Five Run Away Together by Enid Blyton Read Free Book Online

squawking. And what fine tomatoes! Best to be got from the village, I've no doubt. And oh, Mrs. Stick—
    what a perfectly marvellous treacle tart! I must say you're a good cook, I really must."
    Julian picked up the chicken, the dish of tomatoes, and then balanced the plate with the treacle tart on the top.
    Mrs. Stick yelled at him. "
    "You leave them things alone! That's our supper! You leave them there."
    "You've made a little mistake," said Julian, politely. It's our supper! We've had very little to eat today, and we could do with a good supper. Thanks awfully!"
    "Now look "ere!" began Mr. Stick, angrily, furious at seeing his lovely supper walking away.
    "You surely don't want me to look at you again," said Julian, in a tone of amazement.
    "What for? Have you shaved yet—or washed? I'm afraid not. So, if you don't mind I think I'd rather not look at you."
    Mr. Stick was speechless. He was not ready with his tongue at any time, and a boy like Julian took his breath away, and left him with nothing to say except his favourite
    "Now, look 'ere!"
    "Put them things down," said Mrs. Stick sharply. "What do you think we're going to have for our supper if you walk off with them; you tell me that!"
    "Easy!" said Julian. "Let me offer you our supper—bread and cheese, Mrs. Stick, bread and cheese!"
    Mrs. Stick made an angry noise, and started to go after Julian with her hand raised.
    But Timothy immediately leapt at her, and his teeth snapped together with a loud click.
    "Oh!" howled Mrs. Stick. "That dog of yours nearly took my hand off! The brute! I'll do for him one day, you see if I don't."
    "You had a good try today, didn't you?" said Julian, in a quiet voice, fixing his eyes straight on the woman's face. "That's a matter for the police, isn't it? Be careful, Mrs. Stick. I've a good mind to go to the police tomorrow."
    Just as before, the mention of the police seemed to frighten Mrs. Stick. She cast a look at her husband and took a step backward. Julian wondered if the man had done something wrong and was hiding from the police. He never seemed to put a foot out of doors.
    The boy went up the passage triumphantly. Timmy followed at his heels, disappointed that he hadn't been able to get a nibble at Stinker. Julian marched into the sitting-room, and set the dishes carefully down on the table.
    "What ho!" he said. "Look what I've got—the Sticks"
    own supper!" Then he told the others all that had happened, and they laughed loudly.
    "How do you think of all those things to say?" said Anne, admiringly. "I don't wonder you make them feel wild, Ju. It's a good thing we've got Timmy to back us up."
    "Yes, I shouldn't feel nearly so bold without Timmy," said Julian.
    It was a very good supper. There were knives and forks in the sideboard, and the children made do with fruit plates from the sideboard too, rather than go and get plates from the kitchen. There was bread over from their tea, so they were able to make a very good meal. They enjoyed it thoroughly.
    "Sorry we can't give you the chicken bones, Tim," said George, "but they might split inside you and injure you. You can have all the scraps. See you don't leave any for Stinker!"
    Timmy didn't. With two or three great gulps he cleared his plate, and then sat waiting for any scraps of treacle tart that might descend his way.
    The children felt cheerful after such a good meal. They had completely eaten the chicken. Nothing was left except a pile of bones. They had eaten all the tomatoes too, finished the bread, and enjoyed every scrap of the treacle tart.
    It was late, Anne yawned, and then George yawned too. "Let's go to bed," she said. "I don't feel like having a game of cards or anything."
    So they went to bed, and as usual Timothy lay heavily on George's feet. He lay there awake for some time, his
    ears cocked to hear noises from below. He heard the Sticks go up to bed. He heard doors closing. He heard a whine from Stinker. Then all was silence. Timmy dropped his head on to