Enid Blyton: The Mystery of Banshee Towers (Mystery #15)

1 - OFF TO MEET OLD FATT !" do wish old Fatty wo#ld $#%& #' and %o(e $a%& fro( where)er he*s stayin+,! said Bets- !.e*)e had al(ost a wee& of the holidays witho#t hi( already - s#%h a waste/! !0e*s %o(in+ $a%& today,! said 1i', 'assin+ a 'ost%ard a%ross the $rea&fast-ta$le to his yo#n+ sister- !0ere*s a %ard fro( hi(- Three %heers/! Bets read the %ard o#t lo#d- !Ba%& to(orrow $y $#s fro( .arlin+- Meet (e at $#s sto' if yo# %an.hat a$o#t a ni%e 2#i%y (ystery3 " feel 2#st a$o#t ready for one- Fatty-! !A ni%e 2#i%y 4what43! said her (other, '#55led!4Mystery4,! said Bets, her eyes shinin+- ! o# &now how so(ethin+ always see(s to ha''en when Fatty*s a$o#t, Mother - there was the (ystery of the 1anto(i(e 6at - and the (ystery of the 7anished 1rin%e - and---! 0er father +roaned- !Loo&, Bets - "*( tired of all these ad)ent#res and stran+e ha''enin+s that see( to 'o' #' whene)er yo#r friend Frederi%& is a$o#t- 8#st try and steer %lear of any tro#$le these holidays- " was ho'in+ that Frederi%& was stayin+ away for a ni%e lon+ ti(e-! !" wish yo# wo#ldn*t %all hi( Frederi%&, Daddy,! said Bets- !"t does so#nd so silly-! !" sho#ld ha)e tho#+ht that Frederi%& was a (#%h $etter na(e for a $oy in his teens, than the a$s#rd na(e of Fatty,! said her father- !" wonder Frederi%& allows 'eo'le to %all hi( $y that old ni%&na(e now-! !B#t Fatty 4is4 fat, and the na(e s#its hi(,! said 1i'- !Anyway " don*t thin& 4(y4 ni%&na(e is )ery s#ita$le for (e now that "*( a $it older- .hy %an*t " $e %alled $y (y 'ro'er na(e of 1hili', instead of 1i'3! !9i('ly $e%a#se yo#*re a $it of 'i'-s:#ea& still and 'ro$a$ly always will $e,! said his father, disa''earin+ $ehind his news'a'er- Bets +a)e a s#dden la#+h, and then a +roan as 1i' &i%&ed her #nder the ta$le!1i'/! said his (other warnin+ly- Bets %han+ed the s#$2e%t h#rriedly- 9he didn*t want 1i' to +et into any tro#$le the )ery day that Fatty %a(e ho(e!Mother, where*s the $#s ti(e-ta$le3! she said- !"*d li&e to find o#t what ti(e old Fatty*s $#s arri)es-! !.ell, seein+ that there are only two in the (ornin+, and the $#s fro( .arlin+ ta&es two ho#rs to +et here, " sho#ld thin& he*ll $e on the 4first4 $#s,! said 1i', !otherwise he*d $e 2olly late/! !"t sho#ld $e a$o#t a :#arter to ten,! said his (other- !That (eans yo#*ll ha)e 'lenty of ti(e to %lear #' the fearf#l (ess in yo#r 'layroo( first- " %o#ld hardly +et into it yesterday-! 1i' +roaned- !.0 do we always ha)e to tidy the 'layroo( when we 'lan to +o o#t3! he de(anded- !" really do thin& it*s---!

!Eno#+h said,! said his father, fro( $ehind his news'a'er, and 1i' $e%a(e silent at on%e- 0e loo&ed a%ross at Bets, and she +rinned at hi( ha''ily- Fatty was %o(in+ $a%&/ Fatty with his wide +rin, his twin&lin+ eyes, his (ad 2o&es - and his e;traordinary ha$it of s#ddenly findin+ hi(self in the (iddle of 'e%#liar (ysteries/ Oh the ti(e they had had with Fatty - the e;%ite(ent - the ad)ent#res/ .hy was it that so(e 'eo'le 4always4 fo#nd the(sel)es in the (iddle of so(ethin+ thrillin+3 !"f Fatty was %ast away on a lonely desert island so(ethin+ e;traordinary wo#ld i((ediately ha''en,! tho#+ht Bets- !A (er(aid wo#ld 'o' #' and let hi( swi( away on her $a%&- Or a s#$(arine (i+ht arri)e and---! !Bets, what are yo# drea(in+ a$o#t3! said her (other- ! o#*)e %aref#lly $#ttered yo#r $read on 4$oth4 sides/! 1i' and Bets tore #'stairs as soon as $rea&fast was finished, only one tho#+ht in their (inds Fatty was %o(in+ $a%&/ !Let*s $#%& #' and tidy the 'layroo(,! said 1i'- !" want to +o ro#nd to Larry*s and see if he and Daisy &now that Fatty*s %o(in+ $a%& today-! 0e $e+an to throw e)erythin+ into the $i+ toy %#'$oard, hi++ledy, 'i++ledy, $an+, %rash, wallo'/ !Mother won*t li&e that,! $e+an Bets, $#t 1i' only la#+hed at her- !All ri+ht - 4yo#4 do it 'ro'erly, old slow%oa%h- <ood$ye - "*( off to Larry*s- 9ee yo# later/! B#t Bets %o#ldn*t $ear to $e left $ehind, so she sho)ed in the last few thin+s, flew to +et her hat and ra%ed down the stairs after 1i', fallin+ o)er the %at sittin+ on the $otto( stair!9orry, 1#ss/! she 'anted, and ra%ed down to the front +ate- !1i'/ .A"T for (e/! 9oon they were at Larry*s ho#se- The front door was o'en, and they %o#ld hear Daisy %allin+ to her $rother- !Aren*t yo# ready to (eet Fatty3 o#*ll $e late/! "n a few (o(ents all fo#r %hildren were on their way to the $#s-sto'- !.hat do yo# $et that old Fatty will 'lay one of his tri%&s on #s, and %o(e in so(e &ind of dis+#ise3! said 1i'!.ell, " ho'e he does,! said Larry- !.e*d soon see thro#+h it- Fatty %an*t dis+#ise his 'l#('ness/! !Loo&, we*re 42#st4 in ti(e,! said Bets- !0ere %o(es the $#s- Let*s r#n/! The $#s, a do#$le-de%&er, %a(e to a sto', and the fo#r %hildren ran to the e;it at the $a%&1eo'le were %rowdin+ off, and the %ond#%tor was sho#tin+ lo#dly, !0#rry off, 'lease, and (ind the ste'/! Larry s#ddenly n#d+ed 1i'- !Loo&, that*s Fatty - he*s dis+#ised hi(self, 2#st as we +#essed he wo#ld- 0e*s %arryin+ a do+-$as&et too, and " $et old do+ B#ster is in there- 9tand $a%& - don*t let hi( see #s/! The fellow who was %arryin+ the do+-$as&et was sto#t, and wore a $#l&y o)er%oat, a yellow s%arf ro#nd his ne%& and %hin, and a %a' with a lar+e 'ea& '#lled down o)er his nose- 0e %o#+hed hollowly as he ste''ed down fro( the $#s, and held a lar+e +reen %otton hand&er%hief to his (o#thBets +i++led- !That*s Fatty all ri+ht/! she said in a low )oi%e to 1i'- !Let*s not say a word, $#t 2#st follow hi( sole(nly ho(e/! They set off, &ee'in+ 2#st $ehind hi(- The fat fellow went off at :#ite a 'a%e, li('in+ sli+htly with

his left foot! es, that*s Fatty/! said Larry- !9ort of thin+ he 4wo#ld4 do, in dis+#ise - '#t on a li(' or so(ethin+/ 0e %an*t fool 4#s4, tho#+h/! They followed the li('in+ yo#th down the street, ro#nd a %orner and #' the hill- Then Larry sho#ted to hi(!0ey, Fatty/ 9to'/ .e &now it*s yo#/! The yo#th sw#n+ ro#nd and +lared at the(- !Don*t yo# dare to %all after 4(e4/! he sho#ted!6hee&y yo#n+ $rats/! !<o on, Fatty - we %an*t 4hel'4 &nowin+ it*s yo#/! said 1i'- !And we &now yo#*)e +ot old B#sterdo+ in that $as&et, too- Let hi( o#t/! !B#ster3 .ho*s B#ster3! said the fellow- !Are yo# (ad3 There*s a 4%at4 in here, not a do+/ 0a)e a loo&/! 0e sli''ed the %at%h of the $as&et, and o'ened the lid- O#t s'ran+ a (ost enor(o#s +in+er %at, s'ittin+ and hissin+/ The fo#r %hildren stared in the +reatest astonish(ent- A 6AT - not B#ster/ 9o this fellow 4wasn*t4 Fatty after all- <osh - what an awf#l (ista&e/ !Er - we*re )ery sorry- "t*s all a (ista&e,! st#ttered 'oor Larry, his fa%e s%arlet- !.e do $e+ yo#r 'ardon-! !=ow yo# 2#st listen to (e,! said the fat fellow, an+rily- !9ee that $o$$y o)er there3 .ell, "*( +oin+ to %o('lain of yo#, see3 Followin+ (e a$o#t/ .his'erin+ $ehind (y $a%&- 6allin+ (e na(es/ " %an*t hel' $ein+ fat, %an "3 6o(e here, 1#ssy&ins - that*s ri+ht, yo# hiss at these little )ar(ints- 9%rat%h the( if yo# li&e/! To the %hildren*s horror, the fellow went a%ross the road to a %orner - and who sho#ld $e standin+ there $#t Mr <oon, the )illa+e 'oli%e(an- Mr <OO=/ 0e was no friend of theirs/ .hat in the world %o#ld they do3 !Better +et away :#i%&ly, $efore Mr <oon %o(es after #s/! said 1i'- !<osh - what a (ista&e we (ade/! 0e t#rned to r#n, and $#('ed hard into so(eone standin+ 2#st $ehind hi(, +rinnin+, a little 9%ottie do+ in his ar(s!FATT / "t*s yo#/ Fatty, we tho#+ht yo# were that fellow o)er there, with the do+-$as&et/! %ried 1i', o)er2oyed to see his friend +ain- !.e followed hi(, and now he*s +one to %o('lain a$o#t #s to <oon/! !And 4"4 followed 4yo#4/! said Fatty- !" was on the to' de%& of the $#s, and " saw yo#, tho#+h yo# didn*t see (e/ " %arried B#ster $e%a#se " was afraid he*d +o %areerin+ after yo#, and +i)e the +a(e away- <i)e yo#r friends a li%&, B#ster/! 0e held #' the little 9%ottie, and B#ster (ost e%stati%ally li%&ed all his fo#r friends, whinin+ in 2oyThen Fatty '#t hi( down on the 'a)e(ent, and alas, B#ster s#ddenly s'otted <oon the 'oli%e(an, who was starin+ an+rily at the %hildren fro( a%ross the roadB#ster +a)e a yel' of deli+ht and ra%ed a%ross the road at to' s'eed- Ah, here was his old

ene(y/ .hat a$o#t dan%in+ ro#nd his an&les and 'retendin+ to ni' hi(3 B#ster felt 2#st li&e a little e;er%ise after his lon+ ride on the $#s/ Mr <oon +lared at the e;%ited B#ster in dis+#st- !0a - yo# little 'est of a do+/ 9o yo#*re $a%& with yo#r (aster, are yo#3 <et away, now/ 6lear-orf/! !B#ster*s only tellin+ yo# how 'leased he is to see yo#,! said Fatty, as the $#rly 'oli%e(an tried to s&i' away fro( B#ster*s attentions- !My word, Mr <oon, yo# o#+ht to learn dan%in+/ o#*re really ni''y with yo#r feet - al(ost as ni''y as B#ster is with his teeth/ 0eel, B#ster/ The Dan%in+ Lesson is o)er/! <oon went '#r'le in the fa%e- That $oy/ That toad of a $oy/ .hat wonderf#l 'ea%e and :#iet there had $een in the )illa+e for at least a wee&, with That Boy away/ =ow he was $a%&, and so(ethin+ wo#ld t#rn #' to (a&e thin+s #n%o(forta$le, <oon was s#re- That fat $oy was always in the (iddle of 1e%#liar 0a''enin+s of so(e sort/ Fatty 2oined the others, who, feelin+ s#re that the fellow with the %at had %o('lained a$o#t the( to Mr <oon, were &ee'in+ well away fro( the an+ry 'oli%e(an!" (#st say that " thin& yo# were all a $it fatheaded - followin+ a %ha'-with-a-%at instead of a $oywith-a-do+/! said Fatty!All ri+ht - don*t r#$ it in,! said Larry- !"*ll stand #s all i%e-%rea(s to (a&e #' for o#r (ista&e-! !9orry - $#t " thin& " 4(#st4 +et ho(e first-! said Fatty- !Mother will $e loo&in+ o#t for (e- B#t let*s ha)e a Meetin+ this afternoon - A Meetin+ of the Fa(o#s Find-O#ters and Do+/ 6o(e to (y wor&roo( a$o#t half-'ast two- 6o(e on- B#ster old thin+/ To heel/ and DO re(e($er to $e 'olite and sha&e 'aws with (y father and (other as 9OO= as yo# see the(/! Larry and Daisy went off to+ether and so did 1i' and Bets- Bets* (other was a(#sed to see the little +irl*s ha''y fa%e- !" %an see that yo# (et Frederi%& all ri+ht/! she said!.e*re ha)in+ a Meetin+ at Fatty*s this afternoon,! said Bets, her fa%e +lowin+- !"t*s the first Meetin+ the Find-O#ters ha)e had for a+es/! !Find-O#ters3! said her (other- !Let (e see now, that*s---! !Oh, 4Mother4/ o# 4&now4 we*re the Fi)e Find-O#ters - and Do+/! said 1i'- !Don*t yo# re(e($er all the (ysteries we*)e sol)ed3 " daresay we*ll find o#t another and sol)e it 4these4 hols/! !4"f4 one t#rns #'/! said BetsDon*t worry, Bets- Thin+s always ha''en when Fatty is aro#nd- " don*t e;'e%t yo# will ha)e to wait 4)ery4 lon+ $efore a ni%e !2#i%y! (ystery loo(s #' for e)ery one of yo#/

> - DO.= "= FATT *9 .O?@?OOM Bets felt e;%ited when at last the ti(e %a(e to +o to the first Meetin+ of the holidays- 0er (other had not allowed her to ra%e off i((ediately after dinner, $#t had sent $oth her and 1i' #' to their 'layroo(!" don*t &now if yo# thin& that what yo# did this (ornin+ to tidy #' the roo( was anythin+ 4li&e4

eno#+h,! she said- !Throwin+ thin+s hi++ledy-'i++ledy into %orners and %#'$oards isn*t 4(y4 idea of %learin+ #'- 1lease do the 2o$ 'ro'erly $efore yo# +o/! !Oh 4$low4/! said 1i', e;as'erated- !=ow we shall $e late- 6o(e on- Bets, yo# do yo#r share-! "t was soon done, and they ra%ed off down the +arden 'ath, ha''y to $e on their way to Fatty*s ho#se- They 2oined #' with Larry and Daisy, and were soon in Fatty*s wor&roo( at the $otto( of his +arden, well away fro( e)eryone, and 4al(ost4 o#t of ran+e of any sho#t fro( the ho#se/ !<rown-#'s want an awf#l lot of thin+s done if yo#*re within sho#tin+ distan%e, yo# &now,! Fatty said- !B#t if they ha)e to +o and 4fet%h4 yo#, they*re s#re to de%ide it*s too (#%h $other - so they do the thin+s the(sel)es/! The shed was %ertainly well t#%&ed away, and )ery, )ery %o(forta$le- An oil-sto)e +a)e :#ite eno#+h war(th and on the floor was an old ti+er-s&in, %o('lete with its head- Bets had $een s%ared at first of its o'en (o#th, showin+ s#%h fier%e teeth, and of its +lassy eyes - $#t now she didn*t (ind it a $it, and often sat on the +reat head itself!This ti+er is +ettin+ a $it (oth-eaten,! she said- !.e o#+ht to 'owder hi( - that*s what Mother does to 4o#r4 f#r-r#+s- Oh, Fatty - yo#*)e still +ot the old %ro%odile s&in stret%hed on the wall too- " do thin& this is a (ost e;%itin+ shed- "t*s lo)ely to $e $a%& a+ain, after so lon+ at s%hool-! !=i%e to ha)e yo# here, little Bets,! said Fatty, in the !s'e%ial! )oi%e he so(eti(es &e't for the little +irl- !Be %aref#l the old ti+er doesn*t ni' yo#/! !.oof,! said B#ster at on%e, and showed his teeth!0e says 4he*d4 ni' the ti+er if he did a thin+ li&e that/! said Bets, and %#ddled B#ster ro#nd the ne%&!<ot anythin+ to eat, Fatty3! as&ed Larry- !" had :#ite a +ood dinner, $#t so(ehow " always feel h#n+ry when we (eet down here-! !There are so(e %ho%olate $is%#its in the %#'$oard,! said Fatty, who in)aria$ly see(ed to $e 'ro)ided with a )ast )ariety of +ood food, where)er he was- !By the way, 'lease loo& fir(ly the other way if B#ster tries to $e+ any food fro( yo#- 0e is on a diet - sli((in+, yo# &now- 0e o)erate hi(self while he was away- Too (any %ats a$o#t/! !B#t s#rely he hasn*t $e+#n to eat 4%ats4/! said Daisy, sho%&ed!=o, ass/ B#t with 'lenty of %at-dishes aro#nd always ready to $e li%&ed %lean, he did far too well,! said Fatty- !B#ster, stand #'- 9how yo#r t#$$y fi+#re - oh what a (iddle yo#*)e landed yo#rself with - dis+ra%ef#l/! B#ster %ertainly had a t#((y- 0is tail dro''ed when Fatty s%olded hi(, and he went sadly into a %orner and %#rled hi(self #', eyein+ the %ho%olate $is%#its sadly- Bets felt )ery sorry for hi(- !"*ll 2#st let hi( 4li%&4 (y %ho%olatey fin+ers, Fatty,! she said- !That*s all, " 'ro(ise- " 2#st %an*t $ear to see hi( loo&in+ so left-%#t- 0ere yo# are, B#ster - li%& (y fin+ers-! B#ster was 'leased- 0e li%&ed Bets* fin+ers and then sat down as %lose to her as he 'ossi$ly %o#ld- 0e lo)ed &ind-hearted little Bets- 9he '#t her ar( ro#nd hi( a+ain!Fatty - is this (eetin+ a$o#t anythin+ s'e%ial3! she said- !"*d $e 2#st as 'leased if there wasn*t any Mystery to sol)e at the (o(ent, " (ean - " do li&e (ysteries, $#t " do li&e a $it of 'ea%e, too-! !.ell, really, Bets - don*t yo# 4want4 to $elon+ to the Find-O#ters3! said Daisy, :#ite a(a5ed-

