到很开心。”
“我希望女孩们已经回来了，”迪克说，“我知道你妈妈需要人帮忙剥豌豆。今天有这么多人吃饭，让我数数看，包括你的曾祖父，会有十几个人吃午餐呢，我真希望女孩们都在家。啊，那只爱管闲事的寒鸦又来了。当心，朱利安，它想去叼那些螺丝。斯尼帕，把它赶走！”
小狮子狗斯尼帕的叫声又尖又细，赶走了厚颜无耻的寒鸦。它尽情享受着孩子们的大声赞赏。诺斯拍打着翅膀飞到了鸡舍的顶端，“喳咳，喳咳”地大叫着，仿佛在谴责斯尼帕的无礼。
午餐时非常拥挤，因为所有人都来了。看到亨宁先生和居里尔一起进来，曾祖父皱了皱眉头。居里尔趾高气扬地走到餐桌旁，坐到座位上，他对乔治怒目而视。同样，乔治也朝居里尔瞪去。亨宁先生碰巧看到了她的怒容，非常意外。
“怎么啦，我的小伙子，”他对乔治说道，“为什么你的脸色这么难看？”
没有人告诉他乔治是个女孩。菲尔伯特夫人感到很有趣。她喜欢乔治，忍不住认为乔治的确能成为一个非常棒的小伙子！
“呃，菲尔伯特夫人，明天我能不能带一位朋友到这里来吃午餐？”亨宁先生问道，“他叫德勒斯顿，是古董方面的权威。他会给我提一些建议。你还记得吗，你跟我说过一件事。你们有一间卧室的墙上有一个古老的洞。过去，人们常常把没烧完的炭火放在那里。他们用那个洞加热火盆和砖块，然后把它们放在床上暖脚。我想……”
“我猜，你认为你可以把它们买下来！”坐在餐桌一端的曾祖父突然大声喊道。他把刀柄一下子捶在桌布上，“那么，你得先得到我的许可，明白吗？这个地方还是我的。虽然我是一个老家伙，差不多九十岁了，但我还没糊涂。我真是烦透了这几年的日子，全靠卖家里的东西来换钱！我烦透了！还有……”
“好了，好了，爷爷，不要激动，”菲尔伯特夫人温柔地说，“我们当然最好卖掉那些旧东西，反正我们永远用不上它们。我们可以换些钱去买新的工具，或者买些木头，用来修补谷仓，不是吗？”
“那么为什么我们不能把它们卖给我们自己的人？”曾祖父喊道，用叉子使劲敲着桌子，“这些美国人要把它们带到国外去！那些老物件是我们自己历史的一部分，我们所做的事情，就是卖掉我们与生俱来的权利。而我们卖掉这些，就为了挣点吃的！这是《圣经》中都没有的大逆不道的行为。让我告诉你，亨宁先生，免得你不知道。”
“我当然知道，”亨宁先生站起身朝曾祖父喊道，“我不像你想象的那么无知。像英国这样一个贫穷，破败，倒退的国家，还有一些东西可以卖给美国这样优秀而正直的国家，你应该感到高兴！
你……”
“够了，亨宁先生！”菲尔伯特夫人气愤地说道。她感到自己的尊严受到了冒犯。
亨宁先生涨红了脸，赶紧坐了下来。“对不起，夫人。”他说道，“但那个老头儿，他的话太让人生气了。他到底怎么想的？我想做的只是买走你想卖的东西。你们想要买新的拖拉机，我想要买那些旧破烂，我愿意为它们付钱，这就是全部事实。这只是正常的买卖！”
“旧破烂！”曾祖父再次大喊起来。他把他的玻璃杯“咣”的一声砸到桌上，“你把那个古老的手推车轮子叫作旧破烂吗？凭什么！这东西已经有两百多年历史了，那是我的曾祖父做的，在我还是个小孩的时候。整个英格兰再也找不到另外一个像这样的轮子了。哼！
在第一个美国人出生之前那个轮子就被做出来了！我告诉你……”
“好了，爷爷。如果你继续这样发脾气，身体会受不了的。”菲尔伯特夫人起身去安抚曾祖父。曾祖父气得浑身发抖，“您属于旧时代，不喜欢新时代，我不怪您。但是世道变了，您是知道的。冷静下来，跟我来，您得躺下来休息一下。”
令人惊讶的是，脾气暴躁的曾祖父竟然顺从地跟着菲尔伯特夫人走出了房间。在刚才的喊叫声中，七个孩子一直保持着沉默。菲尔伯特先生看上去神色忧虑。他打破了自己习惯性的沉默，向同样不安的亨宁先生说了几句话。
“这是一场‘茶杯中的风暴’，”他说，“很快就会平息的。”
“哼，”亨宁先生说，“他毁了我的午餐！自私、无知、粗鲁的老家伙。”
“他不是这样的，”双胞胎中的一个说道，声音因为生气而颤抖着，“他是……”
“够了，哈利！”他的父亲用严厉的声音制止道。于是哈利不作声了，但他的牙齿咬得咯咯响。他用这种方式表示他仍然在生气。
现在，桌子四周一片沉默。哈利磨牙的声音十分引人注目。居里尔一直像老鼠一样缩在座位上，他被那个愤怒的老头儿吓到了。曾祖父生气地怒吼时，蒂米就小声地叫起来，而斯尼帕直接从厨房里蹿了出来！
菲尔伯特夫人回来了。她坐了下来，一脸伤心而疲惫的表情。
朱利安开始和她说起珍妮和蛋白杏仁饼干的事情来。他很快就成功地把菲尔伯特夫人逗笑了。乔治告诉她，他们买了六个蛋白杏仁饼干，让比尔把它们带到路虎上吃。听到这事，菲尔伯特夫人甚至笑出声来。
“我知道那些蛋白杏仁饼干，”居里尔说，“我一周买三十个左右。它们太美味了！”
“三十个！难怪你的脸长得像面团。”乔治一时没来得及管住嘴，脱口而出。
“呸，讨厌鬼，你的脸才像个面团！”居里尔反驳说。现在他爸爸在他身边，他感到很安全。
这时，居里尔听到桌子下面突然发出一声不祥的咆哮，他裸露的腿上感受到了一阵热气。于是居里尔赶紧闭上了嘴，不再多说了。他完全忘记了随时监视着他的蒂米！
朱利安认为现在是时候聊一些开心的话题了。于是，他告诉菲尔伯特夫人关于鸡舍的事。他讲了他们如何修补鸡舍，从而使它们可以防雨。菲尔伯特先生也仔细地听着，不时地点点头。随后，他也加入到谈话中来。
“是的，你们这两个男孩的手艺很好。我回来的时候看了看。你们干得不错！”
“哈丽特也干得不错，”哈利立即说道，“她把老鼠咬破的那个角落修好了，对吗，哈丽特？”
“我也想帮忙，爸爸，但他们就像赶母鸡一样，把我赶走了。”居里尔委屈地说道，“他们好像不想让我待在旁边，爸爸，这让我感到很孤单。今天下午我能不能跟您一起出去？”
“不行！”他爸爸不耐烦地说道。
“噢，求求您了，爸爸。”居里尔闹个不停，“噢，真讨厌！爸爸，就带上我吧！”
“不行！”他爸爸生气地说。蒂米又咆哮了起来，它不喜欢听生气吵闹的声音。不知道为什么这里有这么多人吵来吵去，它坐了起来，紧张地绷直了身子。乔治轻轻地用脚趾碰了碰它，它才再次枕着乔治的脚躺下。
午餐结束时，大家的心情都好了起来。光是美味的食物就已经让人很开心了。两个女孩和哈丽特坚持认为菲尔伯特夫人应该去休息，于是她们承担了所有收拾和清洗的工作。“今天尽量不要对居里尔不友善。”说着，菲尔伯特夫人离开了。她走的时候又说道，“他爸爸离开后，他将会孤身一人，让他和你们待在一起吧。”
没有人回答，这几个孩子根本不想让居里尔和他们待在一起。“那个被宠坏了的，心怀不满的小白痴！”乔治想。她使劲拖着地，差点把安妮撞倒了。
“朱利安，”乔治一把抓住正准备出门的朱利安，低声说道，“安妮和我有一些有趣的事要告诉你，你们下午要去哪里？”
“应该是在鸡舍里。”朱利安说，“我们会留意你和安妮的，半个小时后见。”
居里尔耳朵很尖。他听到了乔治所说的话，立刻充满了好奇心。那件有趣的事情是什么？是一个秘密吗？好吧，他会想办法在某处偷听到这件事的！
女孩们完成工作后，出发前往鸡舍。居里尔紧跟了上去。他一直小心翼翼，不让她们发现，直到乔治和安妮消失在鸡舍里，他才露出头。其他人都在鸡舍里干活，居里尔溜到鸡舍外面的一个角落。他把耳朵贴在木板疤节留下的洞上，心想：“我现在就要他们好看，谁让她们自作聪明，自以为把我甩开了！”
Chapter 11 A MOST EXCITING TALK
Chapter 11 A MOST EXCITING TALK
The boys were busy hammering and sawing and the girls sat and waited till the noise died down.
Snippet was there, leaping about ridiculously with little bits of wood in his mouth, and Nosey thejackdaw had suddenly taken a fancy to the shavings that now covered the floor, and ran aboutchacking, and picking them up.
Outside the hens clucked and squawked, and not far off the ducks quacked loudly. 'Those are the kindof noises I like to hear,' said Anne, settling herself on a sack in a corner. She raised her voice andshouted above the hammering to Dick. 'WANT ANY HELP, DICK?'
'No thanks,' said Dick. 'We'll just finish this job, then sit down and have a rest, and listen to what youhave to say. You sit and watch our wonderful carpentering! Honestly, I'd make pounds a week if Itook it up!'
46
'Look out - Nosey has got your nails again!' shouted George. Timmy leapt up as if he was going tochase Nosey, and the jackdaw promptly flew up to a crossbeam, and sat there chacking with laughter.
Timmy thought him a very exasperating bird indeed. He lay down again with a thump.
At last the boys had finished the job they were on, and sat down, rubbing their hands over their wetforeheads. 'Well, now you can tell us your news,' said Dick. 'Good thing we got rid of that little pestof a Junior - I might have hammered a few nails into him by mistake if he'd come worrying us thisafternoon.' He imitated Junior's whining drawl. 'Aw, shucks, Pop, lemme come with yew!'
Outside, his ear to the hole, Junior clenched his fists. He would willingly have stuck a few nails intoDick at that moment!
George and Anne began to tell the four listening children what old Mr. Finniston had told them thatmorning. 'It's about Finniston Castle,' said Anne. 'The old castle that gave the village its name - andthe farm as well. The old fellow who told us about it is called Finniston, too - and will you believe it,he's a descendant of the Finnistons who lived in the castle centuries ago!'
'He seems to have spent most of his life trying to discover everything possible about the old castle,'
said George. 'He said he'd delved into old libraries - and into the church records here -anywhere that might help him to piece together the castle's history!'
Outside the hen-house, Junior held his breath so as not to miss a single word. Why - his Pop had toldhim that he couldn't get anything out of that old Mr. Finniston at the antique shop - not a word aboutthe castle, and its history, or even where the site was. Then why had he told Anne, and that horribleboy George? Junior felt angry, and listened even more keenly.
'The story goes that in the twelfth century enemies came to attack the castle one night - and therewere traitors already inside it, who set it on fire, so that the castle-folk would be busy trying to put outthe fire, and wouldn't be prepared for a fight,' said George. 'The inside of it was burnt right down tothe ground - and then the great stone walls outside collapsed inwards, and lay in enormous heapsthere, covering the place where the castle had stood.'
'Whew!' said Dick, visualizing it all. 'What a night that must have been! Everybody killed or burnt, Isuppose?'
'No, the Lady of the castle wasn't killed and it is said that she took her children to the little chapelnear the farm-house - we really must go and see that, twins - and they stayed there in safety.
47
Anyway, some of the family must have escaped, because it is one of their descendants who keeps thatlittle antique shop - old Mr. Finniston!'
'This is tremendously interesting,' said Julian. 'Where's the site of the castle? It should easily beknown, because of the great mass of stones that fell there when the walls collapsed.'
'No, they're not there now,' said George. 'Mr. Finniston said he thought that when the wind andweather had broken them up small enough to be lugged away by the farmers and peasants living nearby, they were taken to build field walls, or to line wells. He said there were some on this farm. Hedidn't know himself where the castle once stood, because the site would be all grown over, and withno stones left to mark it, it wouldn't be easy to find.'
'But oh, Julian, I wish we could find it!' cried Anne, her voice rising in excitement. 'Because, so Mr.
Finniston says, the cellars and dungeons are probably still there, quite untouched. You see, no onecould uncover them for years, because of the heavy stones there - and when the stones were takenaway, people had forgotten about the castle and the dungeons!'
'Gosh! So they may still be there - with whatever was stored in them hundreds of years ago,' saidDick, thrilled. 'My word - there might be priceless things there, as old as the hills! I mean, even anold broken sword would be worth its weight in gold, because it would be so very very old. I say -don't say a word of all this in front of that American, or he'd dig up the whole farm!'
'We shouldn't DREAM of it,' said George. 'He shan't get to hear a word of this.'
Alas! George little knew that every single word had been overheard by Junior, whose left ear was stillpinned to the knot-hole in the wood! His face was red with surprise and delight. WHATa secret! Whatever would his Pop say? Dungeons! Perhaps full of gold and jewels and all kinds ofthings! He rubbed his hands together in delight, thinking that he would soon get even with theseannoying children now - as soon as his Pop came home, he'd spill everything to him.
GEE!
Timmy heard the small sound of Junior rubbing his hands together, and sat up, growling, his earspricked. Snippet growled too, a miniature little sound that nobody took seriously. Timmy then heardJunior creeping away, afraid because he had heard the big dog growling. Timmy growled again, andthen barked sharply, running to the shut door of the hen-house, scraping at it with his foot.
48
'Somebody's outside - quick! If it's Junior, I'll throw him on to the muck-heap!' yelled Dick, and flungopen the door. They all trooped out and looked round - but there was nobody there! Junior had shotoff at top speed, and was now safely behind the nearest hedge.
'What was it, Tim?' said George. She turned to the others. 'He may have heard those hens scratchingnear the door,' she said. 'There's no one about. Gosh, I was so afraid that it was that little sneak of aJunior! He'd tell his Pop every single thing!'
'Twins, listen - Mr. Finniston told us that one of the things that was saved from the castle - or foundafterwards, perhaps - was a great old oak door, iron-studded,' said Anne, suddenly remembering. 'Isthat one of your kitchen doors?'
'Yes - that must be the door leading into the dark little passage,' said Harry. 'You wouldn't havenoticed it particularly, because it's usually kept open, and it's very dark just there. Gosh, I suppose itcould have come from the castle. It's enormously thick and strong. I wonder if Dad knows.'
'We'll tell him,' said Harriet. 'I say - shall we go and look for the site of the castle sometime? If onlywe could find it! Do you suppose that if we found the cellars and dungeons, full of chests and things,they'd belong to us? The farm belongs to our family, of course, and all the land round.'
'Does it? Well then, of course anything found on this land would be yours!' said Julian.
'We might be able to buy a new tractor!' said the twins, both together, in the same excited voice.
'Let's go and look for the castle-site now,' said George, her voice sounding so excited that Timmy satup and barked.
'No. We must finish this job,' said Julian. 'We promised we would. There's plenty of time to huntaround, because nobody knows about this except us.'
Julian was wrong, of course. Junior knew - and Junior meant to tell the whole secret to his father assoon as ever he could! He could hardly wait for him to come home.
'Well, we'd better be getting back to the house,' said George. 'We told Mrs. Philpot we'd pick someraspberries for supper tonight, so we'd better fetch baskets, and begin. Oh, I do HOPE we find thatcastle-site. I shall dream about it tonight, I know I shall.'
'Well, try and dream where it is,' said Julian, with a laugh. 'Then you can lead us straight to ittomorrow morning. I suppose you haven't any idea where it might be, have you, twins?'
49
'No,' they said together, frowning. 'No idea at all!' And Harriet added, 'You see, the farm's so big- and I suppose it might have been built anywhere on our land.'
'Yes - but probably near the top of a hill,' said Julian. 'Castles used to overlook surrounding land, youknow, so that approaching enemies could easily be seen. And then again, George said Mr.
Finniston told them that the Lady of the castle escaped with her children and took them in safety tothe chapel, which wouldn't be very far away. I should guess that the castle-site must be not furtherthan a quarter of a mile from the chapel, so that narrows the search down a bit. By the way, we reallymust look at that chapel - it sounds interesting, even though it has been used as a store-house foryears!'
The girls picked raspberries for the rest of the afternoon, and the boys finished their jobs. They wentback to the farm-house for tea, feeling pleasantly tired. The girls were already there, laying the table.
They pounced on the twins, and George spoke excitedly.
'Twins! We've been looking at the old studded door. It's MAGNIFICENT! Come and see it, Julianand Dick. If it isn't from the old castle, I'll eat my hat - and my shoes as well!'
She took them to the great door that opened from the kitchen into the passage that led to the yard.
With much difficulty she swung it shut. They all gazed at it. It had been almost too heavy for Georgeto move! It was very stout and strong, made of old, old oak. Great iron studs had been driven into itso deeply and firmly that only by destroying the door itself could they ever be removed. There was acurious iron handle in the middle of the outer side, and George raised it and brought it down smartly.
A loud bang resounded through the kitchen, and made the others jump.
'The knocker that visitors used when they came to the castle, I suppose!' said George, laughing attheir surprised faces. 'Noise enough to rouse everyone, and alert any guard at once. Do you suppose itwas the front door of the castle - it's big enough! It must be worth hundreds of pounds!'
'Look out - there's Junior!' said Anne, in a low voice. 'He's grinning all over his face. What do yousuppose he's been up to? I wish I knew!'
11.令人振奋
令人振奋
男孩们正在忙碌着，他们又是锤又是锯的，女孩们坐在旁边等着。斯尼帕也在那里，它嘴里叼着小块木头，滑稽地跳跃着。寒鸦诺斯突然看上了撒得满地的刨花，于是飞过来大叫了几声，把刨花叼走了一些。
母鸡在外面“咯咯”地叫着，不远处的鸭子则嘎嘎大叫。“那些都是我喜欢听到的声音。”安妮坐到角落里的一个麻袋上说。她提高了嗓门喊着，好盖过迪克敲敲打打的声音，“需要帮忙吗，迪克？”
“不用，谢谢。”迪克说道，“我们很快会完成这项工作，然后再坐下来休息。到时候，我们再听听你们要讲什么。现在你们就好好坐着，欣赏一下我们漂亮的木工活！老实说，如果我把这手艺亮出来，每周都能赚大钱！”
“小心点，诺斯又来叼你的钉子了！”乔治喊道。蒂米跳了起来，像是要去追诺斯。那只寒鸦迅速飞到横梁上，站在那里大叫，仿佛是在嘲笑蒂米。蒂米认为诺斯确实是一只非常让人恼火的鸟，确认了这点后，它又“砰”的一声躺下了。
最后，男孩们终于完成了他们的工作。他们坐了下来，用手擦着汗湿的额头。“好吧，现在你们可以把上午得到的消息告诉我们了，”迪克说，“摆脱了那个小坏蛋居里尔真是太好了，如果他今天下午跑来烦我们，我可能会不小心把钉子钉到他身上去。”他模仿着居里尔的抱怨，“噢，真讨厌！爸爸，就带上我吧！”
鸡舍外面，耳朵紧贴着洞口上的居里尔握紧了拳头。他还想往迪克身上钉几颗钉子呢！
乔治和安妮开始给另外四个孩子讲上午的事——芬尼斯顿先生告诉她们的那个传说。“是关于芬尼斯顿城堡的，”安妮说，“这个村庄以及农场都是根据这座古老城堡命名的。告诉我们这件事的老头儿也叫芬尼斯顿。你相信吗，他的祖先就是几个世纪前住在城堡里的芬尼斯顿家族！”
“似乎他一生中大部分时间都在努力寻找这方面的线索。他搜集了有关这座古老城堡的一切信息，”乔治说，“他说他已经钻研了老图书馆里的每一本书，还查阅了本地教堂的卷宗——只要是能帮助他拼凑出城堡历史的东西，他都查过了！”
鸡舍外面的居里尔屏住呼吸，以免错过任何一个字。为什么会这样？他爸爸告诉他，他在古董店那个芬尼斯顿老先生那里什么都没打听到，关于城堡的事那个老头儿一个字都没提。他既没讲城堡的历史，也没讲它的位置。但那个老头儿为什么要告诉安妮，还有那个可怕的男孩乔治呢？居里尔感到很愤怒，于是更加用心地听起来。
“据说在12世纪，有一天晚上，敌人来攻打城堡，而城堡内部的叛徒则放了一把火，所以城堡里的人全都忙着灭火，并没有为战斗做好准备，”乔治说道，“于是整个城堡都被烧毁了。城堡外侧的巨大石墙向内坍塌，倒在地上。这些石墙变成了巨大的石堆，覆盖着城堡所在的地方。”
“哇！”迪克惊叹道。他似乎能想象出那个场景来，“那个夜晚一定惊心动魄！我猜，城堡里所有的人都被杀死或者烧死了。”
“不，这座城堡的领主夫人并没有被杀死，据说她带着她的孩子们逃去了农舍附近的小礼拜堂，保住了一命。我们真的应该去看看，双胞胎。事实上，这个家族中的某些人一定是逃出来了，因为他们的某个后代正开着那个小古董店呢，就是老芬尼斯顿先生！”
“这简直太有趣了，”朱利安说，“城堡遗址在哪里？这应该很容易知道。因为墙壁倒塌时，大量的石块落在了那里。”
“不，那些石块现在不在了，”乔治说，“芬尼斯顿先生说，风吹日晒使这些石头风化变小了，后来，居住在附近的农场主和农夫把这些石头拖走了，并用这些石头修建了墙壁和井壁。芬尼斯顿先生说，这个农场里就有一些古老的城堡石块。不过他自己也不知道城堡曾经修建在哪里，因为这一整片都属于城堡遗址的范围，在没有任何石头标记的情况下，找到城堡遗址并不容易。”
“但是……噢，朱利安，我真希望我们能找到它！”安妮兴奋地喊道，“因为芬尼斯顿先生说，地窖和地牢可能还是原样，没有人动过。你看，这么多年来没有人能发现它们。因为那上面盖着沉重的石头。当石头被移开时，人们已经忘记了城堡和地牢！”
“天哪，所以它们可能仍然存在。”迪克激动地说道，“那里说不定有无价之宝，它们就像山丘一样古老，即使是一把破旧的剑也可能价值同等重量的金子。对了，千万不要在那个美国人面前提一个字，否则他会把整个农场都挖开的！”
“我们根本没想过要这样做，”乔治说，“他一个字都不会听到的。”
唉！乔治不知道的是，他们说的每个字都被居里尔偷听到了。
他的左耳依然紧贴着洞口！他既意外又惊喜，整张脸涨得通红。这个秘密简直太棒了，他的爸爸会说什么？地牢！也许地牢里面放满了黄金和珠宝，还有各种各样的宝贝！居里尔兴高采烈地搓着双手。他很快就能对这些讨厌的孩子复仇了。只要他的爸爸一回来，他就会把一切都告诉他。
天哪！居里尔搓手的微小声音被蒂米听到了。它坐了起来，大声咆哮着。蒂米的咆哮声把居里尔的耳朵都震疼了。斯尼帕也叫了起来。但它的声音太小了，没人当回事。紧接着，蒂米又听到了居里尔溜走的声音，再次咆哮起来。它急剧地吠叫着，跑到鸡舍紧闭着的门前，用前爪刨着地面。
“有人在外面，快！如果是居里尔的话，我会把他扔到渣土堆里去！”迪克喊道。他打开了门，大家全都跑了出来。孩子们各自往四周看去，但外面一个人也没有——居里尔已经以最快速度冲到了一丛树篱后面，安全地躲藏起来。
“是什么，蒂米？”乔治问道。她对其他人说道，“它可能听到了母鸡在门口划拉地面的声音，因为外面并没有人啊。天哪，我真担心是居里尔偷偷摸摸地在这儿偷听，他会把每一件事都告诉他爸爸的！”
“双胞胎，芬尼斯顿先生告诉我们，有件物品从城堡中被带了出来——或者它是城堡倒塌之后被发现的。那是一扇古老的橡木门，门上布满了铁门钉。”安妮突然想起来这件事，“他说的是你们厨房的门吗？”
“是的，他说的一定是那扇通往狭窄的黑暗通道的门。”哈利说，“那扇门不会引人注意，因为通常情况下它都是敞开的。而且那个地方很黑。天哪，我想它可能真的来自于城堡，因为它非常厚实坚固。我很好奇爸爸到底知不知道这件事。”
“我们会告诉他的，”哈丽特说，“我们是不是该去寻找城堡的遗址？要是我们能找到就好了，既然这个农场还有附近的土地属于我们家，那么地窖和地牢里的东西应该也是属于我们的。你们觉得呢？”
“这片土地真的属于你们家吗？那么，在这片土地上发现的任何东西当然都是属于你们的。”朱利安说。
“或许我们可以买一辆新拖拉机！”双胞胎异口同声兴奋地说道。
“我们现在就去寻找城堡遗址。”乔治说道。她的声音听起来很激动，蒂米也坐直身子叫起来。
“不，我们必须先完成这份工作，”朱利安说，“这是我们承诺的事。而且我们有足够的时间去寻找城堡，因为除了我们，没有人知道这件事。”
当然，朱利安错了。居里尔已经知道了这件事。而且居里尔想要尽快告诉爸爸他所听到的所有秘密！他迫不及待地希望爸爸早点回家。
“好吧，我们先回去吧，”乔治说，“我们答应帮菲尔伯特夫人摘一些覆盆子，她烹饪晚餐的时候要用，所以我们最好先回去拿篮子，然后再去采摘。哦，我真希望我们能找到那个城堡遗址。我今晚一定会梦见它的，一定会。”
“好吧，试着梦一下城堡在哪里，”朱利安笑着说道，“那么明天早上，你就可以直接带我们去了。我想你们完全不知道城堡的遗址在哪里，对吗，双胞胎？”
“我们不知道，”双胞胎一起皱着眉头说道，“完全不知道！”哈丽特补充道：“这个农场太大了，我想它可能是在我们土地上的任何地方。”
“是的，但最可能是在山顶附近，”朱利安说，“以前城堡常常建造在可以俯视四周的地方，这样城堡里的人就可以很容易地看到企图进犯的敌人。”乔治又提到芬尼斯顿先生告诉她们的另外一件事：“城堡里的领主夫人带着她的孩子一起逃走了，她将他们带到了小礼拜堂，这两个地方不会相距很远。我猜这座城堡的遗址应该距离礼拜堂不到四分之一英里，这样我们就可以把搜索范围缩小一些。顺便说一句，我们一定要去看看那个小礼拜堂，这太有趣了，即使它多年来一直被当作仓库！”
接下来的时间里，女孩们采摘了覆盆子，而男孩们完成了他们的修补工作。他们拖着疲惫的身躯回到农舍喝茶。女孩们已经在那里了，她们正在摆桌子。一看到双胞胎她们就跑了过去，乔治兴奋地说了起来：“双胞胎！我们一直在看那扇古老的铁钉门。它太棒了！来看看吧，朱利安和迪克。如果它不是来自于城堡，我就把我的帽子吃掉，还有我的鞋子！”
乔治把孩子们带到那扇门那里。那扇门打开着，门后就是厨房通往院子的通道。她费了很大的劲儿才把它关上。孩子们都凝视着它，这扇门对于乔治来说实在太沉了——它非常坚固结实，是由很老很老的橡木制成。巨大的铁钉已经深深地钉了进去，并且十分牢固。要想把它们拔出来，除非把这扇门整个毁掉。门的外侧正中间有一个奇怪的铁柄。乔治巧妙地把它抬起来然后往下一敲。一声巨响在整个厨房回荡起来，把其他人都吓了一跳。
“我猜，这就是访客来到城堡时敲门用的门环！”乔治看着他们惊讶的脸，得意地说道，“这么大的响声足以引起城堡里所有人的注意，他们会立即警觉起来。你们觉得它会是城堡的前门吗？它这么大，一定值几百英镑！”
“注意！居里尔就在附近！”安妮低声说道，“他正一脸坏笑呢。
你们觉得他打算做什么？真希望我能知道！”
Chapter 12 REALLY VERY THRILLING
Chapter 12 REALLY VERY THRILLING
At teatime Julian spoke to Mrs. Philpot about the old kitchen door. 'That's a fine old door,' he said.
