Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton Read Free Book Online

smelt it. Moon-Face suddenly got tremendously excited. "I say-"
he began. "I say -oh, I say!"
"Well, say then!" said Jo. "What's the matter?'
"Oh, I SAY!" said Moon-Face, stammering all the more. "Listen!
If only we could get a broomstick-we could rub this pink ointment on it-and fly
away on it!"
"Moon-Face, that's a very good idea-if only we had a broomstick-but we haven't!"
said Jo. "Look at this room-a table and a bench-no sign of a broomstick at
all!"
"Well, I'll run down the stairs and see if I can possibly get a broomstick,"
said Moon-Face, getting all excited. "I saw some standing in a corner of
that room we were in. I'll do my best, anyway!"
"Good old Moon-Face!" said everyone, as they watched the round-faced
little fellow scurry down the hundreds of steps. "If only he gets a broomstick!"
Moon-Face hurried down and down. It did seem such a very long way. At last he
came to the bottom of the stairs. An enormous wooden door was at the bottom, fast
shut. Moon-Face tried to open it, but he couldn't. So he banged on the door loudly.
     
   
A surprised voice called out: "Hie, there! What are you banging on the door
for? What do you want?"
"A broomstick!" said Moon-Face loudly.
     
   
"A broomstick!" said the voice, more astonished than ever. "Whatever
for?"
"To sweep up some crumbs!" said Moon-Face, quite untruthfully.
     
   
"A dust-pan and brush will do for that!" cried the voice, and the door
opened a crack. A dust-pan and brush shot in with a clatter and came to rest by
Moon-Face's feet. Then the door shut with a bang and was bolted at the other side.
     
   
"A dust-pan and brush!" said Moon-Face in disgust. "Now, who can
ride away on those?" He banged on the door again.
     
   
"Now what's the matter?" yelled the voice angrily.
     
   
"These won't do," said Moon-Face. "I want a BROOMSTICK!"
"Well, go on wanting," said the voice. "You won't get one. I suppose
you think you'll fly away on one if I give it to you. I'm not quite so silly as
that. What do you suppose my master would say to me when he came back if I'd given
you one of his broomsticks to escape on?"
Moon-Face groaned. He knew it was no good asking again. He picked up the dust-pan
and brush and climbed the stairs slowly, suddenly feeling very tired.
     
   
Everyone was waiting for him. "Did you get it, Moon-Face?" they cried.
But when they saw Moon-Face's gloomy face and the dust-pan and brush in his hand,
they were very sad.
     
   
They all sat down to think. Jo" looked up. "I suppose it wouldn't be
any good rubbing the whizz-away ointment on to anything else?" he asked.
"Would it make anything but broomsticks fly away?"
"I shouldn't think so," said Moon-Face. "But we could try. What
is there to try on, though? We haven't a stick of any sort."
"No -but there's a table over there, and this bench," said Jo, getting
excited. "Couldn't we try on those? We could easily sit on them and fly off,
if only the magic would work."
"But it won't," said Silky. "I'm sure of that. It's only for broomsticks.
But try it, Jo."
Jo took off the lid of the jar again. He dabbed a finger into the pink ointment
and rubbed some all over the top of the wooden bench, which was very, like a form
at school. "Now for the table," said Jo. He turned it upside down, thinking
that it would be more comfortable to sit on that way. They could hold the legs
as they went!
He rubbed the ointment all over the underside of the table. As he was doing this
everyone heard the sound of horses' hoofs clip-clopping outside. Silky ran to
the window.
     
   
"It's the enchanter come back again -and he's got the Wizard Wily with him!"
she cried. "Oh, do be quick, Jo! They will be up here in a minute."
"Moon-Face, Silky and Saucepan, you sit on the bench," said Jo. "You
girls and Dick and I will sit on the table. Hurry now!"
Everyone scrambled to take their seats. Silky was trembling with excitement. She
could hear the footsteps of the