20 Philip tells a strange story
　　‘We’d better get on the bed, in case those awful men come back,’ said Dinah. ‘What will you do ifthey do, Philip?’
　　‘I shall hear the grating noise the stone makes when it moves, and I’ll hop¹ out of the bed and getunderneath it,’ said Philip. ‘I don’t really think the men will suspect there is anyone here but you –they’re not likely suddenly to make a search in the middle of the night!’
　　There was plenty of room for them all on the enormous old bed. There was an eiderdownmattress, which the three children sank into. Philip was pleased. After the hardness of the suit ofarmour, it was pleasant to feel something so soft.
　　He sat up and told his story.
　　‘Well, you remember when you went up the steps by yourselves and left me there?’ he said. ‘Iwas awfully⁴ angry to think those men should talk to you like that, but I couldn’t do anything aboutit, of course. Anyway, I just stayed put for ages, and after some time all three men came down,shut up the entrance hole, and sat round the table.’
　　‘Could you understand their talk?’ asked Lucy-Ann.
　　‘No, more’s the pity, I couldn’t,’ said Philip. ‘They had maps out, and were tracing things onthem, but I couldn’t see what. I almost over-balanced myself, trying to see.’
　　‘Gracious! What a shock you’d have given those men if you had toppled over with a crash,’
　　said Dinah, with a laugh. ‘Good thing you didn’t though.’
　　‘Well, they sat about for a long time, talking and poring over their maps,’ said Philip, ‘and thenthey had a jolly good meal. They opened stacks of tins. It made my mouth water to see them.’
　　‘Poor Philip – have you had anything to eat?’ asked Lucy-Ann.
　　Philip nodded. ‘Don’t worry. The very next time the men disappeared up the stone steps andshut the hole, I clanked off my pedestal, and finished up most of what they had left. I had to hopethey wouldn’t notice it was gone. But I was so hungry and thirsty I didn’t care. It was funny to seeall the other suits of armour³ standing⁵ round, looking at me. I half expected them to walk up andjoin me in my meal!’

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