'Did it come from the castle, do you suppose?'
'Yes - so it's said,' answered Mrs. Philpot. 'Great-Grand-dad here knows more about it than I do,though.'
Great-Grand-dad was not at the table. He was sitting in his enormous old chair in the window withSnippet at his feet. He was pulling contentedly at his pipe, a cup of tea on the window-sill beside him.
'What's that?' called the old man. 'Speak up!' Julian repeated what Mrs. Philpot had said, and the oldfellow nodded.
'Oh ay! That door's from the castle all right. Made of the same oak as the beams in the barns, and thefloors of the bedrooms above! Ay, and that American fellow's been at me about it, too! Ho!
Offered me fifty pounds for it. FIFTY POUNDS! I wouldn't take a thousand. What - have that olddoor hanging in some newfangled house out in that American country, wherever it is? NO. I say NO,and I'll say it till I'm blue in the face!'
'All right, Grand-dad - don't upset yourself,' said Mrs. Philpot. She spoke to Julian in a low voice.
'Change the subject, quickly, or Grand-dad will go on and on, poor old fellow!'
Julian racked his brain for a change of subject, and fortunately remembered the hen-houses. He atonce began to tell Great-Grand-dad all they had done that afternoon, and the old fellow calmed downat once, and listened with pleasure. Snippet, who had run in fright to the twins as soon as Great-Grand-dad had begun to shout, ran back to him, and settled on his feet. Timmy also decided to jointhem, and soon Great-Grand-dad was completely happy again, drawing on his old pipe, with one dogat his feet, the other resting a great head on his knee. Timmy certainly did love Great-Grand-dad!
Mr. Henning did not come back that night, much to everyone's relief, but arrived next day just beforelunch, bringing with him a dried-up little fellow wearing thick glasses, whom he introduced as Mr.
Richard Durleston.
'The great Mr. Durleston!' he said proudly. 'Knows more about old houses in England than anyoneelse in the country. I'd like him to see that old door after lunch, Mrs. Philpot - and that 51queer opening in the wall of the bedroom upstairs, which was used to heat embers and bricks forwarming beds years ago.'
Fortunately Great-Grand-dad was not there to object, and after they had had dinner, Mrs. Philpot tookMr. Durleston to the old studded door. 'Ah yes,' he said. 'Quite genuine. Very fine specimen. I shouldoffer two hundred pounds, Mr. Henning.'
How Mrs. Philpot longed to accept such an offer! What a difference it would make to herhousekeeping! She shook her head. 'You'd have to talk to old Great-Grand-dad,' she said. 'But I'mafraid he'll say no. Now I'll take you to see the queer old opening up in one of the bedrooms.'
She took Mr. Henning and Mr. Durleston upstairs, and the four followed, with Timmy. It was indeeda strange opening in the wall! It had a wrought-iron door rather like an old oven door.
Mrs. Philpot opened it. Inside was a big cavity, which had obviously been used as a kind of oven toheat bricks for placing into cold beds; some of the old bricks were actually still there, blackened withlong-ago heating! Mrs. Philpot took out what looked like a heavy iron tray with an ornamented raisededge. On it were old, old embers!
'This tray was used for heating and holding the embers before they were put into warming-pans,'
she said. 'We still have one old warming-pan left - there on the wall, look.'
The four, just as interested as the two men, looked at the copper warming-pan, glowing red-gold onthe wall. 'The red-hot embers were emptied into that,' Mrs. Philpot told the children, 'and then the panwas carried by its long handle into all the bedrooms, and thrust into each bed for a few minutes towarm it. And that funny little opening in the wall is, as I said, where people years and years agoheated the embers - and the bricks too, which were wrapped in flannel and left in each bed.'
'Hmmmmm. Very interesting. Quite rare to see one in such a well-preserved state,' said Mr.
Durleston, peering into the opening through thick glasses. 'You could make an offer for this too, Mr.
Henning. Interesting old place. We'll have a look at the barns too, I think, and the outbuildings. Mightbe a few things there you could pick up with advantage.'
George thought it was a good thing the twins were not with them to hear all this. They seemed toshare with their Great-Grand-dad a hatred of parting with any of the treasures belonging to the oldfarm-house!
Mrs. Philpot took the two men downstairs again, and the four followed.
52
'I'll just take Mr. Durleston to the old chapel, mam,' said Mr. Henning, and Mrs. Philpot nodded.
She left them and hurried back into the kitchen, where she had a cake baking. The four looked at oneanother, and Julian nodded his head towards the two men, now making their way out of doors. 'Shallwe go too?' he said. 'We haven't seen this chapel yet, either!'
So they followed the two men, and soon came to a tall, quaint old building with small and beautifularched windows set high up in the walls. They went in at the door, a few paces behind the two men,and stared in wonder.
'Yes - you can see it was once a chapel!' said Julian, speaking instinctively in a low voice. 'Thoselovely old windows - that arch there...'
'And the feel of it!' said Anne. 'I know now what old Mr. Finniston down at that little shop meant,when he said that though it was now a store-house, it was still full of prayer! You can feel that peoplehave been here to pray, can't you? What a lovely little chapel. Oh, I do wish it wasn't used as a store-house!'
'I was told by an old fellow down in the village antique shop that a Lady Phillippa, who was once theLady of the castle, brought each of her fifteen children here to learn their prayers,' said Mr.
Durleston, surprisingly. 'Hmm, hmm - nice old story. Probably true. Chapels were often built near tocastles. Wonder which path they took from the castle to the chapel. All gone now, no castle, nothing!
Hmm, hmm.'
'I'd like to buy this chapel, knock it down, and take it stone by stone to my place in the States,'
said the American enthusiastically. 'Fine specimen, isn't it? It would look wunnerful in my place.'
'Can't advise that,' said Mr. Durleston, shaking his head. 'Not in good taste. Let's go to thoseoutbuildings yonder. Might see something in the old junk there.'
They went off, and the children stayed behind, entranced with the little chapel. Sacks upon sacks ofgrain and what looked like fertilizer were arranged in rows all over the floor. A cat had three kittenscuddled together on one sack, and a dove cooed somewhere high up in the arched roof. It was a verypeaceful sound, somehow just right for the silent little place. The children trooped out quietly, notfeeling inclined to follow the brash Mr. Henning round any more.
'At least the other man stopped him from his mad idea of removing the chapel stone by stone,'
said Anne. 'I couldn't bear that beautiful old place to be torn up by its roots and replanted somewhereelse.'
53
'You sound quite angry, Anne - almost as fierce as old Great-Grand-dad!' said Julian, slipping his armthrough his sister's. 'I don't somehow think the old chapel will be sold to Mr. Henning - even if heoffered a million dollars for it!'
'Well, I like most Americans very much,' said Anne. 'But not Mr. Henning. He - he wants to buyhistory just as if it were chocolate or toffee!'
That made the others laugh. 'I say!' said Julian, 'what about having a snoop round, now we're out, andjust see if we can decide where to hunt for the site of the castle? I presume we all agree that it can't bevery far away from the chapel?'
'Yes - that's agreed,' said Dick. 'And it's also agreed that the site is probably on a hill. The snag is thatthere are rather a lot of hills on this undulating farmland!'
'Let's make our way over there - up the nearest slope,' said George. 'Hallo, here are the twins.
We'll call them. They might like to come.'
The twins soon joined them, and said yes, they would certainly like to hunt for the castle-site.
'But it might take years!' said Harry. 'It might be anywhere on the farm!'
'Well, we plan to examine this first slope,' said Julian. 'Heel, Tim, heel, Snippet. Oh gosh, here'sNosey the jackdaw too. NOT on my shoulder, if you don't mind, Nosey. I rather value my ears!'
'Chack!' said the jackdaw, and flew to the twins.
They made their way up the slope. There was, however, absolutely nothing to be seen except grass,grass, grass! They came to a big mound and stood looking at it.
'A very large mole must have made that!' said Dick, which made them all laugh, for the mound wasas high as their shoulders. Rabbit-holes could be seen at the bottom, though it was probable that veryfew burrowed there now - the great rabbit-disease, myxomatosis had wiped them practically out ofexistence on Finniston Farm.
Timmy couldn't see a rabbit-hole without scraping at it, and soon he and Snippet were scatteringearth over everyone. Snippet was small enough to disappear into one hole, and came out carrying- of all things - an oyster shell! Julian took it out of his mouth in amazement.
'Look here - an oyster shell - and we're miles from the sea. How did it get there? Go in again,Snippet. Scrape hard, Timmy. Buck up! An idea is glimmering in my brain!'
Before long, what with Timmy's excited scraping and Snippet's explorations deep into the burrow,quite a collection of oyster shells, and small and large bones, lay on the grass!
'Bones!' said Anne. 'Not bones of people surely! Don't tell me this is a mound covering an old graveor something, Ju.'
'No. But it is something rather exciting!' said Julian. 'I'm pretty sure it's an old kitchen-midden.'
'A kitchen-midden? What on earth's that?' said George. 'Oh look - Timmy's got another mouthful ofoyster shells!'
'A kitchen-midden is what you might call the rubbish-heap of the old days,' explained Julian, pickingup some oyster shells. 'It was often very big, when it comprised the rubbish thrown out from largehouses - or castles! Things like bones and shells wouldn't rot away like other rubbish -and I do believe we've found the kitchen-midden of the old castle. My word - what a find! Now weknow something very important!'
'What? asked everyone, in excitement.
'Well - we know now that the site of the castle must be somewhere on this slope!' said Julian.
'The kitchen-midden was probably not far from its walls. We're on the scent, scouts, we're on thescent! Come on - let's go further on. Spread out. Examine every inch of the ground!'
12.极度兴奋
极度兴奋
喝下午茶的时候，朱利安和菲尔伯特夫人谈到了厨房里的那扇门。“这是一扇很棒的门，它非常古老，”他说道，“您觉得它是那座城堡的门吗？”
“是的，据说是这样，”菲尔伯特夫人回答说，“不过爷爷比我更了解这些老物件。”
曾祖父不在桌旁，他正坐在窗户边那张巨大的旧椅子上，斯尼帕趴在他的脚边。曾祖父心满意足地吸着烟斗。旁边的窗台上放着一杯茶。
“你们在说什么？”老人喊道，“说出来！”朱利安重复了菲尔伯特夫人所说的话。那个老头儿点了点头。
“哦，是的！那扇门的确是来自于城堡。它跟谷仓中的横梁和楼上卧室的地板一样，都是由同一批橡木制成的！哎，那个美国人也问过我这个，哈，他说要花五十英镑把它买下来。五十英镑！哪怕一千英镑我也不会卖的。他想干什么？在美国的哪个新房子里装上那扇古老的门？那可绝对不行，我到死也不会同意的！”
“好了，爷爷，别把自己搞得心烦意乱。”菲尔伯特夫人说道。
她又低声对朱利安说，“快换个话题，否则爷爷会一直说下去的，可怜的老人！”
朱利安绞尽脑汁，想着该说些什么。幸好他还记得那些鸡舍。
于是他马上跟曾祖父说起他们下午干的活儿。那个老头儿立刻平静下来，高兴地听着。斯尼帕看到双胞胎进来了，立刻兴高采烈地冲过去吓唬他们。
曾祖父一喊，斯尼帕就又跑回到他的身边，趴在他脚上。蒂米见到这情景，也决定加入进来。曾祖父又高兴地抽起烟斗来。一只狗趴在他的脚旁，另一只狗则把自己的大脑袋枕在他的膝盖上。看来，蒂米非常喜欢曾祖父！
那天晚上，亨宁先生没有回来，这让每个人都感到宽慰。但是他第二天午餐前回来了，还带来一个戴着厚眼镜的干巴巴的小个子。亨宁先生介绍说，他是理查德•德勒斯顿先生。
“学识渊博的德勒斯顿先生，”亨宁先生自豪地说道，“是最了解古建筑的英国人。他非常了解英格兰的老房子。我想午餐后带他看看那扇旧门，菲尔伯特夫人。还有楼上卧室墙上的那个古怪的洞——就是很久以前用于加热炭火的那个，人们还用它加热暖床用的砖块。”
幸运的是，这次曾祖父没有在场反对。吃完午餐后，菲尔伯特夫人把德勒斯顿先生带去看了看那扇布满门钉的门。“啊，是的，”他说，“这精美的物件确实是来自城堡的。亨宁先生，我认为它值两百英镑。”
菲尔伯特夫人多么渴望接受这笔钱啊！有了这笔钱，她的家里就会大不一样了！但她摇了摇头。“你得跟爷爷谈，”她说，“不过，恐怕他会拒绝的。现在我带你们去看看卧室墙上那个古怪的洞。”
她把亨宁先生和德勒斯顿先生带到了楼上。四个孩子跟着他们，蒂米跟在孩子们后面。墙上的确有一个奇怪的洞，洞口有一个锻铁门，就像是一个古老的烤箱门。菲尔伯特夫人打开铁门，洞里面是一个很大的空穴，显然，这是用来加热暖床用的砖块的。实际上，洞里面还有一些古老的砖块，很久以前，这些砖块被反复加热，所以黑乎乎的。菲尔伯特夫人拿出一个重重的铁托盘，托盘边缘有凸起的装饰，那是一个非常古老的炭火托盘！
“这个托盘用于加热和保存炭火，然后这些炭火会被放入火盆。”她解释说，“我们还有一个旧火盆，就挂在墙上，你们看。”
四个孩子和两个男人都好奇地看着那个铜火盆，铜火盆在墙上闪着发红的金光。“烧热的炭火都会放到那里面，”菲尔伯特夫人告诉孩子们，“然后人们就拿着火盆上的长柄，把它端到各个卧室去，在每张床上放几分钟，让床变得温暖起来。古时候，人们会用墙上那个有趣的小洞来加热炭火以及砖头，然后把砖头用法兰绒包裹起来，放在一张张床上。”
“嗯。这很有趣，现在很难看到保存状态这么完好的洞了。”德勒斯顿先生说道。他透过厚厚的眼镜片往洞口里面看去。
“亨宁先生，你也可以买下这个。这真是栋有趣的老房子。我们再去看看谷仓，还有外围的附属建筑，或许你能低价买到一些好东西。”
双胞胎没有跟过来，所以他们没有听到这些话。乔治认为这真是件好事，因为他们似乎和曾祖父一样热爱老物件，非常憎恨与这幢古老农舍的任何物品分离！
菲尔伯特夫人又把这两个人带到了楼下，四个孩子一直跟在他们后面。
“我会把德勒斯顿先生带到那间老礼拜堂去，夫人。”亨宁先生说道。菲尔伯特夫人点点头，离开了这些人，急忙回到厨房里——那儿正烤着蛋糕呢。四个孩子互相看了一眼。亨宁先生和德勒斯顿先生正准备往外走，朱利安冲他们问道：“我们也能去吗？我们还没见过这个小礼拜堂呢。”
孩子们跟着那两个男人往外走去。很快，一行人就来到了一栋高大的建筑前。这栋建筑古色古香，几扇小而美的拱形窗嵌在高高的墙上。孩子们走到门前停下了，没有跟着那两个男人走进去。他们惊奇地盯着那些精美的窗户。
“看得出来，它曾经确实是一个小礼拜堂！”朱利安本能地压低声音说道，“看看那些可爱的旧窗户，还有那上面的拱顶……”
“还有这个地方的感觉。”安妮说，“现在我懂芬尼斯顿先生的意思了。他说，虽然这个礼拜堂现在被当作仓库，但它里面仍然充满了祷告的气息。仔细体会一下，真的可以感觉到仍然有人来这里祈祷，不是吗？多么可爱的小礼拜堂。哦，我真希望它没有被当作仓库用！”
“村口古董店里的一位老人告诉我关于这个礼拜堂的事。他说，城堡里的领主夫人菲利普夫人，曾经带着她的十五个孩子来到这里学习祈祷，”德勒斯顿先生说，“这是个很棒的老故事，不过也有可能是真的。礼拜堂通常建在城堡附近。真想知道他们从城堡到礼拜堂走的是哪条路。可惜一切都没了，城堡也没了，唉——”
“我想把这个小礼拜堂买下来，然后把它拆成一块一块的石头，再把这些石头运回美国去，放在我家里。”美国人兴奋地说道，“这是很好的样本，不是吗？这个东西放在家里一定很有气势。”
“我倒不建议你这样做，”德勒斯顿先生摇着头说道，“这房子品味不好。我们去那边的附属建筑看看，或许能在那些旧破烂中找到点什么。”
两个男人离开了，而孩子们则留了下来。他们走进小礼拜堂。
礼拜堂的地板上摆满了一排一排的麻袋，里面装着粮食谷物，还有些看起来像是肥料的东西。一只母猫和三只小猫挤在一个窝里。一只鸽子在拱顶的高处“咕咕”叫着。不知为什么，鸽子的叫声与这里的寂静氛围非常和谐。孩子们悄悄地走了出去，他们不想再跟着傲慢的亨宁先生一路转下去。
“至少，另外那个人阻止了他的疯狂行为，没有让他将小礼拜堂拆成一块块的石头。”安妮说，“这栋建筑既古老，又精美。如果它被连根拔起，然后重新安置在别的地方，我一定会受不了的。”
“你看上去很生气，安妮。你的语气简直就像曾祖父一样凶！”朱利安挽起妹妹的手臂，“不知道为什么，我不认为这栋古老的建筑会被卖给亨宁先生。哪怕他出一百万美元！”
“好吧，我喜欢大多数美国人，”安妮说，“但绝不包括亨宁先生。他想要购买英国历史，就像购买巧克力或太妃糖一样！”
这话让其他人哈哈大笑起来。朱利安说：“既然我们出来了，就在四周查看查看，看看从哪开始寻找城堡遗址，怎么样？我们都认为它离礼拜堂不远，不是吗？”
“是的，我们同意，”迪克说，“并且我们都认为城堡遗址很可能在一座山上，而这里的地恰好起伏不平，有很多山丘！”
“我们先到那边去看看，就是最近的那个斜坡上面。”乔治说，“别忘了，还有双胞胎，我们去叫他们，他们可能也想来。”
双胞胎很快就加入到了寻找城堡遗址的队伍之中。他们表示非常愿意去寻找。
“但这可能需要好几年时间，”哈利说，“它可能在农场的任何地方。”
“好吧，我们打算先看看第一个斜坡，”朱利安说，“快来，蒂米，快来，斯尼帕。哦，天啊，寒鸦诺斯也来了。诺斯，如果你不介意的话，请别站在我的肩膀上。我可不希望你啄我的耳朵！”
“喳咳！”寒鸦大叫着飞向了双胞胎的肩膀。
孩子们沿着斜坡往上爬。然而那里除了各种野草之外，什么都没有！他们来到一个巨大的土堆前，站在那里看着它。
“这一定是只超级大的鼹鼠堆出来的！”迪克说道。这话逗得大家哈哈大笑起来。因为这个土堆和孩子们的肩膀一样高。大家可以看到土堆底部的兔子洞。不过现在，农场里已经很难见到野兔的洞穴了。这里曾经爆发过一场大型的兔子病——黏液瘤病。这座农场里的兔子几乎都死绝了。
蒂米看不到兔子洞，于是它使劲刨起土来。很快，它就和斯尼帕把土甩到了大家身上。斯尼帕个子小，它一下子就消失在一个洞里。没多久，它就叼出来一样东西——那是一个牡蛎壳！朱利安惊讶地从斯尼帕嘴里把牡蛎壳取出来。
“看，这是牡蛎壳。但我们这里离海很远呀。它是怎么到这儿来的？再去一趟，斯尼帕。蒂米，再刨开一些。大家快站起来，我有一个绝妙的想法！”
蒂米兴奋地刨着土，斯尼帕也不断地从更深的地方带回新的战利品。没过多久，孩子们面前的草地上就出现了许多牡蛎壳，还有大大小小的骨头！
“骨头！”安妮说道，“但愿不是人的骨头，别告诉我这个土堆下面覆盖着古老的坟墓，朱利安。”
“不，但这真是件令人兴奋的事情！”朱利安说道，“我很确定，这是一个古老的厨房贝冢。”
“厨房贝冢？那是什么？”乔治问道，“哦，看，蒂米又叼来一嘴的牡蛎壳！”
“厨房贝冢可以称为古代厨房旁的垃圾堆。”朱利安拿起一些牡蛎壳解释说，“厨房贝冢通常很大。它主要是从大型房屋或城堡里抛出来的垃圾！其他垃圾会腐烂，但骨头和贝壳这样的东西则留存了下来。我相信我们已经找到了城堡的厨房贝冢。我的天啊，看看我们找到了什么！现在，我们搞清楚了一些非常重要的线索！”
“什么线索？”大家都兴奋地问道。
“我们现在就能确定，城堡遗址一定在这个斜坡上的某个地方！”朱利安说道，“厨房贝冢可能离厨房的墙壁不远。我们已经找到线索了，童子军们。来吧，让我们继续往下找。现在，大家散开，查看脚下的每一寸土地！”
Chapter 13 JUNIOR SPRINGS A SURPRISE!
