The Legend of the Phantom Highwayman by Tom McCaughren Read Free Book Online Page A

distant, Tapser and Cowlick dashed over to the fence. They helped each other up into the sycamore tree, made their way out along the lowest branch, then dropped down on the other side of the fence.
    Pausing only to cast an anxious glance in the direction of the barking, they sprinted towards the outbuildings.
    â€˜Now where do we go?’ panted Tapser when they had nipped into one of the buildings, which they found was an open-ended barn.
    Before Cowlick could answer, they heard the girls shouting, ‘Run for it! The Alsatians are coming! Run for it!’
    They turned to run but tripped over a bale of straw and fell headlong. Scrambling to their feet, they clawed their way up a large pile of bales and found the top just as the two Alsatians jumped up, snarling and snapping at their heels.
    â€˜What are we going to do?’ whispered Cowlick.
    â€˜Get down in between the bales,’ advised Tapser. ‘Hurry, somebody’s coming.’
    â€˜What is going on?’ asked a deep voice in a foreign accent.
    â€˜I think there must be an intruder in the barn,’ replied another. ‘Perhaps we should switch on the lights.’
    â€˜No, no. If someone has got in, we will find him.’
    Tapser and Cowlick squeezed themselves down in between the bales as far as they could. Their hearts were thumping after the narrow escape they had had with the Alsatians and with the fear that they were now going to be caught.
    â€˜I will hold the dogs,’ said the man with the deep voice. ‘See if you can find out what has made them so excited.’
    The other man began climbing up the bales, but as he neared the top Tapser and Cowlick heard something flutter above their heads. Almost immediately the man fell back, screaming with fright, and the dogs began barking again.
    Cautiously they peeped over the bales to see what was going on. They could just make out Whaler, who was holding the Alsatians, ducking his head. Then they heard him laugh and say to the other man, ‘Get up you fool, it is only bats. Come, we had better put the dogs in. The lorry will be here soon.’
    The other man picked himself up. They could see it was Scamp.
    As Whaler led the two dogs away, he was still laughing, and saying, ‘Bats! What did you think it was? A monster?’
    Scamp, however, wasn’t amused.
    In their hiding place between the bales, Tapser and Cowlick heaved a huge sigh of relief. Across the yard they saw a door open and a shaft of light shine out until it was closed again.
    â€˜Whew, that was a close shave,’ gasped Cowlick.
    â€˜You can say that again,’ said Tapser. ‘Lucky for us we disturbed the bats.’
    â€˜Did you hear your man screaming?’ said Cowlick. ‘He must have got a right fright.’
    Tapser smiled to himself, and added, ‘I wonder why they didn’t want to put on the lights?’
    â€˜Listen,’ said Cowlick, ‘there’s a car coming.’
    Easing themselves back down behind the bales, they watched as a vehicle drove into the yard.
    â€˜It must be the lorry they were talking about,’ whispered Tapser.
    â€˜And it hasn’t any lights on either,’ Cowlick observed.
    Another shaft of light cut across the yard lighting up the lorry for a moment, and they could see it was loaded with crates of bottles. Shadowy figures gathered around the lorry. Somebody propped open a shed door, and men hurried in with the crates. In a short time the lorry was unloaded and the door closed again, leaving the yard in darkness. The lorry started up and drove away, and suddenly the yard was deserted.
    â€˜Come on,’ said Tapser, ‘there’s something funny going on here. Let’s see what we can find out before they let the dogs out again.’
    Quietly they climbed down and ran across the yard to the door. They listened for a moment. There wasn’t a sound. They opened the door and stepped inside. There was no one about, and