!.hat*s the +ood of $ein+ a Find-O#ter if yo# don*t want to find o#t anythin+3! ! es, " see all that,! said Bets- !B#t what " (ean is - do we 4ha)e4 to snoo' ro#nd and loo& for 'ro$le(s and (ysteries to sol)e - %an*t we 2#st not $other for on%e3! ! o# (ean - 2#st 'lay a$o#t and en2oy o#rsel)es3! said Daisy- !.ell - it does so#nd rather ni%e for a %han+e- o# &now, Fatty, sol)in+ (ysteries 4%an4 $e :#ite hard wor&-! !.ell, "*( rather in%lined to a+ree with yo#,! said Fatty, la5ily- ! o# &now- "*)e 2#st $een stayin+ with two %o#sins - $oth first-%lass foot$allers - first-%lass $o;ers - first-%lass %ross-%o#ntry r#nners - and first-%lass $ores, to tell yo# the tr#th/ My word, the e;%#ses " had to thin& of to +et o#t of &i%&in+ a foot$all fro( (ornin+ to ni+ht - r#nnin+ for (iles in shorts #'hill and down - and '#ttin+ on $o;in+-+lo)es and ha)in+ s'arrin+ $o#ts- Than& +oodness 4that4 didn*t last lon+ - :the s'arrin+- " (ean-! !.hy - were yo# &no%&ed o#t3! as&ed Larry!@no%&ed o#t/ Don*t $e fatheaded,! said Fatty- !The tirin+ 'art a$o#t the $o;in+ was that 4"4 &e't on doin+ the &no%&in+-o#t - " tell yo#, it +ot $orin+/! ! o#*re $oastin+, Fatty,! said Larry- !0a - yo#*ll ne)er +et rid of 4that4 ha$it/ That*s one thin+ yo# do $etter than any of #s - $oast/ o#*re s#'erlati)e at that/! !Don*t $e r#de, Larry/! said Daisy, sho%&ed- !.hy, Fatty (i+ht &no%& 4yo#4 o#t, if yo# tal& li&e that/! !=o, " shan*t-! said Fatty- !Larry*s :#ite ri+ht- " do $oast 2#st a $it- On the other hand, " do a%t#ally do what " $oast a$o#t- " really 4did4 &no%& o#t (y two %o#sins- "*ll show yo# the $low " #sed- o# swin+ o#t li&e this with yo#r left, and then - ooh, sorry- B#ster/ .hat on earth (ade yo# +et in the way3 Did " h#rt yo#3! !F#nny - yo# didn*t e)en &no%& 4hi(4 o#t,! said Larry irritatin+ly- Bets %#ddled 'oor B#ster, who had re%ei)ed a $low on his fat t#((y that had :#ite winded hi(- 0e stared at Fatty #nha''ily, really '#55led!Listen,! said 1i'- !Let*s +o e;'lorin+ a $it these hols- My father (ade a list of interestin+ s'ots we %o#ld +o to see- 0e said we sho#ldn*t 2#st (ess a$o#t doin+ nothin+, he said---! !0e 4said4 that - $#t what he really (eant was that he didn*t want yo# #nder his feet all the ti(e,! said Larry- !My father*s li&e that too - " (ean, he*s an a$sol#te s'ort, and "*( fri+htf#lly 'ro#d of hi( - and he is of (e - $#t " do noti%e that after a$o#t ten days of the hols he always +ets this idea of #s +oin+ off for the day - not 2#st one day, $#t e)ery day- And 4(ine4 (ade o#t a list too here it is- "*ll read it o#t-! 0e too& a neatly written list fro( the 'o%&et of his flannels and read fro( it- !Old .ater-6a)es at 6hiller$in+- M#se#( of A+e-Old Fossils at Ty$olds- =or(an Tower at ellow-Moss---! !<osh - those are down on 4(y4 list too/! said 1i', s%ra$$lin+ in his 'o%&et for it- ! es - all those are down - and two or three (ore- ?o(an ?e(ains at 8a%&lin+ M#se#(- 9ea-'i%t#res at Banshee Towers, at the to' of Banshee 0ill- Old M#si%al "nstr#(ents at---! !" don*t want to see 4any4 of the(/! said Bets, s#ddenly loo&in+ )ery woe$e+one- !" wo#ldn*t so (#%h (ind the sea-'i%t#res - " li&e sea-'i%t#res - $#t " 4don*t4 li&e those #+ly fossily thin+s, or those---! !All ri+ht, Bets - yo# shan*t s'end lo)ely s'rin+ days in M#se#(s or =or(an Towers or 6a)es,!

said Fatty '#ttin+ his ar( ro#nd her- !B#t we (i+ht +o and see Banshee Towers- o# &now why it*s %alled that, don*t yo#3! =o$ody &new- !.ell,! said Fatty, !a $anshee (eans *a wo(an of the fairies* - and it shrie&s and wails when any (isfort#ne or #nha''iness %o(es to the fa(ily in whose ho#se it li)es-! !0ow )ery #n'leasant,! said Daisy, at on%e- !"*( )ery +lad 4(y4 fa(ily doesn*t own a $anshee- " sho#ld $e s%ared stiff- Does Banshee Towers own a $anshee, then3! !" s#''ose it did on%e, when the fa(ily li)ed in it,! said Fatty- !B#t now that it*s a (#se#( - or a 'i%t#re-+allery or so(ethin+ - " e;'e%t the $anshee has retired/! !" don*t want to +o to see Banshee Towers if the $anshee still li)es there,! said Bets, de%idedly!9o yo#*ll ha)e to find o#t, Fatty-! !" honestly sho#ldn*t worry,! said Fatty- !"t wo#ld $e a 'ity to let an old-ti(e *wo(an of the fairies* fri+hten yo# fro( seein+ wonderf#l sea-'i%t#res- And " $elie)e they really 4are4 wonderf#l/! !.ell, we*ll (a&e a few e;'editions to show o#r 'arents that we really are not the lie-a$eds they thin& we are,! said Larry- !"t sho#ld $e rather f#n, a%t#ally- .e %o#ld 'i%ni% in these 'la%es - and " %o#ld #se one of the( for (y holiday essay- "t wo#ld $e so(ethin+ to write a$o#t - es'e%ially the $anshee howlin+- " ho'e it wails li&e anythin+ when we*re there/! !" shan*t +o if it does,! said Bets at on%e- !0allo - who*s that at the door3 <olly, that lo#d &no%& (ade (e 2#('/! !.ho*s there3! de(anded Fatty!"t*s (e - Ern,! said a well-&nown )oi%e o#tside- !"*)e $een sent to stay with (y An%le Theo - Mr <oon, yo# &now - $e%a#se one of (y sisters has (easles and " ha)en*t had it - at least, M#( %an*t 4re(e($er4 (e ha)in+ it- 6an " %o(e in3! !Of %o#rse " 6o(e alon+ in, Ern, we*re all here,! said Fatty, and o'ened the door- Ern stood there, sho%&-headed as e)er and as 'l#(' as Fatty, +rinnin+ in deli+ht to see his friends a+ain- B#ster at on%e (ade a +reat f#ss of hi(!6oo, it*s ni%e to see yo# all a+ain,! said Ern, sittin+ down on the floor and h#++in+ the little 9%ottie- !" didn*t want to %o(e and stay with (y #n%le - " don*t li&e hi( and he doesn*t li&e (e $#t " don*t (ind '#ttin+ #' with hi( if yo#*ll let (e $e with 4yo#4 now and a+ain- Any (ysteries +oin+3! !=ot so far, Ern,! said Fatty- !0el' yo#rself to the %ho%olate $is%#its, $#t DO=*T +i)e B#ster any0e*s sli((in+-! !L#)ad#%& - is he really3! said Ern- !" (#st say he feels a $it solid-li&e- o# loo& a $it $alloony tooFatty-! !Ern - 'lease re(e($er yo#r (anners,! said Fatty, in a sho%&ed )oi%e- ! o# (#st 4not4 refer to 'eo'le as *$alloony*- o# (i+ht easily +et a s(a%& on the nose-! !Oooh, "*( sorry, Fatty, 4reeeely4 sorry,! said Ern- !May$e "*ll 'i%& #' a few +ood (anners now "*( with yo# a+ain- " see( to lose the(, li&e, at *o(e- Er - " (ean 0OME-! !"t*s +ood to see yo#, Ern,! said Fatty- !.e are 'lannin+ to +o on so(e interestin+ ra($les - and yo# shall %o(e with #s, if yo# li&e - if yo#r #n%le will let yo#-!

!6oo - "*d li&e that/! said Ern- !.ell- An%le says "*)e +ot to T#rn To and Loo& =i''y, and =ot <et Ander 0is Feet, and Ase (y Loaf---! ! o#r 4loaf43! said Bets, in s#r'rise- !Do yo# ha)e a loaf of $read of yo#r own, then3! ! o# don*t &now (#%h, do yo#3! +rinned Ern, so deli+hted to $e with his old friend a+ain that his eyes shone li&e stars- !Asin+ yo#r *Loaf* (eans #sin+ yo#r $rains, see3! !Ah yes,! said Fatty, +ra)ely- !.ell if we all intend to +o si+ht-seein+ and learnin+ a$o#t Banshees and Old M#si%al "nstr#(ents, and ?o(an ?e(ains, we (#st ALL #se o#r - er - loa)es- Are we allowed any $#tter with the(, Ern3! B#t dear old Ern didn*t see the 2o&e, tho#+h the others roared in deli+ht- Ern didn*t (ind- "t was sheer ha''iness to hi( to $e with Fatty, Bets, and the rest- They %o#ld '#ll his le+, %orre%t hi(, la#+h at hi( - they were his friends and he was theirs- Let the( do whate)er they li&ed, as lon+ as he %o#ld $e with the(/

B - B"=<O - A=D BA9TE?/ "t was f#n to ha)e Ern a+ain- 0e en2oyed the %o('any of the fi)e friends so (#%h, and entered into e)erythin+ with the +reatest deli+ht- 0e sat listenin+ intently as they went on dis%#ssin+ their 'lans for the ne;t two or three wee&s!" s#''ose " %o#ldn*t %o(e with yo# so(eti(es3! he said, at last- !" daresay An%le wo#ld let (e off now and a+ain- 9o lon+ as " do the 2o$s he sets (e, of %o#rse-! ! es, if he*s &ind eno#+h to ha)e yo# to stay, yo# (#st %ertainly hel' hi( in any way yo# %an,! said Fatty !0is +arden, for instan%e- " 'assed it the other day - sho%&in+/ F#ll of weeds/! !That*s what (y #n%le said,! a+reed Ern, (o#rnf#lly- !Tro#$le is - " d#nno weeds fro( flowersOh, and there*s another thin+ - he*s lettin+ (e ha)e (y do+ with (e while "*( here- .hat do yo# thin& of 4that43! !4Do+43 " didn*t e)en &now yo# had one, Ern,! said 1i' s#r'rised!.ell, he*s a $it new, li&e,! said Ern- !"*)e had hi( for three wee&s- "*( tryin+ to train hi( +ood and 'ro'er - li&e yo#*)e trained old B#ster there, Fatty-! !<ood/! said Fatty- !7ery +ood- An #ntrained do+ is a n#isan%e - no$ody li&es hi(- .here is this do+ of yo#rs - and what*s he %alled3 .hat &ind is he3! !" don*t ri+htly &now what &ind he is,! said Ern- !0e*s a $it of a (i;t#re reallyC he*s not )ery $i+ $#t he*s +ot a (i+hty lon+ tail with a (i+hty $i+ wa+ in it - and ni%e ears that 'ri%& #' li&e B#ster*s here - and rather short le+s- 1ity a$o#t his le+s, really - he loo&s %o(i% when he r#ns, yo# see, and all the other do+s la#+h at hi(-! !They don*t/! said Bets dis$elie)in+ly!.ell they stand and stare at hi(, and sort of win& at one another when he %o(es s%#tterin+ $y,! said Ern- !0is na(e is Bin+o - +ood na(e, isn*t it3 "t s#its hi( too - yo# wait till yo#*)e seen hi(- " li&e hi( an awf#l lot - it*s the first ti(e "*)e had a do+ of (y own- 0e*s 'otty on (e yo# &now thin&s "*( the world*s wonder/!

!8#st li&e old B#ster then,! said Bets- !0e thin&s Fatty*s the world*s wonder, don*t yo# B#ster3! !.oof/! said B#ster, a+reein+ heartily- 0e went to Fatty and li%&ed his %hin, and then '#t his head on Fatty*s &nee, loo&in+ #' at hi( adorin+ly!Lo)in+ old thin+,! said Fatty, and 'atted hi(- !.ell Ern, "*( awf#lly +lad yo#*)e a do+ of yo#r own- <ood for the do+ - and +ood for yo#, too- o#*ll li&e ha)in+ so(eone who loo&s #' to yo# and thin&s that e)erythin+ yo# do is ri+ht/ B#t loo& after hi( well, won*t yo#3! !.here is this Bin+o3! as&ed Larry!"*)e lo%&ed hi( in the wood-shed at An%le*s,! said Ern- ! o# see - well, " didn*t &now if yo#*d li&e (e to $rin+ hi( alon+- B#ster (i+htn*t li&e hi(-! !?#$$ish/! said Fatty, +ettin+ #'- !Any do+ is a friend of B#ster*s if he $elon+s to one of #s- Let*s +o and )isit this do+ of yo#rs and ta&e hi( for a wal&-! ! o#*re a real s'ort, Fatty,! said Ern, his fa%e +lowin+- !6o(e on, then-! They all went o#t of the shed and (ade their way to 1eterswood 7illa+e, B#ster dan%in+ ro#nd in 2oy, sniffin+ alon+ the hed+es, $ar&in+ at a s'arrow, wa++in+ his tail witho#t a sto'!"s yo#r #n%le in a +ood te('er today3! en:#ired Larry!9o-so,! said Ern, with a +rin- !0e s(iled when " %leaned his $i+ $oots for hi( - and he frowned when " #'set the (il&- 0e doesn*t &now "*)e %o(e to see yo#-!, !.hy didn*t yo# tell hi(3! as&ed Bets- ! o#*re not 4s%ared4 of hi(, are yo#3! !Oh, "*( 'ro'er s%ared of An%le all ri+ht,! said Ern- !Bit too free with his hands, he is- "*d li&e to ha)e si;'en%e for e)ery sla' he*s +i)en (e - "*d $e ri%h $y now - 4swi((in+4 in si;'en%es/ " don*t thin& he*ll $e too 'leased if " +o a$o#t with yo# too (#%h, so " shan*t tell hi( anythin+-! They %a(e to <oon*s little ho#se, whi%h stood not far fro( the 'oli%e station- As soon as they o'ened the +ate a terrifi% )olley of $lood-%#rdlin+ howls +reeted the(, and so(ethin+ h#rled itself a+ainst the wood-shed door!That*s hi( - that*s Bin+o,! said Ern, in 'ride- !" ho'e An%le*s o#t- 0e wo#ldn*t li&e that noise at all0ey, Bin+o/ "*)e $ro#+ht friends to see yo#-! B#ster the 9%ottie was astonished and rather alar(ed to hear the e;traordinary noise fro( the shed- 0e '#t his head on one side and 'ri%&ed #' his ears to shar' 'oints- 0e +a)e a little +rowl!"t*s all ri+ht- B#ster,! said Ern- !That*s (y do+ in there- 0ey, Bin+o, %o(e alon+ o#t/! And he sli''ed the %at%h of the door and o'ened itO#t shot so(ethin+ at si;ty (iles an ho#r, +a)e one horrified loo& at the %rowd of %hildren, and disa''eared at to' s'eed thro#+h the +ate!That*s hi(/! said Ern, 'ro#dly, as Bin+o shot down the road- !.hat do yo# thin& of hi(, Fatty3! !.ell, " really only %a#+ht si+ht of his tail,! said Fatty- !B#t that %ertainly loo&ed fine- Loo& o#t, here %o(es old <oon - yo#r #n%le, Ern- 0e loo&s 'retty $ad-te('ered too-! Mr <oon had o'ened his front door, and was standin+ there in his #nifor(, hel(et and all, +larin+ in his $est (anner-