Chapter 13 JUNIOR SPRINGS A SURPRISE!
The six children felt a sudden upsurge of excitement, and Timmy felt it too and barked loudly.
Snippet joined in, and the jackdaw danced up and down on Harry's shoulder, chacking hoarsely.
Junior, who had seen them start out and was tracking them, stared in surprise from behind a bush in anearby hedge. NOW what was all the excitement about? What had Timmy and Snippet found?
He saw the six children spread out and begin to go slowly up the great slope of the hill. Timmyfollowed them, rather puzzled. He wished he knew what they were looking for - then he could hunttoo! Junior kept safely behind the bush. He knew that if he followed too closely after the children,Timmy would hear him, and bark.
Suddenly the Harries gave a shout. 'Hey!' The others looked up from their search, and saw thembeckoning in excitement. 'What about THIS? Come and look!'
55
Everyone hurried over to the twins, who were standing on a little ridge about two hundred yardsbelow the top of the gently sloping hill. 'Look!' said Harry, sweeping his arm in a circle. 'Would thisbe a likely place for the castle-site?'
The four looked at the great shallow depression that the twins pointed to. In shape it was like a veryshallow soup-plate, certainly big enough for a castle to have been built there! It was covered withthick, closely-growing grass, which was a little darker in colour than the grass around.
Julian clapped Harry on the shoulder. 'Yes! I bet this is where the castle once stood! Why should theground here suddenly have this great depression in it, as if it had sunk down, for some reason? Theonly reason could be that some enormously heavy building once stood here - and it must have beenthe castle!'
'It's not too far from the kitchen- midden, where they threw their rubbish, is it?' asked Anne,anxiously, looking back to see how far away that was.
'No - just about right,' said Julian. 'They would be sure to have it some distance away, because itwould smell, especially in the hot weather. Yes, twins - I think you really have hit on the castle-site -and I bet if we had the machinery to excavate here, we'd come across dungeons, cellars, undergroundpassages - and all they contain!'
The twins went red with excitement, and stared solemnly at the great basin-like circle, green withgrass. 'What will our mother say?' they said, both together.
'Plenty!' said Dick. 'This might be the saving of your farm! But look - let's not say a word about it yet,in case it gets round to Mr. Henning. Let's get Bill and ask him if he'll lend us spades and things.
We'll tell him we've found some interesting old shells and bones on the hill and want to do a littledigging. We'll soon know if this really is the site of the castle.'
'Good idea,' said Julian, excited at the thought of being one of the first to dig down into the olddungeons! 'Let's pace round this old site and see how big it is.'
They walked round and round it and decided it was more than big enough for even a large castle.
They thought it was strange that the grass should be a different colour there.
'But it does sometimes happen that grass marks out where old buildings once stood,' said Julian.
'I say - this is just about the most exciting thing that ever happened to us - and I'm so glad it was thetwins who first recognized the site! After all, it's on their farm!'
56
'Isn't that Junior, running over there?' said George suddenly, as she saw Timmy prick up his ears, andturn his nose to the wind. 'Yes, it is. He's been spying on us, the little beast! There he goes, look!'
'Well, he can't know much,' said Julian, gazing after the running figure. 'I don't expect he even knowsthat a castle was once built here, at the top of this hill - and he certainly wouldn't know we werelooking for the site. He's just snooping, that's all.'
But Junior did know all about the old castle, for he had overheard the children talking in the hen-house! And he did know what they had been looking for! He had followed them as closely as hedared, listening to their shouts - and now he felt that he must get back to his father and tell him whathe knew!
He found his father still with Mr. Durleston, examining an old fireplace. 'Now that's worth buying,'
Mr. Durleston was saying. 'You could rip that out, and use it in your own house - a beautiful thing!
Very old! And...'
'Pop! I say, Pop! Listen!' cried Junior, bursting in. Mr. Durleston looked annoyed. That boy again!
But Junior took no notice of the old man's annoyance, and pulled urgently at his father's arm. 'Dad! Iknow where the place is that the castle once stood on! And there's dungeons and cellars underneath,full of treasure, I know there are. Pop, those kids found the place, but they don't know I saw them!'
'What is all this, Junior?' said his father, half-annoyed too. 'Silly talk! You don't know anything aboutcastle-sites and dungeons and the rest!'
'I do, I do! I heard them all talking in the hen-house - I told you I did!' cried Junior, tugging at hisfather's sleeve again. 'Pop, they've found an old rubbish-heap too, that belonged to the castle -they called it a - a - let me see now - a...'
'A midden?' asked Mr. Durleston, suddenly taking an interest.
'Yes! That's it. A kitchen-midden!' said Junior triumphantly. 'With bones and shells. And then theylooked for where the old castle might have been built - they said it couldn't have been far away,and...'
'Well, they were right,' said Mr. Durleston. 'A kitchen-midden would certainly pin-point the castlearea! Mr. Henning, this is extremely interesting. If you could get permission to excavate, it would bea...'
57
'Oh BOY!' said Mr. Henning, interrupting, his eyes almost starting out of his head. 'Can't you see thepapers - 'American discovers old castle-site - unknown for centuries! Excavates dungeons -find bones of long-ago prisoners - chests of gold coins...' '
'Not so fast, not so fast,' said Mr. Durleston, disapprovingly. 'There may be nothing at all there.
Let us not count our chickens before they're hatched. And mind - not a word to the newspapers,Henning. We don't want a crowd of people rushing to pry over the farm, sending up its price!'
'I didn't think of that,' said Mr. Henning, a little cast-down. 'All right - we'll go carefully. What doyou advise?'
'I should advise you to approach Mr. Philpot - not the old Great-Grand-dad, but the farmer himself -and offer to put down, say, ?250 for the right to excavate up on the hill there,' said Mr.
Durleston. 'Then if you strike anything interesting, you can offer a further sum for whatever's downthere - say another ?250. If there is anything there, it will be extremely valuable - so very, very old.
Hmmm. Hmmm. Yes, that is my advice to you.'
'And it sounds pretty good to me,' said Mr. Henning, excitement flooding him again. 'You'll stay hereand advise me, won't you, Durleston?'
'Certainly, certainly, if you are prepared to pay my fee,' said Mr. Durleston. 'I think it would perhapsbe advisable if I approached Mr. Philpot, Mr. Henning, not you. You might - er - well -give something away in your excitement. You will come with me, of course - but let me do thetalking.'
'Right, old man, you do everything!' said Mr. Henning, feeling friendly with the whole world. Heclapped the listening Junior on the back. 'Well done, son! You may have let us into something good.
Now don't you breathe a word to ANYONE, see?'
'Aw shucks!' said Junior. 'What do you think I am? My mouth's sewn up from now on! Think I'dsplit, Pop, when there's a chance of getting even with those snooty kids? You go on up that hill whenthey've gone, and have a look yourself. Mr. Durleston will know if it's the real thing or not!'
So, when the six children and dogs were safely out of sight, gone to help with various jobs of workon the farm, Mr. Henning and Mr. Durleston went with Junior to see the kitchen-midden and thesupposed site of the old castle. Mr. Henning became very excited indeed, and even the weary-lookingMr. Durleston brightened up and nodded his head several times.
58
'Looks the real thing!' he said. 'Yes, we'll get going this evening - after that fierce old fellow - the oldGreat-Grand-dad - has gone to bed. He might put a spoke in our wheels. He's as old as the hills, butas cute as a jackdaw!'
And so, that evening, when Great-Grand-dad was safely in bed, Mr. Henning and Mr. Durleston hada private, very private talk with Mr. and Mrs. Philpot together. The farmer and his wife listened,amazed. When they heard that Mr. Henning proposed to hand them a cheque for ?250merely for the right to do a little digging, Mrs. Philpot almost cried!
'And I have advised Mr. Henning that he should offer you further sums, if he finds anything he wouldlike to take back to the States with him, as - er - as mementos of a very pleasant stay here,'
finished Mr. Durleston.
'It sounds too good to be true,' said Mrs. Philpot. 'We could certainly do with the money, couldn't we,Trevor?'
Mr. Henning took out his cheque book and produced his fountain-pen, before Mr. Philpot could sayanything else. He wrote out the sum of ?250, and signed the cheque with a flourish. He thenpresented it to Mr. Philpot.
'And I hope there'll be more cheques to come,' he said. 'Thank you, sir - I'll get men along tomorrowto start digging.'
'I'll have a formal agreement drawn up,' put in Mr. Durleston, thinking that he saw a rather doubtfullook coming over Mr. Philpot's face, as he took the cheque. 'But you can cash the cheque straightaway. Well, we'll leave you to talk over it!'
When the twins and the four heard of this, the next morning, they were astounded. Mrs. Philpot toldthe twins first, and Harry and Harriet ran at once to find the others. They listened, amazed and angry.
'How did they know all that? How did they guess where to find the castle-site?' said Dick, fiercely. 'Ibet it's that snoopy little Junior who put them on to this! I bet he spied on us! I thought I saw twopeople up on that hill after tea yesterday. It must have been Mr. Henning and that friend of his - withJunior. Gosh, I could pull that kid's hair out!'
'Well, I suppose there's absolutely nothing we can do now!' said George, angrily. 'The next thing we'llsee is lorries rolling up with men inside, and spades and drills and goodness knows what!'
She was quite right! That very morning the hill became quite a busy place! Four men had alreadybeen hired by Mr. Henning, and they all went up the hill in their lorry, bumping slowly along, 59past the kitchen-midden mound, and on up to the shallow basin-like depression near the summit ofthe hill. Spades, forks and drills rattled in the lorry. Junior was mad with joy, and danced about at asafe distance, yelling defiance at the six children.
'You thought I didn't know anything, didn't you! I heard everything! Serves you right! Yah!'
'Timmy - chase him!' ordered George, in a furious voice. 'But don't hurt him, mind. Go on!'
And off went Timmy at a gallop, and if Junior hadn't leapt into the lorry and picked up a spade,Timmy would certainly have rolled him over and over on the ground!
Now what was to be done? The children almost gave up - but not quite! There might be somethingthey could do - there might! Why was Julian suddenly looking so excited?
13.发生变故
发生变故
六个孩子突然感到一阵激动。蒂米也感觉到了，它大声咆哮着。斯尼帕也加入了进来。寒鸦在哈利的肩膀上方跳动，声音粗哑地叫唤着。孩子们从农场出发的时候，居里尔便跟踪他们来到这里。现在，他正躲在附近的树篱旁，从灌木丛后面惊讶地盯着那几个孩子。他们在激动什么？蒂米和斯尼帕发现了什么？
他看到六个孩子散开，然后慢慢地爬上那个巨大的山坡。蒂米跟着他们，一脸迷惑不解的表情。居里尔真希望自己知道他们在找些什么，那么他也可以去搜寻了。居里尔小心翼翼地躲在灌木丛后面。他知道，如果他跟得太紧，蒂米会听到他的脚步声，然后大叫起来。
突然，两个哈利喊了一声：“嘿！”其他人都停下搜索，抬起头来，他们看到两个哈利在兴奋地招手。“这个地方很特别，快过来看看！”双胞胎说道。
大家连忙赶到那对双胞胎身边。双胞胎站在一个狭窄的山脊上，那里距离坡度平缓的山顶大概有两百码的距离。“看！”哈利说着，挥舞起手臂绕了一圈，“这有可能是城堡遗址吗？”
四个人看向双胞胎指的那个地方——那里有一个浅浅的凹坑，形状就像一个非常浅的汤盘。这个凹坑足够大，绝对可以在那上面建一座城堡！凹坑的表面覆盖着厚厚的青草。那里面的草生长得十分茂密，但它们的颜色比周围的草稍深一些。
朱利安拍了拍哈利的肩膀。“是的！我敢打赌，这就是城堡曾经矗立的地方！你们看，这块地面出于某种原因陷下去了，而唯一可能的原因就是这里曾经耸立着一座巨大的建筑物，而那座建筑物一定就是城堡！”
“这距离厨房贝冢——就是扔垃圾的那个地方并不远，不是吗？”安妮着急地一边问，一边回头看两地的距离。
“是的，差不多就是这样子。”朱利安说道，“厨房贝冢肯定会离城堡有一段距离，因为垃圾会散发臭味，尤其是在天气炎热的时候。双胞胎，我觉得你们这次一定是发现了城堡遗址。我敢打赌，如果我们可以用机器在这里挖掘，一定能挖到地牢、地窖，还有地下通道，我们一定能找出那里面储藏的一切东西！”
双胞胎兴奋得满脸通红。他们郑重地盯着那个凹坑，它就像一个铺满绿草的巨大圆盆。“我们的妈妈会说什么？”他们俩异口同声地说道。
“地窖里肯定有很多东西！”迪克说，“那些东西的价值可能抵得上整个农场！但是，我们暂时一个字也别提，免得这件事传到亨宁先生耳朵里去了。我们去找比尔问问，看他能不能借给我们些铁锹之类的工具。我们可以告诉他，我们在山上发现了一些有趣的古老贝壳和骨头，所以我们想要继续往下挖一点。很快，我们就会知道，这里是否真的是城堡遗址了。”
“好主意！”朱利安说，“想到这个，我就激动得不得了，我将成为首批挖掘古老地牢的成员。让我们绕着这个古老遗址走走，看看它有多大。”
孩子们绕着这个凹坑转了一圈又一圈。大家都认为，它甚至比一座大型城堡还要大。孩子们觉得很奇怪，因为那里的草呈现出跟别处不同的颜色。
“但有时的确会发生这种事。青草会标记出曾经建筑所在的地方。”朱利安说，“这真是我们遇到过的最激动人心的事情。我很高兴是双胞胎最先发现了这个遗址，毕竟，城堡遗址是在他们的农场里！”
“那不是居里尔吗，那边正在跑着的那个人？”乔治突然说道。
因为她看到蒂米竖起了耳朵，顺着风向转动鼻子，“是的，是他。他一直在监视我们。这个小坏蛋，他逃走了，看！”
“好吧，他不可能知道很多事。”朱利安凝视着居里尔逃跑的身影说道。
“我甚至认为，他根本不知道这座山顶上曾经有座城堡。当然，他更不可能知道我们在寻找城堡遗址。他只是鬼鬼祟祟地窥探，就是这样。”
然而事实却是，居里尔的确知道这座古老城堡的事——他偷听到了孩子们在鸡舍里说的话！他也知道孩子们在寻找什么！他一直紧紧地跟着他们。当然，那是在自己不被发现的情况下。他一直听着孩子们的叫喊声。而现在，他觉得必须回到他爸爸那里。他得告诉爸爸，自己知道了多么了不得的事！
居里尔发现他的爸爸还和德勒斯顿先生在一起。他们在查看一个旧壁炉。“这件东西倒是值得购买，”德勒斯顿先生说道，“你可以把它挖出来，然后放在你自己的房子里使用。这玩意真漂亮！非常古老！还有……”
“我说……爸爸……听着……”居里尔闯进去大声说道。德勒斯顿先生看起来很恼火——又是那个男孩！但是居里尔没有注意到这位老先生不满的表情，他急切地拉起爸爸的胳膊，“爸爸！我知道城堡曾经矗立的地方在哪里！那下面还有地牢和地窖，装满了宝贝。
我全都知道。爸爸，那几个孩子找到了那个地方。但他们不知道我看到了他们！”
“你在说些什么，居里尔？”他爸爸也有些生气地说，“简直一派胡言！你根本不知道城堡遗址和地牢，还有别的那些东西！”
“我知道，我知道！我听到他们在鸡舍里说话。我全听到了！”居里尔又拉着爸爸的袖子喊道，“爸爸，他们还发现了一个旧的垃圾堆，是属于城堡的。他们称之为……呃……让我想想看……一个……”
“一个贝冢？”德勒斯顿先生突然感兴趣地问道。
“是的！就是那个，一个厨房贝冢！”居里尔得意扬扬地说道，“那里面有骨头和贝壳。然后他们就去寻找城堡遗址。他们说城堡不可能很远，而且……”
“是的，他们是对的，”德勒斯顿先生说，“厨房贝冢肯定会标明城堡所在的区域！亨宁先生，现在事情变得非常有趣了。如果您可以获得挖掘许可，那将是……”
“哦，天哪！”亨宁先生眼珠子都快瞪出来了，他不由得大喊一声，打断了德勒斯顿先生的话，“我一定会上报纸的。‘美国人发现古老城堡遗址——几个世纪以来没人知道的神秘城堡！挖掘地牢——找到很久以前的囚犯的骨头——一箱箱的金币……’”
“不要这么快就下结论，不要这么快，”德勒斯顿先生不以为然地说，“那可能什么也没有。不要在蛋孵化之前，就去数会有多少只小鸡。并且要当心，一个字也别对报社记者透露，亨宁，我们可不想看到一大群人都跑来。如果大家都想要挖开农场，就会搞得价格迅速上涨！”
“我没有想到这一点，”亨宁先生有点丧气地说，“对，我们要小心行事。你有什么建议吗？”
“我建议你接近菲尔伯特先生，不是那个曾祖父，而是那个农场主自己。然后你可以提出比如说花二百五十英镑购买在那座山上挖掘的权利，”德勒斯顿先生说，“然后，如果你发现了任何有趣的东西，还可以再额外加钱。比如，再支付二百五十英镑。如果那下面有东西，无论是什么，都将是非常值钱的，并且它们一定非常古老。这是我给你的建议。”
“这个建议对我来说很不错。”亨宁先生说道。他又再次兴奋了起来，“你会继续留在这里为我出主意的，是吗，德勒斯顿？”
“当然，如果你打算支付我费用的话。”德勒斯顿先生说，“我认为，由我代替你去找菲尔伯特先生谈这件事或许更好些，亨宁先生。你可能……呃……或许……会因为太兴奋而说漏嘴。当然，你还是跟我一起去，但是让我来跟他谈。”
“好的，老头儿，都交给你啦！”亨宁先生说道。他现在对全世界都十分友好。他拍了拍居里尔的背，“干得好，儿子！你可能带我们发现了好东西。但你不要对任何人说一个字，明白了吗？”
“绝对没问题！”居里尔说，“你把我当成什么人了？我的嘴巴从现在开始就缝上了！哪怕我有机会跟那几个傲慢的孩子待在一起，我也绝对不会透露半句的，爸爸。他们走了之后，您就自己去那座山上看看。德勒斯顿先生看了就会知道，那到底是不是真的！”
孩子们和他们的狗离开了，他们去农场里干各种活儿。孩子们刚走，亨宁先生和德勒斯顿先生就跟居里尔一起上了山。他们去看了看厨房贝冢和所谓的城堡遗址。亨宁先生非常兴奋，就连一脸疲惫的德勒斯顿先生也笑了起来，并且点了好几次头。
“这看起来倒像是真的！”他说，“好的，我们今天晚上就去谈。
不过我们要等那位凶悍的老曾祖父去休息以后再谈，否则他可能会坏我们的事。他就像山丘一样古老，但却像寒鸦一样可爱！”
那天晚上，亨宁先生和德勒斯顿先生直到曾祖父上床休息以后才来。他们跟菲尔伯特先生和夫人一起进行了一次谈话。这次谈话非常私密。农场主和他的妻子惊讶地听着他们的提议。当他们听明白这个提议的时候，菲尔伯特夫人几乎感动得哭起来——亨宁先生竟然打算给他们一张二百五十英镑的支票，而仅仅只是为了挖几下。
“并且我还给亨宁先生提了一个建议，如果他发现了任何东西，想带回他的国家，那么，他还应该再给你们一笔钱。那些东西可以作为……呃，作为一个纪念品，用来纪念他在这里度过的愉快时光。”
听德勒斯顿先生说完这个提议，菲尔伯特夫人说：“这个提议实在是太好了，好得都不像是真的。这个价钱当然可以，是吗，特雷弗？”
菲尔伯特先生根本没来得及提出异议——亨宁先生不等他开口就拿出了支票簿。他用钢笔在支票簿上签了名，写了250英镑的总价，并用华丽的花体字 签了支票。接着，他把支票递给了菲尔伯特先生。
“我希望将来能支付更多的支票，”他说道，“谢谢你，先生。明天我就会让工人们开始挖掘。”
“之后，我们再签订一份正式协议。”德勒斯顿先生说。他担心菲尔伯特先生起疑心，因为他接过支票时，脸上出现了一种相当疑虑的表情，“但你可以马上兑现支票。好了，我们先走了。你们可以自己谈谈！”
第二天早上，当双胞胎和四个孩子听到这件事时，他们都惊呆了。菲尔伯特夫人先告诉了双胞胎，哈利和哈丽特立刻跑去找其他几个孩子。孩子们听说了这事以后，又是惊讶，又是愤怒。
“他们怎么知道这些的？他们怎么猜到哪里可以找到城堡遗址的？”迪克怒气冲冲地说，“我敢打赌，一定是那个多管闲事的小居里尔把他们带去的！我敢打赌，他在跟踪我们！我想起来了。昨天喝下午茶的时候，我看到两个人在那座小山上晃悠。那一定是亨宁先生和他的那位朋友，还有居里尔。天啊，我真想把那孩子的头发扯掉！”
“我想，我们现在什么办法也没有了！”乔治气愤地说道，“接下来，我们将会看到卡车载着工人们开进农场。他们会带着铁锹、钻头，还有不知道什么东西！”
一切正如乔治所说的那样！那天早上，山上变得非常繁忙。亨宁先生雇了四名男子，他们都开着卡车慢慢地颠簸着上了山。他们经过了厨房贝冢的土墩，来到了靠近山顶的浅盆状凹坑。铁锨、铁叉和钻头在卡车上叮当作响。居里尔乐坏了。他在远远的地方手舞足蹈，对着六个孩子大喊大叫。
“你们以为我什么都不知道！我全都听到了！这是你们自找的！
耶！”
“蒂米，抓住他！”乔治怒吼道，“但是，注意不要伤到他，去吧！”
蒂米一下子冲了出去。居里尔立马跳进了卡车。他还捡起一把铁锹来自卫。如果他没这么做，蒂米肯定会一遍又一遍地把他扑倒在地！
现在该怎么办？孩子们几乎要放弃了——但他们最终没有完全放弃，他们一定可以做些什么。一定可以！为什么朱利安突然兴奋起来了？
Chapter 14 SNIPPET AND NOSEY ARE VERY HELPFUL!
Chapter 14 SNIPPET AND NOSEY ARE VERY HELPFUL!
'LISTEN!' said Julian, lowering his voice, and looking all about to make sure that no one was near.
'Do you remember what you told us, George, about a secret passage from the castle to the oldchapel?'
'Yes! Yes! I do!' said George, and Anne nodded, her eyes bright. 'You mean the story that old Mr.
Finniston told us, down at the little antique shop, about the Lady of the castle taking her children insafety from the burning castle, by way of an underground passage to the old chapel?
Gosh, I'd forgotten that!'
'Oh, Julian! Yes, George is right!' said Anne. 'Are you thinking that the passage might still be there,hidden underground?'
'What I think is this,' said Julian. 'If the Lady and her children escaped underground, they must firsthave fled down into the cellars of the castle - and so the passage or tunnel must have started fromthere. They couldn't have escaped in any other way because the castle was itself surrounded byenemies. So she must have gone with her children to hide in the cellars - and then, when the castlefell, she took them safely down the secret passage that led to the old chapel. So that means...'
'That means that if we can find the secret passage, we can get into the cellars ourselves - perhapsbefore the workmen do!' cried George, almost shouting with excitement.
'Exactly,' said Julian, his eyes shining. 'Now don't let's lose our heads and get too excited. Let's talkabout it quietly - and for GOODNESS' sake keep a watch for Junior.'
'Timmy - on guard!' said George, and Timmy at once went some paces away, and stood up straight,looking now in this direction, and now in that. Nobody could come within sight now, without Timmygiving a warning bark!
The children settled down beside a hedge. 'What's the plan?' asked Dick.
'I vote we go to the old chapel, take a line from there to the castle-site, and walk slowly up that line,'
said Julian. 'We might possibly see something that would guide us as to where the secret passage is. Idon't know what - maybe the grass might be slightly different in colour - a bit darker than thesurrounding grass, just as it was on the castle-site. Anyway, it's worth trying. If we do see a line ofdarker grass, or something like that, we'll dig down underground ourselves, hoping the secret passageis underneath!'
'Oh Ju! What a wonderful idea!' said Anne. 'Come on, let's go down to the chapel straight away!'
So off they all went, Timmy, Snippet and Nosey the jackdaw too. He loved being with Snippet,though he teased him unmercifully. They arrived quickly at the chapel door and went in. 'I alwaysfeel as if there ought to be an organ playing when I'm inside,' said Anne, looking round the stackedsacks of grain.
