Five Go to Billycock Hill by Enid Blyton Read Free Book Online Page A

understand the first thing about aeroplanes or motor-cars or ships - or spiders either, come to that! I really don"t think you"d be interested, Georgina dear,"
    „My name is not Georgina," said George furiously. „And don"t call me “dear”."
    „Shut up, you two!" said Julian. „It"s too nice an afternoon to begin an argument. Look -
    isn"t that your farm, Toby? We"ve got here jol y quickly - but it"s all downhil , of course."
    „Yes," said Toby. „Come on, Binky - race you home and back. Shan"t be long, Julian! Keep straight ahead, and walk towards that big pine-tree you can see in the distance. I"l be with you by the time you"re there."
    He raced off at top speed, while the others went on slowly towards the pine-tree in the distance. It would be heavenly to bathe in a cold pool!
    Toby was certainly a fast runner! Just before they reached the pine-tree he came up behind them, his swimsuit over his shoulder, so out of breath that he could hardly speak!
    „It"s over there," he panted. 'Look - the pool!"

    And sure enough, there was the pool - deep blue, cool and as smooth as glass. Trees surrounded it on one side, and heather grew right down to the edge.
    The five children went towards it gladly - but suddenly they came to a big notice, nailed to a tree:

    KEEP OUT
    DANGER
    CROWN PROPERTY

    „I say - what does that mean?" said Dick in dismay. „We can"t bathe after al !"
    „Oh, take no notice of that," said Toby. 'It doesn"t mean a thing!"
    But it did as they were very soon to find out!

Chapter Eight
A SPOT OF TROUBLE

    „What do you mean by saying that the notice doesn"t mean a thing?" said Julian.“Why put it up, then?"
    „Oh, there are notices like that al round the airfield," said Toby airily. „Telling you to KEEP
    OUT, there"s DANGER. But there isn"t. Only aeroplanes are here, no guns, no bombs, nothing. It"s a jolly lonely place, too, tucked away at the foot of this hil ."
    „Why don"t you ask your cousin why they put up the notices?" asekd Dick. „There must be some reason!"
    „I tel you those notices have been up for ages," said Toby, sounding cross. „Ages! They might have been some use at some time or other, but not now. We can bathe here and do what we like."
    „Al right - but I hope you know what you"re talking about," said Julian. „I must say I can"t see any sense myself in putting notices here - there"s no wire or fencing to keep anyone out."
    „Let"s get into our bathing things, then," said Dick.
    „You girls can have that bush over there and we"ll have this one. Buck up!"
    They were soon changed into their swim-suits, and dived into the pool, which was surprisingly deep. It was also deliciously cool, and silky to the touch, just as the spring water had been. The two dogs leapt in gladly and swam vigorously round and round. The children splashed them, and Timmy began to bark excitedly.
    „Shut up, Timmy!" said Toby at once.
    „Why should he?" demanded George, swimming up.
    „Well - someone at the airfield might hear him," said Toby.
    „You said it didn"t matter us being here!" said George. „Look out for yourself!" She dived underwater and got hold of Toby"s legs, pul ing him down. He yelled and kicked and spluttered, but George was strong and she gave him a very, very good ducking! He came up purple in the face.
    „I said I"d pay you out for the spider!" yelled George, and swam strongly away. Toby swam after her, and she led him a fine dance round the pool, for she was a splendid swimmer.
    The others laughed at the contest.
    „I back old George," said Dick. „She"d out-swim most boys. Well, she"s put Toby in his place all right. He won"t be so free with spiders and sil y jokes for a while!"
    Timmy began to bark again when he saw Toby chasing George, and Binky joined in.
    „Shut up, Binky!" shouted Toby. „I tel you STOP BARKING!"
    Before Toby had obeyed, something happened. A stentorian voice came across the pool.
    „What"s all this! You"re trespassing on Crown property.