!E?=/ .hat*s the (atter with that do+ of yo#rs, $ar&in+ li&e that3 0as he +one (ad or so(ethin+3 .here is he3! !" don*t &now, An%le,! said Ern, tr#thf#lly- !0e shot off at to' s'eed- " only ho'e he hasn*t +one $a%& to (y ho(e- 0e (i+ht %at%h (easles, and %o(e o#t in nasty s'ots-! ! o# and yo#r (easles/! snorted Mr <oon- !" said yo# %o#ld ha)e that do+ if he $eha)ed hi(self and if " %o#ld $orrow hi( at ni+hts when " +o down into the ro#+h 'art of the townC $#t " tell yo# this strai+ht, Ern - if he*s +oin+ to a%t silly, and $ar& at nothin+, and r#sh off li&e a (ad thin+, " won*t ha)e hi(- And yo# (i+ht tell hi( to &ee' away fro( (y feet- 0e*s tri''ed (e #' twi%e already-! !Oh, "*( )ery sorry a$o#t that, An%le,! said Ern- !Er - " 2#st $ro#+ht (y friends to see hi(-! !.ell, yo# %an ta&e the( away a+ain,! said <oon, #n+ra%io#sly- !They (ay $e yo#r friends, $#t they*re not 4(ine4 - es'e%ially Master Frederi%& Al+ernon Trotte)ille - 'ah/! !.ho*s he tal&in+ a$o#t3! said Ern, in wonder, as <oon went indoors and sla((ed the door!Me, "*( afraid,! said Fatty- !Those are (y real na(es, yo# &now, Ern- " try to for+et the(, tho#+h " %an*t say " li&e (y ni%&na(e either- =ow - what a$o#t yo#r do+ Bin+o, Ern3 .here do yo# s#''ose he*s +one3! !" don*t &now,! said Ern, s#ddenly loo&in+ des'erate- !" %an*t thin& why he went off li&e that- " s#''ose (y #n%le went and sho#ted at hi( in the shed and +a)e hi( a la((in+ or so(ethin+Let*s +o and loo& for hi(-! B#t $efore they had +one (ore than a few ste's, Mr <oon was at his door a+ain, sho#tin+ for Ern!Ern/ o# %o(e $a%&/ .hat a$o#t those 2o$s " +a)e yo# to do3 o# %o(e $a%&, " tell yo#-! !Better +o, Ern,! said Fatty- !6heer #'- .e*ll ha)e a loo& for old Bin+o- 0e won*t ha)e %o(e to any har(-! Ern went slowly $a%& thro#+h the +ate, loo&in+ an+ry and tro#$led- 0is tho#+hts were f#ll of Bin+o, his $elo)ed do+- 0e (i+ht +et r#n o)er/ 0e (i+ht +et lost/ 0e (i+ht e)en $e stolen- !0e*s so friendly and +ood-nat#red, he wo#ld +o with anyone,! tho#+ht 'oor Ern, and $e+an to r#n as he heard a stentorian sho#t fro( inside the ho#se!E?=/ o# %o(e on "=/ "*)e +ot to +o to the 'oli%e station, and " want yo# to 'eel the 'otatoes for s#''er and +et thin+s tidy- E?=/! 1oor Ern disa''eared into the ho#se- 0e lon+ed to sla( the door, 2#st as <oon had done, $#t he didn*t dareThe others wal&ed slowly thro#+h the )illa+e, tal&in+ a$o#t Ern, and &ee'in+ a loo&-o#t for Bin+oThere was no si+n of hi(- Fatty tho#+ht he (#st ha)e +one to find his way $a%& to Ern*s own ho(e- They de%ided to +o to the $#n-sho' and ha)e tea there- B#ster was 'leased- 0e &new that this #s#ally (eant a few tit-$its for hi(/ 8#st as they rea%hed the $#n-sho' they heard a little whine - a )ery s(all and 'atheti% one- "t see(ed to %o(e fro( the hed+e near$y- B#ster went at on%e to in)esti+ate- 0e sli''ed thro#+h the hed+e and then +a)e a shar' $ar&-

!B#ster - what is it3 6o(e $a%&/! %alled Fatty- B#ster a''eared a+ain - with so(ethin+ trottin+ $ehind hi( - Bin+o/ !B"=<O/! said e)eryone, in astonish(ent, and Bin+o wa++ed his lon+ tail, went flat on his t#((y, and $e+an to %rawl an;io#sly towards the(, in a (ost h#($le (anner!1oor Bin+o/! said Bets, in her +entle )oi%e, and at on%e Bin+o shot o)er to her, 'ressed hi(self a+ainst her and +a)e a f#nny little hi+h whine- 0e wa++ed his lon+ tail so hard that it sla''ed a+ainst Bets* le+s, $#t she didn*t (ind- 9he 'atted hi( and stro&ed hi(, and he went nearly (ad with 2oy- B#ster stood near$y and wat%hed +ra)ely!.ell - yo#*re a $it of a %o(i%, Bin+o, " (#st say,! said Fatty, loo&in+ at hi( fro( all an+les- !.hat a tail/ 1ity yo# didn*t ha)e le+s to (at%h, old $oy/ B#t (y word, yo#*)e real do++y eyes/! es, Bin+o had +ood, $ri+ht, faithf#l eyes, and a ton+#e always ready to li%& any friend- The %hildren de%ided that Ern was l#%&y- !.hat do yo# thin& of hi(, B#ster3! said Fatty, seein+ B#ster standin+ and wat%hin+ e)erythin+, his eyes, $ri+ht, his tail wa++in+ 2#st a )ery little!.oof,! said B#ster, and went strai+ht o)er to Bin+o- 0e stood nose to nose with hi(, ea%h sniffin+ at the other- Then B#ster dan%ed ro#nd Bin+o, and Bin+o +a)e a 2oyf#l $ar&, and away they went to+ether, tearin+ down the road li&e (ad thin+s/ !B#ster a''ro)es,! said Larry- !4"4 rather a''ro)e of hi( too- A %o(i%al do+, $#t a real little s'ort.ell, if we*re +oin+ to ha)e tea at the $#n-sho', what a$o#t it3 And 'lease don*t eat (ore than si; $#ns, Fatty - yo# want to $e a$le to s:#ee5e o#t of the door a+ain/! "n they all went, (ade for their fa)o#rite ta$le, and sat down- Fatty, as #s#al, had 'lenty of (oney, and that (eant a +ood t#%&-in for e)eryone- "n the (iddle of the (eal, the door was '#shed o'en with a hea)e, and in trotted the two do+s, 'antin+, their (o#ths o'en as if they were $oth la#+hin+/ !B#ster - +o and sh#t the door after yo#,! said Fatty sternly- !0a)e yo# for+otten yo#r (anners3 Bin+o, 'lease noti%e that doors (#st $e '#shed sh#t, not left o'en, when yo# %o(e in and o#t of roo(s-! !.#ff,! said Bin+o, head on one side, listenin+ %aref#lly- 0e trotted o)er to the door and hel'ed B#ster to sh#t it, #sin+ $oth 'aws and nose!0e*s *One of As* already/! said Larry- !"*( $e+innin+ to li&e yo#, Bin+o, old thin+- =ow sit/ B#ster, tea%h hi( how to sit- <osh, loo& at that, Fatty - $oth sittin+ down side $y side, as +ood as +old/ .e*re +oin+ to ha)e so(e f#n with old Bin+o/!

D - M? <OO= LO9E9 0"9 TEM1E? Ern had $een )ery $#sy indeed while the others had +one to the )illa+e- Mr <oon was in one of his worst te('ers- 0e always was when he had (et Fatty, who( he disli&ed )ery (#%h!That fat $oy/! he said to Ern- !" don*t tr#st hi( an in%h- =e)er did- "t*s a 'ity he*s not as st#'id as he loo&s- Too %le)er $y half, he is/! !0e 4doesn*t4 loo& st#'id, An%le,! said Ern, e('tyin+ so(e 'otatoes into a $owl of water to 'eel!0ow %o#ld he when he*s +ot s#%h (ar)ello#s $rains/ o# sho#ld hear hi( tal& - l#)ad#%&, he &nows 'retty well e)erythin+/!

!"*ll l#)ad#%& 4yo#4 if yo# don*t +et on with those 'otatoes, Ern,! said Mr <oon- !That fat $oy*s a (ena%e - yes, that*s the word for hi( - a (ena%e/! !.hat*s a (ena%e, An%le3! as&ed Ern- !Anythin+ to do with (anners3 9o#nds a $it the sa(e-! !" don*t &now if yo#*re $ein+ r#de, or 2#st 'lain st#'id, Ern,! said Mr <oon (a2esti%ally- !B#t this " do &now - yo#*ll +et a %li' on the ear soon-! !And one of these days (y do+ will $ite yo# if yo# %li' (e/! %ried Ern, al(ost at the end of his tether- !=ow An%le - don*t yo# %o(e any nearer- "*ll throw this $owl of 'otatoes o)er yo#, if yo# do/! Ern loo&ed so fier%e that <oon retreated h#rriedly- !=ow, now,! he said, !don*t ta&e thin+s so serio#sly, Ern- 6an*t yo# see a 2o&e3! !De'ends who (a&es it,! said Ern, feelin+ s#ddenly )i%torio#s, then his s'irits fell a+ain as he re(e($ered his do+- .here 4was4 old Bin+o3 0ad he r#n away for e)er3 0e sniffed a little as he went on 'eelin+ the 'otatoes, and when he re(e($ered how Bin+o ran to (eet hi( and li%&ed hi( lo)in+ly ea%h ti(e he %a(e ho(e fro( s%hool, a tear fell 'lo' into the 'otato $owl!"*( a fathead - that*s what Fatty wo#ld %all (e,! tho#+ht Ern- !B#t " d#nno - there*s so(ethin+ a$o#t a do+ that +ets yo# - s'e%ially if it*s yo#r own-! Mr <oon went off to the 'oli%e station, his $oots well 'olished $y Ern, and his hel(et and #nifor( well $r#shed- Ern was +lad to see hi( +o- As soon as his #n%le was o#t of si+ht he tho#+ht he wo#ld whistle for Bin+o - 2#st to see if $y 4any4 %han%e he wo#ld %o(e9o he whistled- Ern had a (ost 'ier%in+ whistle, shrill, lon+ and alar(in+- "t (ade e)eryone within hearin+ 2#(' in s#r'rise and annoyan%e- Ern stood at the front +ate and whistled for at least fi)e (in#tes- =o Bin+o arri)ed - $#t a +ood (any windows and doors were o'ened, and 'eo'le $e+an loo&in+ o#t to see if anythin+ was the (atter- They tho#+ht that it (#st $e <oon $lowin+ his 'oli%e-whistle for hel'/ A s(all $oy arri)ed, 'antin+, at the front +ate, !Any hel' wanted3! he as&ed- !.e heard the 'oli%e-whistle $ein+ $lown-! !That was only (e whistlin+ for (y do+,! said Ern, astonished- Then, seein+ 'eo'le loo&in+ o#t of windows and doors, he shot inside <oon*s ho#se in a h#rry- !They*ll tell An%le " was #sin+ his 'oli%e-whistle,! he tho#+ht des'erately- !L#)ad#%&, what a day/ .ish " was at ho(e, (easles and all/! A$o#t half-'ast fi)e Mr <oon ret#rned ho(e to see if Ern had '#t on the &ettle and had (ade hi( so(e toast, as he had %o((anded- Fort#nately for Ern, he had e)erythin+ ready- Ern was ri+ht down in the d#('s: no Fatty had %o(e $a%&, no B#ster, no Bets - and %ertainly no Bin+o- Ern didn*t want any tea at all, a (ost #n#s#al thin+!This toast is $#rnt,! said Mr <oon +r#('ily!"t*s not,! said Ern- !"t*s 2#st ri+ht- That*s how (y Ma li&es it, anyway-! !And yo#*)e '#t too (#%h tea in the 'ot,! said Mr <oon, 'eerin+ in, holdin+ the lid in his hand- "t was hot and he had to dro' it )ery s#ddenly- "t fell to the floor and $ro&e- 0e +lared at Ern as if 4he4 had dro''ed it/ Ern +a)e a s#dden +i++le, and his #n%le went red in the fa%e- !1i%& the( 'ie%es #',! he

%o((anded, !and ta&e that +rin off yo#r fa%e, Ern-! !" %an*t- "t*s st#%& there,! said Ern, s#ddenly feelin+ %hee&y!E?=/! said Mr <oon, in a terrifyin+ )oi%e, and stood #'- Ern 'ro('tly stood #' too, and ran to the door- 0e o'ened it and <oon %a(e after hi(- Ern went down the hall to the front door and o'ened that, and then shot down the front 'ath with his #n%le on his heels - at e;a%tly the sa(e (o(ent as Fatty and the rest, with B#ster and Bin+o, %a(e in at the +ate9o(ehow or other Mr <oon $e%a(e (i;ed #' with the two e;%ited do+s as they ra%ed towards the front door - and down he went with a th#d- Bin+o lea't #' at the astonished Ern, and tried his hardest to li%& hi( in as (any 'la%es as he %o#ld, $ar&in+ (adly all the ti(e- B#ster, findin+ his old ene(y, <oon, on the +ro#nd, and at his (er%y, sailed in +leef#lly to the atta%&/ "t really was a si+ht to $e seen/ !B"=<O/ o#*)e %o(e $a%&/! sho#ted Ern in 2oy, and lifted #' the deli+hted do+, who at on%e 'lastered his fa%e with lo)in+ li%&s!6LEA? O?F, ALL OF OA/! roared 'oor Mr <oon, tryin+ to '#sh B#ster away- !"*ll tell yo#r 'arents of this/ ."LL yo# order this do+ away, Frederi%& Trotte)ille3 One of these days "*ll %la' yo# in a %ell, yes, and the do+ too- <et away, yo# $r#te/ Le((e +et #'/ Ern hel' (e #'-! "t was Fatty who '#lled the hea)y 'oli%e(an to his feet and d#sted hi( down, (#r(#rin+ a'olo+ies in a 'olite )oi%e that si('ly inf#riated Mr <oon/ !Bad l#%&, sir/ Did yo# tri' o)er yo#r feet3 " say, yo#*ll s%are the +irls, if yo# roar li&e that- B#ster, $eha)e yo#rself- BA9TE?/ Are yo# deaf3 9to' dan%in+ ro#nd 'oor Mr <oon- 0ere, let (e hel' yo# #', sir - #' we %o(e - that*s it - #'sadaisy- o# all ri+ht now, Mr <oon3! Mr <oon +lared- 0e saw that :#ite a %rowd had +athered ro#nd his front +ate - and so(e of the( were darin+ to la#+h/ La#+hin+ at the Law/ .hat were thin+s %o(in+ to3 Most (a2esti%ally Mr <oon went to the +ate and s%owled at e)eryone there- !.hat*s all this3 6lear orf, now/ o#*re %reatin+ a n#isan%e, yo# are- Mo)e on, there- MO7E O=/! Only a few 'eo'le (o)ed away, Fatty felt sorry for 'oor Mr <oon- !1erha's if yo# told the( to Mo)e OFF instead of Mo)e O=, they*d #nderstand $etter,! he s#++ested- !Let (e hel' yo#, Mr <oon-! And Fatty wa)ed an i('erio#s hand and sho#ted in a s#ddenly enor(o#s )oi%e, !MO7E OFF, ."LL OA/ MO7E OFF/! And, rather astonished, the loo&ers-on (o)ed off at on%e- Fatty was rather astonished too - he hadn*t tho#+ht it wo#ld $e so easy/ Mr <oon was (ore than astonished- 0e was e;%eedin+ly an+ry!Thin& yo#*re in the 'oli%e for%e now, do yo#3! he said, fier%ely- !.ell, what a$o#t 4yo#4 Mo)in+ Off - 4or4 on - " don*t %are whi%h- F#nny how tro#$le always %o(es when yo#*re a$o#t, isn*t itMaster Trotte)ille3 =ow "*( +oin+ $a%& to finish (y tea in 'ea%e and :#iet- 6lear orf, all of yo#/ "*( si%& of the si+ht of yo#- o# +et indoors, Ern - and ta&e that do+ to the wood-shed- Tri''in+ (e #' li&e that- o# %an %onsider hi( arrested and '#t into a %ell, see3 And there he*ll stay o#t in the wood-shed, ni+ht and day/! !Oh 4no4, An%le - that wo#ld $e %r#el/! said Ern, #'set- !Fatty, tell hi(- 0e (i+ht listen to yo#o# %an*t lo%& #' a do+, ni+ht and day-! !All ri+ht then, yo# +o ho(e/! stor(ed Mr <oon- !" do a &indness and ta&e yo# in - and that fatheaded do+ too - and this is what ha''ens- <o on ho(e/ 6at%h the (easles/!

