Chapter 20 A LOT OF EXCITEMENT
　　JO suddenly made up her mind. She would follow the men through those passages, and see if shecould warn the others by shouting when she came near enough to the tower-room. She would helpthem somehow. Bufflo and the others would be too late to save them now.
　　Jo ran to the wall. She was up the peg¹-rope left there and down the other side in a trice. She made herway to where the missing stone left the gap in the old wall.
　　Beauty, the python, was surprised to find himself pulled off and thrown on the ground, just before Joran for the wall. He wasn't used to that sort of treatment. He lay there, coiling and uncoiling himself.
　　Where had that nice girl gone? Beauty liked Jo - she knew how to treat him!
　　He glided² after her. He too went up the wall and over, quite easily, though he did not need to use thepeg-rope like Jo. He glided after Jo quickly. It was amazing to see his speed when he really wanted tobe quick!
　　He came to the hole in the wall. Ah, he liked holes. He glided in after Jo. He caught up with her justas she had reached the end of the small passage, through which she had had to walk bent³ double. Hepushed against her legs and then twined himself round her.
　　She gave a small scream, and then realized what it was. 'Beauty! You'll get into trouble with Mr.
　　Slither, coming after me like this. Go back! Stop twining yourself round me - I've got importantthings to do.'
　　But Beauty was not like Timmy. He obeyed only when he thought he would, and he was not going toobey this time!
　　'All right - come with me if you want to,' said Jo, at last, having in vain tried to push the great snakeback. 'You'll be company, I suppose. Stop hissing⁵ like that, Beauty! You sound like an engine lettingoff steam in this narrow passage.'
　　Soon Jo had gone down the steep steps that led to the level passage under the courtyard. Beautyslithered down them too, rather surprised at the sudden drop. Along the wider passage they went.
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　　Beauty now in front, and Jo sometimes tripping over his powerful tail.
　　Up steps again, and into the thick wall of the castle itself. Something shining ahead made Jo suddenlystop. She listened but heard nothing. She went forward cautiously and found that in the little secretroom was a small lantern, left there probably by one of the men in front.

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