Five Go Off to Camp by Enid Blyton Read Free Book Online

him work right away from them. Stil , I must say he's about right -
    most of the fel ows here don't know the first thing about work on a farm. I wish my stepfather would let us have a few proper workers instead of these fellows.'
    'Where's your stepfather?' said Julian, thinking he must be rather peculiar to pour money into a little moorland farm like this, and yet choose the wrong kind of workers.
    'He's away for the day,' said Jock. 'Thank goodness!' he added, with a sideways look at the others.
    'Why? Don't you like him?' asked Dick.
    'He's all right,' said Jock. 'But he's not a farmer, though he makes out he's always wanted to be - and what's more he doesn't like me one bit. I try to like him for Mum's sake.
    But I'm always glad when he's out of the way.'
    'Your mother's nice,' said George.
    'Oh, yes - Mum's grand,' said Jock. 'You don't know what it means to her to have a little farm of her ; own again, and to be able to run it with the proper machinery and al .'
    They came to a large barn. The door was locked. 'I told you what was in here before,'
    said Jock. 'Lorries! You can peek through that hole here at them. Don't know why my stepfather wanted to buy up so many, but I suppose he got them cheap - he loves to get things cheap and sel them dear! He did say they'd be useful on the farm, to take goods to the market.' i

    'Yes - you told us that when we were here yesterday, ' said Dick. 'But you've got heaps of wagons for that!'
    'Yes. I reckon they weren't bought for the farm at all, but for holding here til prices went high and he I could make a lot of money,' said Jock, lowering his voice. 'I don't tel Mum that. So long as she gets what she wants for the farm, I'm going to hold my tongue.' i The children were very interested in al this. They wished they could see Mr Andrews. He must be a peculiar sort of fel ow, they thought. Anne tried to | imagine what he was like.
    'Big and tal and dark and frowny,' she thought. 'Rather frightening and impatient, and he certainly won't like children. People like that never do.' > They spent a very pleasant morning poking about \ the little farm. They went back to see Biddy the collie [
    and her pups. Timmy stood patiently outside the shed, with his tail down. He didn't like George to take so much interest in other dogs.
    A bel rang loudly. 'Good! Dinner!' said Jock. 'We'd better wash. We're all filthy. Hope you feel hungry, because I guess Mum's got a super dinner for us.'
    'I feel terribly hungry,' said Anne. 'It seems ages since we had breakfast. I've almost forgotten it!'
    They all felt the same. They went into the farmhouse and were surprised to find a very nice little bathroom to wash in. Mrs Andrews was there, putting out a clean rol er towel.
    'Fine little bathroom, isn't it?' she said. 'My husband had it put in for me. First proper bathroom I've ever had!'
    A glorious smel rose up from the kitchen downstairs. 'Come on!' said Jock, seizing the soap. 'Let's hurry. We'll be down in a minute, Mum!'
    And they were. Nobody was going to dawdle over washing when a grand meal lay waiting for them downstairs!

7 Mr Andrews comes home
    They all sat down to dinner. There was a big meat-pie, a cold ham, salad, potatoes in their jackets, and homemade pickles. It really was difficult to know what to choose.
    'Have some of both,' said Mrs Andrews, cutting the meat-pie. 'Begin with the pie and go on with the ham. That's the best of living on a farm, you know - you do get plenty to eat.'
    After the first course there were plums and thick cream, or jam tarts and the same cream. Everyone tucked in hungrily.
    'I've never had such a lovely dinner in my life,' said Anne, at last. 'I wish I could eat some more but I can't. It was super, Mrs Andrews.'
    'Smashing,' said Dick. That was his favourite word these holidays. 'Absolutely smashing.'
    'Woof,' said Timmy, agreeing. He had had a fine plateful of meaty bones, biscuits and gravy, and he had licked up every crumb and every drop. Now he felt he