'Never mind about organs,' said Julian, standing at the open door, and pointing up the hill. 'Now see -there's the place where the old castle stood - where the men are already at work - and if we take afairly straight line to it, we should be more or less walking over the old passage. I should think themen who made it would drive as straight a tunnel as they could, to save themselves work. A grindingone would take a long time.'
'I can't see that the grass is any different in colour, along the line I'm looking,' said Dick, squinting,and everyone agreed, very disappointed.
'So there's nothing to help us!' said George, mournfully. 'All we can do is to walk in a straight line upthe hill, and hope to find something that will tell us if we're over a tunnel. Hollow-sounding footsteps,perhaps!'
'That's very doubtful, I'm afraid,' said Julian. 'Still, I can't see that we can do anything else. Come on,then. All right, Tim, you can come back to us. Look at Nosey, on Snippet's back again! That's right,Snippet, roll over and get him off!'
'Chack!' said Nosey, crossly, as he flew up in the air. 'Chack!'
61
The six children walked up the slope in as straight a line as they could. They came right up to wherethe men were digging, without having seen or heard anything of any help at all. It was mostdisappointing. Junior saw them, and yelled loudly.
'Children not allowed here! Keep off! My Dad's bought this place!'
'Fibber!' shouted back the two Harries at once. 'You've got the right to dig and that's all!'
'Yah!' yelled Junior. 'You wait! Now don't you set that great dog on me again! I'll tell my Pop, see?'
Timmy barked loudly, and Junior disappeared in a hurry. George laughed. 'Silly little fathead!
Why doesn't somebody box his ears? I bet one of the men will before he's many hours older.
Look at him trying to use that drill!'
Junior was certainly not at all popular. He made himself a great nuisance, and in the end his fatherput him roughly into a lorry and told him to stay there. He howled dismally, but as no one paid anyattention, he soon stopped!
The six children went slowly back down the gentle slope of the hill, taking a slightly different line,still hopeful. The jackdaw flew down to Harry's shoulder, chacking loudly, bored with all thiswalking! He suddenly saw Snippet sitting down to scratch his neck, and at once launched himself athim. He knew that the poodle always shut his eyes when he scratched himself, and that that was avery good time to give him a well-placed peck!
But unfortunately for Nosey the poodle opened his eyes too soon, and saw the jackdaw just about toperch on him! He snapped at him - and got him by the wing! 'Chack-chack-CHACK!' cried thejackdaw, urgently calling for help. 'CHACK!'
Harry ran to Snippet, shouting, 'drop him, Snippet, drop him! You'll break his wing!' Before he couldreach the pair, the jackdaw managed to free himself by giving Snippet a sudden peck on his nose,which made him bark in pain. As soon as he opened his mouth to bark, the jackdaw dropped on theground, and scuttled away, his wing drooping, unable to fly.
The poodle was after him in a second! The twins yelled in vain. He meant to catch that exasperatingjackdaw if it was the last thing he did! The squawking bird looked anxiously for a hiding-place - andsaw one! A rabbit-hole - just the thing to hop down in a trice! In he went with another loud squawk,and disappeared from sight.
'He's gone down that rabbit- hole!' said Dick, with a shout of laughter. 'Clever old bird. You'reoutwitted, Snippet!'
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But no - Snippet wasn't! He disappeared down the hole too! He was as small as a rabbit, and couldeasily run down a burrow. He had never done more than sniff at one before, being rather scared ofdark tunnels - but if Nosey had gone down, well, he would too!
The children stared in surprise. First the jackdaw - now Snippet! The twins bent down by the holeand yelled. 'Come back, Snippet, you idiot! The hill's honeycombed with old warrens -you'll get lost for ever. Come back! Snippet. Snip-Snip-Snippet, can you hear us? COMEHERE!'
There was silence down the rabbit-hole. No chack, no bark. 'They must have gone deep down,'
said Harry, anxiously. 'There's a perfect maze of burrows in this hill. Dad said there used to bethousands of rabbits here at one time. Hey, Snippet - COME HERE!'
'Well, we'd better sit down till they come back,' said Anne, feeling suddenly tired with excitementand with climbing up hill and down.
'Right,' said Julian. 'Anyone got any sweets?'
'I have,' said George, as usual, and took out a rather grimy packet of peppermints. 'Here you are; haveone, twins?'
'Thanks,' they said. 'We really ought to be getting back - we've plenty of work to do!'
They sat sucking their peppermints, wondering what in the world the jackdaw and Snippet were upto. At last Timmy pricked up his ears and gave a small bark, looking at the entrance of the burrow ashe did so. 'They're coming,' said George. 'Timmy knows!'
Sure enough, Timmy was right. Out came first Snippet, and then Nosey, apparently quite goodfriends again. Snippet rushed to the twins and flung himself on them as if he hadn't seen them fordays. He put something down at their feet. 'What's this you've found?' said Harry, picking it up.
'Some dirty old bone?'
Julian suddenly took it from him, almost snatching it. 'Bone? No - that's not a bone. It's a smallcarved dagger with a broken handle - old as the hills! SNIPPET! Where did you find it?'
'The jackdaw's got something too!' cried Anne, pointing to him. 'Look - in his beak!'
Harriet caught the jackdaw easily, for he still could not fly. 'It's a ring!' she said. 'With a red stone in it- look!'
All six children gazed at the two strange articles. An old carved knife, black with age - and an oldring, with a stone still set in it! They could have come from only one place! George said whateveryone was thinking.
'Snippet and the jackdaw have been to the cellars of the castle! They must have! That burrow musthave led straight into the tunnel that goes to the dungeons and the cellars - and they've been there!
Oh, Snippet - you clever, clever dog - you've told us JUST what we want to know!'
'George is right!' said Dick, jubilantly. 'We know quite a lot of things now, because of Snippet andNosey. We know there must be plenty of things still in those castle cellars - and we know thatsomewhere near the end of this burrow is the secret passage - because that's the only way they couldhave got into the cellars - by using the passage! The burrow led into the passage!
Don't you agree, Julian?'
'Rather!' said Julian, flushed with excitement. 'My word, this is a bit of good luck! Hurrah for Snippetand Nosey. Look, the jackdaw's trying to fly - his wing isn't badly hurt - just bruised, I expect. Goodold Nosey - little did he know what his bit of mischief would lead to!'
'What happens now?' said George, her eyes shining. 'Do we dig, too - now that we know where thepassage is? It can't be very far - and once we've got down to it, we can easily get into the cellarsbefore that American does!'
WHAT an excitement! Timmy really thought everyone had gone completely mad!
14.爱宠增援
爱宠增援
“听着！”朱利安低声对乔治说道。他看了看四周，确保附近没有人，“你还记得吗？你跟我们说过，有一条秘密隧道从城堡通到那个古老的礼拜堂。”
“是的，我说过！”乔治对朱利安说道。安妮也点了点头，她的眼睛一下子亮了起来，“你是指那个传说吗？古董店的芬尼斯顿先生给我们讲的那个故事——城堡燃烧起来了，于是领主夫人带着她的孩子从地下隧道逃了出去，最后安全地抵达了小礼拜堂。天啊，我都忘记这回事了！”
“哦，朱利安！”安妮说，“你是不是认为这段隧道可能仍然存在，并且隐藏在地下？”
“我是这样想的，”朱利安说，“如果领主夫人和她的孩子们想逃跑，一定会先逃到城堡地窖里，所以这段隧道应该是从地窖开始的。他们没办法从其他地方逃走，因为整个城堡都被敌人包围了，所以领主夫人就带着孩子们躲进了地窖里。城堡倒塌时，他们从地窖逃到了秘密隧道中，然后沿着这段隧道来到了小礼拜堂。这意味着……”
“这就意味着，如果我们能找到秘密隧道，我们就可以自己进入地窖。或许，我们会比工人们先找到地窖！”乔治兴奋地喊了起来。
“没错。”朱利安说道。他的眼睛闪闪发亮，“现在，我们不要失去理智，也不要过于兴奋。我们要悄悄地谈论这件事。看在上帝的分上，这次千万不能让居里尔知道了。”
“蒂米，站岗警戒！”乔治说道。蒂米立刻跑开了几步，站直了身子，一会儿看看这个方向，一会儿看看那个方向。现在，没有任何人可以进入到他们的视线范围内，只要有人靠近，蒂米就会发出警报。
孩子们在篱笆旁边聚拢到一起。“你的计划是什么？”迪克问道。
“我提议，我们立刻去小礼拜堂，然后从那里找一条线路走到城堡遗址。我们要慢慢地沿着那条线路走，”朱利安说，“因为可能会看到某些标明隧道位置的东西。我不知道会有什么标志物，也许是草的颜色跟别处略有不同。也许隧道上方的草比周围的草稍暗，就像城堡遗址上的草一样。无论如何，这个方法值得一试。如果我们看到某条线路上草的颜色较深，或者看到类似的标志物，我们就可以自己往地下挖掘。或许，秘密隧道就在下面！”
“哦，朱利安，这真是个好主意！”安妮说，“来吧，我们现在就到礼拜堂去！”
于是大家一起出发了。蒂米、斯尼帕和寒鸦诺斯也都跟了上来。诺斯喜欢和斯尼帕在一起，虽然它总是无情地嘲弄斯尼帕。他们很快就到了礼拜堂门口。大家都走了进去。“我总感觉，这间礼拜堂里面应该有管风琴演奏。”安妮看着四周堆得满满的谷物袋说道。
“别去想管风琴了。”朱利安站在敞开的门口说。他指了指小山那边，“你们看，城堡遗址就在工人们挖掘的那个地方。我们可以在礼拜堂和城堡遗址间选一条笔直的路线，这样的话，就很有可能经过隧道上方。我认为，挖地下隧道的人一定会选择一条尽量笔直的路，这样做可以减少他们的工作量。如果绕来绕去地挖，他们会浪费很多时间。”
“我看不出这条路线上草的颜色有什么不同。”迪克眯着眼睛望着这条线路说道。大家也都这样认为，他们感到非常失望。
“所以，现在没有什么可以帮助我们的！”乔治哀叹着说，“我们只能沿着这条笔直的线往山上走，寄希望于发现特殊的标志物。比如说，隧道上方可能会有空洞的脚步声。”
“恐怕那并不太可能，”朱利安说，“不过，我们也没有别的办法了。来吧，蒂米，你可以回到我们身边来了。看看诺斯，它又飞到了斯尼帕的背上！干得好，斯尼帕。打个滚儿，把他赶走！”
“喳咳！”斯诺飞向空中，生气地叫着，“喳咳！”
六个孩子尽可能地沿着直线走上斜坡。他们一直走到了工人们正在挖掘的地方。但他们在这条线路上没有看到任何标志物，也没有任何特殊的东西或声音提醒他们隧道在哪里。这实在太让人失望了。居里尔看见了他们，于是他大声地喊叫起来：“儿童不允许入内！走开！我爸爸把这个地方买下来了！”
“扯谎精！”两个哈利立刻朝他喊道，“你们只有挖掘的权利，仅此而已！”
“哈！”居里尔喊道，“你们等着瞧好了！你现在怎么不让那只大狗追我了！我会告诉爸爸的，听到了吗？”
蒂米大声吠叫起来，居里尔赶紧躲进去了。乔治笑了笑，说：“真是个小蠢货！怎么没人把他的耳朵塞起来？我敢打赌，要不了几个小时就会有工人给他点教训的。看看他调皮捣蛋的样子，正打算去用钻头呢！”
居里尔当然不受欢迎了。他的行为非常惹人讨厌。最后，他爸爸粗暴地把他塞进一辆卡车里，并且让他待在那里。居里尔凄惨地号叫起来，但根本没有人注意到他。于是他很快就停下来了！
六个孩子慢慢地从平缓的山坡走了下来。这次他们换了一条稍微不同的路线，仍然希望能在路上发现点什么。寒鸦诺斯飞到哈利的肩膀上，大声地叫着。它觉得走来走去很无聊，突然看到斯尼帕坐下来挠脖子，于是立刻落到了斯尼帕的身上。它知道狮子狗在挠痒痒的时候总是闭上眼睛，趁这个空档，它正好可以在斯尼帕身上找个好地方啄一下！
但不幸的是，斯尼帕过早地睁开了眼睛，正好看到寒鸦要落在它身上。于是，它猛地一咬，一下子叼住了寒鸦的翅膀。“喳咳——喳咳——喳咳！”寒鸦急切地求助，“喳咳！”
哈利跑到斯尼帕旁边大喊：“放开它，斯尼帕，你会把它的翅膀弄断的！”还没等他走近，寒鸦就发起了自卫攻击。它突然啄了一下斯尼帕的鼻子，让自己得以脱身。这下子，轮到斯尼帕痛苦地吠叫起来。它一张开嘴，寒鸦就掉到了地上。但它的翅膀垂了下来，无法飞行。
斯尼帕愣了一秒之后，立刻追了上去。双胞胎大声制止它，但却没有用，斯尼帕非要抓住那令人恼火的寒鸦不可。那只嘎嘎叫的鸟焦急地寻找可以躲藏的地方。它看到了一个洞——那是一个兔子洞，它正好可以一下子跳进去。寒鸦又发出了一声响亮的叫声，然后就从大家的视线中消失了。
“它跑到那个兔子洞里面去了！”迪克快活地笑着说道，“聪明的老鸟。你太笨了，斯尼帕！”
它可不笨，斯尼帕一点也不笨，它也消失在洞里了。它像兔子一样小，很容易钻进洞穴里。斯尼帕以前非常害怕黑暗的隧道，从来都只是嗅来嗅去，绝不去做冒险深入的事情。但如果是诺斯跑到洞里面去了，那么它也一定要追上去。
孩子们惊讶地盯着它们看。先是寒鸦，现在是斯尼帕。双胞胎在洞口弯下腰，大声叫着：“回来，斯尼帕，你这个白痴！这些小山上的兔子洞就像蜂巢一样，你会在里面迷路，再也出不来的。快回来！斯尼帕。斯——尼——帕——斯尼帕，你能听到我们的声音吗？回来！”
兔子洞里一点声音也没有。没有寒鸦的“喳咳”声，也没有狮子狗的吠叫声。“它们肯定已经陷得很深了，”哈利焦急地说，“这座小山简直就像一个完美的洞穴迷宫。爸爸说，曾经有数千只兔子住在这里。嘿，斯尼帕——回来！”
“好吧，我们最好坐下来，直到它们回来为止。”安妮说道。之前她兴奋了好一阵子，后来她又跟大家一起在山坡上爬上爬下，现在，她突然感到疲惫不堪。
“好的，”朱利安说道，“有人带着糖果吗？”
“我有。”乔治说道。她像往常一样，掏出一堆包装纸脏脏的薄荷糖，“给你。来一块吧，双胞胎？”
“谢谢。”他们说道，“我们真的应该回去了，还有很多活儿等着我们去做呢！”
几个孩子一边坐着吮吸薄荷糖，一边想着寒鸦和斯尼帕跑去什么地方了。突然，蒂米把耳朵竖了起来。它轻轻地叫了一声，盯着洞穴的入口。“它们出来了，”乔治说，“蒂米知道！”
果然，蒂米是对的。斯尼帕先钻了出来，然后是诺斯。显然，它们又变成了很好的朋友。斯尼帕冲到了双胞胎身边，一头扎进他们怀里，就像好几天没看到双胞胎一样。接着，它把什么东西放到了双胞胎脚下。“你找到了什么？”哈利把那个东西捡起来说道，“一些脏兮兮的古老的骨头吗？”
朱利安突然从他手中把那东西拿走了——几乎可以说，他是从哈利手中抢走的。“骨头？不，这不是骨头，这是一把小小的雕花匕首，只是手柄坏了，它就像山丘一样古老。斯尼帕！你在哪里找到它的？”
“寒鸦也带回了一些东西！”安妮指着诺斯喊道，“看，在它嘴里！”
哈丽特轻松地抓住了寒鸦，因为它现在仍然无法飞行。“是一枚戒指，”她说，“上面有一块红色的石头。看！”
六个孩子都盯着这两件奇怪的东西。一把雕花匕首，因为年代久远而变黑了，还有一枚嵌着石头的古老戒指。它们只可能来自一个地方！乔治把大家的想法说了出来。
“斯尼帕和寒鸦刚才去了城堡的地窖！它们一定去过那里！那个洞穴下面一定就是秘密隧道。哦，斯尼帕，你这只绝顶聪明的狗。
这正是我们想找的！”
“乔治说得对！”迪克兴高采烈地说道，“我们现在知道很多线索了，这都是斯尼帕和诺斯的功劳。首先，城堡地窖里肯定还有很多东西。其次，这个洞穴就在秘密隧道附近。因为这是诺斯和斯尼帕进入地窖的唯一路线。它们一定是通过秘密隧道到达城堡地窖的。
这个洞穴连接着秘密隧道！你不这么认为吗，朱利安？”
“当然！”朱利安兴奋地说道。他的脸都涨红了，“我的天哪，这真是太走运了！为斯尼帕和诺斯欢呼。看，寒鸦试着飞起来了。它的翅膀并没有受到严重的伤害。我想那应该只是擦伤。好样的，诺斯！它肯定不知道它的恶作剧竟然给我们带来了这么大的惊喜！”
“现在该怎么办？”乔治两眼放光地问道，“我们也开始挖掘吗？
既然我们已经知道隧道在哪里了，那么地窖也不会很远的。一旦我们挖到下面，就可以抢在美国人前面进入地窖！”
这是多么令人兴奋的事情啊！大家都乐坏了。蒂米肯定以为大家都疯了！
Chapter 15 DIGGING FOR THE SECRET TUNNEL
Chapter 15 DIGGING FOR THE SECRET TUNNEL
'How can we get permission to dig?' asked Anne. 'I mean - will we be allowed to?'
'I don't see why not - Mr. Henning has only been given permission to dig in one place,' said Julian. 'Ibet we'd get permission to dig just here - it's a pretty good way from the castle-site, anyway.'
'Why shouldn't we just dig and see if anyone stops us?' said George. 'If Mr. Philpot stops us, we couldtell him what we're really doing. He'd probably let us, then. But whatever happens, we don't want Mr.
Henning to know what we've discovered - or think we've discovered!'
'Well, what shall we say then, if he asks why we're digging?' said Anne.
'Say silly things - joke about it!' said Dick. 'Twins, have you work to do this morning? Can you findus spades, do you think?'
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'Yes - you can have our spades, and Dad's old ones, too!' said Harry. 'We wish we could help -but we've tons to do, and we're late already.'
'Oh dear - and I promised that George and I would help in the kitchen!' said Anne. 'And pick peas fordinner and pod them - and get more raspberries! Can you and Dick dig all on your own, Ju?'
'Good heavens, yes!' said Julian. 'It'll be slower with just two of us digging, but we'll soon get deepdown, you'll see! Anyway, we could all take turns this afternoon, perhaps, if the twins finish theirwork.'
'We will! We'll do it at top speed!' said Harry and Harriet together. 'Now we'll get some spades foryou.'
They raced off, with Snippet beside them, and the two girls went down the hill more slowly, feelingvery thrilled. If only, only they could dig down and find the secret passage from the chapel to thecellars of the old castle! Timmy felt the excitement and wagged his tail happily. He was alwayshappy when George was thrilled about anything.
Harriet soon brought two big spades and two smaller ones to the boys. They were heavy, and shepanted as she carried them up the hill.
'Good girl - or is it good boy?' asked Dick, as he took the spades. 'Wait - it's Harriet, isn't it?
You've no scar on your hand!'
Harriet grinned and ran off swiftly to join her brother in the farm-work that was their task. Juliangazed after her. 'They're good kids,' he said, as he turned to drive his spade into the earth. 'Worth ahundred Juniors! Funny how some children are made of such good stuff, and others aren't worth apenny. Well, Dick - go to it! This earth is pretty hard. I wish we could borrow one of those machinesthe men are using up there!'
They dug hard, and were soon very hot indeed. They stripped themselves to their shorts, but were stillfar too hot. They greeted Anne with joy when she laboured up the slope, carrying a jug of coollemonade and some buns.
'I say! You've made quite a hole already!' she said. 'How far down do you think the tunnel will be?'
'Well, not too far down, really,' said Dick, taking a long drink of the lemonade. 'This is super, Anne.
Thanks awfully. We've dug into the burrow, and we're following it at the moment - hoping it willenter the secret tunnel before we're too tired to dig any more!'
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'I say - here comes Junior!' said Anne suddenly, looking up the slope. Sure enough, it was theAmerican boy, feeling quite brave now that neither Timmy nor Snippet were about.
He stopped a little way away and shouted: 'What do you think you're doing, digging in our hill?'
'Go away and lose yourself!' shouted back Dick. 'This isn't your hill! If you can dig, so can we!'
'Copy-cats!' shouted Junior. 'My Pop's laughing his head off about you!'
'Well, tell him to pick it up before it rolls down the hill!' yelled Dick. 'Clear off!'
Junior watched them for a little while, puzzled, and then went off up the hill, presumably to report tohis father. Anne laughed and went back to the farmhouse.
'As his Pop doesn't know a thing about the secret passage, he must think we're off our heads, digginghere,' said Julian, with a chuckle. 'Well, let him think so. He'll be off his head with rage when he findsout what we're really doing - and he won't know that till we're in the cellars!'
Dick laughed, and wiped his forehead again. 'I wish this burrow would come to an end. And I hope togoodness it does lead into the side of the tunnel. I don't want to have to dig up half the hillside. Theground's so hard and dry.'
'Well, thank goodness it's getting sandy here,' said Julian, driving his spade deeper down. Hesuddenly gave a cry. 'I say! My spade went right down by itself, then! I believe I've come to thesecret passage! The burrow must go right through one side of it!'
He was right! The rabbit-hole ran sideways and down - and into a passage! The boys dug feverishlynow, panting, their hair falling over their foreheads, perspiration dripping off their faces.
Soon they had a deep hole, fairly wide - and at the bottom of it a way into the tunnel beneath!
They lay down and peered into it. 'It's only about four feet below the surface,' said Dick. 'We mighthave had to do much more digging than this! Whew, I'm hot!'
'It must be dinner-time,' said Julian. 'I don't really like to leave our hole, now that we've got down tothe tunnel. And yet we simply MUST have something to eat. I'm ravenous!'
'So am I. But if we leave the hole unguarded, that pest of a Junior might come along and climb downand find the passage!' said Dick. 'Look - here comes George - with old Tim. I wonder if she'd leavehim here to guard the hole.'
George was delighted to hear their news. She gazed down the hole in great excitement. 'How deeplyyou've dug!' she said. 'No wonder you're hot. My word! - If Mr. Henning knew what you've found,he'd be down here in two shakes of a duck's tail!'
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'He certainly would,' said Julian, soberly. 'That's what we're afraid of. Or that snoopy Junior mightclimb down into the hole, if he came along. He's been here already to see what we're doing.'
'We're scared of going in to dinner, in case one of them comes along and investigates the hole whileit's unguarded,' said Dick. 'And we wondered if...'
But George interrupted him, almost as if she knew what he was going to say. 'I'll leave Timmy hereon guard, while you come down to dinner,' she said. 'He won't let anyone come within yards of it!'
'Thanks, old thing,' said the boys, gratefully, and went off down the hill with George, leaving Timmybehind. 'On guard, Timmy,' said George. 'On guard. Don't let anyone come near that hole.'
'Woof,' said Timmy, understanding at once, and looking fiercely all round and about him. He laydown with a small growl. Let anyone come near the boys' hole, if they dare!
They did dare - but when they saw Timmy leaping to his feet, the hackles on his neck thick andupright, and heard his deep, continuous growl, Junior and his father thought better of it, and went ondown the hill to have dinner at the farm-house. Poor Mr. Durleston trailed behind them, almostknocked out by the heat of the sun.
'Silly kids,' said Mr. Henning to Junior. 'Thinking it's clever to dig just because we're digging!
What do they suppose they'll find down there? Another kitchen-midden?'
Junior sent a stone scudding along towards Timmy - and then fled for his life as the dog camebounding angrily down the slope. Even Mr. Henning hurried. He didn't like Timmy either!
That afternoon the twins, Julian, Dick, George, Anne and Snippet all climbed the hill to the holewhere Tim still lay watching for intruders. They brought him two fine bones, and a jug of water.
He was very pleased indeed. Snippet danced round, hoping for a bite at a bone, and the jackdaw, hiswing apparently quite recovered now, dared to go and peck at the bigger bone, even though Timmygrowled warningly!
The twins were thrilled to see the deep hole. 'Can't we go down now?' they said, eagerly, bothtogether.
'Yes - it would be a jolly good time to let ourselves slide into the tunnel,' said Julian. 'All the menworking on the castle-site have gone off to have dinner at the little village pub, and haven't yet comeback - and the Hennings and Mr. Durleston are safely at the farmhouse.'
