25
　　A thrilling night
　　Only Lucy-Ann, Jack¹ and Dinah knew what the last shout meant. Meier and the others had no ideaat all. They hardly heard what was shouted.
　　But the children had heard all right! They gasped². Jack’s hand found Lucy-Ann’s and Dinahsqueezed Jack’s arm. They didn’t say a single word until Meier, Erlick, the king and the servantshad all disappeared once more. Then they made their way to their awnings³, linking hands to keeptogether.
　　‘Jack! That was Bill! Bill himself!’ said Lucy-Ann, her voice going all funny as she spoke⁴.
　　‘Yes. And he knew if he yelled out, “Don’t forget Bill Smugs,” that we’d know it was him,’
　　said Dinah. ‘He called himself Bill Smugs the very first adventure we had – do you remember?
　　Gosh – I never had such a surprise in my life!’
　　‘And Philip’s safe,’ said Jack, in intense satisfaction. ‘That’s one good thing. The other fellowwith Bill must be one of his friends. Philip will just chuck those wings overboard and that’ll bethat.’
　　‘I feel as if I simply must sit down at once,’ said Lucy-Ann. ‘My legs will hardly carry me. Ifeel so joyful⁵!’
　　She sat down and the others followed suit. They all let out a terrific sigh of relief. A heavy loadrolled away from them. Philip was safe! He didn’t have to jump out of the helicopter to try out anexperiment for a mad old scientist, or for Meier and Erlick. He was with Bill.
　　‘What made Bill think of getting a helicopter?’ wondered Jack. ‘Landing on the mountain-topwith it too – under the noses of Meier and Erlick.’
　　‘Well, don’t you remember, you put in your note something about the helicopter we thoughtwas landing up here?’ said Dinah. ‘The note we left with Dapple.’
　　‘Yes, so I did,’ said Jack. ‘Well, that looks rather as if old Bill did come along here then – andfound Dapple. Good for him! Trust Bill to get going somehow!’
　　‘What’s he going to do next?’ said Dinah. ‘Do you think he’ll come back for us?’

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