Five Go Off to Camp (17 page)

They didn't go quietly. For one thing Mr Andrews lost his nerve and howled dismal y.

Jock felt very ashamed of him.

'Shut up,' said a burly policeman. 'We know you're only the miserable little cat's-paw -

taking money from the big men to hold your tongue and obey orders.'

Timmy barked as if to say, 'Yes, don't you dare cal him a dog's paw! That would be too good a name for him!'

'Well, I don't think I ever in my life saw dirtier children,' said Mr Luffy. 'I vote we all go back to my car and I drive the lot of you over to Olly's Farm for a meal and a bath!'

So back they all went, tired, dirty, and also feeling very thril ed.

What a night! They told Anne all that had happened, and she told them her story, too.

She almost fel asleep in the car as she talked, she was so tired.

Mrs Andrews was sensible and kind, though upset to hear that her husband had been taken off by the police. She got hot water for baths, and laid a meal for the hungry children.

'I wouldn't worry overmuch, Mrs Andrews,' said kindly Mr Luffy. 'That husband of yours needs a lesson, you know. This wil probably keep him going straight in future. The farm is yours, and you can now hire proper farm-workers who wil do what you want them to do.

And I think Jock wil be happier without a stepfather for the present.'

'You're right, Mr Luffy,' said Mrs Andrews, wiping her eyes quickly. 'Quite right. I'll let Jock help me with the farm, and get it going beautiful y. To think that Mr Andrews was in with al those black marketeers! It's that friend of his, you know, who makes him do all this. He's so weak. He knew Jock was snooping about in that tunnel, and that's why he wanted him to go away - and kept making him have a boy here or go out with him. I knew there was something funny going on.'

'No wonder he was worried when Jock took it into his head to go and camp with our little lot,' said Mr Luffy.

'To think of that old yard and tunnel being used again!' said Mrs Andrews. 'And all those tales about spook-trains - and tha way they hid that train, and hid all the stuff, too. Why, it's like a fairy tale isn't it!'

She ran to see if the water was hot for the baths. It was, and she went to call the children, who were in the big bedroom next door. She opened it and looked in. Then she cal ed Mr Luffy upstairs.

He looked in at the door, too. The five, and Timmy, were lying on the floor in a heap, waiting for the bathwater. They hadn't liked to sit on chairs or beds, they were so dirty.

And they had fallen asleep where they sat, their faces as black as a sweep's.

'Talk about black marketeers!' whispered Mrs Andrews. 'Anyone would think we'd got the whole lot of them here in the bedroom!'

They all woke up and went to have a bath one by one, and a good meal after that.

Then back to camp with Mr Luffy, Jock with them, too.

It was glorious to snuggle down into the sleeping-bags. George called out to the three boys.

'Now don't you dare to go off without me tonight, see?'

'The adventure is over,' cal ed back Dick. 'How did you like it, Jock?'

'Like it?' said Jock, with a happy sigh. 'It was simply - smashing!'

A complete list of the FAMOUS FIVE ADVENTURES by Enid Blyton 01 FIVE ON A TREASURE ISLAND

02 FIVE GO ON ADVENTURING AGAIN

03 FIVE RUN AWAY TOGETHER

04 FIVE GO TO SMUGGLER'S TOP

05 FIVE GO OFF IN A CARAVAN

06 FIVE ON KIRRIN ISLAND AGAIN

07 FIVE GO OFF TO CAMP

08 FIVE GET INTO TROUBLE

09 FIVE FALL INTO ADVENTURE

10 FIVE ON A HIKE TOGETHER

11 FIVE HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME

12 FIVE GO DOWN TO THE SEA

13 FIVE GO TO MYSTERY MOOR

14 FIVE HAVE PLENTY OF FUN

15 FIVE ON A SECRET TRAIL

16 FIVE GO TO BILLYCOCK HILL

17 FIVE GET INTO A FIX

18 FIVE ON FINNISTON FARM

19 FIVE GO TO DEMON'S ROCKS

20 FIVE HAVE A MYSTERY TO SOLVE

21 FIVE ARE TOGETHER AGAIN