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'I'll go first,' said Dick, and lowered himself into the hole. He held on to the grassy edges, and pokedhard with his feet, to widen the opening into the tunnel. Then he let himself slide down until his legswere out of the rabbit hole, and dangled through the wall of the tunnel.
'Here we go!' he said, and let himself drop. Whoooooosh! He slid right into a dark, musty tunnel, andlanded on soft earth. 'Chuck me down a torch,' he shouted. 'It's pitch-dark in here. Did you rememberto bring our torches, George?'
Yes, George had four! 'Look out!' she said. 'Here comes one!' And she dropped it down the hole.
She had already switched it on, so Dick saw it coming and caught it neatly. He shone it into the darkplace around him.
'Yes! It is a tunnel!' he shouted. 'The secret passage, no doubt about it! I say - isn't this great?
Come on down, all of you, let's share in the find together. Let's walk right up to the castle cellars.
Come on, everybody! Come on!'
15.秘密隧道
秘密隧道
“我们怎样才能获得挖掘许可呢？”安妮问道，“我的意思是，我们会被允许这么做吗？”
“我不知道为什么不行。亨宁先生只被允许在一个地方挖掘，”朱利安说，“我敢打赌，我们一定能得到在这里挖掘的许可，反正这里离城堡遗址很远呢。”
“为什么我们不先挖着，然后再看看是否有人阻止呢？”乔治说，“如果菲尔伯特先生阻止我们，我们就可以把实情告诉他。他一定会让我们继续挖。但无论如何，我都不希望亨宁先生知道这事！
我们不能让他知道我们发现了什么，也不能让他猜想我们发现了什么！”
“如果他问我们为什么要挖掘，我们该怎么说呢？”安妮说。
“说些傻事，开些玩笑吧！”迪克说，“双胞胎，你们今天早上要干活吗？你们能帮我们找些铁锹来吗？”
“可以。你们可以用我们的铁锹，还有爸爸的旧铁锹！”哈利说，“我们真希望也能帮上忙，但我们还有很多事要做。我们已经迟到了。”
“哦，天哪！我答应和乔治一起在厨房帮忙的！”安妮说，“我们要摘些豌豆，并把它们剥好，晚餐要用的，还要多采摘些覆盆子。
你可以和迪克两个人挖吗，朱利安？”
“当然可以！”朱利安说，“虽然两个人干活会慢一些，但我们很快就会挖到洞底下去的，你们等着瞧吧！另外，如果双胞胎干完了活儿，他们或许可以过来跟我们轮流挖。”
“我们会来帮忙的，我们会以最快的速度把活儿干完。”哈利和哈丽特一起说道，“现在我们去给你们拿些铁锹。”
他们跑走了，斯尼帕也跟着一起跑了。两个女孩下山的速度比较慢。她们感到非常激动，如果男孩们真的能挖到秘密隧道就好了。蒂米感觉到了她们兴奋的情绪，也愉快地摇起了尾巴。每当乔治对什么事情感到兴奋时，蒂米总是很高兴。
很快，哈丽特就带来了两把大铁锹和两把小铁锹给男孩们。这些铁锹很沉。她把铁锹搬到山上时，累得气喘吁吁。
“这位是好姑娘，还是好小伙？”迪克接过铁锹问道，“等等！你是哈丽特，对吗？你的手上没有伤疤！”
哈丽特咧嘴一笑。她连忙跑开，和她哥哥一起去干活了。朱利安凝视着她的背影。“他们真是好孩子，”他一边说，一边转身把铁锹插进土里，“比得上一百个居里尔！为什么有些孩子就像珍宝一样，而另一些则一文不值呢？这真是个有趣的现象。来吧，迪克，干起来！这片土地真够硬的，如果山顶那些工人能借给我们一台挖掘机就好了。”
朱利安和迪克用力地挖着，很快他们就汗流浃背了。最后，他们脱得只剩短裤了，但还是感觉热。这时，安妮手里拿着一壶凉爽的柠檬水和一些面包费劲地爬上斜坡，朱利安和迪克高兴地迎了过去。
“哇！你们已经挖了很大一个洞了！”她说，“这条隧道会在多深的地方呢？”
“我看，应该不用再挖很深，真的，”迪克说完，仰头喝了一大口柠檬水，“这真是棒极了，安妮，非常感谢。我们已经挖到了洞穴里面，现在正在顺着这个洞往下挖，希望秘密隧道没有那么远，在我们的力气耗尽之前就能挖到！”
“看，居里尔来了！”安妮突然看着斜坡上面说道。果然，那个美国男孩正走过来。现在蒂米和斯尼帕都不在这儿，他胆子大了很多。
他停在不远的地方喊道：“你们在做什么？竟然在我们的山上挖掘？”
“走开，别管闲事！”迪克喊道，“这不是你的山！既然你们能挖，我们也可以挖！”
“抄袭猫！”居里尔喊道，“我爸爸看到你们学他，一定会把脑袋都笑掉的！”
“那就告诉他，在他的脑袋滚下山之前把它捡起来！”迪克喊道，“滚开！”
居里尔看了他们一会儿，有些摸不着头脑。接着，他就往山上走去。他大概是向他父亲汇报去了。安妮笑着回农舍去了。
“他爸爸不知道秘密隧道的事情，他看到我们居然在这里挖掘，一定会认为我们疯了，”朱利安轻笑着说道，“好吧，就让他这么想。当他发现我们真正做的事情时，他会把脑袋气掉的。但在我们进入地窖前，他什么都不会知道的！”
迪克笑了起来，他擦了擦额头上的汗，说：“希望这个洞穴已经到底了，但愿它跟隧道顶是直接相连的，因为我可不想把半个山坡都挖开。这里的地面又干又硬。”
“好吧，谢天谢地，接下来都是沙质的土壤了。”朱利安一边说着，一边把他的铁锹深深地插了下去，他突然喊了起来，“看！我的铁锹在往下沉！我确信，我已经挖到了秘密隧道，这个洞穴一定是直接连到了隧道顶上。”
他说得很对！兔子洞往旁边弯了一些，然后直接向下延伸，一直连接到了隧道顶上。两个男孩立即疯狂地挖起来。他们不停地喘着粗气，汗水不断地从脸上滴下来，头发已经黏在了额头上。
没过多久，朱利安和迪克就挖了一个很深的洞，并且这个洞相当宽，洞的底部就通往下面的隧道。他们躺了下来，看着这个洞。“这条隧道只在地表下约四英尺处，”迪克说，“我还以为我们会挖很长时间呢！哇，我好热！”
“现在一定到午餐时间了，”朱利安说，“但我不想离开我们的洞，因为我们已经挖到隧道了。但我们必须吃点东西，我饿得几乎能吃下一头牛！”
“我也是。但我们不能就这么离开，如果没人看守这个洞的话，坏蛋居里尔可能会跑来。他说不定会爬下去寻找隧道！”迪克说，“看，乔治来了，还有蒂米。我想知道，她会不会留在这里守卫这个洞。”
乔治听到他们的消息很高兴，兴奋地盯着这个洞看。“你们挖得真深！”她说，“难怪你们这么热。我的天哪！如果亨宁先生知道你们发现了什么，他一定会立马跑过来的！”
“他肯定会，”朱利安冷静地说，“这正是我们担心的。还有那个爱管闲事的居里尔。如果他来了，可能会爬进洞里。他已经来这里窥探过我们的行踪了。”
“我们很担心，所以不敢去吃饭，就怕他们趁着没人看守跑来调查这个洞。”迪克说，“我们想知道能不……”
乔治打断了他，好像她早就知道迪克要说什么一样。
“你们去吃午餐时，我会让蒂米留在这里站岗的。”她说，“它不会让任何人进入它守卫的范围内！”
“谢谢了，老伙计。”男孩们感激地说。然后他们就和乔治一起下了山，让蒂米留下来看守。“警戒，蒂米，”乔治说，“不要让任何人靠近那个洞。”
“汪汪！”蒂米说道。它立刻明白了乔治的意思，恶狠狠地往四周看了看。他们走后，蒂米就趴了下来。它发出一声低低的咆哮，看谁敢靠近男孩们挖的洞！
居里尔和他爸爸的确过来了。他们一来，蒂米就跳了起来。它脖子上的毛竖了起来，声音低沉地不停咆哮着。见此情景，亨宁先生和居里尔有些犹豫，最终还是决定下山回农舍去吃饭了。可怜的德勒斯顿先生紧紧跟着他们，他差点被火辣辣的太阳晒晕。
“愚蠢的孩子们，”亨宁先生对居里尔说道，“看我们在挖，就立刻学着我们的样也挖起来，他们以为会在那里找到什么吗？另一个厨房贝冢？”
居里尔朝蒂米扔了一块石头。蒂米愤怒地冲下了斜坡，居里尔赶紧一溜烟地逃走了，就连亨宁先生也匆忙离开了——他也不喜欢蒂米。
那天下午，双胞胎、朱利安、迪克、乔治、安妮和斯尼帕都爬到了山坡上的洞那里。蒂米仍在那儿守护着，提防入侵者。孩子们给它带来了两块美味的骨头和一罐水，蒂米高兴极了。斯尼帕在它身边跳来跳去，想要咬一口骨头。寒鸦也不顾蒂米咆哮着发出警告，居然胆敢去啄那块大一点的骨头。显然，它的翅膀已经恢复了。
双胞胎看到这个深深的洞高兴坏了。“我们能不能现在就下去？”他们两人异口同声急切地问道。
“当然可以，滑进隧道将是一件非常棒的事。”朱利安说，“在城堡遗址上工作的那些人已经去村里的酒吧吃饭了，亨宁先生和德勒斯顿先生还待在农舍里，所以现在很安全。”
“我先下去。”迪克说着，低头钻到洞里。他抓住长满草的边缘，用脚捅了捅下面的土块，扩大通往隧道的入口，然后就顺着那个入口滑了下去。很快，他的腿就穿过了兔子洞，悬在了隧道两侧的墙上。
“我走啦！”说着，他放手让自己往隧道里落下去，“哇哦哦哦哦哦哦！”他滑进了一条黑暗发霉的隧道，降落在柔软的土地上。“给我一只手电筒，”他喊道，“这里黑漆漆的。乔治，你还带着我们的手电筒吗？”
乔治带了四只手电筒！“我这就扔下去！”她说道，“接着！”因为手电筒已经被乔治提前揿亮了，所以在扔下去的时候迪克准确地接住了它。他用手电筒照了照周围黑暗的地方。
“是的，这是一条隧道！”他喊道，“毫无疑问，这就是秘密通道！这简直棒极了！大家下来吧，让我们一起分享这个大发现。我们一起走到城堡地窖去。大家快来吧！”
Chapter 16 UP THE TUNNEL AND INTO THE CELLARS!
Chapter 16 UP THE TUNNEL AND INTO THE CELLARS!
Dick held up his torch to the hole, so that the others might see their way. One by one they slid intothe dark tunnel, too excited for words. Timmy came too, and so did Snippet, but the jackdaw thoughtbetter of it, and remained at the enlarged opening of the burrow, chacking loudly.
The children swung their torches to and fro. 'That must be the way down to the old chapel,' saidJulian, his torch shining down the dark tunnel. No one could stand upright just there except Timmy,for the roof was low. He sniffed suspiciously here and there, and kept close to George.
'Well - come on!' said Julian, his voice shaking a little with excitement. 'We'll go straight up, and seewhere the passage ends. My word - I can hardly wait to see what's at the top!'
They made their way slowly up the passage. There had been roof-falls here and there, but not enoughto matter. Tree-roots, withered and twining, sometimes caught their feet. 'Funny!' said Harry, inastonishment, 'there aren't any trees growing on the hillside here - why the roots, then?'
'They may be the remains of the roots of long-ago trees that did once grow on the hill,' said Julian,shining his torch up the passage, hoping against hope that there would be no serious 68obstacle to their journey. 'Hallo - what's this at my feet? Two feathers! Now how in the world didthey get here!'
It was a puzzle! The children examined them earnestly by the light of their torches. Feathers -looking quite new too - how did they get there? Was there any other way into the passage - and hadthe birds found it?
Dick gave a shout of laughter that made everyone jump. 'We're idiots! They're two of the jackdale'sfeathers - they must have dropped out of his bitten wing when he went down the burrow and up thispassage with Snippet after him!'
'Of course! Why on earth didn't I think of that?' said Julian. They went on upwards once more, andthen Julian suddenly stopped again. A curious humming noise had come down the dark, low tunnel, athrobbing that seemed to get right inside their heads.
'What's that?' said Anne, in great alarm. 'I don't like it.'
They all stood there, and felt, like Anne, that the noise was indeed inside their heads. They shookthem, put their fingers into their ears - but it was no good. The strange throbbing went on and on.
'This is a bit too mysterious for me,' said Anne, scared. 'I don't think I want to go on.'
The noise stopped, and they all felt better at once - but almost immediately it started again. Toeveryone's surprise, George began to laugh.
'It's all right! It's only those men at work on the castle-site. It's their drills we can hear - throbbingthrough the hillside, and down this passage right into our ears. They must be back from lunch.
Cheer up, everybody!'
They all smiled in relief, though Anne's hands were still shaking a little, as she held up her torch toshine through the black darkness. 'There's not an awful lot of air here,' she said. 'I hope we soon getinto the cellars!'
'They can't be far,' said Julian. 'This tunnel goes in a pretty straight line, just as we thought it would.
Where it curves it's probable that the long-ago men who made it were forced to burrow round tree-roots that blocked their way. Anyway, as we can hear the drills so loudly now, we can't be far fromthe castle-site.'
They were nearer than they thought! Julian's torch suddenly shone on the remains of a great door,lying on the ground before him - the door that once shut off the cellars from the passage!
The tunnel ceased just there, and the torches shone on a vast underground place, silent, full ofshadows.
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'We're there!' said Julian, in a whisper that went scurrying round in the darkness and came back as astrange echo that said 'there-there-there-there-there.'
'That fallen door must have been the one made all those years gone by!' said Anne, in awe. Shetouched a corner of it with her foot, and the wood crumpled into dust with a queer little sigh.
Snippet pushed in front of them and ran into the cellars. He gave a short bark as if to say, 'Come on -don't be afraid. I've been here before.'
'Oh Snippet, be careful!' said Anne, half afraid that everything would crumble away at the sound ofSnippet's pattering feet!
'Let's go on - but carefully,' said Julian. 'Everything will be ready to crumble into dust - unless it'smade of metal! It's a marvel that door was preserved like that - it looks good enough - but I'm sure ifany of us sneezed it would be gone.'
'Don't make me laugh, please, Ju,' said Dick, stepping carefully round the fallen door. 'Even a laughmight do damage down here!'
Soon they were all in the blackness of the underground cellars. They flashed their torches around.
'What a vast place!' said Julian. 'Can't see any dungeons, though!'
'Thank goodness!' said Harriet and Anne together. They had both dreaded coming across old bones oflong-forgotten prisoners!
'Look - there's an archway,' said George, shining her torch to the right. 'A fine, semi-circular arch itis, too, made of stone - and there's another, look. They must lead into a main underground chamber, Ishould think. There's nothing much to see just here, except heaps of dirt. It all smells so musty, too!'
'Well, follow me carefully,' said Julian, and led the way towards the stone archways, his torch shiningbrightly. They came to one of the beautiful rounded arches and stood there, all four torches shiningbrightly into a large underground room.
'No cellars here - but just one great underground store-room,' said Julian. 'The roof was shored upwith great beams - see, some of them have fallen. And those stone arches must have borne much ofthe weight, too. Not one of those has fallen! They must have stood there for centuries -what wonderful workmanship!'
Dick and the twins were more interested in the great mass of jumble scattered about round the walls.
It was covered with dust that rose lightly into the air when Timmy brushed against 70anything. Snippet ran round happily, sniffing everywhere, and sneezing every now and again as thefine dust went up his nose.
'Any treasures, do you think?' whispered Anne, and the echo came back weirdly, whispering too.
'Whispers seem to echo back more than our ordinary voices!' said Julian. 'Hallo - what's this?'
They shone their torches on to the floor where lay what looked like a heap of blackened metal.
Julian bent down and then gave a loud exclamation. 'Do you see what this is? A suit of armour!
Almost perfect still. Look, though, it must be ages old - and here's another - and another! Were theyold ones, thrown out - or spare ones? Look at this helmet - grand!'
He kicked it gently with his foot, and it gave out a metallic sound and rolled away a little. 'Would thatbe valuable now?' asked Harry, anxiously.
'Valuable! Worth its weight in gold, I should think!' said Julian, such excitement in his voice thateveryone felt even more thrilled. Harriet called to him urgently.
'Julian - here's a chest of some sort. Quick!'
They went slowly over to where she stood, for they had already learnt that any quick movementraised clouds of fine, choking dust. She pointed to a great dark chest, its corners bound with iron, andwith iron strapping all round it.
It was made of wood, as black with age as the iron itself. 'What's inside, do you think?'
whispered Harriet, and at once her whisper echoed from every corner. 'You think, you think, youthink...'
Timmy went to sniff at the chest - and to his amazement it disintegrated at once! Slowly, softly, thesides and the great lid fell into dust that settled gently on the ground around. Only the iron cornersand strapping were left. It was strange to watch something crumble away before their eyes. 'Likemagic!' thought Anne.
As the wooden sides of the chest crumbled, something shone out brightly in the light of the torches -something that moved and slid out of the chest, as the sides fell away - fell with a jingling, clinking,sound, curious to hear in that silent darkness.
The children stared in astonishment, hardly believing their eyes. Anne clutched Julian and made himjump. 'Ju! What is it? Is it gold?'
Julian bent to pick up one of the rolling pieces. 'Yes! It's gold. No doubt about it. Gold nevertarnishes, it keeps bright for ever. These are gold coins of some sort, treasured and hidden away.
There couldn't have been time to take them, when the Lady fled with her children - and no one 71else would be able to get them, for the castle was burnt down and buried by the falling walls!
This hoard of gold must have lain here untouched all these long years.'
'Waiting for us to come!' said George. 'Twins - your mother and father needn't worry about their farmany more! There's enough gold there to buy them all the tractors they want! And that may be only thebeginning of the treasures down here! Julian, there's another chest, look - like this one, but smaller,and beginning to fall to pieces. Let's see what's inside that! More gold, I hope.'
But the second chest did not hold gold pieces - it held a different kind of treasure! One side had burstopen, and its contents had dribbled out.
'Rings!' said Anne, picking up two from the dust in which they lay.
'A golden belt!' said George. 'And look - these tarnished chains must be necklaces, because they're setwith blue stones. This must be where the jackdaw found that ring!'
'We've found something else, too!' called Harry, his excited voice making everyone jump. 'Look- racks of swords and daggers! Some are beautifully carved, too!'
Clamped to the wall were iron racks, held in place by great iron rods driven deep into the hard earthof the wall. Some had loosened and the racks hung crooked, their knives and swords askew, or lay onthe floor. Snippet ran to pick one up - just as he had done before when he and Nosey first went intothe cellars by themselves!
'What wonderful swords!' said Julian, picking one up. 'My word, this one's heavy! I can hardly holdit! Good gracious - what's that?'
Something had fallen from the roof of the cellar in which they were standing - a great piece of oldwood, that had originally been placed there as part of the roofing. At the same time the continual humof the drilling above rose to a roar that made the children jump.
Julian gave a shout. 'Out of here, quickly!' he yelled. 'Those men will soon be through the roof, and itmay suddenly fall and bury us! We'll have to go at once!'
He snatched a dagger from the rack, and, still with the sword in his hand, ran back to the entrance ofthe secret passage, pulling Anne with him. The twins were last of all, for they had run to get ahandful of the gold, and two of the necklaces and rings. They must show their mother a few of thetreasures, they must!
Just as they reached the entrance, more of the roof fell. 'We'll have to stop this excavating,'
panted Julian, looking back. 'If the roof falls in, it may destroy many of the old treasures there!'
They hurried into the dark, low tunnel, feeling more excited than they had ever felt in their lives!
Timmy led the way, glad to think they were going out into the open air once more!
'What will Mother say?' the twins kept saying to one another. 'Whatever will she say!'
