It was certainly very dark when the half-moon went behind the clouds. George was glad that herbicycle lamp shone so brightly. The shadows in the hedges were deep and mysterious - 'as if they hidpeople ready to jump out at us,' she said to Timmy. 'But you'd go for them at once, wouldn't you,Timmy!'
Timmy was too much out of breath to bark an answer. George was going pretty fast, and he didn'tmean to let her get out of sight. He was sure she shouldn't be out by herself on a dark night like this.
He couldn't imagine why she had suddenly taken it into her head to go for a long night-ride! He racedalong, panting.
They met cars with dazzling head-lamps, and George had to keep pulling to the side. She was terriblyafraid that Timmy might be hit by one of the cars. 'Oh dear - I'd never, never forgive myself ifanything happened to Timmy,' she thought. 'I half wish I hadn't set out now. But I'm NOT going tolet Julian hide anything on my island. That's my job, not his. Timmy darling, PLEASE keep on myleft side. You'll be safe then.'
So Timmy kept on her left, still mystified by this sudden journey out into the night. They came at lastto Kirrin Village, where windows were still lighted here and there. Through the village and on toKirrin Bay - ah, there was the bay! The half-moon slid out from behind a cloud and George saw thedark sea, shining here and there as the moonlight caught the crests1 of the waves.
'There's my island, look Timmy,' said George, feeling a swelling2 of pride as she looked over the darkheaving sea to a darker stretch, which she knew was Kirrin Island. 'My very own island.
Waiting for me tonight!'
75
'Woof,' said Timmy, rather quietly, because he really hadn't any breath to waste. Now what wasGeorge going to do? Why had she come out on this lonely ride without the others? Timmy waspuzzled.
They came to the stretch of beach where boats were kept. George rode down a ramp3 to the beach,jumped off her bicycle, and put it by a bathing-hut in the deep shadows. No one would see it there.
Then she went to stare over the sea at her island.
She had only looked for a moment or two when she clutched Timmy's collar, and gave anexclamation.
'TIMMY! There's a light on my island! Look, to the right there. Can you see it? Timmy, there'ssomebody camping there. How DARE they? It's my island and I don't allow anyone on it unless theyhave my permission.'
Timmy looked - and yes, he could see the light too. Was it made by a camp-fire - or a lantern?
He couldn't tell. All he knew was that he didn't want George to go over there now. Suppose therewere gypsies camping there, who would resent George coming to turn them off? Or a crowd of ill-mannered young boys who hadn't bothered to find out if they were allowed there? They might makethings very unpleasant for George. He pawed at her, trying to make her understand that he wanted herto go back home with him.
'No, Timmy. I'm not going back till I've found out who's there!' she said. 'It would be cowardly toturn back now. And if it's somebody waiting for me to turn up with the papers, they can think again.
Look - I'm hiding them here under the tarpaulin4 in this boat. It would be idiotic5 to try and hide themon the island if there's someone there who might rob me of anything I've got - it might be one of thethieves who climbed in to the tower room, and left some of the papers behind. If he's waiting for me,he won't get any papers!'
George stuffed the parcel of papers under the tarpaulin as she spoke6. 'It's Fisherman Connell's boat,called Gypsy,' she said, reading the name on the boat by the light of her torch. 'He won't mind mehiding something in it!'
She covered up the papers with the tarpaulin, and then looked over to the island again. Yes - that lightwas still there. Anger welled up in George again, and she went to look for her own boat, whichshould be somewhere near where they were.
'Here it is,' she said to Timmy, who leapt in at once. She ordered him out for she had to pull the boatdown to the water. Fortunately it was a small, light boat and as the tide was almost fully7 in, 76she didn't have very far to drag it. Timmy took hold of the rope with his teeth and helped too. At lastit was on the water, bobbing gently about in the dim light of the half-moon. Timmy leapt in, and soonGeorge was in too, though with very wet feet!
She took the oars8 and began to pull away from the shore. 'Tide's almost on the turn,' she told Timmy.
'It won't be too hard a row. Now we can find those campers and tell them what we think of them.
You're to bark your very loudest and scare them, Timmy - in fact, you can chase them to their boat, ifyou like.'
Timmy answered with a small bark. He knew quite well that George didn't want him to make muchnoise. He thought it very queer that she was going over to her island tonight, all by herself.
