The Secret Seven by Enid Blyton Read Free Book Online Page A

heard a queer thudding, thundering noise from somewhere in the house. They clutched at one another. What was going on in this old empty house?
    «I say – that old man has left this window a bit open – the one he spoke to us out of this morning», whispered Jack, suddenly.
    «Goodness – has he, really? Then what about getting in and seeing if we can find the prisoner?» whispered Peter, in excitement.
    It only took a minute or two to climb up and get inside. They stood in the dark kitchen, listening. There was no noise to be heard at all. Where could the prisoner be?
    «Dare we search the whole house from top to bottom?» said Peter. «I've got my torch.»
    «Yes, we dare, because we jolly well ought to», answered Jack. So, as quietly as they could they tip-toed into first the scullery and then an outhouse. Nobody there at all.
    «Now into the hall and we'll peep into the rooms there», said Peter.
    The front rooms were bright with moonlight but the back rooms were dark. The boys pushed open each door and flashed the torch round the room beyond. Each one was silent and empty.
    They came to a shut door. Sounds came from behind it. Peter clutched Jack. «Somebody's in here. I expect the door's locked, but I'll try it. Stand ready to run if we're chased!»

10 – In the Old Empty House
     
    The door wasn't locked. It opened quietly. The sounds became loud at once. Somebody was in there, snoring! The same thought came to both boys at once. It must be the caretaker! Quietly Peter looked in.
    Moonlight filled the room. On a low, untidy bed lay the old caretaker, not even undressed! He looked dirty and shabby, and he was snoring as he slept. Peter turned to go – and his torch suddenly knocked against the door and fell with a crash to the floor.
    He stood petrified, but the old man didn't stir. Then Peter remembered how deaf he was! Thank goodness – he hadn't even heard the noise! He shut the door quietly and the two boys stood out in the hall. Peter tried his torch to see if he had broken it. No, it was all right. Good.
    «Now we'll go upstairs», he whispered. «You're not afraid, are you, Jack?»
    «Not very», said Jack. «Just a bit. Come on.»
    They went up the stairs that creaked and cracked in a very tiresome manner. Up to the first floor with five or six rooms to peep into – all as empty as one another. Then up to the top floor.
    «We'll have to be careful now», said Jack. He spoke in such a whisper that Peter could hardly hear him. «These are the only rooms we haven't been into. The prisoner must be here somewhere.»
    All the doors were ajar! Well, then, how could there be a prisoner – unless he was tied up? The two boys looked into each room, half-scared in case they saw something horrid. But there was absolutely nothing there at all. The rooms were either dark and empty, or full of moonlight and nothing else.
    «It's queer, isn't it?» whispered Jack. «Honestly I don't understand it. Surely those noises did come from the house somewhere? Yet there's nothing and no one here except the old caretaker!»
    They stood there, wondered what to do next – and once more that far-away, muffled squealing came on the night air, a kind of whinnying noise, followed by a series of curious thuds and crashes.
    «There is a prisoner here somewhere – and he's knocking for help – and squealing too», said Peter, forgetting to whisper. «Someone downstairs. But we've looked everywhere.»
    Jack was making for the stairs. «Come on – we must have missed a cupboard or something!» he called.
    Down they went, not caring now about the noise they made. They came to the kitchen. The noises had stopped again. Then the thudding began once more. Jack clutched Peter.
    «I know where it's coming from – under our feet! There's a cellar there. That's where the prisoner is!»
    «Look for the cellar door then», said Peter. They found it at last, in a dark corner of the passage between kitchen and scullery. They turned the handle –