16.地底寻宝
地底寻宝
迪克把手电筒举到洞口，以便其他人可以看清路。孩子们一个接一个地滑入黑暗的隧道。大家兴奋得一句话也说不出来。蒂米跟来了，斯尼帕也来了，但是寒鸦还留在洞口大声叫着。
孩子们来回摆动着手电筒。“那一定是通往老礼拜堂的路。”朱利安一边说，一边用他的手电筒照着黑暗的隧道。除了蒂米之外，没有人可以直立行走，因为隧道顶很低。蒂米警惕地这里闻闻，那里嗅嗅，并且紧紧挨着乔治。
“伙伴们，来吧！”朱利安说道。他的声音因为激动而颤抖起来，“我们直接往前走，看看这条隧道通往什么地方。我的天哪——我简直迫不及待地想看看隧道尽头到底是什么！”
孩子们沿着隧道缓慢前进。隧道有些地方的顶部坍塌了，但坍塌的情况并不严重，对孩子们没什么影响。隧道里盘绕着枯萎的树根，有时会绊住他们的脚。“真奇怪！”哈利惊讶地说，“这里的山坡上并没有树木生长，为什么隧道里会有树根呢？”
“可能是很久以前山上曾经生长过树木，这些是它们留下的根部遗骸。”朱利安用手电筒照着隧道说。他希望这些树根不会成为他们探险途中的障碍，“咦，我脚下的是什么？两根羽毛！它们是怎么跑到这里来的！”
这真是一个难题！孩子们打着手电筒认真地查看这两根羽毛。
羽毛看起来像是新脱落的。它们是怎么到这里来的？是鸟发现了另一条通往这里的路吗？
迪克突然发出一声大笑，把大家吓了一跳。“我们真笨！这是寒鸦诺斯的羽毛，它被斯尼帕追着逃进了这个洞，一定是它跑到隧道之后，从它受伤的翅膀上掉下了这两根羽毛！”
“一定是这样！我怎么没想到呢？”朱利安说。他们继续往前走去。朱利安突然又停了下来，一阵奇怪的嗡嗡声从黑暗的低矮隧道中传来，这声音似乎在他们的脑袋里搅动。
“那是什么？”安妮惊恐地说道，“我不喜欢那个声音。”
孩子们站在那里，都像安妮一样感到难受，那噪音仿佛钻进了他们的脑袋里。他们甩了甩头，用手指堵住了耳朵。但这并没有什么作用，奇怪的悸动声一直持续着。
“这对我来说有点太神秘了，”安妮害怕地说，“我不想继续走下去了。”
噪音停止了，他们一下子感觉好多了。但片刻之后，那些噪音又开始了。乔治突然大笑起来，这让大家感到十分惊讶。
“没关系！这是那些工人在城堡遗址上工作造成的，我们听到的是钻头的声音。他们在山坡上往下钻。于是声音通过隧道传下来，直接进入了我们的耳朵。他们应该是吃完午餐回来干活了。大家振作起来！”
尽管安妮的手还在颤抖，但大家都松了一口气。安妮举起手电筒照亮前方漆黑一片的地方。“这里的空气不多了，”她说，“我希望我们能很快走到地窖！”
“不会太远的，”朱利安说，“正如我们想象的那样，这条隧道挖得很直。偶尔有弯曲的地方，是因为有树根挡路，挖隧道的人不得不绕开树根。再说，现在钻头的声音越来越大了，证明我们离城堡遗址不远了。”
事实上，他们比自己想象的还要近！朱利安的手电筒突然照到了一扇残缺的大门。这扇门就倒在他面前的地上，那是曾经用来隔断地窖和隧道的门。隧道到这儿就结束了，几只手电筒照进了一个巨大的地下空间。这里寂静无声，黑影重重。
“我们到了！”朱利安低声说道。他的声音在黑暗中快速传播着，就像一个奇怪的回声说着，“到了——到了——到了——到了——到了……”
“那扇倒下的门一定经历了千古岁月的流逝。”安妮敬畏地说道。她用脚碰到了门的一角，门角的木头立刻碎成了灰尘，就像是这扇门发出了奇怪的叹气声。
斯尼帕挤到最前面跑进了地窖。它发出了一声短促的吠声，仿佛在说：“来吧，不要害怕，我以前来过这里。”
“哦，斯尼帕，小心点！”安妮说道。她不仅担心斯尼帕的安全，还担心这里古老的物品会随着斯尼帕的踩踏而化为乌有！
“我们继续往前走，但要小心，”朱利安说，“除了金属制品以外，这里的一切都可能化为灰尘。这扇门能够保存得如此完好，这真是个奇迹。它看起来还很不错，但我相信，只要我们任何人打个喷嚏，它就会消失的。”
“别逗我笑了，求你了，朱利安。”迪克说道。他小心翼翼地绕过倒下的门，“哪怕笑声也可能会对这里的东西造成伤害！”
很快，大家就都来到了黑暗的地窖中。孩子们用手电筒四处照了照。“多宽敞的地方啊！”朱利安说，“不过，这里并不像是地牢！”
“谢天谢地！”哈丽特和安妮说道。她们俩都害怕看到囚犯的骨头。如果这里锁着囚犯的话，他们一定早就被人们遗忘了。
“看，那边有一个拱门。”乔治说着，把手电筒向右边照去。
“那是一个由石头制成的精致的半圆形拱门，旁边还有另一个。
看，我认为这两个拱门一定通往某个主室。我们去主室看看吧。这外面除了大量污垢外，没有什么可看的。这里的一切都散发出浓重的霉味！”
“好吧，小心地跟着我。”说完朱利安就带着大家朝石拱门走去。很快，他们就来到了美丽的圆形拱门前，四个手电筒共同照亮了一个大大的地下室。
“这里不是地牢，而是一个很棒的地下储藏室。”朱利安说。
“屋顶被大梁支撑着。看，其中一些已经朽落了。那些石拱门一定也承受着很大的重量。没有一块石头掉下来！它们一定在那里站了许多个世纪了。多么美妙的工艺啊！”
迪克和双胞胎对散落在墙边的一堆堆东西更感兴趣。所有的东西都盖满了灰尘。蒂米拂过任何东西，都会带起一股灰尘。斯尼帕快乐地跑来跑去，到处嗅着。它不时地打个喷嚏，细细的灰尘便从它的鼻子里被喷出来。
“你觉得这里有什么宝藏吗？”安妮低声说，那个奇怪的回声也小声说道。
“小声说话似乎比普通的声音更容易引起回响。”朱利安说。
“这是什么？”
他们把手电筒朝地板上照去。那里堆着一堆黑色的金属。朱利安弯下腰看了看。他发出一声惊呼：“你们知道这是什么吗？这是一套盔甲，它几乎完美无缺。但是，它一定有几百年的历史了。这是另一套，还有一套。这些是旧的不要的盔甲，还是备用的盔甲？看看这个头盔，实在太棒了！”
朱利安用脚轻轻地踢了踢那个头盔。头盔往旁边滚了滚，发出了金属的响声。“这会值钱吗？”哈利焦急地问道。
“很值钱！值同等重量的黄金，我得好好想想……”朱利安说，他的语气充满了兴奋。大家更加激动了。哈丽特急切地对他喊道：“朱利安，这里有个像箱子一样的东西，快来看看！”
大家慢慢地走到她站立的地方。因为他们已经了解，任何快速运动都会激起一片浓厚的、令人窒息的灰尘。哈丽特指着一个很大的黑色箱子。箱子的角上包着铁片，四周还箍着铁条。
箱子是木头制成的，那木头就像铁一样黑。“你觉得里面会有什么？”哈丽特低声说道。她的耳语立刻在各个角落回荡起来，“你觉得，你觉得，你觉得……”
蒂米跑去嗅了嗅那个箱子。令它惊讶的是，箱子一下子就散架了！箱盖和两边的侧板慢慢地，轻轻地，落入尘埃之中，整个箱子只剩下铁角和四周用于捆绑的铁条。一件东西竟然就这样在眼前粉碎掉了，这让孩子们产生了一种奇怪的感觉。安妮感觉那就像魔法一样。
箱子两侧的木质挡板碎裂后，一些东西露了出来，这些东西在手电筒的照射下散发出耀眼的光芒。侧板碎裂时，还有一些东西从箱子里滑落了出来，滚到地上，叮当作响。在那无声的黑暗中听到叮叮当当的声音很是奇怪。
孩子们惊讶地看着眼前的一切，几乎不敢相信自己的眼睛。安妮一把抓住朱利安，吓了他一跳：“朱利安！那是什么？是金子吗？”
朱利安弯下腰去，捡起其中一个滚动的碎片。“是的，这是金子。毫无疑问，黄金永不褪色，永远保持亮度。这是某种金币，它们被领主珍藏起来了。那位领主夫人和她的孩子一起逃命时，没时间带走它们。其他人也没能得到它们。因为城堡被烧毁了，坍塌的墙壁把这里埋藏了起来。在这漫长的岁月里，这些金币一直放在这儿，没人碰过。”
“直到我们来到这里。”乔治说，“双胞胎，你的父母再也不用担心他们的农场了，这里有足够的黄金，他们想买多少辆拖拉机都可以！这可能仅仅只是地窖宝藏的一部分。朱利安，这里还有一个箱子，看，它跟那个箱子很像，但它更小，并且它也开始碎裂了。让我们看看里面有什么，我希望是更多的金子。”
但是第二个箱子里没有金币，它装着一些完全不同的宝藏！箱子一侧的挡板碎裂了，里面的东西已经滑落了出来。
“是戒指！”安妮说着，从旁边的尘土中捡起了两个。
“一根金腰带！”乔治说，“看，那些失去光泽的链子一定是项链，因为那上面镶嵌着蓝宝石。这一定是寒鸦发现戒指的地方！”
“我们也找到了别的东西！”哈利叫道。他激动的声音把大家都吓了一跳，“看，那些架子上有好多把剑和匕首！那上面的雕刻非常精美！”
墙上的铁架子，由粗大的铁棍固定在硬硬的土墙中。有些铁棍松了，架子歪了下来。架子上的刀和剑也歪着，或者躺在地上。斯尼帕跑去挑了一把叼到嘴里，就像之前一样。“多么棒的宝剑啊！”朱利安说着，挑了一把剑试图举起来，“我的天，这把剑好重，我都举不动了。老天爷呀，那是什么？”
突然，地窖的顶上掉下来一块很古老的木头，它原本是屋顶的一部分。与此同时，上面钻头的声音持续不断，越来越大。最后这声音简直像是巨人的咆哮，把孩子们吓得跳了起来。
朱利安大喊了一声。“离开这里，快！”他喊道，“那些人很快就会钻透屋顶。屋顶随时可能突然掉下来，把我们埋在里面！我们必须马上出去！”
朱利安从架子上抢了一把匕首。然后他带着手里的剑，拉起安妮赶紧往秘密通道的入口跑去。双胞胎跑在最后面。他们跑去抓了一把金币，还有两条项链和戒指。他们必须向妈妈展示一些宝藏——必须得这么做！
就在他们跑到入口处的时候，屋顶上掉下来更多的木头。“我们要让他们停止这次挖掘，”朱利安气喘吁吁地回头看着说，“如果屋顶掉了下来，可能会破坏那里的许多古老宝藏！”
孩子们匆匆走进黑暗的低矮隧道。有生以来，没有任何事让他们如此兴奋！蒂米一路领先，它很高兴地认为他们终于要出去了！
“妈妈会说什么？”双胞胎不停地互相说着，“她到底会怎么说！”
Chapter 17 TRAPPED!
Chapter 17 TRAPPED!
The six children stumbled down the tunnel, still hearing the far-off sound of the drills, and fearingthat at any moment the cellars would be discovered by Mr. Henning, who, no doubt, would beanxiously watching from above!
They came to where they thought the burrow must be, that Dick had dug through - but instead, therewas nothing but a great mass of earth, some of it seeping into the tunnel! Julian gazed at it by thelight of his torch, dismayed.
'The burrow's fallen in!' he said, his voice shaking. 'What are we to do? We've no spades to digourselves out!'
'We can use our hands,' said Dick, and began to scrabble at the fallen earth, sweeping it into thetunnel. But as he scrabbled, more and more earth fell into the widened burrow, and Julian stoppedDick at once. 'No more of that, Dick - you might start an earth-fall, and we'd all be buried alive. Ohgosh - this is awful! We'll have to go back up the passage and try to make the men hear us shouting.
BLOW! That means Mr. Henning will know what we're up to.'
'I don't believe the men will be there much longer,' said Dick, looking at his watch. 'They pack up atfive, and it's almost that now. My word, we've been ages - Mrs. Philpot will wonder where we all are.'
'The drilling has just stopped,' said Anne. 'I haven't got that awful noise inside my ears any longer.'
'In that case, it's certainly no good going back up the tunnel,' said Julian. 'They'd be gone before wegot there. I say, you know - this is serious. I ought to have thought of this - any idiot knows thatground entrances to passages should be strengthened, if they're newly-dug!'
'Well, we can always go back to the cellars and wait for the men to come tomorrow,' said George,sounding more cheerful than she felt.
'How do we know they'll be there tomorrow?' said Dick. 'Henning may have paid them off today, ifhe's disappointed in his hopes!'
'Don't be such a dismal Jimmy!' said George, sensing that the twins were getting panicky. Theycertainly were worried - but more because they were certain that their mother would be scared todeath if they didn't come home, than for their own safety.
Timmy had been standing patiently beside George, waiting to get out of the hole. At last, tired ofwaiting, he trotted away - but down the tunnel - not up!
'Timmy! Where are you going?' cried George, and shone her torch on him. He turned his head andlooked at her, showing quite clearly by his manner that he was tired of standing about, and intendedto find out where the tunnel led!
'Ju, Look at Timmy! He wants us to go down the tunnel!' cried George. 'Why didn't we think of that?'
'I don't know! I'm afraid I thought it would be a sort of blind alley!' said Julian. 'I fear it will, too.
Nobody knows where the chapel entrance to the tunnel is, do they, twins?'
'No,' they said, both together. 'It's never been discovered, as far as we know.'
'Anyway, it's worth trying,' said George, her voice sounding muffled as she went down the passageafter the impatient Timmy. 'I'm getting suffocated in here!'
The others followed, Snippet dancing along behind, thinking the whole thing was a huge joke.
The tunnel, as the children had imagined, went downwards in more or less a straight line. It hadfallen in slightly here and there, but by bending their heads and crouching low, they managed to getthrough. Finally they came to a bad fall of earth from the roof, and had to crawl through on hands andknees. Anne didn't like that part at all!
They came at last into a strange little place, where the tunnel ended abruptly. It was like a stone vault- a little chamber about five feet high and seven feet square. Julian looked up fearfully at its low roof.
Was it of stone? If so, they were trapped. They would never be able to lift a heavy stone slab!
No - not all the roof was made of stone. A piece in the middle about three feet square was made ofstrong stout wood, which rested on ledges cut in the stone.
'It looks like a trap-door,' said Julian, examining it by the light of his torch. 'I wonder if we are justbelow the floor of the old chapel? Dick, if you and I and Harry all heave at the same time, we mightbe able to move this trap-door.'
So they all heaved, George, too - but although the door did lift a little at one corner, it simply couldnot be moved upwards.
'I know why we can't move it,' said Harry, red in the face with heaving. 'There are sacks of grain andfertilizer and all kinds of stuff spread over the floor of the old chapel! They're heavy as lead!
We'd never be able to move that trap-door if two or three sacks are on it!'
'Gosh - I didn't think of that,' said Julian, his heart sinking. 'Didn't you know of this entrance into thetunnel, twins?'
'Of course not!' said Harry. 'Nobody did. I can't think why it wasn't known, though. Except, of course,that a store- house like this has its floor always covered with sacks of something, and with thespillings out of those sacks! It may not have been cleaned out or swept for hundreds of years!'
'Well, what are we to do now?' demanded Dick. 'We can't stay here in this stuffy little place!'
'Listen - I can hear something!' said George suddenly. 'Noises overhead.'
They listened intently, and, through the tightly-fitting oak trap-door above them, they heard a loudvoice shouting. 'GIVE US A HAND, BILL, WILL YOU?'
'It's Jamie - the men are working overtime this week!' said Harry. 'He's come to get something out ofthe chapel. Quick, let's all yell and hammer on the trap-door with whatever we've got that'll make anoise!'
At once there was a perfect babel of sound from the little vault - yells, shouts, barks, and thehammering of sword-handles and fists on the wooden slab overhead. Then the children ceased theirhammering, and fell silent, listening. They heard Jamie's voice, lifted in wonder.
'Bill! What in the name of goodness was that? A rat-fight, do you suppose?'
'They heard us,' said Julian, excited. 'Come on - once again. And bark the place down, Timmy!'
Timmy was only too ready to oblige, for he was very tired of tunnels and dark, echoing places bynow! He barked long and fiercely, frightening Snippet so much that the little poodle actually ran backup the tunnel! What with Tim's barking, and everyone's yelling, and the constant hammering, thenoise was even louder than before, and Bill and Jamie listened in amazement.
'Comes from over yonder,' said Bill. 'Summat's going on there. Beats me what it is though. If'twere night-time, I'd think it were ghosties having a game! Come on - we'll get over yonder.'
The place was so full of sacks that the two men had to clamber over the rows, disturbing the cat andher kittens. She had curled herself round them, scared of the unexpected noise.
'This corner, Bill,' said Jamie, standing on top of two layers of sacks. He put his hand to his mouthand bellowed like a bull.
'ANYONE ABOUT?'
The six below answered frantically at the tops of their voices, Timmy barking too.
'There's a dog barking down there,' said Bill, scratching his head, puzzled, looking down at the sacksas if he thought there might be a dog in one of them.
'A dog! There's folks as well,' said Jamie, astounded. 'Where are they? Can't be under these sacks!'
'Maybe they're in that little old store-place we found one day, in the floor,' suggested Bill.
'Remember? Under an old trap- door, it were, that were covered by a great slab of stone. Youremember, man!'
'Oh ay,' said Jamie, and then the clamour began again, for the children were now getting near despair.
'Come on, Bill,' said Jamie, hearing the note of urgency, though he couldn't make out a word frombelow. 'Heave over these here sacks. We've got to get to the bottom of this!'
They heaved a dozen sacks away, and then at last the trap-door was uncovered. The stone slab thathad once hidden it had been taken up some years ago by the two men and now stood against the wall.
They had not bothered to replace it, not guessing that the 'little old store-place' as they had thought it,was really an entrance to a secret, long-forgotten passage. It was fortunate indeed for the children thatonly the old wooden trap-door was between them and the men, for if the stone slab had been theretoo, no sound of their shouting would have been heard in the old chapel above!
'Now for this here trap-door,' said Bill. He tapped on it with his great boot. 'Who's down here?'
he demanded, wondering what the answer would be.
'US!' shrieked the twins, and the others joined in, with Timmy barking frantically again.
'Bless us all - them's the twins' voices I heard!' said Jamie. 'How did they climb into that storeroomwithout moving these here sacks?'
With a great heave the two men pulled up the heavy wooden slab, and looked down in the greatestastonishment at the little crowd below! They couldn't believe their eyes! Timmy was the first out. Heleapt upwards and landed beside the men, wagging his great tail and licking them lavishly.
'Oh, thanks Bill, thanks Jamie,' cried the twins as the two men pulled them up. 'Gosh, I'm thankfulyou were working overtime - and happened to come in here!'
'Your ma's been hollering for you,' said Bill, disapprovingly. 'And didn't you say you was going tohelp me with them poles?'
'How did you get down there?' demanded Jamie, pulling up the others one by one. Julian was the last,and he handed up poor scared little Snippet, who really felt he had had quite enough adventures forone day!
'Oh - it's too long a story to tell you just now,' said Harry. 'But thanks again most awfully, Bill andJamie. Can you put that slab back? Don't tell anyone we were down there till we tell you how ithappened, see? Now we'll have to rush and tell Mother we're all right!'
And away they all went, longing for tea, tired out, full of thankfulness at their escape from the littlestone room under the chapel floor! What would everyone say when they displayed the treasures theyhad brought back with them?
17.全体被困
全体被困
六个孩子跌跌撞撞地走下隧道。他们听着身后钻头作业的声音，担心亨宁先生会随时发现地窖。毫无疑问，他一定正焦急地在上面盯着。
孩子们以为回到了迪克所挖的洞穴那里，可他们看到的，却只有大量的土。朱利安在手电筒的照射下沮丧地盯着这堆土。
“洞穴塌了！”他声音颤抖着说道，“我们该怎么办？我们没有铁锹，不能挖出去了。”
“我们可以用自己的双手。”迪克说着，开始刨起掉落的土来。
但随着他的动作，越来越多的土落入了扩大的洞穴。朱利安立刻制止了迪克：“别刨了，迪克。这样做可能会造成土崩，那样我们都会被活埋在这里。哦，天哪，这太可怕了！我们不得不重新走回那段隧道，并试着让那些工人们听到我们的喊叫声。不行，那就意味着亨宁先生将会知道我们在做什么了。”
“我认为工人们不会在那里待很久的，”迪克看着他的手表说道，“他们五点就会收工的，现在已经差不多到这个点了。我的天哪，我们已经在里面待了这么久了。菲尔伯特夫人肯定不知道我们都去了哪里。”
“刚刚钻头已经停了，”安妮说，“我的耳朵里不再有那种可怕的噪音了。”
“如果是那样的话，回到隧道去也没什么用了。”朱利安说。
“还没等我们走到那里，工人们就已经离开了。这件事很严重，我应该想到这一点的，随便哪个白痴都该想到。如果通道是新挖的话，应该先支撑住通道的入口！”
“好吧，我们可以回到地窖去，在那里等待工人明天上工。”乔治说道。虽然她的话听起来很轻松，但她的心情并没有那么轻松。
“我们怎么知道他们明天会不会在那里？”迪克说，“亨宁先生有可能对这次挖掘不抱希望。他可能今天就结清了工钱，把工人辞退了！”
“不要这么悲观，迪克！”乔治说道。她感觉到双胞胎变得越来越恐慌。他们当然很担心，但他们担心的不是自己的安全，而是担心如果不回家妈妈会担惊受怕。
蒂米一直耐心地站在乔治身边，等着走出洞口。最后，它厌倦了等待，小跑着走了。它没有返回地窖，而是沿着隧道继续往前走，“蒂米！你要去哪里？”乔治一边喊，一边用手电筒照在它身上。蒂米转过头看着乔治。它用自己的行为清楚地表明，它厌倦了继续站在那里，打算找出隧道的另一头通往哪个地方？
“朱利安，看看蒂米，它希望我们沿着隧道往下面走。”乔治喊道，“怎么我们没想到这个？”
“我不知道，恐怕这会是一条死胡同。”朱利安说，“我担心事实就是如此。没有人知道隧道那头的入口在礼拜堂的什么地方。双胞胎知道吗？”
“不知道，”他们一起说道，“据我们所知，从未有人发现过。”
“无论如何，还是值得一试的。”乔治说道。她的声音听起来闷闷的，因为她也已经走到了隧道里面，跟在不耐烦的蒂米后面走去，“我在这里等得闷死了！”
其他人都跟了上去。斯尼帕在后面活蹦乱跳的，它认为整件事就是个大大的玩笑。正如孩子们想象的那样，这条隧道笔直地向下延伸。隧道的某些地方略有坍塌，但孩子们低下头，蹲下身子，都设法通过了。最后，他们遇到了一段情况糟糕的路段——隧道顶上掉落了大量的泥土。孩子们不得不趴在地上，用手和膝盖爬行。安妮最不喜欢那一段路！
最后，他们进入到一个奇怪的小空间里，隧道到这里终止了。
这是一个大约五英尺高，七英尺见方的小房间，上面像是一个石头拱顶。朱利安惊恐地抬起头看着低矮的屋顶——它是石头做的吗？
如果是那样的话，他们就被困住了，因为他们根本无法举起沉重的石板！
不，并非整个屋顶都是用石头做的——嵌在屋顶中间三英尺见方的地方不是石头，而是一块结实的木头。
“它看起来像一个活板门。”朱利安用手电筒照着它仔细看了看，“我想知道，我们是不是就在礼拜堂的地板下面？迪克，如果你和我还有哈利同时用力，或许可以推动这个活板门。”
于是他们三个一起用力推起来，乔治也去帮忙。不过，虽然活板门的一个角抬起了一点，但它根本无法向上移动。
“我知道为什么我们推不动它了，”哈利说道，他的脸因为用力而涨红了，“上面压着大袋的谷物和肥料。老礼拜堂的地板上堆着各种各样的东西，它们像铅一样沉重，如果活板门上面堆着两三个麻袋，那我们永远不可能推动它！”
“天哪，我没有想到这一点。”朱利安说着，心往下一沉，“你们完全不知道礼拜堂通往隧道的入口，是吗，双胞胎？”
“当然不知道！”哈利说，“没人知道，不知道为什么一直没人发现这个入口。当然，可能是因为仓库的地板上总是堆着各种东西——不是麻袋，就是麻袋里撒出来的东西。那儿的地板或许有几百年没有被清扫过了！”
“好吧，我们现在该怎么办？”迪克问道，“我们不能一直待在这个闷热的小空间里！”
“听，我能听到一些声音！”乔治突然说道，“头顶上传来一些噪音。”
孩子们专注地听着。透过头顶的橡木活板门，他们听到有人大声地谈话：“给我们搭把手，比尔，行吗？”
“是杰米，是这周过来加班的工人们！”哈利说，“他一定是到礼拜堂里取什么东西的。快点，我们都大声喊叫，用手里的东西敲打活板门，发出声响！随便什么东西都行。”
从小小的拱顶里传来一阵响亮极了的噪音。有叫喊声，吠叫声，以及剑柄敲打木板的声音，还有拳头锤击木板的声音。然后，孩子们停止了敲击，安静下来，听着外面的反应。他们听到了杰米的声音：“比尔！你听到什么声音了吗？你觉得是不是老鼠在打架？”
“他们听到了我们的声音，”朱利安兴奋地说道，“来吧，再来一次，把这个地方吵翻天，蒂米！”
蒂米早就准备好了。因为它现在已经厌倦了这个黑黑的会发出回响的隧道。它发出长长吠叫，叫声十分凶猛，斯尼帕吓坏了，它竟然又跑回到隧道里面去了。跟随着蒂米的吠叫声，每个人都大喊大叫起来，并不断地锤击敲打。大家制造出比上一次更大的噪音。
比尔和杰米惊讶地听着。
“声音在那边，”比尔说，“是那里发出的动静。我真不知道那是什么声音，如果是在晚上，我肯定会以为是幽灵在嬉闹！走吧，我们过去看看。”
这个地方堆满了麻袋，两个工人不得不爬过去。他们惊扰到了母猫和小猫。母猫很害怕这突然出现的噪音，它用身子把小猫围了起来。
“是这个角落，比尔。”杰米站在两层麻袋上面说。他把手拢在嘴边，像公牛一样吼了一声，“有人吗？”
下面六个人疯狂地回答着头顶的提问，蒂米也吠叫着。
“有一只狗在下面叫。”比尔挠挠头，困惑地说。他低头看着麻袋，那神情好像认为有一只狗正在某个袋子里面。
“有一只狗，还有人，”杰米惊讶地说，“他们在哪儿？不可能在这些麻袋下面吧！”
“也许他们在我们那天发现的旧储藏间里，地板下面的那个。”比尔说道，“那个储藏间在一个旧的活板门下面，活板门上面盖着一块巨大的石板。你还记得吗，伙计？”
“噢——”杰米说道。吵闹声又开始了，因为孩子们现在已经快绝望了。“来吧，比尔，”杰米说道，虽然他一句话都没听清，但他听得出来，下面的情况很紧急，“把这些麻袋搬开。我们必须看看底下到底是什么情况！”
杰米和比尔搬开了十几个麻袋，终于看到了那个活板门。几年前，他们曾经搬开了活板门上的石板，把它靠在了墙上，离开的时候没有把它盖上。他们以为这只是个小小的旧储藏室，根本没想到，它竟然是一个秘密的入口，连接着一条被人们早已遗忘的隧道。对孩子们来说，这是件幸运的事。幸亏他们和农场工人之间只隔了一扇活板门。如果石板也盖在上面的话，就没人能听到他们的喊叫声了。
“就是这扇活板门。”比尔说。他用靴子轻轻踩了踩。
“谁在下面？”他问道。他很好奇回答会是什么。
“是我们！”双胞胎尖叫道。其他人也加入进来，蒂米再次疯狂地吠叫。
“老天啊，我听到了双胞胎的声音！”杰米说，“他们是怎么做到不挪开麻袋，就爬进那个储藏室的？”
伴随着一声巨响，这两个人抬起了沉重的木板。杰米和比尔惊讶地看着活板门下面的一小群人，简直不敢相信自己的眼睛！蒂米是第一个出来的。它一下子向上蹿起来，落在了那两个工人的身边。蒂米摇着它粗粗的尾巴，友好地舔着他们。
“哦，谢谢，比尔，谢谢，杰米！”两个工人把双胞胎拉出来时，他们大声喊道，“天哪，我太感激你们过来加班了，来得正是时候！”
“你们的妈妈一直在找你们，”比尔不以为然地说，“你们不是说要帮我修理柱子吗？”
“你们是怎么到那里去的？”杰米问道。他一个接一个地拉出其他人。朱利安是最后一个上来的。他先是把可怜的小斯尼帕递了上来，这个小家伙觉得今天的冒险经历已经够多了！
“哦，这个故事太长了，一时半会儿讲不完，”哈利说，“但是再次感谢你们——比尔，还有杰米。你们能把那块板子放回去吗？不要对任何人说起这件事，行吗？现在我们必须赶紧回去。我们得去给妈妈报个平安！”
孩子们向农舍的方向走去。大家都累得够呛，无比渴望一桌丰盛的下午茶。他们顺利逃离了礼拜堂活板门下的小石屋，每个人都为此感激不尽。当孩子们展示他们带回来的宝藏时，大家会说些什么呢？
Chapter 18 A GREAT STORY TO TELL!