Ern didn*t &now what to do - $#t Fatty did- 0e whis'ered so(ethin+ in Erns ear, and Ern*s fa%e $ro&e into a deli+hted s(ile- 0e too& hold of Fatty*s hand and shoo& it hard- ! o#*re a friend, Fatty - yes, that*s what yo# are, a friend,! said Ern war(ly- !"*ll +o and +et (y thin+s strai+htaway.o#ld yo# (ind Bin+o for (e, till " %o(e o#t3 An%le*s in s#%h a te('er, he (i+ht whi' hi(.0AT a 'ity he tri''ed o)er Bin+o/! Bets and Daisy had $een )ery s%ared $y all the #'set, $#t the $oys had rather en2oyed it- Fatty %o#ldn*t hel' feelin+ a little sorry for Mr <oon- The 'oli%e(an did not shine when thin+s went wron+C $#t Fatty felt s#re he wo#ld $e sorry and feel +#ilty when he had had ti(e to 'onder o)er thin+s- That was the worst of a hot te('er - it led yo# into doin+ silly, rash thin+s yo# were sorry for afterwards - and then it was 'ro$a$ly too lateErn had disa''eared into his #n%le*s $o#se- 0e was there a$o#t three (in#tes and then %a(e o#t a+ain, %arryin+ a %an)as $a+- Bin+o trotted 2oyf#lly o)er to hi(- Ern was $ea(in+ all o)er his ro#nd fa%e!.here are yo# +oin+, Ern3! as&ed Bets, in s#r'rise- !0o(e3 B#t yo# %an*t +o there, with (easles a$o#t/! They all went o#t of the +ate to+ether, lea)in+ Mr <oon starin+ after the(- 0e was 2#st $e+innin+ to wish that he hadn*t lost his te('er!Ern, %o(e $a%&/ o# %o(e and a'olo+i5e and "*ll let yo# stay/! he sho#ted!9orry, An%le,! sho#ted $a%& Ern- !" %an*t stay where "*( not wanted - or where (y do+ will $e lo%&ed #' ni+ht and day- 9orry, An%le/! !.here*s Ern +oin+3! as&ed 1i'!0e*s +oin+ to stay in (y wor&roo( till his fa(ily are %lear of the (easles,! said Fatty- !4And4 Bin+o as well- =i%e do+, Bin+o- Be +ood for B#ster to ha)e %o('any too- The wor&roo( is ni%e and war(, and " %an '#t a %a('-$ed there- B#t no$ody is to &now, see3 o# are all to @ee' o#r Mo#ths 9h#t- Ern is o#r friend, and we*)e +ot to stand $y hi(-! !Oh 4+ood4, Fatty/ o# always thin& of so(e fine way o#t of thin+s when they +o wron+-! said Bets, s:#ee5in+ Fatty*s ar(- !Ern, are yo# 'leased3! !1leased3 " feel li&e a tail with two do+s,! said Ern, loo&in+ down at B#ster and Bin+o trottin+ a(i%a$ly to+ether- !=o, " (ean a do+ with two tails- 6oo l#)ad#%& - wasn*t 'oor old An%le in a te('er - all $e%a#se he fell o)er Bin+o/ To thin& "*( +oin+ to stay in yo#r wor&roo(- Fatty - " feel hono#red, strai+ht " do/ o#*re a friend - and " %an*t say (ore than that, %an "3! !=o, that*s a$o#t the $est thin+ anyone %an say a$o#t anyone else,! said Fatty, with one of his +rins- 0e +a)e Ern a little '#n%h in the $a%&- !" $et "*ll say that a$o#t 4yo#4 so(eday, Ern/! Ern +lowed- 0e loo&ed ro#nd +ratef#lly at the little $#n%h of friends wal&in+ with hi(- es, that was a$o#t the $est thin+ that %o#ld ha''en to anyone - to 0a)e Friends, whether they were twole++ed or fo#r-le++ed!And to BE a friend to so(eone is 2#st as +ood,! tho#+ht Ern- !.ell - (ay$e it*s e)en $etter- "*ll ha)e to as& Fatty a$o#t it so(eti(e- 0e*s s#re to &now/!

5 - FATT "9 A ?EAL F?"E=D/

The little %o('any went in at the $a%& +ate of Fatty*s +arden, and troo'ed down to the shed Fatty*s %osy little wor&roo(- The two do+s trotted alon+ a(i%a$ly to+ether, Bin+o o%%asionally +i)in+ B#ster a friendly li%&- Bin+o*s tail ne)er sto''ed wa++in+ or wa)in+! o#*ll wear it o#t if yo#*re not %aref#l, Bin+o-! said Ern, as they went in %lose file down the 'ath, Bin+o*s tail sla''in+ a+ainst the nearest le+s- Bets la#+hed- 9he didn*t feel s%ared any lon+er 2#st 'leased and e;%ited- 9he was +lad that Ern had +ot away fro( #n&ind Mr <oon- "t wo#ld $e ni%e to ha)e hi( at their (eetin+sThe wor&roo( felt war( when they o'ened the door, and was f#ll of a +olden li+ht fro( the sin&in+ s#n!.ell, here we are on%e (ore,! said Fatty- !<et o#t the toffees, Bets - they*re in that %#'$oard- "*ll 2#st +o #' to the ho#se and see if " %an find a %a('-$ed - or a s'are (attress, if not-! 0e disa''eared, and Bets went to find the toffees- Tr#st Fatty to ha)e so(ethin+ to %hew or s#%& or drin&/ <ood old Fatty to thin& a$o#t res%#in+ 'oor Ern/ Fatty was in the (iddle of h#ntin+ a$o#t for a %a('-$ed when $is (other a''eared- 9he was astonished to see hi( in the l#($er-roo(- !.hat in the world do yo# want, Fatty3! she said!Er - well, " 2#st wondered if there was a %a('-$ed to s'are,! said Fatty!A 4%a('4-$ed3 .hate)er for3! said his (other- !Fatty, " will =OT allow yo# to slee' o#t in the +arden yet/ o#*d %at%h yo#r death of %old/! !Mother dear, "*( not 4thin&in+4 of s#%h a thin+/! said Fatty- !" li&e (y own war( $ed (#%h too (#%h to want to shi)er o#tside, with $eetles and fro+s and ants all o)er (e- " 2#st wondered if we 4had4 a %a('-$ed to s'are, that*s all-! !Fatty, why are yo# so (ysterio#s a$o#t it3! as&ed his (other- !Loo& at (e/ .hy this s#dden idea of a %a('-$ed3! !Darlin+ Mother, yo# are always so 4%#rio#s4,! said Fatty, ta&in+ her hand- !6an*t yo# tr#st (e3 " don*t want to stee' on it- " don*t want to sell it- " don*t e)en want to ta&e it off the 're(ises- " 2#st want to 4$orrow4 it- "*( afraid if " told yo# 4why4 " want it, so(eone (i+ht as& yo# :#estions and then yo#*d answer - and so(eone else (i+ht s#ffer- 1lease tr#st (e- Mother, and $elie)e that, li&e the Boy 9%o#ts, " a( a$o#t to do a <ood Deed/! !" ne)er in (y life &new anyone who %o#ld wheedle thin+s o#t of (e li&e yo#, Frederi%&,! said his (other, $e+innin+ to la#+h- !All ri+ht - " won*t as& yo# any :#estions- "*ll tr#st yo# - as " always do, dear/ There*s a s'are %a('-$ed in the %#'$oard #nder the stairs-! !Bless yo#, Mother, yo#*re a 'et,! said Fatty, and +a)e her a s(a%&in+ &iss on the %hee&- 0e went to the %#'$oard and fo#nd the %a('-$ed- "n no ti(e at all he had %arried it down the +arden, #nseen, and Larry was hel'in+ hi( to ta&e it thro#+h the door of the shed!Did yo# ha)e any $other +ettin+ it3! as&ed Larry- !" always ha)e to +o into lon+, lon+ e;'lanations when 4"4 want to $orrow anythin+ li&e a %a('-$ed-! !=o- Fort#nately (y (other tr#sts (e as (#%h as " tr#st 4her4,! said Fatty, '#ttin+ #' the %a('$ed with Ern- !=othin+ li&e tr#st in a fa(ily/ " %an re%o((end it thoro#+hly-! Ern stared at Fatty- .hat :#eer thin+s Fatty so(eti(es said - $#t they were worth re(e($erin+Ern tho#+ht- !=othin+ li&e tr#st in a fa(ily-! That (eant tr#stin+ one another- There was :#ite a lot

in that idea- Ern de%ided to thin& a$o#t it when he was in $ed- 0e felt e;%ited when he saw the %a('-$ed neatly (ade #' in a %orner of the wor&roo(!L#)ad#%&/! he said- !"t*s a (ira%le, this/ Me slee'in+ here, all on (y own, safe as ho#ses, and (y #n%le not &nowin+ a thin+ a$o#t it- " don*t &now how to than& yo# eno#+h, Fatty, that " don*t-! !.ell, don*t try,! said Fatty- !Bets, did yo# find the toffees - ah yes, " see a l#(' in yo#r %hee&, and one in 1i'*s-! !Fatty, %an we do anythin+ to hel' Ern3! as&ed Bets- !" (ean - $rin+ food, or so(ethin+ li&e that6oo& will always +i)e #s $its and 'ie%es-! !.ell, " )ote we all $rin+ what we %an, witho#t aro#sin+ any 4s#s'i%ions4,! said Fatty- !Ern had $etter send a 'ost-%ard to his (other, sayin+ *<ettin+ on fine, :#ite ha''y*, or so(ethin+ li&e that - in %ase <oon tells her that he*s sent Ern off- B#t " don*t so(ehow thin& he will/ 0e*ll i(a+ine that Ern has r#shed $a%& ho(e, with awf#l tales a$o#t hi(/! !"*( +oin+ to en2oy (yself,! said Ern, $o#n%in+ #' and down on the %a('-$ed- !.ish 4"4 %o#ld do so(ethin+ for so(e$ody - yo#, Bets, for instan%e- "*d do anythin+, reely " wo#ld/! !"*)e no do#$t yo#r %han%e will %o(e so(eday,! said Fatty- !=ow, what a$o#t a +a(e3 Or shall we first of all de%ide what e;'editions we are +oin+ to (a&e this wee&3! !"t so#nds as if we were e;'lorers or so(ethin+-! said 1i'- !0ow ni%e to $e a$le to say *.hat a$o#t e;'lorin+ the 9ahara, old (an3* Or *" thin& we sho#ld row down the =ile and %o#nt the n#($er of %ro%odiles there, dear fellow*/! The others %h#%&led- !.ell, let*s ta&e a )ote on where we sho#ld +o first,! said Fatty, ta&in+ two sheets of 'a'er fro( a shelf- !0ere are the lists (ade o#t $y 1i'*s father and Larry*s - to+ether with a few notes of (y own- " thin& we*ll ta&e a )ote as to whi%h two 'la%es we wo#ld 'refer to )isit- .e %an always +o and see the others afterwards, if we want to-! 0e read o#t the list of 'la%es- !.ell, there yo# are- =ow 2#st %hoose two of those, ea%h of yo#, and s%ri$$le the( down, fold yo#r 'a'ers in half and +i)e the( to (e- "*ll o'en the( and see whi%h 'la%es the (a2ority of #s want to )isit-! 9oon they were all $#sy- Bets as&ed how to s'ell !Banshee! so e)eryone at on%e &new 4one4 of her %hoi%es/ The notes were handed to Fatty and he o'ened the(!.ell, the two 'la%es that the (a2ority of yo# want to see are: the old .ater-6a)es at 6hiller$in+ and Banshee Towers on Banshee 0ill- Bets, "*( s#r'rised 4yo#4 '#t down Banshee Towers- " tho#+ht yo#*d $e s%ared of any 'la%es %onne%ted with $anshees wailin+ in the ni+ht/! !Fatty, " only %hose Banshee Towers $e%a#se yo# said there were (a+nifi%ent sea-'i%t#res there,! said Bets- !" won*t +o if there are 4still4 $anshees, tho#+h - #n&ind fairies wailin+ and foretellin+ horri$le thin+s/ "*d hate that-! !Dear Bets, $anshees only $elon+ to fairy tales,! said Fatty, seein+ that Bets loo&ed rather s%ared- !.e shan*t see or hear a sin+le $anshee - $#t we 4shall4 see a (a+nifi%ent set of sea'i%t#res- " $elie)e so(e of the( rea%h fro( floor to %eilin+- .e shall feel :#ite seasi%& if we +a5e at the( too lon+-! !" shall ta&e so(e seasi%& (edi%ine with (e, then,! said Bets sole(nly- !"*)e so(e left - a few 'ills-! E)eryone roared with la#+hter- !"*( only teasin+ yo#, Bets,! said Fatty- !" say - 4do4 loo& at those

two do+s/! They all t#rned to loo& - and there were B#ster and Bin+o, 4$oth4 s:#ee5ed into B#ster*s $as&et, fast aslee', so entan+led that, as Larry said, !T*other %o#ldn*t $e told fro( whi%h/! 1i' +lan%ed at Fatty and Ern- Both had s#%h 'leased, ad(irin+ loo&s on their fa%es that 1i' la#+hed!Loo& at Fatty and Ern,! he said- !Did yo# e)er see s#%h di''y loo&s on any fa%es e;%e't do+lo)ers3! ! es, " did - on yo#rs on yo#r $irthday when <ranny +a)e yo# two white ra$$its/! said Bets at on%e- ! o# loo&ed at the( 2#st li&e A#ntie 9#e loo&s when she +oes to see if her twins are aslee'/ 4E#ite4 di''y/! That (ade 1i' +o red, and e)eryone la#+hed- ! o#*re +ettin+ :#ite s(art, yo#n+ Bets,! said Fatty- !.ell, to %o(e $a%& to Banshee Towers- " see that fo#r o#t of fi)e ha)e )oted for that, so we*ll +o there- And three o#t of fi)e ha)e )oted for the .ater-6a)es- 9o those are o#r first two e;'editions-! !4"4 )oted for Banshee Towers, too,! said Ern, to Bets- !"*( (ad on sea-'i%t#res- o# see, " want to +o into the =a)y when "*( old eno#+h, so " 4had4 to )ote for the sea-'i%t#re 'la%e- And don*t yo# worry a$o#t $anshees- Bets- The (o(ent " see one, "*ll whistle li&e this, see, and "*ll (a&e the( so s%ared they*ll fly o#t of the window and ne)er %o(e $a%&/! And Ern s#ddenly '#t two fin+ers into his (o#th, s%rewed #' his fa%e, and +a)e a )ery s#dden, )ery lon+ and e;tre(ely 'ier%in+ whistle- "t (ade e)eryone 2#(' )iolently, and the two do+s in the $as&et lea't strai+ht #' into the air as if they had $een shotB#ster $ar&ed and Bin+o howled, and $oth do+s tore ro#nd and ro#nd the roo( after i(a+inary ene(ies- Ern was :#ite o)er%o(e at the %o((otion he had %a#sedFatty +lared at hi(- !E?=/ Do yo# want to $rin+ all the 'oli%e(en in the nei+h$o#rhood here3 That whistlin+ of yo#rs is EFA6TL li&e a 'oli%e-whistle- o#*ll ha)e (y father and (y (other down here if yo# don*t loo&o#t-! !L#)ad#%&/! (#ttered Ern, tryin+ to %at%h Bin+o as he tore 'ast hi( for the third ti(e, really s%aredFatty heard a sho#t fro( so(ewhere o#tside, and +roaned- !9o(e$ody 4is4 %o(in+/! he said!9wit%h off the li+ht, Bets, :#i%& - the swit%h is 2#st $ehind yo#- 9h#t #' $ar&in+, B#ster, yo# ass=ow - no noise, anyone- .e*ll sit here in the dar& and ho'e no$ody %o(es to find o#t what on earth we are doin+ here- 90000000/! =ot a so#nd was to $e heard in the dar&ened roo( e;%e't so(e rather hea)y $reathin+ fro( a s%ared Ern- 9#''ose he was fo#nd here $y his #n%le or so(e$ody and sent ho(e3 Ern wished and wished that he hadn*t shown Bets how he 'ro'osed to fri+hten a $ansheeAfter fi)e (in#tes had ti%&ed $y, Fatty 2#d+ed it safe to '#t on the li+hts a+ain- As he did so, there %a(e the so#nd of a +on+ fro( his ho#se, away #' the +arden- 0e +roaned!That*s (y s#''er $ell- .here 4has4 the e)enin+ +one to3 "*ll ha)e to +o- o# and 1i' o#+ht to +o too, Bets-! !<osh, and so had we/! said Larry, '#llin+ Daisy to her feet- !<ood thin+ o#r father and (other are o#t toni+ht, and there*s only 6oo&ie to see to #s- <oodni+ht e)eryone- 9lee' well, Ern- 9o lon+, Bin+o-do+- Be +ood/! !.#ff,! said Bin+o, 'leased to hear his na(e- 0e a%%o('anied e)eryone to the door, his tail

wa++in+ nineteen to the do5en- The two do+s +a)e ea%h other a :#i%& li%&, and B#ster trotted #' the +arden with FattyErn was left alone in the shed- 0e was astonished to hear Bin+o +rowlin+ softly twenty (in#tes later, and horrified to hear soft foot-ste's %o(in+ to the door- 0is heart san&- .as it his #n%le, %o(in+ to fet%h hi(3 B#t how %o#ld he 4'ossi$ly4 &now where he, Ern, was3 The door o'ened and a tor%h shone in, li+htin+ #' the dar&ness in whi%h Ern sat- Ern tre($led and shoo&, feelin+ (ost alar(ed!Ern/ "t*s (e, Fatty- "*)e %o(e to $rin+ yo# so(e s#''er - and to tell yo# there*s a tor%h in the ta$le drawer, if yo# want to see to eat or to read- " shan*t $e a$le to %o(e down a+ain to the shed toni+ht, so +oodni+ht, and slee' well- "*ll $rin+ yo# so(e $rea&fast in the (ornin+-! !6oo, than&s, yo#*re a wonder, Fatty,! said the +ratef#l Ern, and too& the tray that Fatty handed in!There*s a $one for old Bin+o, fro( B#ster,! said Fatty, +i)in+ hi( a 'a'er $a+- !9o lon+, Ern- 9ee yo# to(orrow/! !9o lon+,! said Ern, +ratef#lly, and sat down to eat a ni%e 'ie%e of fried fish, (ashed 'otatoes and +reens- 0e +a)e the $one to Bin+o, who was thrilled- 0e (ade s#%h a noise +nawin+ it that Ern felt s#re it %o#ld $e heard for (iles aro#nd/ !Bin+o, old do+ - are yo# en2oyin+ this3! said Ern when at last he had #ndressed and sli''ed #nder the r#+ that Fatty had left for the %a('-$ed- !6o(e on #nder the r#+ with (e - we*ll &ee' ea%h other war(- That*s ri+ht- 9n#++le down- <oodni+ht/! <oodni+ht, Ern and Bin+o- o#*re :#ite safe, tho#+h 9o(e$ody has 'ee'ed in at the window, and &nows yo# are there/ Don*t worry: it was only the $la%& %at ne;t door - and she fled as soon as she saw Bin+o/ 9lee' ti+ht/