Why hadn't she taken the others? He was sure that Julian would be very cross!
'Now don't bark or whine9, Timmy,' she said, in a whisper. 'We're almost at my landing-place -but I'm going under those trees there, not landing here. I want to hide my boat.'
She guided the boat towards some trees whose branches overhung a tiny creek10 that ran a little wayinland. She leapt out, and flung the mooring11 rope round the trunk of the nearest tree, and made it fast.
'There, little boat,' she said. 'You'll be safe there. No one will see you. Come on, Tim - we'll tacklethose campers now.'
She turned to go, and then stopped. 'I wonder where their boat is,' she said. 'Let's have a look round,Timmy. It must be here somewhere.'
She soon found the boat lying on the sands, its rope thrown round a near-by rock. The tide wasalmost up to it. She grinned to herself. 'Timmy!' she whispered. 'I'm going to untie12 this boat and set itloose on the tide. It will soon be far away. Ha - what will those awful campers say?'
And, to Timmy's amazement13, she undid14 the rope from the rock, rolled it up, and threw the coil insidethe boat. Then she gave the boat a push - but it was still embedded15 in the wet sand.
'Never mind,' she said. 'Another ten minutes and the tide will be right under it - and then it will turnand take the boat with it!'
She began to make her way up the beach, Timmy close to her side. 'Now let's go after those campers,who-ever they are,' she said. 'Where's their light gone? I can't see it now.'
But in a minute or two she saw it again. 'It's not from a camp-fire - it's from a lantern of some sort,'
she whispered to Timmy. 'We'll have to be careful now. Let's see if we can creep up behind them.'
77
The two of them made their way silently towards the middle of the little island. Here there was an oldruined castle - and there, in the courtyard of the castle, sitting in the midst of thick, overgrown weeds,were two men. George had her hand on Timmy's collar, and tugged16 it gently.
He knew that meant, 'No barking, no growling17, Tim,' and he stood perfectly19 still, the hackles on hisneck rising fast.
The two men were playing cards by the light of a fairly powerful lantern, which they had set on aruined stone wall. Timmy couldn't help giving a surprised growl18 when he saw one of them, butGeorge hushed him at once.
Mr. Wooh, the magician from the circus, was there, dealing20 out the cards! The other man she didn'tknow. He was well-dressed, and seemed bored. He flung down his cards as Timmy and Georgewatched from a dark corner of the old castle, and spoke to his companion in an irritated voice.
'Well, whoever it is you said was bringing the rest of those papers here to the island doesn't seem tobe turning up. The papers you've given me are good - very good - but of no use without the others.
This scientist fellow you've stolen them from is a genius. If we get the complete set of papers, theywill be worth a tremendous sum of money, which I can get for you - but without the other papers,there will be no money for you - the first set would be useless!'
'I tell you, someone will be here with them. I heard them say so,' said Mr. Wooh, in his stately voice.
'Who stole them - you?' asked the other man, shuffling21 the cards quickly.
'No. I did not steal them,' said Mr. Wooh. 'Me, I keep my hands clean - I do not steal.'
The second man laughed. 'No. You let other people do your dirty work for you, don't you! Mr.
Wooh, the World's Most Wonderful Magician, does not soil his hands! He merely uses the hands ofothers - and charges enormous prices for the goods they steal. You're a cunning one, Mr.
Wooh. I wouldn't like you for an enemy! How did you manage to get the papers?'
'By using my eyes and my ears and my cunning,' answered Mr. Wooh. 'They are better than mostpeople's. So many people are stupid, my good friend.'
'I'm not your good friend,' said the other man. 'I've got to do business with you, Mr. Wooh, but Iwouldn't like to have you for a friend. I'd rather have that chimpanzee of yours! I don't even likeplaying cards with you! WHY doesn't this fellow come?'
78
George put her mouth to one of Timmy's ears. 'Timmy, I'm going to tell them to clear off my island,'
she whispered furiously to the listening dog. 'Fancy fellows like that daring to set foot here - rascalsand rogues22! Don't come with me - wait till I call you, then if you have to rescue me, come at once!'
Leaving a most unwilling23 Timmy standing24 beside part of the old castle wall, she suddenly appearedbefore the two astonished men by the light of their lantern.