Chapter 18 A GREAT STORY TO TELL!
The twins tore down to the farm-house, and saw their mother, still looking for them. They flungthemselves on her, and she gave them a loving shake.
'Where have you been? You're an hour late for tea, all of you. I've been so worried. Mr. Henning toldme some story about you digging up on the hillside!'
'Mother! We're ravenous, so let's have tea and we'll tell you some Great News,' said the twins, bothtogether. 'Mother, you will be astonished. Where's Dad - and Great-Grand-dad too?'
'They're still at the tea-table - they were late too,' said Mrs. Philpot. 'They've been out looking for youall! Great-Grand-dad isn't very pleased. What in the world have you brought with you?
Surely those are not swords?'
'Mother, let's have tea first and we'll tell you EVERYTHING!' said the twins. 'Must we wash?
Oh blow - all right, come on, everyone, let's wash. And we'll put our treasures down in the darkestcorner, so that Dad and Great-Grand-dad won't see them till we're ready to show them!'
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Soon they were all sitting down at the tea-table, glad to see a wonderful spread! Great slices ofthickly buttered bread, home-made jam, home-made cheese, a fat ginger cake, a fruit cake, a dish ofripe plums, and even a home-cooked ham if anyone wanted something more substantial!
Mr. Philpot and old Great-Grand-dad were still at the table, drinking a last cup of tea. Mrs.
Philpot had told them that the children had to wash, but would tell all that had happened when theycame to their tea.
'Ho!' said Great-Grand-dad, frowning till his great bushy eyebrows almost covered his nose.
'When I was a boy I dursent come in one minute late for my meals! You twins have worried yourmother - that's bad!'
'We're awfully sorry, Great-Grand-dad,' said the twins, in unison. 'But just wait till you hear ourstory. Julian - you tell it!'
And so, between great munches of bread and butter, ham sandwiches, and slices of cake, the storywas told, all the children joining in now and again.
Great-Grand-dad already knew that Mr. Henning had been given permission to excavate, and that acheque for ?250 had been given to Mr. Philpot. He had flown into a terrible temper, and only whenMrs. Philpot had sobbed and said that she would give it back, though she could hardly bear to partwith it, had Great- Grand- dad given in. Now ready to fly into another rage, he listened to thechildren's story. He forgot to drink his cooling tea. He forgot to fill his pipe. He even forgot to ask asingle question! Never had he heard such a wonderful, glorious tale in his life!
Julian told the story well, and the others filled in any bits he left out. Mrs. Philpot's eyes almost fellout of her head when she heard how Snippet and Nosey had gone into the rabbit-burrow and comeout with a broken sword and a ring!
'But - but where did ...' she began, and listened again, to hear how Dick and Julian had enlarged theburrow, crawled right through it, and slid down into the long-lost secret tunnel!
'HA!' said Great-Grand-dad, getting out his great red handkerchief, and dabbing his forehead with it.
'HA! Wish I'd been there. Go on, go on!'
Julian had stopped to drink his tea. He laughed and went on, describing how they had all gone up thetunnel with their torches, the dogs with them. 'It was dark and smelly, and suddenly we heard aterrific noise!' he said.
'It got right inside our heads!' put in Anne.
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'What was it, what was it?' said Great-Grand-dad, his eyes almost as big as the saucer in front of him.
'The noise of the men drilling up on the old castle-site,' said Julian, and Great-Grand-dad exploded inwrath. He pointed his pipe at his grandson, the farmer.
'Didn't I tell you I wouldn't have those men on my farm?' he began, and then calmed down as Mrs.
Philpot patted his arm, shushing him. 'Go on, Julian,' she said.
And then came the really exciting part, the story of how they came into the actual cellars of the castle- the stone archways - the age-old dust...
'And the echoes!' said Anne. 'When we whispered, a hundred other whispers came back!'
When Julian described their finds - the old armour, still good, but black with age - the rack of swordsand knives and daggers - the chest of gold...
'GOLD! I don't believe you!' shouted Great-Grand-dad. 'You're making that up, young man.
Don't you pile up your tale too much, now. Stick to the truth.'
The twins promptly took some of the gold coins out of their pockets, still brilliant and shining.
They laid them on the table in front of the three amazed grown-ups.
'There you are! They will tell you if we are making up all this or not - these gold coins! They willspeak more loudly than words!'
In awe Mr. Philpot picked them up, and passed them one by one to the old man, and to his wife.
Great-Grand-dad was dumbfounded and dumbstruck. He simply could not say a single word. Hecould only grunt and puff as he turned the coins over in his great horny hand.
'Are they really gold?' said Mrs. Philpot, quite overcome at the sudden appearance of the shiningcoins. 'Trevor - will they belong to us? Does it mean - does it mean that we'll be well enough off tobuy a new tractor for you - and...'
'Depends how much of this stuff there is, up in those old cellars,' said Mr. Philpot, trying to keepcalm. 'And depends on how much we're allowed to keep, of course. Might belong to the Crown bynow.'
'THE CROWN!' roared Great-Grand-dad, standing up suddenly. 'The CROWN! NO, SIR! It's mine!
Ours! Found on my land, put there by our ancestors. Yes - and I'll give old Mr. Finniston down in thevillage a share, so I will. He's been a good friend of mine for years!'
The children thought that was quite a good idea! They then showed the jewellery they had brought,and Mrs. Philpot marvelled at it, tarnished though it was.
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But the swords and daggers brought the greatest excitement to old Great- Grand- dad and hisgrandson, Mr. Philpot! As soon as they heard that the children had actually brought back some of theold weapons, the two men got up and went to get them. Great-Grand-dad picked up the biggest andheaviest of the swords, and swung it dangerously round his head, looking like a reincarnation ofsome fearsome old warrior, with his great beard and blazing eyes.
'No, no, Grand-dad!' said Mrs. Philpot in fright. 'Oh, you'll knock down the things on the dresser- there, I knew you would! Bang goes my meat-dish!'
And down it went, CRASH! Timmy and Snippet almost jumped out of their skins, and began to barkfrantically.
'Sit DOWN, all of you!' cried Mrs. Philpot to the excited dogs and the men. 'Let Julian finish hisstory! Great-Grand-dad, SIT DOWN!'
'Ha,' said Great-Grand-dad, a broad smile on his face, sitting down in his chair. 'HA! Did me good toswing that sword. Where's that American? I might try it out on him!'
The children roared with delight. It was great to see the old man so delighted. 'Go on with that tale ofyours,' he said to Julian. 'You tell it well, boy. Go on! Now, Ma, don't you take my sword away. I'mkeeping it here, between my legs, in case I want to use it. HA!'
Julian quickly finished his tale, and told how they had walked back down the passage and found theirburrow entrance fallen in - and then gone right down the rest of the tunnel and come at last into thelittle stone-walled room.
'And we couldn't get out,' said Julian. 'There was a great wooden trap-door over our heads, and on itlay a dozen or so sacks - heavy as lead! We couldn't lift it. So we yelled!'
'So that's where the secret passage led to!' said Mr. Philpot. 'How did you get out?'
'We yelled and hammered, and Bill and Jamie heard us, and pulled off the sacks, and lifted up the oldtrap-door,' said Julian. 'Gosh, we were glad to see them! We thought we might be lost for ever! Jamieknew about the little stone vault down under the chapel floor - but he thought it was just an old store-room!'
'I've never heard of it before,' said Mrs. Philpot, and old Great- Grand- dad nodded his head inagreement.
'No more have I,' he said. 'For as long as I can remember the floor of that old chapel has been piledwith sacks, and what bits I could see of the floor were covered with thick dust. Yes, even when I wasa boy, playing hide and seek in the old place, it was full of sacks - and that's every bit 80of eighty-five years ago now! Well, well - seems like yesterday I was playing in there with a cat andher kittens!'
'There's a cat and her kittens there now,' said Anne.
'Ay, little lass - and there'll be a cat and her kittens there when you're an old, old woman!' said Great-Grand-dad. 'There's some things never change, thanks be to the Lord. Well, well - I can sleep easy ofnights now - I reckon you and the farm will be all right Trevor, with the money you'll make out ofthose old finds - and I'll live to see the twins growing up and handling the finest farm in Dorset, so Ishall - with everything new-fangled they want, bless their bonny faces!
And now I'll just have one more swing with that sword!'
The children fled! Great- Grand- dad looked years younger already - and goodness knows whatdamage he would do with that great sword! What an afternoon it had been - one they would neverforget!
18.传奇经历
传奇经历
双胞胎飞奔到了农舍，一眼就看到还在寻找他们的妈妈。他们一下子扑进了妈妈怀里。妈妈疼爱地揉着他们的头发。
“你们去哪里了？下午茶时间都过去一个小时了，你们所有人都没回来。我一直很担心，亨宁先生跟我说你们也在山坡上挖掘！”
“妈妈！我们都又渴又饿，先让我们喝杯茶，然后我们会告诉你一个特别棒的消息。”双胞胎异口同声地说道，“妈妈，听了之后您一定会大吃一惊。爸爸在哪儿，还有曾祖父呢？”
“他们在茶桌那边，”菲尔伯特夫人说，“之前他们一直都在到处找你们！曾祖父很不高兴。你们手上拿的到底是什么？该不会是剑吧？”
“妈妈，我们先喝茶，待会儿会把一切都告诉您的！”双胞胎说道，“我们得先去洗手吗？哦，天哪，大家来吧，我们先去清洗一下，把带回来的宝藏放在最黑暗的角落里，这样父亲和曾祖父就不会看到了，等我们准备好向他们展示的时候再拿出来！”
很快，孩子们都坐到了茶桌旁。大家兴高采烈地看着一大桌美味的食物——有大片厚厚的黄油面包、自制果酱、自制奶酪、厚厚的姜饼、水果蛋糕、一盘熟透了的李子，甚至还有家常火腿。如果有人想要吃得更丰盛些，就可以加上火腿！
菲尔伯特先生和曾祖父还在桌旁，喝着最后一杯茶。菲尔伯特夫人告诉他们，孩子们得先清洗一番。不过，他们喝茶时会告诉爸爸和曾祖父发生的一切。
“哼！”曾祖父皱眉说道。他的眉头皱得紧紧的，浓密的眉毛几乎遮住了他的鼻子，“我还是个小男孩的时候，吃饭时一分钟都不会迟到。你们这对双胞胎太让妈妈操心了——这可不好！”
“我们非常抱歉，曾祖父，”双胞胎一起说道，“但是您听了我们的故事就会原谅我们的。朱利安，你来说吧！”
就这样，大家一边吃着黄油面包、火腿三明治和蛋糕，一边听着这个故事。所有的孩子都不断地补充着各种细节。
曾祖父听说亨宁先生用二百五十英镑的支票获得了挖掘许可的事，为此大发雷霆。菲尔伯特夫人不想退还支票，但曾祖父不依不饶，直到她哭着说她要把支票退回去之后，曾祖父的怒火才算平息。现在他听着孩子们的故事，准备再发一顿火。然而，孩子们的故事让他忘了喝茶。他的茶都放凉了。他也忘记了装烟斗，甚至忘记了提问。他有生以来从没有听到如此精彩而荣耀的故事！
朱利安将这一切娓娓道来。他遗漏的任何细节都由其他的孩子补充上了。
朱利安说起斯尼帕和诺斯钻进了兔子洞。接着，它们带回了一把破旧的剑和一枚戒指。听到这，菲尔伯特夫人的眼珠子都快掉出来了。
“但是那里……”她本想发问，但还是忍住了，继续听了下去。
她听朱利安说着挖洞的事——他们如何扩大洞穴，如何钻到洞里，如何滑入了被遗忘多年的隧道。“哈！”曾祖父饶有兴致地叹了一声。他拿出那块红色的大手帕，用它轻轻拍着额头，“哈！真希望我也在那儿。继续，继续！”
朱利安停下来喝了口茶。他笑着继续说他们是怎么打着手电筒沿着隧道往上走。“里面很黑，霉味很重。突然，我们听到一种可怕的声音！”他说。
“就像在我们脑袋里搅动一样！”安妮说。
“那是什么？快说！”曾祖父急切地问道。他的眼睛瞪得像他面前的碟子一样大。
“在古老的城堡遗址上钻洞的声音。”朱利安说。曾祖父都快气炸了。他把烟斗指向他的孙子——农场的主人。
“我没告诉过你不准那些人到我的农场里来吗！”他训斥道。菲尔伯特夫人拍了拍曾祖父的手臂，让他平静下来。“继续，朱利安。”她说。
接下来就是真正令人兴奋的部分，他们如何进入城堡的地窖，石拱门，几百年古老的灰尘……
“还有回声！”安妮说，“当我们低声说话的时候，会传回来一百个回声！”
朱利安描述着他们的发现，仍然保存完好的古老盔甲，但因为年代久远而变成了黑色，放满剑、刀和匕首的架子，还有装着金币的箱子……
“金币！我不相信！”曾祖父喊道，“你这是在讲故事，年轻人，但别编得太离谱了，要实事求是。”
双胞胎立即从口袋里掏出几枚金币来。它们仍然亮闪闪的，十分耀眼。双胞胎把金币放在三个大人面前的桌子上。他们都目瞪口呆。
“你们看！这些会告诉你们我们是不是在编故事。这些金币，它们的话更可信！”
菲尔伯特先生敬畏地把金币拿起来，然后把它们一个一个传给曾祖父和自己的妻子。曾祖父目瞪口呆，连一个字都说不出来。他只是用他那长满老茧的手翻来覆去地摸着金币，嘴里低声咕哝着。
“这些真的是金子吗？”菲尔伯特夫人问道。这些闪亮的硬币出现得太突然了，她还没有回过神来，“特雷弗，它们是属于我们的吗？这是否意味着……这是否意味着我们能够给你买辆新的拖拉机……并且……”
“这取决于那些古老的地窖中有多少这样的东西。”菲尔伯特先生说道。他试图保持冷静，“当然，还取决于我们可以保留多少。它们现在可能属于皇室。”
“皇室！”曾祖父咆哮着，突然站了起来，“皇室！不，先生！这是我的！我们的！这些东西是在我的土地上找到的。它们是由我们的祖先放在那里的。我会分给村里的老芬尼斯顿先生一些。我一定要分给他一些，多年来他一直是我的好朋友！”
孩子们认为这是个好主意。然后他们展示了他们带回来的珠宝，虽然这些珠宝有点脏了，但菲尔伯特夫人仍然大为惊叹。
最让曾祖父和菲尔伯特先生感到兴奋的是剑和匕首。他们一听说孩子们带回了一些古老的武器，就立刻站起来去找。曾祖父拿起了最大最重的那把剑，将它举到了头上。曾祖父长着一大把胡子，他举着剑，瞪着眼睛的样子，就像是可怕的古代战士。“不，爷爷！”菲尔伯特夫人惊恐地说道，“哦，你会打到橱柜上的东西的，我知道你会的，还有我装肉的碟子。”
菜盘掉到了地上，“咣当”一声。蒂米和斯尼帕吓得差点魂都没了，它们立刻疯狂地叫起来。
“所有人都坐下来，”菲尔伯特夫人向激动的狗和曾祖父喊道，“让朱利安讲完他的故事！爷爷，坐下！”
“哈！”曾祖父说道，他脸上露出灿烂的笑容，坐回到椅子上，“哈！我挥剑挥得好吗？那个美国男孩在哪里？我可能要用他来试试剑！”
孩子们高兴地大喊了起来。看到这位老爷子如此高兴，大家都很开心。
“继续讲你的故事吧，”他对朱利安说，“你讲得很好，小伙子。
继续！好了，孙媳妇，不要拿走我的剑。我把它放在我的腿上，说不定我会突然想要使用它。哈！”
朱利安迅速讲完了他的故事。他讲了他们如何沿着隧道走回来，然后发现洞穴入口陷进去了，接着他们就沿着隧道继续走了下去，最后他们进入到石头砌的小房间。
“我们没法出来，”朱利安说，“因为我们头上有一扇巨大的活板门，门上面放了十几个麻袋。这些麻袋像装满了铅一样沉重，我们完全推不动，所以就大声喊叫起来。”
“所以那就是秘密隧道的出口！”菲尔伯特先生说，“你们是怎么出来的？”
“我们大喊大叫。比尔和杰米听到了我们的声音，就搬走了麻袋，抬起了那扇古老的活板门。”朱利安说，“天哪，我们见到他们时高兴极了，我们还以为永远也出不去了呢！杰米知道在礼拜堂地板下面有一个石砌的拱顶房间，但他认为那只是一个旧的储藏室！”
“我以前从未听说过。”菲尔伯特夫人说道。曾祖父点了点头表示同意。“我也没有听说过，”他说，“从我记事起，那个旧礼拜堂的地板上就堆满了麻袋，我能看到的只是地板上积得厚厚的灰尘。我很小的时候就在那里玩捉迷藏，距离现在已经有八十五年了！嗯，好吧，那好像就是昨天的事。我还在那里，和一只母猫还有它的小猫一起玩！”
“那里的确有一只母猫带着它的小猫。”安妮说。
“唉，小姑娘，当你变成一个很老很老的老太婆时，那里还是会有一只母猫带着它的小猫崽。”曾祖父说，“感谢老天，有些事情永远不会改变。嗯，好吧，我现在可以轻松地睡个好觉了。我想，你和农场都会变得很好的，特雷弗，因为现在有了这些古老的东西可以换钱。我会活着看到双胞胎长大，并管理多塞特郡最好的农场，我一定会的。他们想买什么新奇玩意都可以。看看他们那瘦瘦的小脸，老天保佑他们！现在，我只想再挥一下这把剑。”
孩子们赶紧躲开了！曾祖父看起来年轻了许多。天知道他会把那把大剑挥到哪！这是一个多么美好的下午，大家永远都不会忘记这一天的！
Chapter 19 THE MOST EXCITING ADVENTURE WE'VE EVER HAD!
Chapter 19 THE MOST EXCITING ADVENTURE WE'VE EVER HAD!
After all the excitement of the afternoon the children felt lazy. The twins went off to feed thechickens. 'Better late than never!' they said, together.
'Where are Mr. Henning and Mr. Durleston and that awful Junior, Mrs. Philpot?' asked George,getting up to help with the washing of the tea-things.
'Oh, Mr. Henning came in to say he and Mr. Durleston were going to a meal at a hotel, and takingJunior too,' said Mrs. Philpot. 'He seemed very pleased with himself indeed. He said that they hadbroken through to the cellars of the old castle, and expected great things - and that maybe a secondcheque of ?250 would be coming soon!'
'You won't take it, though, will you, Mrs. Philpot?' said Julian quickly, overhearing what was beingsaid. 'The things down in that cellar will be worth much more than any money Mr.
Henning is likely to offer you. He'd only take them to America and sell them for vast sums and makea huge profit. Why should you let him do that?'
'That nice old man, Mr. Finniston, down in the little antique shop, would know what everything wasworth,' said George. 'And he's a descendant of the long-ago Finnistons of Finniston Castle, isn't he -he'll be thrilled to bits, when he hears what's been happening!'
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'We'll send word for him to come up tomorrow,' decided Mrs. Philpot. 'After all, Mr. Henning has hisadviser - that surly Mr. Durleston. We'll have Mr. Finniston for ours. Great-Grand-dad would bepleased about that - they're great friends, those two.'
There was however, no need to send for Mr. Finniston, for Great-Grand-dad had himself gone downstraight away to tell the great news to his old crony. What a talk they had together!
'Gold coins - jewellery - suits of armour - swords - and goodness knows what else!' said Great-Grand-dad for the twentieth time, and old Mr. Finniston listened gravely, nodding his head. 'That splendidbig sword!' went on Grand-dad, remembering. 'Just right for me, William! Look, if ever I've livedbefore, that old sword once belonged to me! I feel it! That's one thing I won't sell, mind! I'll keep itjust for the sake of swinging it round my head, when I lose my temper!'
'Yes, yes - but I hope you'll be sure to stand in the middle of an empty room if you do that,' said Mr.
Finniston, a little alarmed at the fierce look in the old man's eye. 'You won't be allowed to keep all themoney, I'm afraid - there's such a thing as 'Treasure Trove', you know - some finds go to the Crown,and I fear that will be one of them. But the jewellery's different - and the suits of armour - and theswords! You'll be able to make a mint of money on those!'
'Enough for two new tractors?' said Great-Grand-dad. 'Enough for a new Land-Rover? That one mygrandson has, it jolts every bone in my body! Look now, William - we've got to get men digging onthat site - uncovering all those cellars. What say we keep on the men that fellow Henning's got? Weshan't let him excavicate, or whatever it's called, any more. HA! That fellow gets under my skin, andsets me itching all over. Now I can scratch him out! And see here, William, you'll shut up this shop ofyours and be my adviser, won't you? I won't have that American talking me down - or that fellowDurleston!'
'You'd better stop talking for a bit, Grand-dad you're getting too red in the face,' said Mr.
Finniston. 'You'll go pop if you excite yourself much more! Go home now, and I'll be up tomorrowmorning. I'll arrange about the workmen too. And don't you play about with that old sword too much- you might cut off somebody's head by mistake!'
'So I might, so I might,' said Great-Grand-dad, with a sly look in his eye. 'Now, if that Junior got inthe way when I was swinging my sword... it's all right, William, it's all right! Just my joke, you know,just my joke!'
And chuckling deep down in his long beard, Great-Grand-dad strode off, turned up the little lane andwalked back to the farm-house feeling very pleased indeed with life!
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Mr. Henning, Mr. Durleston and Junior did not come back that night. Apparently they were all soexcited over the excavations they had made in the drilling down through the cellar roof, that theystayed too long at the hotel and decided to spend the night there, much to Mrs. Philpot's relief.
'Most farm-people like to go to bed about nine o'clock,' said Mr. Henning, 'and it's already gone thatnow. We'll go over tomorrow morning and we'll get them to sign that agreement you've drawn up,Durleston. They're so short of money they'd sign anything. And mind you cry down what we thinkwe've found, so that they won't expect any more than ?250. We're going to make our fortunes overthis!'
So, next morning the two men, with an excited Junior, whom Mr. Durleston found most annoying,arrived at the farm-house at about ten o'clock. They had telephoned to say they would be there then,and would bring the agreement with them, '... and the cheque, Mrs. Philpot, the cheque!' purred Mr.
Henning down the phone.
When they arrived there was quite a company there to greet them! There was old Great-Grand-dad,his grandson Mr. Philpot and his wife, the twins, of course, and old Mr. Finniston, sniffing a fight, hisdull eyes bright this morning, for the first time in years! He sat at the back, wondering what wasgoing to happen.
All the Five were there too, Timmy wondering what the excitement was. He kept as close to Georgeas he could, and growled at Snippet every time the excited little poodle came near.
Snippet didn't mind! He could always growl back!
A car purred up the drive, and in came Mr. Henning, Mr. Durleston and Junior, whose face was onebig grin.
'Hallo, folks!' said Junior, in his usual jaunty manner. 'How's tricks?'
Nobody answered except Timmy, and he gave a small growl, which made Junior skip out of the wayquickly. 'You shut up,' he said to Timmy.
'Did you have your breakfast in bed at the hotel, little boy?' suddenly said George. 'Do you rememberthe last time you had it in bed here, and Timmy pulled...'
'Aw shucks!' said Junior, sulkily. 'Skip it, sister!' He subsided after that, and sat down by his father.
Then began a short, sharp and satisfactory meeting - from Mr. Philpot's point of view!
'Er - Mr. Philpot - it's my very great pleasure to say that I have been advised by Mr. Durleston to offeryou a further cheque for ?250,' said Mr. Henning smoothly. 'While we are rather 83disappointed in what appears to be in the cellars of the castle, we feel it would only be fair to offeryou the sum we suggested before. Is that right, Mr. Durleston?'
'Absolutely,' said Mr. Durleston in a business-like voice, and glared round through his horn-rimmedglasses. 'I've the agreement here. Mr. Henning is being very generous. Very. The cellars are mostdisappointing.'