G - OFF TO BA=90EE 0"LL Ern had a ha''y, $#t )ery restless ni+ht- Bin+o &e't i(a+inin+ that he heard rats r#nnin+ ro#nd o#tside the shed, tryin+ to +et in, and lea't on and off the %a('-$ed e)ery few (in#tes, r#shin+ to sniff ro#nd the %orners of the shed, his lon+ tail wa)in+ in e;%ite(ent!Bin+o/ "*d (#%h rather ha)e rats ni$$lin+ (y toes than yo# 2#('in+ off and on (y t#((y all ni+ht lon+,! said Ern at last- !For +oodness sa&e %o(e and lie down-! Tired o#t at last, Bin+o %#ddled #nder the r#+ and fell aslee'- Era '#t an ar( ro#nd hi( and went to slee' too, dead to the world #ntil (ornin+0e awo&e to hear a stealthy &no%&in+ on the door and flew o#t of $ed to o'en it- Fatty was there +ood old Fatty - his 'o%&ets $#l+in+- B#ster was with hi(, and i((ediately went to r#$ noses with Bin+o!0allo, Ern,! said Fatty, '#shin+ his way in :#i%&ly to 're)ent the e;%ited Bin+o fro( r#shin+ o#t!<ot to $e a $it %aref#l - <ardener*s here this (ornin+, and he*d $etter not see yo# in the shed0e (i+ht tell <oon/! !"*ll $e )ery %aref#l, then,! said Ern, as Fatty '#lled a hastily-wra''ed 'a%&et fro( one 'o%&et, and so(e a''les fro( another-

!0ere yo# are, Ern,! he said- !Best " %o#ld do for the (o(ent- " didn*t dare to ta&e too (#%h fro( the larder, $#t there were 'lenty of e++s, so that was so(ethin+- 0ow*s old Bin+o3 .as he +ood last ni+ht3! !.ell, he see(ed to $e h#ntin+ ro#nd for rats for 4ho#rs4,! said Ern, #nwra''in+ the 'a%&et Fatty +a)e hi(- !6oo - hard-$oiled e++ sandwi%hes - s(ashin+/ And two $#ttered rolls - with honey inside/ o#*re a $ri%&, Fatty, strai+ht yo# are-! ! o#*ll find so(e little $ottles of le(onade in that %#'$oard,! said Fatty- !And an o'ener too- " daren*t $rin+ yo# a 'ot of tea- Mother wo#ld start as&in+ :#estions/! Ern sat ha''ily (#n%hin+ his e++ sandwi%hes, a +lass of le(onade $eside hi(, with Bin+o sittin+ e;'e%tantly at his feet- B#ster went sniffin+ at the $otto( of a se%ond %#'$oard, and Fatty la#+hed!0e &nows a 'a%&et of his $is%#its is &e't there, and he wants to +i)e old Bin+o so(e,! said Fatty, +ettin+ #'- !A( " ri+ht, B#ster, old thin+3! !.oof/! said B#ster, dan%in+ ro#nd e;%itedly, his tail wa++in+, Bin+o 2oined hi(, ha)in+ heard the word $is%#its/ 9oon he and B#ster were a(ia$ly sharin+ a 'a%&et, %r#n%hin+ #' the $is%#its in deli+htB#ster was o)er2oyed to ha)e Bin+o to 'lay with- 0e s#ddenly went %o('letely (ad and $e+an to r#sh ro#nd and ro#nd the roo( at to' s'eed, $ar&in+ wildly- Bin+o 2oined hi(, and the two $oys h#rriedly lea't o#t of the way!9h#t #', B#ster,! said Fatty- !Don*t do yo#r ra%ehorse +allo' in here- <osh, there +oes the le(onade/ BA9TE?/ 0a)e yo# +one %o('letely (ad3! !B"=<O/ Oh (y +oodness, he*s +ot hold of the r#+ now,! said Ern- !0e*ll tear it to 'ie%es - loo& at the( ha)in+ a t#+-of-war- Fatty, yo#*ll ha)e to ta&e B#ster away- They*ll wre%& e)erythin+/! A %a#tio#s &no%& %a(e at the door and the two do+s left their 'lay and r#shed to it, $ar&in+ (adly!6OME "=/! yelled Fatty- !M"=D T0E DO<9/! "t was little Bets, %o(e to $rin+ Ern a 'a%&et of food- Ern +a)e her a h#+ and o'ened the 'a%&etBets had (ade hi( so(e 'otted (eat sandwi%hes, and $ro#+ht hi( two %#rrant $#ns as well!And ne;t ti(e " %o(e "*ll try and $rin+ a 'ot of 2a(,! she said- !Oh, loo& at Bin+o - he*s sittin+ #' and $e++in+/ Did yo# tea%h hi( that, Ern3! !=o,! said Ern, in s#r'rise- !1erha's B#ster did- <ood, Bin+o, +ood/ o# %an sto' $e++in+ nowThose sandwi%hes are for 4(e4-! !" $ro#+ht Bin+o a $all,! said Bets, feelin+ in her %oat 'o%&et- !0ere, Bin+o - %at%h/! The $all-+a(e $e%a(e )ery $oistero#s, as B#ster also 2oined in, and soon %hairs went flyin+, and r#+s slithered a$o#t- "n the (iddle of it Fatty*s (other loo&ed in at the door!.hate)er is +oin+ on3! she said- !" &no%&ed, Fatty, $#t there was s#%h a noise " s#''ose yo# didn*t hear- .hy, 4Ern4 - yo# here already3 o#*re )ery early- 0ow is yo#r #n%le, Mr <oon3 ! Ern was rather ta&en-a$a%&- !Er - well, he has a $it of a %o#+h,! he said-

!Dear, dear, " ho'e he didn*t %o#+h all ni+ht, 'oor (an,! said Mrs Trotte)ille!" don*t &now- " didn*t hear hi( %o#+hin+ at all,! said Ern, tr#thf#lly! o# and Bets are here )ery early today,! said Fatty*s (other- !"s there a Meetin+ - or are yo# +oin+ o#t to+ether, or so(ethin+3! ! es, Mother, yes, we*re all +oin+ off on an e;'edition,! said Fatty hastily- !.e shall $e startin+ 'retty soon- Er - any %han%e of sandwi%hes for Ern and (e3! !"*ll tell 6oo&,! said Mrs Trotte)ille, and disa''eared #' the +arden 'ath, (#%h to e)eryone*s relief- Fatty frowned at B#ster!"t was yo#r silly $ar&in+, and Bin+o*s, that (ade Mother %o(e and see what was +oin+ on,! he said- !9it/ And yo# too, Bin+o - 9"T/! B#ster 'ro('tly sat, loo&in+ #' at Fatty with 'ri%&ed ears- Bin+o too& one loo& at hi( and did the sa(e!And now - not another $ar& o#t of yo#, see3! said Fatty to B#ster, and Ern 'ointed his fin+er at Bin+o, and said e;a%tly the sa(e- Bets +i++led!They loo& li&e two na#+hty little $oys - and do loo&, Bin+o is '#ttin+ his ton+#e o#t at yo#, Ern/! 9#re eno#+h, Bin+o*s ton+#e was lollin+ o#t of his o'en (o#th, as he sat 'antin+ on the r#+- 0is $ri+ht eyes were fi;ed lo)in+ly on Ern!6o#'le of fatheads,! said Ern- )ery 'ro#d of his do+- !=ow 2#st &ee' sittin+ till we say yo# %an +et #'-! !Loo&,! said Fatty- !" rather thin& we*d $etter set off on this first e;'edition of o#rs this (ornin+, as "*)e said we were +oin+- Bets, +o and ro#nd #' 1i' and Larry and Daisy, will yo#3 Tell the( to $e here in half an ho#r, with $i%y%les, sandwi%hes and drin&s-! !?i+ht, Fatty,! said Bets, ha''ily, and off she went- An e;'edition all to+ether - to Banshee Towers/ "t really wo#ld $e f#n"n 2#st o)er half an ho#r e)eryone was ready- 1i' %a(e with Bets, Larry with Daisy, all on their $i%y%les- =ow, how %o#ld they +et Ern*s $i%y%le too - it was in the shed at Mr <oon*s/ !An%le will $e at the 'oli%e station $y now,! said Ern- !" %o#ld ni' in and +et it-! !All ri+ht, $#t for +oodness sa&e don*t +et %a#+ht,! said Fatty- Ern shot off, and ran all the way to Mr <oon*s ho#se- 0e went to the wood-shed, o'ened it and was than&f#l to see his $i%y%le still there- !<ood thin+ An%le didn*t thin& of it, or he*d ha)e lo%&ed it #'/! he tho#+ht, and rode off at to' s'eed, &ee'in+ a wary eye o#t for <oon- Fort#nately he was safely at the 'oli%e station, )ery $#sy indeed9oon they were all %y%lin+ away down the %o#ntry lanes, )ery ha''y to $e +oin+ on a 'i%ni% to Banshee 0ill- The s'rin+ s#n shone down, the $irds san+ in the hed+es, and the s&y was as $l#e as in s#((er!" %an feel so(e 'ortry %o(in+ into (y head,! said Ern to Bets who was ridin+ $eside hi(!1oetry/! said Bets- !Oh, Ern, yo#*re so %le)er at (a&in+ #' 'oetry- Do tell it to (e/ 0ow does it +o3 !

Ern lo)ed (a&in+ #' what he %alled his !'ortry!- 0e went on %y%lin+, his head f#ll of the thin+s he saw aro#nd hi( - 'ri(roses in the dit%hes, %owsli's in the fields, new +reen lea)es on the hawthorn, %ows +ra5in+, 'i+eons %ooin+--!.ell, it hasn*t :#ite %o(e yet,! he said- !B#t " &now what "*( +oin+ to %all it - *6oo*-! !Oh, is it a son+ the 4do)es4 are +oin+ to sin+ - all a$o#t the s'rin+3! said Bets- !9ay it to (e, Ern-! Ern sailed alon+ on his $i%y%le, lo#dly %hantin+ the !'ortry! that had s#ddenly %o(e into his head!6oo, loo& at the( 'ri(roses down in the dit%h, 9(ilin+ all o)er their fa%es6oo, listen to all the $irds #' in the hed+e, And lar&s in the $i+ o'en s'a%es6oo, loo& at the %ows and the %owsli's too, And--- and---! !And what3! said Bets- !Do +o on, Ern- "t*s wonderf#l-! !6an*t see( to thin& of the end of it,! said Ern, frownin+- !That*s the worst of (e when " thin& of 'ortry, Bets - it %o(es and +oes - and now it*s +one- 1*ra's Fatty %an thin& of the endin+-! !.e*ll as& hi( when we ha)e o#r l#n%h,! said Bets- !Loo& - isn*t that Bannshee 0ill #' there3! !6oo - what a hill/! said Ern, so#ndin+ as if he were $e+innin+ his !6oo! son+ a+ain- !" $et we*ll ha)e to wal& half way #' it- "*ll '#sh yo#r $i&e for yo#, Bets-! es, it was Banshee 0all - a )ery hi+h one, r#nnin+ #' stee'ly, with a windin+ road twistin+ to the s#((it- As they %a(e near to it, the s#n s#ddenly went in and a +reat $la%& %lo#d $lew #' $ehind it!" s#''ose that*s Banshee Towers ri+ht at the )ery to',! said Bets- !E#eer-loo&in+ 'la%e - it stands there as if it*s +lowerin+ down at #s- " don*t li&e it )ery (#%h - es'e%ially with that $la%& %lo#d $ehind it-! ! o#*re ri+ht,! said Ern, as they $e+an to %y%le slowly #' the windin+ road that led to the to'!7ery $anshee-ish- " sho#ld say- Loo&s as if it wants to +r#($le and +rowl and wail/ B#%& #', yo#n+ Bets - " $elie)e it*s +oin+ to 'o#r with rain- 0ere, let (e wheel yo#r $i&e for yo# - it*s too stee' to ride 2#st here/! Fatty had 2#st t#rned ro#nd to see if the +irls were (ana+in+ all ri+ht, and was 'leased to see Ern wheelin+ Bets* $i%y%le for her- Ern (i+ht $e ro#+h and ready so(eti(es, $#t he had )ery ni%e ways, tho#+ht Fatty- 0e %alled to Daisy!.ant any hel', Daisy3 ! !=o, "*( all ri+ht,! said Daisy, 'antin+- !" 2#st ho'e we*ll +et to the to' $efore it 'o#rs/ " say - that loo&s a 'retty +ri( 'la%e #' on the hill, doesn*t it3! ! es - (ore li&e an old fortress than anythin+/! sho#ted $a%& Fatty- !Loo& at the two do+s - we*)e left the( far $ehind/ =e)er (ind - they*ll %at%h #s #' so(eti(e-! They arri)ed at the +loo(y old 'la%e at last, and sta%&ed their $i%y%les in a %on)enient shedThen they (ade their way to the entran%e-

!This way to the .ailin+ Banshee/! said Larry, +rinnin+ at Daisy and Bets- !Ma&e ready to r#n for yo#r li)es/! !Ass/! said Fatty, seein+ Bets* alar(ed fa%e- !"*ll (a&e 4yo#4 r#n for yo#r life if yo# say any (ore, Larry/ 6o(e on - we ha)e to 'ay to +o in so d#$ #'/

H - "=9"DE BA=90EE TO.E?9 !0ow (#%h to +o in, 'lease3! as&ed Fatty!One shillin+ ea%h,! said the do#r-loo&in+ (an $ehind the t#rnstiles!.hew - that*s rather a lot for #s %hildren to 'ay,! said 1i'- !Don*t we +o in for half-'ri%e3! ! o# do not,! said the (an, loo&in+ at the( se)erely o)er the to' of his s'e%ta%les!Do yo# %har+e for do+s3! as&ed Fatty!=o- They are =OT allowed in here,! said the (an- !Anyway, yo# ha)en*t any do+s with yo#-! !.e see( to ha)e lost the(,! said Fatty- !Er - do yo# %har+e for %ats3 " %an see one sittin+ in yo#r offi%e-! !And what a$o#t horses3! said Larry, 2oinin+ in- !Any o$2e%tion to horses or a shee' or two3! !=o horses and no shee',! said the (an- !And no silly asses, either, so $e %aref#l if 4yo#4 want to +o in, see3! !0e*s s(arter than he loo&s,! said Fatty to the others when they were safely inside- !Let*s $#y a %atalo+#e shall we3 " say - what a 'la%e/! !And what a 7"E./! said Daisy, +oin+ to one of the +reat windows that loo&ed down o)er the %o#ntryside- !<lorio#s/ o# %an see e)erythin+ for (iles aro#nd/! !Fatty/ 6o(e and loo& at this 'i%t#re/! %alled Bets- !"t*s so real yo# %an al(ost hear the swish of the wa)es/! They all went a%ross the stone floor, their feet %latterin+, to a wall where a +reat 'i%t#re was dis'layed - a stor(y sea, the wa)es risin+ hi+h, the s'ray flyin+!" feel as if (y fa%e is +ettin+ wet with s'ray when " loo& at that,! said Bets, in awe- !"sn*t it (a+nifi%ent/ Do $#y a %atalo+#e, Fatty- " want to see what it says a$o#t this 'i%t#re-! Fatty went $a%& to the (an at the t#rnstiles, too& a %atalo+#e and '#t down a shillin+, the (an didn*t e)en loo& #'- !9#rly fellow/! tho#+ht Fatty and went $a%& to the others, leafin+ thro#+h the %atalo+#e to find a des%ri'tion of the 'i%t#re that Bets li&ed!"t*s %alled *F#ry of the 9tor(*,! he said- !"t says the artist is one of the (ost fa(o#s of sea-artists - and wo#ld yo# $elie)e it, that 'i%t#re was 'ainted (ore than a h#ndred years a+o/ And yet it loo&s as fresh and %lear as if it had $een finished yesterday-! 9o(eone %lattered o)er the stone-floor, set down a stool and '#t an easel in front of a 'i%t#re on

the o''osite wall- 0e 'ro%eeded to set #' a lar+e %an)as on the easel- The %hildren went o)er, in %#riosity!0allo, &ids,! said the (an, a sho%&-haired fellow in a loose $la%& 'aintin+ o)erall- !6o(e to worshi' at the shrine of sea-art3 Mind yo# don*t $#(' into the $anshee- "t wails one day a wee&, yo# &now, so yo# 4(ay4 hear it-! !" don*t want to,! said Bets, at on%e- !Anyway, there isn*t a $anshee- "t*s 2#st i(a+inary-! There was f#rther %latterin+, and three (ore artists %a(e in, %arryin+ easels- They set the(sel)es down in front of )ario#s 'i%t#res- Fatty stared in s#r'rise!Are yo# 4%o'yin+4 the 'i%t#res3! he as&ed the (an $eside hi(, who was now sittin+ on a stool, (i;in+ %olo#rs on a 'alette! es- .e all $elon+ to a 9%hool of Art,! said the (an- !Those who are +ood eno#+h are sent here to %o'y these 'i%t#res for 'ra%ti%e - we %an sell the( all ri+ht afterwards, yo# &now-! Bets loo&ed at the 'i%t#re on the (an*s easel- "t didn*t see( )ery +ood to her- ! o# ha)en*t 'ainted that wa)e the ri+ht %olo#r,! she said, 'ointin+!.ell, alter it for (e,! said the (an, offerin+ her an enor(o#sly lon+ 'aint-$r#sh!Oh, " %o#ldn*t,! said Bets!9ee that fellow o)er there3! said the (an, 'ointin+ with his $r#sh- !.ell, he*s the $est of the lot0e doesn*t $elon+ to o#r art-s%hool, tho#+h- o# +o and see 4his4 wor& - $etter than the ori+inal artist*s, " so(eti(es thin&/! They went o)er to loo& at the 'i%t#re the other (an was %o'yin+- 0e sat in front of a lo)ely seas%a'e, that shone on the wall o''osite the (an- "t was a 'i%t#re of a $l#e sea swirlin+ ro#nd the $otto( of a hi+h %liff, t#($lin+ o)er the ro%&s- On his $i+ %an)as he was re'rod#%in+ a (ar)ello#s %o'y- 0e s%owled at the %hildren!4Alle5 )o#s en/4! he +rowled!That*s Fren%h for *<o away*,! Bets whis'ered to the s#r'rised Ern- !.e*d $etter +o-! B#t Ern wo#ldn*t (o)e- 0e stood starin+ at the 'i%t#re on the wall, his fa%e f#ll of wonder and awe- To thin& anyone %o#ld 'aint the sea li&e that - why, it was 4real4 - yo# %o#ld al(ost hear the wind and the roar of the wa)es - yo# %o#ld feel the s'ray and--!.a&e #'- Ern,! said Larry- ! o#*ll sho#t for a life$oat if yo# loo& at that 'i%t#re any (ore/! !"t*s s(ashin+,! said Ern- !A$-so-l#tely s(ashin+- .ish 4"4 %o#ld 'aint- <osh, if "*d 'ainted that 'i%t#re there, "*d ne)er do anythin+ $#t sit and loo& at it all day lon+/! The Fren%h artist who was %o'yin+ the 'i%t#re s#ddenly lost his te('er as Ern $reathed hea)ily down the $a%& of his ne%&- 0e lea't #', drew his 'aint-$r#sh a%ross Ern*s fa%e, and hissed at hi( with a lon+ strin+ of what so#nded li&e %o('lete +i$$erish to the startled Ern!6o(e on, we*)e #'set the fellow,! said Fatty, seein+ the alar( on Bets* fa%e- !9orry, sir - $#t yo# sho#ldn*t lash o#t with yo#r $r#sh li&e that- Ern, %o(e with (e- E?=/! B#t Ern was still starin+ at the 'i%t#re on the wall, a$sent-(indedly r#$$in+ at the 'aint that the artist had strea&ed a%ross his fa%e- Larry %h#%&led- Ern loo&ed rather li&e a %lown now/ Fatty and