They leapt to their feet at once. 'It's the girl who's come - I shouldn't have thought that the boys wouldhave let her,' said Mr. Wooh, astonished. 'I am...'
'WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON MY ISLAND?' demanded George, angrily. 'It belongs to me. I sawyour light and came over with my dog. Be careful of him - he's big and strong and fierce.
Clear off at once, or I'll report you to the police!'
'Easy, easy, now!' said Mr. Wooh, standing very straight and looking immensely tall. 'So the boyssent you to hide the papers instead of daring to come themselves. How cowardly of them!
Where are the papers? Give them to me.'
'I've hidden them,' said George. 'They're not very far away. You didn't think I'd be silly enough tocome along to you with them in my hands when I saw your light and knew that people were here, didyou? No - I've hidden them somewhere on the shore - where you won't find them. Now you just clearoff, both of you!'
'A very brave and determined25 young lady!' said Mr. Wooh, bowing solemnly to George.
'Do you mean to tell me that's a girl!' said the other man, amazed. 'Well! She's a plucky26 kid, I mustsay! Look here, kid, if you've got those papers, hand them over, and I'll give you a whole lot ofmoney which you can give to Professor Hayling with my best wishes.'
'Come and get them,' said George, turning as if to go. The two men looked at one another, eyebrowsraised. Mr. Wooh nodded, and then winked27. If George had seen his face she would have known whatthat wink28 meant. It meant, 'Let's humour this silly kid, follow her - see the hiding-place, snatch thepapers and clear off in our boat without paying a penny! But LOOK OUT for the dog!'
George led the way, Timmy walking between her and the two men. He was growling all the time,deep down in his throat, as if to say, 'Just you lay a finger on George and I'll bite it off!'
The men took care not to go too near him! They shone the lantern on him all the time, making surethat he was not going to leap at them.
79
George led them to the shore, to the place where they had left their boat. Mr. Wooh gave a cry.
'Where's our boat? It was tied to that rock!'
'Is this it over this ridge29?' called George, climbing up a steep bank that overhung the water, whichwas now quite deep with the surging tide.
The men went to look - and then George gave them the surprise of their lives! She ran at Mr.
Wooh and gave him such a push that he fell right over the high bank into the sea below, landing witha yell and a terrific splash. George shouted a command to Timmy, who was now very excited, and thebig dog did the same to the other man, leaping at him and pushing him over. He too shot over theridge and fell into the sea with a splash. Timmy stood on the little cliff and barked madly, as excitedas George.
'You'll have to swim to the shore of the mainland if you want to escape!' yelled George. 'The tide hastaken away your boat - I set it loose! You'd better not get back on my island yet - Timmy's on thewatch for you - and he'll fly at either of you if you try to set a foot on it again!'
Both men could swim, though not very well, and both were exceedingly angry and very frightened.
They were sure they could never swim to the mainland - but how to get on the island to safety, theydidn't know. That great, fierce dog was there, barking as if he wanted to bite them into small bits.
Their boat had been set loose, there was no way to escape. They swam round in circles, not knowingwhat to do!
'I'm going back to the mainland now!' yelled George, climbing into her boat. 'I'll send the police torescue you in the morning. You can get on my island now - but you're in for a VERY cold night!
Goodbye!'
And off went George in her boat, with Timmy standing at the back, watching to make sure those mendidn't swim after them. He gave George an admiring lick. She wasn't afraid of ANYTHING! He'drather belong to her than to anyone else in the world.
WOOF, WOOF, W-O-O-F!
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1
crests
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| v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的第三人称单数 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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2
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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3
ramp
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| n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速 | |
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tarpaulin
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| n.涂油防水布，防水衣，防水帽 | |
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idiotic
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| adj.白痴的 | |
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6
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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7
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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8
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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9
whine
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| v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣 | |
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10
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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11
mooring
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| n.停泊处；系泊用具，系船具；下锚v.停泊，系泊（船只）(moor的现在分词) | |
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12
untie
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| vt.解开，松开；解放 | |
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13
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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14
Undid
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| v. 解开, 复原 | |
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15
embedded
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| a.扎牢的 | |
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16
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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18
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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19
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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20
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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21
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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22
rogues
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| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
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23
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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24
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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25
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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26
plucky
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| adj.勇敢的 | |
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27
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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28
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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29
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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