'I'm sorry about that,' said Mr. Philpot. 'I hold a different opinion - and my adviser, Mr.
Finniston, upholds me in this. We are going to excavate the site ourselves, Mr. Henning - and then, ifany disappointment lies in wait, we shall be the ones to suffer, not you.'
'What's all this?' said Mr. Henning, glaring round. 'Durleston, what do you say to that? Bit of double-crossing, isn't it?'
'Offer him ?500,' said Mr. Durleston, looking startled at this unexpected set-back.
'You can offer me five thousand if you like, but I tell you, I prefer to do the excavation myself on myown land,' said Mr. Philpot. 'What is more, I will return you the cheque you gave me yesterday - andas I intend to keep on the men you engaged, I will pay them myself for their work. So do not troubleto dismiss them. They will now be working for me.'
'But this is MONSTROUS!' shouted Mr. Henning, losing his temper, and jumping to his feet. Hebanged on the table, and glared at Mr. and Mrs. Philpot. 'What do you expect to find in those derelictold cellars? We drilled right through yesterday, and there's practically nothing there! I made you avery generous offer. I'll raise it to a thousand pounds!'
'No,' said Mr. Philpot, quietly. But Great-Grand-dad had had enough of Mr. Henning's shouting andraging. He stood up too, and bellowed so loudly that everyone jumped, and Timmy began to bark.
Snippet at once fled to the kitchen cupboard and hid there.
'HA! NOW YOU LISTEN TO ME!' bellowed Great-Grand-dad. 'This farm belongs to ME, and myGRANDSON, and it'll go to my GREAT GRANDSON, sitting yonder. A finer farm there never was,and my family's had it for hundreds of years - and sad it's been for me to see it go down hill for lackof money! But now I see money, much money - down in those cellars! HA!
All the money we want for tractors and binders and combines and the Lord knows what! We don'twant your money. No, SIR! You keep your dollars, you keep them. Offer me five thousand if youlike, and see what I'll say!'
Mr. Henning turned swiftly and looked at Mr. Durleston, who at once nodded. 'Right!' said theAmerican to Great-Grand-dad. 'Five thousand! Done?'
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'No!' bawled Great-Grand-dad, enjoying himself more than he had done for years. 'There's gold downin those cellars - jewels - suits of armour - swords, daggers, knives - all of them centuries old... and...'
'Don't hand me stories like that,' said Mr. Henning, sneeringly. 'You old fibber!'
Great-Grand-dad banged his clenched fist down on the table and made everyone almost fall off theirchairs. 'TWINS!' he roared. 'Fetch those things you got yesterday - go on, fetch them here.
I'll show this American I'm no fibber!'
And then, before the astounded eyes of Mr. Henning and Mr. Durleston, and of Junior, too, the twinslaid the gold coins, the jewellery, and the swords and knives on the table. Mr. Durleston stared as ifhe couldn't believe his eyes.
'Well - what do you say to that?' demanded Great-Grand-dad, banging on the table again.
Mr. Durleston sat back and said one word. 'Junk!'
Then it was old Mr. Finniston's turn to stand up and say a few words! Mr. Durleston, who hadn'tnoticed the quiet old man sitting at the back, was horrified to see him there. He knew he was learnedand knowledgeable, for he himself had tried to pick his brains about the old castle-site.
'Ladies and gentlemen,' said Mr. Finniston, just as if he were addressing a well-conducted meeting, 'Iregret to say that, speaking as a well-known antiquarian, I do not consider that Mr.
Durleston knows what he is talking about if he calls these articles junk! The things on the table areworth a small fortune to any genuine collector. I could myself sell them in London tomorrow for farmore than any sum Mr. Durleston has advised Mr. Henning to offer. Thank you, ladies andgentlemen!'
And he sat down, bowing courteously to the assembled company. Anne felt as if she wanted to claphim!
'Well, I don't think there's any more to say,' said Mr. Philpot, getting up. 'If you'll tell me what hotelyou'll be staying at, Mr. Henning, I'll have your things sent there. You will certainly not wish to stayhere any longer!'
'Pop, I don't wanna go, I wanna stay here!' howled Junior, most surprisingly. 'I wanna see the cellarsexca-exculpated! I wanna dig down! I wanna STAY!'
'Well, we don't want you!' said Harry, fiercely. 'You and your peeping and prying and listening andboasting and tale-bearing. Cissy-boy! Breakfast in bed! Can't clean his shoes! Howls when he can'tget his own way! Screams when...'
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'That's enough, Harry,' said his mother sternly, looking quite shocked. 'I don't mind Junior staying onif he'll behave himself. It's not his fault that all this has happened.'
'I wanna stay!' wept Junior, and kicked out peevishly under the table. He unfortunately caughtTimmy on the nose, and the dog rose in anger, growling and showing his teeth. Junior fled for hislife.
'Do you wanna stay now?' shouted George, as he went, and the answer came back at once.
'NO!'
'Well, thanks, Timmy, for helping him to make up his mind,' said George, and patted the big dog.
Mr. Henning looked as if he were about to burst. 'If that dog bites my boy, I'll have him put to sleep,'
he said. 'I'll sue you, I'll...'
'Please go,' said Mrs. Philpot, suddenly looking tired out. 'I have a lot of baking to do.'
'I shall take my time,' said Mr. Henning, pompously. 'I will not be turned out suddenly, as if I hadn'tpaid my bills.'
'Seen this sword, Henning?' said old Great-Grand-dad, suddenly, and snatched from the table the bigsword that he so much liked. 'Beauty, isn't it? The men of old knew how to deal with their enemies,didn't they? They swung at them like this - and like THIS - and...'
'Here, stop! You're dangerous! That sword nearly cut me!' cried Mr. Henning in a sudden panic.
'WILL you put it down?'
'No. It's mine. I'm not selling this,' said Great-Grand-dad, swinging the sword again. It hit the light-bulb above his head, and the glass fell with a clatter. Mr. Durleston deserted Mr. Henning and fledout of the kitchen at top speed, colliding violently with Bill, who was just coming in.
'Look out - he's mad - that old man's mad!' shouted Mr. Durleston. 'Henning, come along before hecuts off your head!'
Mr. Henning fled too. Great-Grand-dad pursued him to the door, breathing blood and thunder, andthe two dogs barked in delight. Everyone began to laugh helplessly.
'Grand-dad - what's got into you?' said Mr. Philpot, as the old fellow swung the sword again, his eyesbright, a broad grin on his wrinkled old face.
'Nothing! I just thought that only this sword would get rid of those fellows. Do you know what I callthem? JUNK! Ha - wish I'd thought of that when they were here! JUNK! William Finniston, did youhear that?'
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'Now you put that sword down before you damage it,' said Mr. Finniston, who knew how to manageGreat-Grand-dad, 'and you and I will go down to the old inn and talk over what we're going to doabout all this treasure trove. You just put that sword down first - NO, Grand-dad, I am NOT going totake you into the inn carrying that sword!'
Mrs. Philpot heaved a sigh of relief when the two old fellows went off down the lane, leaving thesword safely behind. She sat down, and, to the children's horror, began to cry!
'Now, now - don't take any notice of me!' she said, when the twins ran to her in dismay. 'I'm cryingfor joy - to have got rid of them - and to know I've not got to pinch and scrape any more -or to take in visitors. To think that your Dad can buy the farm machinery he wants - and... oh dear,what a baby I am, acting like this!'
'I say, Mrs. Philpot - would you like us to leave too?' asked Anne, suddenly realizing that she and theothers were ranked as 'visitors', and must have been an added burden for poor Mrs. Philpot.
'Oh no, my dear, no - you're not really visitors, you're friends!' said Mrs. Philpot, smiling through hertears. 'And what's more I shan't charge your mothers a single penny for having you here - see whatgood fortune you've brought us!'
'All right - we'll stay. We'd love to,' said Anne. 'We wouldn't miss seeing what else is down in thosecastle cellars for anything. Would we, George?'
'Gosh no!' said George. 'We want to be in on everything. This is just about the most excitingadventure we've ever had!'
'We always say that!' said Anne. 'But the nice part about this one is - it isn't finished yet! We'll beable to go and watch the workmen and their drills. We'll be able to help in moving all the exciting oldthings out of their hiding places - we'll hear what prices you get for them - and see the new tractor!
Honestly, I really do believe the second part of this adventure will be better than the first! Don't youthink so, Timmy?'
'WOOF!' said Timmy, and wagged his tail so hard that he knocked Snippet right over.
Well, good-bye, Five! Enjoy the rest of your adventures, and have a good time - and do make surethat Grand-dad is careful with that great old sword!
THE END
19.最伟大的冒险
最伟大的冒险
那天下午，孩子们的兴奋劲过后，突然感到一阵倦怠。双胞胎去喂鸡了。“迟做总比不做好！”他们异口同声地说道。
“亨宁先生和德勒斯顿先生在哪里？还有那个可怕的居里尔呢，菲尔伯特夫人？”乔治问道。她起身去帮忙清洗下午茶的餐具。
“哦，亨宁先生刚才说他和德勒斯顿先生要去酒店吃饭，”菲尔伯特夫人说，“他好像对自己很满意。他说他们已经突破到了古老城堡的地窖。等他们发现了很棒的东西，就会给我们开一张五千英镑的支票。”
“但您不会接受的，对吗，菲尔伯特夫人？”朱利安无意中听到了她们说的话，立刻问道，“那个地窖里的东西的价值比亨宁先生给您的钱多得多。他只会把那些东西带回美国，然后以高昂的价格卖掉，并赚取巨额利润。您为什么要让他那样做？”
“那个亲切的老头儿，小古董店里的芬尼斯顿先生，他会知道所有东西的价值的，”乔治说，“他的祖先就是住在城堡里的芬尼斯顿家族。如果他听说了这件事，一定会乐坏的！”
“明天我们就给他捎个信，”菲尔伯特夫人立刻决定道，“毕竟，亨宁先生有他的顾问——那个顺从的德勒斯顿先生。我们也会请芬尼斯顿先生来当我们的顾问。爷爷会很高兴的，他们两个是亲密的朋友。”
事实上，没有必要派人给芬尼斯顿先生送信了。因为曾祖父自己已经跑去告诉了他的老朋友这个好消息。真不知道他们在一起聊了多久。
“金币、珠宝、盔甲、剑……天知道还有什么东西！”曾祖父第二十次说道。芬尼斯顿先生严肃地听着，点了点头。“那是把雄伟的大剑！”曾祖父继续一边回想一边说，“我是对的，威廉。看，如果我生活在那个时代，那把古老的剑一定是属于我的，我能感觉到。
记住，这是一件我绝不会卖掉的东西。我留着它，就是为了在发脾气的时候把它在头顶上挥来挥去！”
“是的，但我希望如果你这样做的时候，一定要站在空房间中央。”芬尼斯顿先生说道。他对老人眼中的野蛮劲有点警觉，“恐怕你们不会被允许留下所有的钱。一旦‘宝藏’这样的东西被人发现了，就必须得把金钱上交到皇室，我担心地窖里的东西可能也是这样。
但珠宝就不同了，还有那些盔甲套装和剑，你能够用这些东西换一大笔钱的！”
“足够买两辆新拖拉机吗？”曾祖父问道，“足够买一辆新的路虎吗？我孙子的那辆车能把我这把老骨头震散架了。现在，威廉，我们不能让在那个地方挖掘的工人们发现那个地窖。我们不能再允许他挖掘了。哼！那个家伙一来就把我给惹毛了，他让我恨得牙根痒痒，现在我终于可以把他赶出去了。还有，威廉，你把这家商店关了，来当我的顾问，好吗？我不会让那个美国人把我蒙住的，或者那个叫德勒斯顿的家伙！”
“你最好不要再说话了，你的脸都涨红了，”芬尼斯顿先生说，“如果你再这么激动，搞不好会出事的。你现在先回家，明天早上我就过去。我也会去安排工人们那边的事。另外，你不要再玩那把古老的剑了——你可能会不小心砍断某人的头！”
“这倒是有可能。”曾祖父狡黠地盯着芬尼斯顿先生的眼睛说道。
“如果那个居里尔在我挥舞剑的时候挡在了……没关系的，威廉，没事，我只是开个玩笑。你知道的，这只是我的玩笑话！”
曾祖父长长的胡须里掩藏着深深的笑容。他大踏步地沿着乡间小路走回了农舍，一路上都喜笑颜开。
亨宁先生、德勒斯顿先生和居里尔当晚没有回来。显然，他们对发掘工作感到非常兴奋，因为他们已经钻到了地窖的屋顶。所以他们在酒店待了很久，并最终决定在那里过夜。这让菲尔伯特夫人轻松了很多。
“农场的大多数人都喜欢在九点钟左右睡觉，”亨宁先生说，“现在已经到这个时间了，那我们明天早上再过去，让他们签署你已经拟好的协议，德勒斯顿。他们很缺钱，所以任何文件他们都会签署的。我们快要钻到那个地窖的时候，你及时叫停了那些工人，因此那家人现在什么都不知道。他们别指望我再多出一分钱。我们马上就会发一笔大财了！”
第二天早上大约十点钟的时候，亨宁先生和德勒斯顿先生到达了农舍。除了他们两个人，还有兴奋的居里尔，他让德勒斯顿先生感到厌烦。他们提前打电话跟菲尔伯特夫人说会在那个时候过来，并会带来一份协议。“……还有支票，菲尔伯特夫人，支票！”亨宁先生在电话中柔声说道。
他们到达时，一大群人等着迎接他们！有年迈的曾祖父，他的孙子菲尔伯特先生和他的妻子，当然，还有双胞胎和芬尼斯顿先生。今天早上，曾祖父嗅到了战斗的气息，于是他那双浑浊的眼睛亮了起来。多年来，他第一次这么神采奕奕。他坐在人群后面，想知道接下来会发生什么。
侦探团的小伙伴们也在那里。蒂米想知道大家都在兴奋什么。
它尽可能地靠近乔治。每当兴奋的斯尼帕走近时，它就会朝那只小狮子狗咆哮。斯尼帕并不介意，它会马上吼回去！
一辆汽车开上了车道，然后停在院子里。亨宁先生、德勒斯顿先生和居里尔进屋来了，居里尔的脸上露出了一个大大的笑容。
“你好，伙计们！”居里尔用他平常得意扬扬的方式说道，“今天怎么样？”
除了蒂米之外没有人回答他——蒂米低声咆哮着，居里尔飞快地躲到了旁边。“你闭嘴！”他对蒂米说道。
“你在酒店的床上吃早餐了吗，小男孩？”乔治突然说道，“你还记不记得上一次你躺在床上的时候，蒂米拖你……”
“哎呀！”居里尔大叫一声退缩到后面去了，“别提那件事了，姐姐！”之后他就坐到了他爸爸身边，安静了下来。紧接着，一次简短而令人满意的会议开始了，不过这是从菲尔伯特先生的角度来看。
“呃——菲尔伯特先生，我很高兴德勒斯顿先生建议我为你再提供二百五十英镑的支票。”亨宁先生身体前倾，说道，“虽然我们对城堡地窖里的东西感到相当失望，但我们认为提供的这笔钱是公平的，是吧，德勒斯顿先生？”
“当然。”德勒斯顿先生以一种公事公办的语气说道。他透过他的牛角框眼镜往四周看了看，“我把协议拿来了。亨宁先生非常慷慨，对，非常慷慨。那些地窖真是太令人失望了。”
“我很抱歉，”菲尔伯特先生说，“我持不同意见。接下来我们准备自己来发掘古堡遗址，我的顾问芬尼斯顿先生也支持我这么做。
亨宁先生，如果将来的挖掘工作令人失望，我们会独自承担这一损失的，而不是你。”
“这到底怎么回事？”亨宁先生瞪着眼睛问道，“德勒斯顿，你是怎么说的？”
“给他五百英镑。”德勒斯顿先生说道。他看上去也一脸震惊，因为他根本没想到会出现这种情况。
“如果你愿意，可以给我五千英镑试试看。但我告诉你，我宁愿自己进行挖掘。”菲尔伯特先生说，“更重要的是，我会把你昨天给我的支票退还给你。而且我打算留下你雇用来的工人，我会支付他们工钱的。所以就不用麻烦你解雇他们了，他们接下来将为我工作。”
“这也太蛮横无理了！”亨宁先生生气地喊道。他一下子站了起来，用力在桌子上捶了一下，气呼呼地瞪着菲尔伯特先生和夫人，“你们希望在那些废弃的旧地窖里找到什么？事实上，我们昨天就钻通了，那里几乎什么都没有。好吧，再给你一个更慷慨的条件，我可以把价格提高到一千英镑！”
“不。”菲尔伯特先生平静地说道。但是，曾祖父受够了亨宁先生的大喊大叫和他乱发脾气的样子，他也站起来大吼了一声，把大家都吓得跳了起来。蒂米也开始吠叫。斯尼帕立即逃到厨房的橱柜里藏了起来。
“哈！现在你好好听着！”曾祖父吼道，“这个农场属于我和我的孙子，它还会传到我的曾孙子手上，就是坐在那边的两个孩子。从来没有哪个农场比这个农场好，我的家人已经在这里经营了几百年。看到农场现在因为缺钱而变得每况愈下，我感到很伤心，但现在我看到了钱，很多钱。就在这些地窖里！哈！我们可以用来购买拖拉机、黏合剂、联合收割机……我们想买什么就买什么！我们不想要你的钱，先生，你留着你的美元吧。如果你愿意，可以试着拿五千英镑出来，看看我会说些什么！”
亨宁先生迅速转身看着德勒斯顿先生，德勒斯顿先生马上点了点头。“好的！”亨宁先生对曾祖父说，“五千英镑！可以吗？”
“不！”曾祖父大声嚷道。他好几年都没有这么快活了，“那些地窖里有金子、珠宝、盔甲、剑、匕首、刀具……所有这些东西都有几个世纪那么古老……还有……”
“不要给我编造这样的故事，”亨宁先生轻蔑地说，“你这个老骗子！”
曾祖父拳头紧握狠狠地砸在桌子上，差点把每个人都从椅子上震下来。“双胞胎！”他咆哮道，“去拿你们昨天带回来的东西，快去，把它们带到这儿来。我要让这个美国人看看，我不是骗子！”
接着，在亨宁先生和德勒斯顿先生，还有居里尔惊讶的目光下，双胞胎拿来了金币、珠宝，还有剑和刀放在桌子上。德勒斯顿先生盯着桌子上的东西，简直不敢相信自己的眼睛。
“嗯——对此你怎么说？”曾祖父又捶着桌子问道。
德勒斯顿先生坐了下来，说了一句话：“垃圾！”
这时，芬尼斯顿先生站了起来，德勒斯顿先生没注意到那个安静的老人一直坐在后面。当他看到芬尼斯顿先生时，不禁一脸惊恐。他知道那是位学识渊博，经验丰富的老人。
“女士们，先生们，”芬尼斯顿先生说道，他就像正在主持一次精心安排的会议，“作为一位著名的古董收藏家，我很遗憾地说，如果德勒斯顿先生把这些物品称为垃圾，那么他根本就不知道自己在说什么。桌上的东西，对于任何真正的收藏家来说都是一笔不小的财富。明天我就可以在伦敦亲自卖掉它们，它们的价值将大大超过亨宁先生支付的金额，也就是德勒斯顿先生提议的那个数目。谢谢大家！”
他坐了下来，并且礼貌地向聚集的一群人鞠躬致敬。安妮忍不住想要为他鼓掌！
“好吧，我认为没什么必要再谈下去了。”菲尔伯特先生起身说道，“如果你告诉我你打算住在哪家酒店，亨宁先生，我会把你的东西送到那里去的。你肯定不想再待在这里了。”
“爸爸，我不想走，我想留在这里！”居里尔号叫起来，这真是让人惊讶，“我想看发掘地窖！我想去挖！我想留在这儿！”
“我们不想让你留在这儿！”哈利愤怒地说道，“你鬼鬼祟祟地四处打探，跟踪我们，还偷听我们讲话，对所有人都那么傲慢无礼。
你是个娘娘腔，这么大了还在床上吃早餐，而且连鞋子都不会刷，不让你由着自己的性子来就大哭大闹！还尖叫……”
“够了，哈利，”双胞胎的妈妈严厉地说，她看上去很震惊，“如果居里尔表现得很好，我不介意他留下来。这一切都不是他的错。”
“我想留下来！”居里尔抹着眼泪说道，他的脚在桌子底下愤怒地踢着。不幸的是，他碰到了蒂米的鼻子。蒂米愤怒地站了起来，咆哮着露出牙齿。居里尔赶紧逃命去了。
“你想留下来吗？”乔治喊道。她立刻得到了回答。
“不！”
“好吧，谢谢，蒂米。谢谢你帮他做出了决定。”乔治说着，拍了拍大狗。
亨宁先生看起来好像要气炸了。“如果那只狗咬了我的孩子，我会让它起不来的，”他说，“我会起诉你，我会……”
“请离开吧，”菲尔伯特夫人说道。她好像突然变得累极了，“我还有很多东西要烤。”
“我会住满这段时间的。”亨宁先生自负地说道，“我才不会被人中途赶走，就像没钱付账单的人一样。”
“看到这把剑了吗，亨宁？”曾祖父突然说道。他从桌子上抓起了那把大剑，“它真漂亮，不是吗？过去的人知道如何对付他们的敌人，他们就像这样向敌人挥剑，就像这样……”
“好了，停下来！你这样很危险！那把剑差点砍到我了！”亨宁先生突然惊慌地叫道，“你能把它放下吗？”
“不，这是我的剑。我不会把这个卖掉的。”曾祖父说着，再次挥起了剑。那把剑击中了头顶上方的灯泡，碎玻璃直往下掉。德勒斯顿先生抛下了亨宁先生，以最快的速度往厨房外逃去。他与刚刚进门的比尔猛撞到一起。
“当心！他疯了，那个老头儿疯了！”德勒斯顿先生喊道，“亨宁，在他砍断你的头之前快出来吧！”
亨宁先生也逃走了。曾祖父一直追到了门口，大口喘着气。两只狗高兴地大叫着，每个人都忍不住笑了起来。
“爷爷，您怎么了？”菲尔伯特先生问道。老爷子再次挥起剑时，两眼发光。他满是皱纹的脸上露出了大大的笑容。
“没什么！我只是觉得只有这把剑才能把那些家伙赶走。你知道我管他们叫什么吗？垃圾！哈，真希望他们在这儿的时候我就想到这个词了！垃圾！威廉•芬尼斯顿，你听到了吗？”
“你快把剑放下，免得弄坏了。”芬尼斯顿先生说道，他知道怎么处理现在的情况，“你得和我一起去老酒馆，我们坐下来谈谈该怎么处理这些宝物。不，老爷子，我不会让你带着这把剑和我一起走的，快放下！”
曾祖父把剑放到柜子后面，然后和他的老朋友一起离开了。他们走上小路之后，菲尔伯特夫人才松了一口气。她坐到椅子上哭了起来，孩子们都吓坏了！
“不，不要在意我，”当双胞胎沮丧地跑向她时，她说道，“我是因为开心才哭的。我们终于摆脱了他们，并且我再也不用缝缝补补，或者吸引游客了。而你们的爸爸可以购买他想要的农机。还有……噢，天哪，我真幼稚，竟然为这个哭起来了！”
“菲尔伯特夫人，您希望我们也离开吗？”安妮问道。她突然意识到她和另外几个孩子也属于“游客”。对于可怜的菲尔伯特夫人来说，这一定是额外的负担。
“哦，不，亲爱的，不，你们不是游客，你们是真正的朋友！”菲尔伯特夫人笑着说道，“而且，你们住在这里，我不会向你们的妈妈收取一分钱的，看看你们为我们带来了多好的运气！”
“好的，我们会留下来的，我们非常喜欢待在这里！”安妮说道，“我们还想看看城堡地窖中的其他宝藏呢，对不对，乔治？”
“当然！”乔治说道，“我们希望参与所有的环节。这是我们经历过的最激动人心的探险！”
“我们总是这么说！”安妮说，“但这一次最棒的地方在于——它还没有结束呢！我们可以去城堡遗址上看着工人们怎么钻到地窖。
我们还能够帮忙——搬运那些令人兴奋的珍宝。我们可以将这些古老的物品从它们的藏身之处取出来。老实说，我认为这次冒险的第二部分会比第一部分更好，你不这么认为吗，蒂米？”
“汪汪！”蒂米猛烈地摇着尾巴叫道。它的尾巴甩得太用力了，竟然把斯尼帕打翻在地。
好吧，再见了，五个小伙伴！继续享受接下来的冒险吧，祝你们度过愉快难忘的时光。还有，一定要让曾祖父小心挥舞那把伟大而古老的剑！