Larry too& hi( fir(ly $y the ar(s and led hi( to the o''osite side of the +reat hall, where other 'i%t#res wereErn and Bets %o#ld ha)e stayed there all day, starin+ at the 'i%t#res- There see(ed to $e so(e (a+i% a$o#t the seas%a'es that a''ealed to ea%h of the( in a way that the others did not feel9oon they left Bets and Ern to the(sel)es and wandered into the other roo(s- 0ere there was old ar(o#r on the walls, and old wea'ons in %ases- The fo#r e;a(ined the( with (#%h interest, and Fatty lon+ed to ta&e down a +reat old 'i&e fro( the wall, and %a'er a$o#t with it!" don*t see why we sho#ldn*t ha)e o#r 'i%ni% in 4here4, do yo#3! said Larry, loo&in+ o#t of one of the +reat windows- !That enor(o#s $la%& %lo#d is now 'o#rin+ down sheets of rain- .e %an*t 'i%ni% o#t-of-doors- .e needn*t (a&e any (ess at all, and we*ll ta&e all o#r litter ho(e with #s-! !" $et that $ad-te('ered fellow o#t at the t#rnstile won*t let #s stay,! said Fatty!.hat*s it to do with 4hi(43! said Larry- !.e*)e 'aid, ha)en*t we3 Anyway, "*( 2olly h#n+ry- <osh, was that th#nder3! "t was/ The %hildren felt all the (ore deter(ined to stay in Banshee Towers for shelter, and ha)e their l#n%h there- Ern was lon+in+ to - not $e%a#se of the l#n%h, $#t $e%a#se of the 'i%t#res- 0e si('ly %o#ld not ta&e his eyes off the(/ The si; sat down in a %orner of one of the +reat roo(s, $ehind a &ind of lar+e settee- =ow if that t#rnstile (an loo&ed in, he wo#ldn*t see the( and t#rn the( o#t/ !.onder where the do+s are3! said Fatty, s#ddenly- !They o#+ht to ha)e $een here lon+ a+o-! !<one ra$$itin+ halfway #' the hill, " e;'e%t,! said Ern- !Or else that t#rnstile (an wo#ldn*t let the( in/ They*ll $e all ri+ht- They*ll either t#rn #' - or +o ho(e/! !9o(e of those artists are lea)in+,! said Larry- !" %an hear the( 'a%&in+ #' and sho#tin+ +ood$ye- 0allo, who are these3 1ee' thro#+h the ar(s of the settee, Fatty - )isitors, do yo# thin&3 ! es - they %ertainly loo&ed li&e si+htseers- There were three wo(en and a (an, and they a($led ai(lessly ro#nd, loo&in+ at the 'i%t#res and the old ar(o#r!=ot worth a shillin+, to %o(e in and see all this 2#n& - and " ne)er did li&e sea-'i%t#res,! said one wo(an- !All those 'i%t#re wa)es that ne)er $rea&, $#t 2#st rear #' and &ee' still/ <i)es (e the willies/! To the %hildren*s dis(ay, the )isitors sat down on the settee $ehind whi%h they were hidin+, and $e+an to r#stle 'a'er, #n'a%&in+ their l#n%h- !All the( silly tales too, a$o#t $anshees wailin+/! said the (an- !.e*)e wasted o#r shillin+s- "t wo#ld $e 4worth4 a shillin+ to hear a $anshee wail $#t there, " ne)er did $elie)e in thin+s li&e that-! "t was at this (o(ent that Fatty s#ddenly felt i('elled to $e a $anshee- The idea %a(e to hi( in a flash, and he %o#ldn*t sto' hi(self- 0e o'ened his (o#th and let o#t a (ar)ello#s wail, eerie, lon+-drawn, hi+h-'it%hed and really terrifyin+/ !Eeee-ooooo-ohhhhh-eeee-oh-oooOOOOOOO/! The (an and the three wo(en lea't #' fro( the settee as if they had ro%&ets #nder the(- One of the wo(en s%rea(ed, and then they all fo#r fled at to' s'eed to the door and o#t into the +reat hall to the entran%e where the t#rnstiles stood-

=ot only the )isitors 2#('ed al(ost o#t of their s&in- Larry, Daisy, 1i', Bets and Ern 2#('ed too, and %l#t%hed in fri+ht at one another, when the eerie wail e%hoed ro#nd the(- Larry reali5ed al(ost at on%e that it was Fatty, and he +a)e hi( a )ery hard '#n%h!Fathead/ .hat did yo# do that for3 " al(ost died of fri+ht/ Loo& at 'oor Bets - she*s tre($lin+/! Fatty, o)er%o(e with la#+hter and sha(e at one and the sa(e ti(e, %o#ldn*t say a word<rad#ally the others 2oined hi( in la#+hter, and the si; of the( rolled a$o#t, tryin+ not to la#+h too lo#dly!Oh, their fa%es/! +roaned Fatty- !Oh, what (ade (e do it3 "*( awf#lly sorry $#t it 2#st sort of %a(e o)er (e- Oh, how they s&edaddled/ And 4yo#r4 fa%es too/ Oh, " 4(#st4 la#+h a+ain, and "*)e s#%h a stit%h in (y side/! !" $et any artists left s&edaddled too/! said 1i', wi'in+ his eyes- ! o#*re a horror, Fatty- The thin+s yo# thin& of/ 0onestly, if it had $een a real $anshee wailin+, it %o#ldn*t ha)e done it $etter- " do thin&---! B#t what he tho#+ht the others ne)er &new, $e%a#se a (ost e;traordinary noise +rad#ally $e+an to e%ho all aro#nd - hi+h-'it%hed, wailin+, #nha''y/ "t went on and on, and Bets and Daisy %l#t%hed at the $oys in real terror!Fatty - that*s not yo# this ti(e, is it, Fatty3! said Daisy, in a sha&in+ )oi%e- !Oh, what is it3 " don*t li&e it, " don*t, " don*t- Tell it to sto'-! B#t the wailin+ went on and on, (o#rnf#l and (isera$le, and soon the %hildren h#ddled to+ether in fear, a(a5ed and fri+htenedAt last it sto''ed, and they all hea)ed a si+h of relief- !Let*s +et o#t of here,! said Larry- !"t*s all ri+ht, Bets- "t was 'ro$a$ly 2#st a silly e%ho wailin+ ro#nd the hill- 6heer #'/ Fatty, $rin+ the l#n%h - we*ll ha)e it so(ewhere else- DO %o(e on/!

I - A 9T?A=<E D"96O7E? / Fatty %olle%ted the l#n%h and they all %re't o#t fro( $ehind the lar+e old settee- They wal&ed with rather sha&y le+s a%ross the roo( to the +reat hall where the artists had sat, %o'yin+ the 'i%t#res=ow only one was left - the Fren%h(an who had $een %o'yin+ the 'i%t#re that Ern had li&ed so (#%h0e was rollin+ #' a %an)as )ery %aref#lly, whistlin+ $elow his $reath- 0e 2#('ed when he saw the %hildren %o(in+ in, and loo&ed annoyed!9o yo# ha)e no fear of the $anshee3! he said- ! o# are $ra)e, $ra)e, $ra)e/ 9ee, all the others ha)e +one- 4"ls a)aient 'e#r4 - they were so, so afraid- B#t " - " a( not afraid of the $anshees nor of - how do yo# %all it - +oosts3! !<hosts,! said Fatty- !Do yo# 4really4 (ean to say yo# weren*t s%ared3! !=o - $#t today there was so(ethin+ - so(ethin+ - how do yo# say it - :#eer3 First there was 4one4 $anshee wailin+ - and then, there was a 4se%ond4- " s#''ose, 4(es enfants4, yo# &now nothin+ of the first $anshee3! Fatty felt hi(self +oin+ red, $#t he wasn*t +oin+ to ad(it anythin+ to this la#+hin+ (an- 0e didn*t

li&e hi( )ery (#%h!Are yo# +oin+3! as&ed Fatty, seein+ the (an tyin+ the %an)as he had $een rollin+ #'!8#st to the )illa+e to (y %ar - and then $a%& a+ain to 'aint, 'aint, 'aint/! said the (an, and d#+ Fatty in the %hest with his roll of %an)as- !And yo# - yo# stay here to wail, wail, wail3 Ah, what a na#+hty $oy/! And ta&in+ no noti%e of Fatty*s an+ry fa%e, he strolled a%ross the hall and )a#lted o)er the t#rnstiles as easily as an a%ro$at!" s#''ose he thin&s he*s )ery %le)er-! +rowled Fatty, not at all en2oyin+ $ein+ la#+hed at $y the artist- !Listen, it*s still 'o#rin+ with rain- .e %an*t 'i%ni% on the hills, we*ll ha)e to ha)e it here, $anshee or no $anshee- Don*t loo& so s%ared- Bets - a wailin+ %an*t h#rt #s-! !The t#rnstile fellow has +one,! said Larry, loo&in+ a%ross to where the (an had sat when he too& their (oney- !<one to his l#n%h, " s#''ose- .ell, we sho#ld $e 'retty safe in this hall- 6o(e on let*s eat so(ethin+- .e*ll feel $etter then/! 9o they went o)er to where a +reat wooden seat stood, $eside an old oa& ta$le- Fatty #n'a%&ed the l#n%h, and soon they were all sittin+ down, eatin+ it, s#r'rised to find that they were so h#n+ry after their fri+ht!Ern, tell Fatty yo#r 'oe(,! said Bets, s#ddenly, seein+ a 'ie%e of 'a'er sti%&in+ o#t of Ern*s 'o%&et, and feelin+ %ertain that Ern had (ana+ed to find ti(e to write down his !'o(e!!1oe(3! said Fatty, s#r'rised- !0a)e yo# $een +oin+ in for 'oetry a+ain, Ern3 ! !Er - well, Fatty, it*s only a silly sort of 'o(e - " (ean 'oe(,! said Ern, $l#shin+- !"*)e %alled it *6oo*-! !Ah, it*s a$o#t do)es or 'i+eons then, is it3! said Fatty- !6ooin+-! !.ell, not e;a%tly that sort of %oo,! sad Ern, an;io#sly- !"t*s reely the sort of *%oo* yo# say when yo#*re s#r'rised, li&e- "*)e +ot it written down here- " (#st say " feel li&e writin+ a 'o(e a$o#t the sea too, now, after seein+ all those sea-'i%t#res-! ! o#*re a wonder, Ern,! said Fatty, and (eant it- !6o(e alon+, where*s this 'oe(3! !" %o#ldn*t finish it- Fatty,! said Ern, loo&in+ at it, !That*s the worst of (e- "t all %o(es in a r#sh, li&e, and then fades o#t and " %an*t thin& of a +ood endin+-! !.ell, read it Ern,! said Fatty- 9o Ern, $l#shin+ a+ain, read o#t his !'o(e!, at to' s'eed!6oo, loo& at the( 'ri(roses down in the dit%h, 9(ilin+ all o)er their fa%es6oo, listen to all the $irds #' in the hed+e, And lar&s in the $i+ o'en s'a%es6oo, loo& at the %ows and the %owsli's too, And--- and---! Ern sto''ed and loo&ed 'leadin+ly at Fatty- !" %an*t thin& of the end, Fatty- " 2#st %an*t-! !Oh 4yes4, Ern - there*s only one 4'ossi$le4 endin+,! said Fatty, and %arried on at on%e!6oo, loo& at the %ows and the %owsli's too,

And the lions so dandy and yellowAnd the %#'s f#ll of $#tter for (e and for yo#, And har& where the $#lr#shes $ellow/ 6oo, loo& at the r#nner $eans, how fast they +o, And---! By this ti(e the others were la#+hin+ so (#%h that Fatty had to sto' for $reath and la#+h too- Ern stared at hi( in ad(iration- !0ow do yo# do it, Fatty3! he as&ed, sole(nly- !Ta&es (e a+es to thin& of e)en one line, and yo# 2#st +o rattlin+ on and on - %oo, "*d ne)er ha)e tho#+ht of that line, *Loo& at the r#nner $eans, how fast they +o/* That*s ri+ht down f#nny, Fatty-! !Dear old Ern, yo#r lines are 'oetry, and (ine are not,! said Fatty, %la''in+ hi( on the $a%&! o#rs are 2#st a $it too *%ooey* that*s all- *6oo* isn*t a +ood word for 'oetry, #nless it*s said $y a do)e/! ! o#*re a wonder, yo# are,! said Ern, re(e($erin+ another of Fatty*s lines- !Lions so dandy and yellow - yo# (eant the yellow dandelions there didn*t yo# - honest, Fatty, yo#*re a +eni#s-! !Let*s %han+e the s#$2e%t,! said Fatty, feelin+ rather a fra#d- 0e %o#ld reel off )erse witho#t sto''in+, ridi%#lo#s, a(#sin+ and %le)er, and %o#ld ne)er thin& why e)eryone tho#+ht it wonderf#l!E)ery$ody finished3! as&ed Larry, s%rewin+ #' his 'a'ers- !There*s a litter $as&et o)er there-! !" say,! said 1i', s#ddenly- !.hat do yo# s#''ose has ha''ened to B#ster and Bin+o3 They o#+ht to $e here $y now, s#rely3! !Oh, " e;'e%t they t#rned tail and went ho(e when they +ot too far $ehind,! said Fatty- !They 'ro$a$ly lost o#r trail- .e shan*t see the( till we +et ho(e- " only ho'e they are $eha)in+ the(sel)es-! A s#dden, )ery fa(iliar noise (ade the( all 2#('/ !.oof/ .OOF/! !<olly - 4that4 so#nds li&e the(/! said Ern in a(a5e(ent- !.here are they3 " %an*t see the( anywhere/! !.#ff - woof/! !They*re $oth a$o#t so(ewhere/! said Fatty, '#55led- !B#t their $ar&s so#nd a $it (#ffledBA9TE?/ B"=<O/ .here on earth are yo#3 ! A s%ra$$lin+ noise %a(e fro( the $i+ fire'la%e and the %hildren went o)er to it at on%e- An old iron %a#ldron stood s:#arely in the (iddle of the wide hearth, and the $ar&in+ see(ed to %o(e fro( #nder there- Fatty lifted #' the hea)y old thin+, and +a)e a lo#d e;%la(ation!O0O/ .hat ha)e we here3 Loo& - a neat, ro#nd tra'-door/ The do+s see( to $e #nder it so(ewhere- Bets, +o and see if there*s anyone a$o#t whose 'er(ission we %an as& to '#ll #' the tra'-door-! Bets ran to the t#rnstile and loo&ed all a$o#t- There was no one to $e seen- 9he h#rried $a%&, !=o, Fatty, " %an*t see a so#l- " e;'e%t the t#rnstile (an is away ha)in+ his dinner - and the artists ha)en*t %o(e $a%& yet, tho#+h they*)e left their easels here-! !?i+ht- Then we*ll ha)e to yan& #' the tra'-door 4witho#t4 'er(ission/! said Fatty- !0el' (e, Ern-!

There was now s#%h a lo#d and e;%ited $ar&in+ %o(in+ fro( $eneath the tra'-door that it see(ed al(ost as if there (i+ht $e half a do5en do+s $elow, not 2#st two/ !0ow 4did4 they +et there3! said Larry, wat%hin+ Fatty and Ern hea)in+ #' the tra'-door- !They %an*t 'ossi$ly ha)e +ot down thro#+h the tra'-door - so they (#st ha)e fo#nd a way into the hill and +one #' an #nder+ro#nd t#nnel to Banshee Towers-! !Oooh - a 9e%ret 1assa+e/! said Bets, her eyes shinin+- !6an we +o down it3! !0ere she %o(es/! said Fatty, 'antin+ hard as he and Ern hea)ed the tra'-door o#t of its 'la%e"((ediately the two do+s h#rled the(sel)es o#t, and fell #'on Ern and Fatty in rha'sodies of 2oy, $ar&in+, li%&in+, 'awin+ as if they had +one (ad!9teady on, steady on,! said Fatty, '#shin+ B#ster down- !B#ster, will yo# &indly tell (e how yo# +ot here3! !.oof/! said B#ster, dan%in+ a$o#t ha''ily!And how did 4yo#4 +et here, Bin+o,! de(anded Ern, whose do+ see(ed intent on li%&in+ e)ery sin+le in%h of his fa%e- !9to' it, Bin+o- " shall ha)e to $orrow a towel fro( so(ewhere soon- @ee' yo#r ton+#e in yo#r (o#th for a $it- Oh, +oodness, there he +oes a+ain/! Larry was loo&in+ down the hole where the tra'-door had $een- 0e too& o#t a s(all tor%h fro( his 'o%&et and swit%hed it on- 0e +a)e a s#dden e;%la(ation!Loo& - there are ste's %#t down fro( the hearth - al(ost li&e ladder ste's, +oin+ down and down- .here on earth do they +o to3! !.e (i+ht ha)e ti(e to e;'lore a $it,! said Fatty, feelin+ thrilled to see the ste's leadin+ down into the dar&ness- !Bets - +o and see if we*re still the only ones here-! Bets ran off and then %a(e $a%&, her fa%e rather fri+htened- !Fatty, the t#rnstile (an is %o(in+ #' the hill- 0e*s nearly here- 1#t the tra'-door $a%&, :#i%&ly/! Ern and Fatty lifted the tra'-door into 'la%e and then '#t the hea)y %a#ldron o)er it- They were still &neelin+ down $y the fire'la%e when the t#rnstile (an %a(e in, (#n%hin+ an a''le- 0e +a)e an an+ry sho#t when he saw the(!E#i%& - 'retend we*)e dro''ed a shillin+,! said Fatty, in a low, #r+ent )oi%e- !Loo& for it, all of yo# - in the hearth and on the %ar'et too - :#i%&/! 9o, when the '#55led t#rnstile (an ran #', they were all a''arently h#ntin+ fe)erishly for a lost shillin+/ !4M#st4 find it/! Fatty was sayin+- !9i('ly (#st- A shillin+ is a shillin+- .here on earth did it +o3 "s that it o)er there, Bets3! !Oh, so yo#*)e dro''ed so(e (oney, ha)e yo#3! said the (an- !9#re that*s all yo#*re #' to3 Let 4(e4 ha)e a loo&/! And down he dro''ed on hands and &nees too- 0e +a)e a s#dden sho#t, and 'i%&ed so(ethin+ #'!"*)e +ot it- 0ere it is/! And he held #' a shillin+ in tri#('h!Than&s,! said Fatty, and held o#t his hand- B#t the (an la#+hed in his fa%e, and sli''ed the %oin into his tro#ser 'o%&et, !Findin+*s &ee'in+,! he said- !=ow yo# +o off, all of yo#- o#*)e $een here

lon+ eno#+h- And how did those do+s +et in3 o# o#+ht to 'ay for the(, yo# did-! !Oh, aren*t they 4yo#r4 do+s3! said Ern, in s#%h a s#r'rised )oi%e that Bets had to '#t her hand o)er her (o#th to sto' a la#+h es%a'in+!My do+s/ " sho#ld thin& not- " %an*t $ear the(/! said the (an, and (ade as if he were +oin+ to &i%& B#ster- B#ster +rowled and showed his teeth and the (an $a%&ed h#rriedly away- !<o on, now - yo# %lear o#t,! he said- !Th#rsday*s (y afternoon off, and " want a $it of 'ea%e/! And, )ery than&f#lly, the %hildren did %lear o#t, and went to fet%h their $i%y%les, the do+s +a($ollin+ ro#nd!.hat a $it of l#%& a shillin+ had $een dro''ed in that hearth so(eti(e, $y so(e$ody,! said Ern, as they all (o#nted!Dear Ern - " dro''ed it there 4(yself4,! +rinned Fatty- !" &new if that fellow fo#nd it, as " (eant hi( to, he wo#ldn*t worry a$o#t the tra'-door any (ore/ 6o(e on now, ho(e, e)eryone- 0o(e, B#ster/ Bin+o/ 0OME/!

J - 0OME A<A"= - A=D A <OOD LO=< TAL@ !.ell - that was a rather s#r'risin+ e;'edition/! said Fatty, when they were well away fro( Banshee Towers- !" feel we ha)e :#ite a lot to thin& a$o#t- The wailin+ of the $anshee - " don*t (ean 4(y4 wailin+, of %o#rse, that wasn*t a 'at%h on the old $anshee*s - (y word, 4she4 %o#ld wail all ri+ht/! !Don*t re(ind (e of it,! said Bets, with a sh#dder- !" 2#st want to '#t Banshee Towers $ehind (e and ride away ho(e down this hill, as :#i%&ly as " %an/! !And then there was that :#eer tra'-door in the hearth,! said Larry- !And the '#55le of how on earth the do+s arri)ed #nderneath it-! !And 4"4 didn*t li&e the loo& of that t#rnstile (an at all,! anno#n%ed Daisy- !" tho#+ht he loo&ed a )illain-! !Oh, not as $ad as 4that4,! said 1i'- !0e 2#st loo&ed $ored and $ad-te('ered - and " (#st say " wo#ld too, if " had a t#rnstile 2o$ on the to' of a %old hill in a 'la%e where $anshees wailed/! !"*d li&e to +et ho(e and tal& a$o#t it,! said Larry- !" don*t &now what 4yo#4 thin&, Fatty, $#t it all see(s 'retty :#eer to (e-! !A $it of a (ystery, yo# (ean3! said Fatty- !.ell - it*s a$o#t ti(e that the Fi)e Find-O#ters had a +ood 2#i%y (ystery to sol)e, isn*t it3! !Oh 4yes4/! said 1i', in deli+ht- !.e*)e ne)er had one with $anshees in $efore-! !.ell, " %o#ld do witho#t $anshees, really,! said Bets- !.hat a$o#t tellin+ the 6hief "ns'e%tor yo# &now, "ns'e%tor 8en&s - he (i+ht---! !Bets, we really 4%an*t4 tell hi( silly stories of $anshees,! said Fatty- !They don*t 4really4 e;ist, yo# &now- They---! !All ri+ht - well, what 4was4 it that we heard this afternoon3! said Bets- !" don*t %are what its na(e

is, it was as $ad and weird and horri$le as any $anshee, so there/! ! o#*re ri+ht, Bets- "t was 'retty awf#l,! said 1i'- !" didn*t li&e it (yself- ?eal or #nreal, that $anshee is MO9T (ysterio#s- Loo& o#t, now, we*re %o(in+ to a )ery stee' $it- <o as slowly as yo# %an all the way, in %ase yo#r $ra&es are wea&-! Away down the hill they sailed in a lon+ line, the the two do+s +allo'in+ (anf#lly - or !do+f#lly! as Bets said - after the(- .hat a day they had had - and how they all lon+ed to $e down in Fatty*s wor&roo( and tal& a$o#t it - and (a&e 'lans to sol)e yet another Mystery/ Bets shi)ered with e;%ite(ent- There always see(ed to $e a (ystery of so(e sort when Fatty was aro#nd/ E)eryone was +lad to $e in Fatty*s %osy wor&roo(, es'e%ially the two do+s, who were :#ite tired o#t with their lon+ r#n- B#ster flo''ed down in his $as&et, 'antin+, and Bin+o fell on to' of hi(, too tired to 'lay- "n half a se%ond they were so#nd aslee'!One +reat $as&etf#l of do+s,! said Bets, s(ilin+- !"*( +lad they*re s#%h friends-! !"t*s ni%e for Bin+o to ha)e a friend li&e B#ster - yo# &now, well-$ro#+ht-#', li&e,! said Ern- !" want Bin+o to ha)e +ood (anners- 0e*ll learn fro( old B#ster - real %o'y-%at Bin+o is/! !=o, no,! said Fatty, +ra)ely- !There yo# (a&e a (ista&e, Ern- =ot a %o'y-%at, s#rely - a %o'y4do+4/! !0a ha - f#nny 2o&e,! said 1i', who was tired, and not in the (ood for Fatty*s :#i's!"*( thirsty,! said Larry- !Any oran+e s:#ash, Fatty3! !1lenty in (y %#'$oard,! said Fatty- !And +lasses too- And there*s so(e %ho%olate so(ewhereB#%& #' and +et what yo# want- "*( lon+in+ to dis%#ss the stran+e ha''enin+s of this (ornin+o# &now - " thin& 9o(ethin+*s <oin+ On A' There-! !A' where3! as&ed Ern!Banshee 0ill, ass,! said Fatty- !Two thin+s '#55le (e - that $anshee wail - and the hole #nder the hearth, where that %a#ldron stands-! !.ell, what*s '#55lin+ a$o#t the $anshee wail3! as&ed Bets- ! o# 4said4 that*s what $anshees did - wail and howl and %ry-! ! es - $#t yo# heard what that artist in the $la%& o)erall said,! went on Fatty- !0e said that the $anshee only wailed one day a wee&/ .ell - why only 4one4 day3! !1erha's $anshees only 4do4 wail one day a wee&-! s#++ested Daisy- !" (ean - all that awf#l wailin+ (#st $e a terri$le strain on the throat- " $et 4yo#r4 throat felt sore after yo#*d wailed at the to' of yo#r )oi%e - yo# so#nd a $it h#s&y to (e-! !.ell, "*( 4not4, said Fatty- !" %o#ld wail li&e that for half an ho#r or (ore and not feel h#s&y-! !For +oodness sa&e don*t do anythin+ of the sort,! said Larry- ! o#*d ha)e the fire-$ri+ade here and the 'oli%e, and e)ery do%tor in the 'la%e-! !Do %o(e $a%& to the 'oint, Larry-! said Fatty- !.0 does the $anshee only wail on%e a wee&3 There %an*t $e a real $anshee there - there aren*t s#%h thin+s- "t (#st $e so(e$ody fa&in+ one $#t why3 ! !For f#n,! said Bets-

! es, $#t why on a %ertain 4day43! 'ersisted Fatty!.hat on earth does it (atter3! said 1i', +ettin+ tired of the s#$2e%t- !"t %an wail 4e)ery4 day of the wee&, for all " %are-! !1i', yo# sho#ld ha)e a (ore alert, en:#irin+ (ind,! said Fatty, sole(nly- ! o# &now - that*s a fa&e $anshee - and "*d 2olly well li&e to find o#t who*s wor&in+ it and how - and why-! !" don*t want to +o #' that hill a+ain,! said Bets- !" lo)ed the 'i%t#res - $#t " hated the wailin+-! !Don*t worry, Bets- o# needn*t +o- B#t 4"*(4 +oin+,! said Fatty- !"*( +oin+ to(orrow- " tell yo#, " 9(ell a Mystery/! !.ell, yo# (#st ha)e the (ost 'owerf#l nose any$ody e)er had,! said Larry- !All " %an s(ell is that oil-sto)e s(o&in+- " s#''ose yo#r nose is too hi+h and (i+hty to s(ell ordinary thin+s li&e that- T#rn down the wi%&, Ern - yo#*re nearest-! Ern t#rned down the wi%& %aref#lly- !Fatty,! he said, !%o#ld " %o(e with yo# if yo# +o to Banshee 0ill to(orrow - not to (ess a$o#t in a (ystery, tho#+h - 2#st to see those sea-'i%t#res a+ainEs'e%ially the one with the hi+h %liffs and the $l#e sea swirlin+ ro#nd it-! !Oh - the one the Fren%h artist was %o'yin+,! said Fatty- ! es, that was a $ea#ty- All ri+ht, Ern, yo# %an %o(e with (e - yo#*ll $e %o('any - and while yo# stand and +loat o)er the 'i%t#res, " %an do a little snoo'in+- "t*s 2#st as well " sho#ld ha)e so(eone with (e who is o$)io#sly there to see the 'i%t#res/! !Oooh, than&s, Fatty,! said Ern, !" ho'e that $anshee doesn*t %o(e wailin+ ro#nd (e, tho#+h-! !"t only wails 4on%e4 a wee&, Ern,! said Fatty- !"*ll eat (y %a' if it wails to(orrow/ "*( 'retty %ertain it has its 'et day, for 4so(e4 reason or other-! !Loo& - we*d $etter +o, Daisy and ",! said Larry, +ettin+ #' in a h#rry- !<osh - "*d :#ite for+otten o#r <ranny was %o(in+ to tea- B#%& #', Daisy, for +oodness sa&e- .e*re +oin+ o#t for the day to(orrow, Fatty, so we won*t $e seein+ yo#- 9o lon+/! They shot o#t of the shed door and the others heard the( ra%in+ #' the +arden- 1i' stood #' then, and yan&ed Bets to her feet- !6o(e alon+, Bets,! he said- ! o# loo& half aslee'- Tele'hone #s, Fatty, when there*s a Meetin+ a+ain-! !" sho#ld thin& Bets is tired o#t with the lon+ $i%y%le ride,! said Fatty, +i)in+ Bets a h#+!<ood$ye, Bets - and don*t drea( of $anshees toni+ht/! !" ho'e "*( not $ein+ a n#isan%e to yo#- Fatty,! said Ern, when the others had +one- !9tayin+ here in yo#r shed-! !=o - no, of 4%o#rse4 yo#*re not a n#isan%e, Ern,! said Fatty- !0allo - who*s this %o(in+ - " see( to &now those hea)y footste's-! !"t*s An%le/! said Ern, in alar(- !0e (#st ha)e heard that "*)e not +one ho(e- Fatty, hide (e/! !There*s nowhere to hide yo#,! said Fatty, loo&in+ ro#nd- !0e*d loo& in that %#'$oard at on%e/ Listen now, Ern, "*ll lo%& the door - and when yo#r #n%le %o(es &no%&in+ on it, yo# sli' :#ietly o#t of the window, see3 "*ll hand Bin+o to yo#- 0ide so(ewhere and %o(e $a%& when <oon is +one-! Ban+-$an+-$an+/ That was <oon at the shed door- Fatty had :#i%&ly t#rned the &ey in the lo%&,

so the 'oli%e(an %o#ld not o'en it- A roar %a(e fro( the other side!Frederi%& Trotte)ille, yo# o'en this door- " &now yo#*)e +ot Ern in there- " saw hi( thro#+h the window- o# o'en this door or "*ll +o to yo#r father-! !4Ern34 Ern in 4here4, Mr <oon/ o# (#st $e seein+ thin+s/! sho#ted Fatty, +oin+ to the door!.ait a (in#te - it*s lo%&ed- 9h#t #', B#ster, (a&in+ that row/! B#ster and Bin+o were %ertainly (a&in+ a terrifi% noise- =either of the( li&ed Mr <oon, and they had re%o+ni5ed his )oi%e at on%e- Ern was now +ettin+ o#t of the window at the side of the shed0e 'atted the sill and Bin+o %a(e r#nnin+ to hi(, and lea't into his ar(s- !9h/! said Ern- !=o $ar&in+, now-! 0e %re't off to where a thi%& %l#(' of $#shes +rew, and s:#ee5ed into the (iddle of the(Fatty :#ietly sh#t the window after hi( and ran $a%& to the door, on whi%h <oon was still an+rily ha((erin+- !Be 'atient, Mr <oon,! said Fatty- !The &ey see(s to ha)e st#%& - ah - it*s all ri+ht now - there we are/! 0e t#rned the &ey s(artly, and fl#n+ o'en the door- The an+ry 'oli%e(an stor(ed into the shed at on%e, sho#tin+ at the to' of his )oi%e !Ern/ E?=/ o# %o(e alon+a (e- o# ne)er went ho(e/ o# diso$eyed (e/ o# 2#st wait and see what---! B#t <oon didn*t finish what he had to say $e%a#se B#ster fl#n+ hi(self on hi( with enor(o#s deli+ht, tryin+ to ni' his an&les thro#+h the thi%& tro#sers!<A0/! said Mr <oon, &i%&in+ o#t- !That do+ a+ain/ .here*s Ern3 " saw hi(, " &now " did/! !.ell, ha)e a +ood loo& ro#nd, Mr <oon,! said Fatty, 'olitely- !0e (ay $e #nder that stool - or $ehind the $oo&s in the $oo&%ase - or in the do+*s $as&et- B#ster, sto' that row-! <oon was :#ite at a loss as he stood starin+ ro#nd the roo(- 0e 4had4 seen Ern there, he &new he had- "t didn*t o%%#r to hi( that Ern had had ti(e to sli' o#t of the window- 0e +lared at Fatty, and +lared at B#ster, and t#rned to +o- B#ster +a)e a $lood-%#rdlin+ +rowl, and <oon shot o#t of the door at to' s'eed! o# wait/! he sho#ted, as Fatty sh#t the door- !"*ll +et Ern all ri+ht - ho yes, "*ll +et hi(/! And away he went, (#tterin+ to hi(self- !That toad of a $oy - too %le)er $y half, he is- .here 4is4 Ern3 8#st wait till " +et hold of hi(- 0e won*t sit down 'ro'erly for a wee&, that he won*t/!

1K - BA=90EE TO.E?9 A<A"= .hen the 'oli%e(an had +one, Ern %re't o#t of the (iddle of the $#sh, and went $a%& to Fatty*s shed, +rinnin+- !Than&s, Fatty,! he said- ! o#*re a 'al/ " say - yo#*re s#re yo# don*t (ind if " +o #' to Banshee Towers with yo# to(orrow3! !Be ni%e to ha)e yo#r %o('any, Ern,! said Fatty, and (eant it/ !Also, yo# (ay $e #sef#l- o# see - " do want to snoo' aro#nd a $it, and if there are 'eo'le there, yo# (i+ht $e a$le to ta&e #' their attention so(ehow--- so that no one will $e wat%hin+ 4(e4-! !B#t how do " ta&e #' anyone*s attention3! said Ern- alar(ed- !"*( no +ood at 'lay-a%tin+, Fatty, yo# &now that-! !Oh, Ern, yo# %an do a s#dden $it of ta' dan%in+ - or sin+ a little son+ - or 'retend to faint,! said

Fatty- !"*ll si+nal to yo# li&e this, if " want yo# to t#rn 'eo'le*s attention to yo#, and away fro( (e/! And Fatty s(oothed $a%& his hair three ti(es- !9ee3 Don*t loo& so alar(ed- =o$ody will lo%& yo# #', or $o; yo#r ears- They*ll 2#st stay still in astonish(ent, and for+et all a$o#t (e and what "*( doin+-! !All ri+ht- Fatty,! said Ern, in a (o#rnf#l )oi%e, and settled down to read one of Fatty*s $oo&s!6oo, the $oo&s yo#*)e +ot, Fatty - yo# (#st ha)e o)er a tho#sand- This one*s s(ashin+-! 0e was soon lost in the sea-story he had fo#nd in Fatty*s $i+ $oo&%ase- Bin+o lay ha''ily on Ern*s feet, and B#ster sat as %lose to Fatty as he %o#ld- Ern %a(e to the end of a %ha'ter, and loo&ed #' in +reat %ontent- 0e was 'erfe%tly ha''y- 0e had a friend, a do+, a +ood $oo&, and so(ewhere :#iet to read- Ern +a)e an enor(o#s si+h and went $a%& to his $oo&, thin&in+ how l#%&y he was to ha)e a %le)er friend li&e Fatty=e;t (ornin+ Ern wo&e #' feelin+ e;%ited- 0e sat #' on the %a('-$ed in the shed tryin+ to re(e($er the reason for his e;%ite(ent- !Of %o#rse - Fatty and " are +oin+ #' to that Banshee 'la%e a+ain - and " shall see those +rand 'i%t#res,! he tho#+ht, in deli+ht- !Bin+o - do yo# hear that3 9h, don*t $ar& too lo#dly- =o$ody (#st &now we*re here- "*)e told yo# that $efore-! Bin+o had sn#++led down on Ern*s feet all ni+ht lon+- 0e sat #', yawnin+, wonderin+ when his friend B#ster wo#ld %o(e- Bin+o tho#+ht the world of B#ster, and %o'ied hi( in e)ery way he %o#ld, e)en to r#$$in+ his nose with his left 'aw, instead of his ri+ht one- 0e %rawled o)er Ern*s &nees and +a)e hi( a s(a%&in+ li%& on the nose- Then he rolled o)er to $e ti%&led!Do yo# &now so(ethin+, Bin+o3! said Ern, sole(nly- !?i+ht now " a( feelin+ )ery )ery sorry for all those $oys and +irls who ha)en*t a do+ of their own- They 2#st don*t &now what they*re (issin+=ow then - that*s eno#+h li%&in+- <o and fet%h (e that towel, so that " %an wi'e (y fa%e- <ood do+, then - %le)er do+/ o# #nderstand e)erythin+ " say, don*t yo#3 =ow, 'lease ta&e the towel $a%&- 8olly +ood, Bin+o/! Fatty $ro#+ht Ern so(e $rea&fast, and then disa''eared to do a few 2o$s for his (other- !"*ll $e $a%& at ten and we*ll set off,! he said- !.e*ll ta&e l#n%h with #s - "*ll $#y it on the way, $e%a#se 6oo& is +ettin+ a $it s#s'i%io#s of the enor(o#s a''etite " see( s#ddenly to ha)e de)elo'ed9he said this (ornin+ that " see( to want eno#+h for 4two4 'eo'le - and she was ri+ht/! They set off 2#st after ten, and Fatty sto''ed to $#y so(e sandwi%hes, new %#rrant $#ns, and oran+es- 0e had a&eady '#t so(e le(onade and a %#' into his $i%y%le $as&et- Ern +a)e a s#dden %ry of alar(, as they rode #' the )illa+e street!Fatty - there*s (y #n%le/! 9#re eno#+h, there was Mr <oon, standin+ at the %ross-roads, dire%tin+ the $#sy traffi% with a frown- 0e %o#ldn*t $elie)e his eyes when he saw Ern %y%lin+ alon+ with Fatty/ 9to'/! he $awled!Ern/ o# heard (e- 9TO1/! B#t alas, Ern diso$eyed the Law- and 'edalled faster than e)er, lea)in+ 'oor Mr <oon )ery an+ry indeed/ !.oof/! said a lo#d )oi%e, as they 'edalled 'ast Mr <oon - and B#ster s#ddenly st#%& his head o#t of a wooden $o; that Fatty had tied to his rear (#d+#ard/ Bin+o was in a si(ilar $o;, on the $a%& of Ern*s $i%y%le, $#t he was so (#%h afraid of Mr <oon that he didn*t dare to )ent#re e)en the s(allest $ar&, as he 'assed hi(- 0e didn*t want to $e 'l#%&ed away fro( his $elo)ed Ern $y the lo#d-)oi%ed Mr <oon/ !<ood idea to ta&e the do+s with #s this way,! said Ern- !" re%&on it*s really too far for the( to r#n

all the way there and $a%&- They see( to li&e the ride, don*t they, Fatty3 <osh, 4"*(4 en2oyin+ it too-! As soon as they were o#t of the town, Fatty $#rst into son+!A' the street On 'edallin+ feet, 0ere we +o, Ern and "/ And a son+ we sin+ .ith a tin+-a-lin+-lin+, As we $oth +o $i%y%lin+ $y/ O#r wheels +o ro#nd .ith a swishity so#nd, As fast as the wind we fly, Thro#+h )illa+e and town, =ow #', now down, 0ere we +o, Ern and "/! Ern al(ost fell off his $i%y%le in ad(iration- !6oo, Fatty - did yo# 2#st (a&e that #' this )ery (in#te - 2#st li&e that3! !"t s#ddenly %a(e into (y head,! said Fatty, (odestly- !"t +oes ni%ely with o#r 'edallin+, Ern, doesn*t it3! And the two of the( san+ the Bi%y%lin+ 9on+, as Ern %alled it, at the to's of their )oi%es, 'edallin+ in stri%t ti(e to the rhyth( of the lines/ B#ster didn*t li&e the sin+in+, and $e+an to $ar&- Fatty t#rned ro#nd and addressed hi(- !=o, B#ster - yo#*)e +ot the words wron+ - 4and4 the t#ne as well-! That (ade Ern la#+h- They 'edalled on ha''ily and soon %a(e to the stee' hill, #' whi%h they had to toil slowly- Banshee Towers +lowered at the to' as if not wel%o(in+ the( at all- .hen they arri)ed there, the $oys '#t their $i%y%les into the ra%&s 'ro)ided in the shed, and sa#ntered to the t#rnstile- B#ster and Bin+o r#nnin+ at their heels!Oh - yo# a+ain,! said the (an, +r#('ily- !1l#s do+s/ Didn*t " say that 4no4 do+s were allowed3 "*d 2#st li&e to &now how those do+s +ot into Banshee Towers yesterday-! !"*)e no idea,! said Fatty- !They s#ddenly a''eared- One (in#te they were not there- The ne;t they were- =o one was (ore s#r'rised than 4we4 were-! !They %an stay in that shed o)er there,! said the (an- !B#t they %an*t +o indoors- 9ee3 ! !?i+ht,! said Fatty, 'ayin+ o#t two shillin+s- !" say, tell (e one thin+ - does the old $anshee wail on one s'e%ial day ea%h wee& - and if so, why3 ! !The le+end says that it was on a Th#rsday that %ala(ity %a(e to the Lord of Banshee Towers,! said the (an- !And so the $anshee wails that sa(e day-! !Oh - so Th#rsday is always the $anshee*s +reat day3! said Fatty- !7ery interestin+- 0a)e yo# any idea where yo#r $anshee li)es3! !Don*t as& daft :#estions,! said the t#rnstile (an, losin+ his te('er- !<o on in and don*t %o(e $otherin+ (e-! !8#st 4one4 (ore :#estion,! said Fatty- !Tell (e - when did the $anshee first $e+in to wail in (odern ti(es3 "t says in the %atalo+#e that she #sed to wail a h#ndred years a+o - or so the le+end went - $#t hadn*t $een &nown to wail sin%e- " saw that the %atalo+#e was 'rinted si; years

a+o- .hat (ade the $anshee $e+in to wail a+ain - did she %on)eniently find her )oi%e si; years a+o, when the %atalo+#e was 'rinted, and this 'la%e was thrown o'en to the '#$li%3 ! !Are yo# tryin+ to say that the $anshee isn*t real - that she*s a fra#d3! said the (an, an+rily- !.ell, yo# as& the tall, dar& (an yo#*ll see in the Ar(o#r ?oo( today - 4he*ll4 soon '#t yo# ri+ht- 0e owns this 'la%e, see - and 4he4 o#+ht to &now a$o#t the $anshee, didn*t he3! !Ah, now that*s infor(ation worth ha)in+,! said Fatty, loo&in+ 'leased- !"*ll %ertainly ha)e a %hat with the (an who owns the 'la%e 4and4 the $anshee too- Than&s a lot- .hat*s his na(e3! !0e*s an A#strian,! said the (an, still )ery %ross- !=a(e of En+ler- And " ho'e he wi'es the floor with yo#, yo# fat n#isan%e/! !=ow, now/! said Fatty, raisin+ a fin+er in re'roof, 2#st as if he were a n#rse addressin+ a %hild!=ow, now - (#stn*t $e r#de- M#stn*t lose te('ers/ Don*t want to '#t yo# into a %orner/! And with that Fatty (ar%hed off to '#t the do+s into the shed, lea)in+ a (ost irritated (an $ehind hi(, and a%%o('anied $y a rather s%ared $#t (ost ad(irin+ Ern!" don*t &now how yo# %an hold yo#r own li&e that, Fatty,! he said- !9trai+ht " don*t- Loo& - there*s the Fren%h(an we saw yesterday- .onder how he*s +ot on with the 'i%t#re he was %o'yin+-! !4Bon2o#r,4! said Fatty 'olitely to the Fren%h(an, who was h#rryin+ down the +reat hall, %arryin+ a rolled-#' %an)as- !Finished yo#r 'i%t#re3! !Ah, 4$on2o#r, (on a(i4/! said the Fren%h(an- ! o# %o(e $a%& so soon3! !.ell, (y friend here lo)es the sea-'i%t#res,! said Fatty- ! o# see, he wants to +o into the =a)y, so anythin+ to do with the sea attra%ts hi(, e)en if it*s only 'i%t#res- .on*t yo# show #s the %o'y yo# (ade of that +rand 'i%t#re3 "s that it yo# are %arryin+3! ! es, yes, $#t " (#st h#rry, or " wo#ld show it to yo#,! said the Fren%h(an, +i)in+ a 'olite little $ow- !9o(eone awaits (e o#tside- 4A# re)oir/4 .e shall (eet a+ain if yo# %o(e often to this 'la%e- " a( always here/! 0e s%#rried off- Fatty loo&ed after hi( tho#+htf#lly- F#nny little (an/ 0e loo&ed ro#nd for the owner of the 'la%e, the A#strian %alled - what was it now - oh yes, En+ler- That (#st $e the (an o)er there, in the Ar(o#r ?oo(- Tall- Dar&- Forei+n-loo&in+- 0e loo&ed a hard sort of (an- Better $e %aref#l of hi(/ ! o# +o and ha)e a loo& at yo#r (a+nifi%ent sea-'i%t#re, Ern,! said Fatty- !"*ll +o and tal& to the A#strian owner- " want to as& hi( a few :#estions a$o#t $anshees-! !?i+ht,! said Ern, and wandered off ha''ily ro#nd the $i+ roo(, loo&in+ at this 'i%t#re and that, sa)in+ his fa)o#rite 'i%t#re to the last0e %a(e to it e)ent#ally, and stood in front of it, +a5in+ at the +reat hi+h %liff, the swirlin+ wa)es, the +ri( ro%&s- 0e stared at the sea-+#lls tossed $y the te('est#o#s wind, and i(a+ined hi(self in a $oat on that an+ry sea, swe't $y foa(in+ wa)es, the wind howlin+ in his ears- 0a - if only 4he4 %o#ld 'aint a 'i%t#re li&e that/ "t wo#ld $e al(ost $etter than +oin+ into the =a)y- =o - on se%ond tho#+hts he*d 4rather4 +o to seaErn stood for so(e ti(e o''osite the 'i%t#re- Then s#ddenly a '#55led loo& %a(e o)er his fa%e0e stood %loser to the 'i%t#re and 'eered at the sea fro( this side and that- 0e s%rat%hed his head- 0e stood f#rther $a%&- Then he went to one side and stood there, and then to the other side, s%rewin+ #' his eyes as if he were tryin+ to see so(ethin+- 0e shoo& his head and frowned-

!"*ll ha)e to find Fatty,! he said at last- !"t*s a '#55le, this is- 6an*t (a&e it o#t/ .here 4is4 Fatty3 Oh, there he is, tal&in+ to that (an, Fatty/ FATT / 0ere, "*)e +ot so(ethin+ to as& yo#/!

11 - E?=*9 EAEE? D"96O7E? Fatty had st#died the A#strian owner of Banshee Towers, and had de%ided that he didn*t loo& to $e the ty'e that #s#ally $o#+ht old 'la%es 2#st $e%a#se they were $ea#tif#l/ !0e*s a shar' $#siness (an, if " e)er saw one/! tho#+ht Fatty- !"t $eats (e why he $o#+ht this o#t-of-the-way 'la%e- 0e %an*t (a&e (#%h (oney o#t of )isitors, e;%e't for a (onth or two in the s#((er- " wonder if he owns the 'i%t#res as well-! The A#strian was sittin+ on the $i+ settee $ehind whi%h the %hildren had hidden the day $efore0e was st#dyin+ a %atalo+#e of so(e sort, frownin+ o)er it- 0e was $i+ and $#rly, with +reat eye$rows and a $i+ noseFatty went #' to hi(, and s'o&e in his 'olitest )oi%e- !E;%#se (e, sir, for interr#'tin+ - $#t " $elie)e yo# own this (a+nifi%ent old 'la%e3! !.hat - er - dear (e, yo# startled (e/! said the (an, in a )ery dee' )oi%e, with a de%idedly forei+n a%%ent- ! es, (y $oy, " own it- B#t, alas, it was a $ad $ar+ain- 9o few )isitors %o(e to see it-! !" s#''ose they %o(e $e%a#se they ho'e to hear the .ailin+ Banshee,! said Fatty- !.e heard it yesterday - a )ery fine 'erfor(an%e, sir- 7ery fine- Best wailin+ " e)er heard/ 0ow is it done, sir3! !Done3 My $oy, who &nows anythin+ a$o#t the 'oor, 'oor #nha''y $anshees3! said the (an!.ho &nows how or why they wail3 ! !.ell, in these days, sir, " e;'e%t they wail $e%a#se their (a%hinery is started #',! said Fatty, #ne;'e%tedly- !" (ean - (odern $anshees are all 'reten%e, aren*t they3! !6ertainly =OT,! said the (an an+rily- ! o# thin& " a( a fra#d3 o# thin& (y $anshee does not e;ist3 " own a )ery fine $anshee - 'oor 'oor thin+, how she wails/ "t rends the heart/! !Let (e see now - $anshees are s#''osed only to wail $e%a#se they want to warn the owner of the 'la%e that so(ethin+ terri$le is +oin+ to ha''en to hi(, aren*t they3! said Fatty, '#ttin+ on his (ost inno%ent e;'ression- ! o# &now, sir, " heard her wailin+ yesterday, and " ho'ed so(e$ody wo#ld warn yo# that tro#$le and #nha''iness (i+ht $e %o(in+ to yo#- Of %o#rse, that wo#ldn*t $e so if it wasn*t a 4real4 $anshee - $#t si('ly so(e &ind of (a%hinery, sir - $#t yo# are %ertain it isn*t3! !My $oy, " +i)e yo# lea)e to +o into e)ery roo( in Banshee Towers, and to loo& into e)ery hole and %orner and %ranny there, to see if there is any (a%hinery,! said Mr En+ler, sole(nly!Oh, than& yo#, sir, that*s )ery &ind of yo#, $#t "*ll ta&e yo#r word for it that yo#*)e no (a%hinery hidden in any of the roo(s,! said Fatty- !Let*s %han+e the s#$2e%t, sir- .hat wonderf#l sea'i%t#res there are here/ .hat %olle%tion are they fro(, sir3 " don*t re%o+ni5e any of the(-! !.ell, yo# see( to $e an intelli+ent $oy,! said the A#strian, o$)io#sly str#%& $y Fatty*s ready %on)ersation- !9o "*ll tell yo#- They are fro( a fa(o#s %olle%tion of 'i%t#res in 6o#nt L#dwi+*s %astle in A#stria- 0e is a %o#sin of (ine, and he has lent (e the 'i%t#res to attra%t )isitors to Banshee Towers- A tr#ly wonderf#l %olle%tion - $#t alas, few 'eo'le loo& at the 'i%t#res- 8#st a

few artists to %o'y the( - and one or two )isitors li&e yo#rself noti%e the(-! !They are worth a lot of (oney, " s#''ose3! said Fatty!Oh yes, yes - tho#sands of 'o#nds/! said Mr En+ler!" wonder yo# dare to ris& the %han%e of so(e thief %o(in+ here to steal the(,! said Fatty!=ow, (y $oy - #se yo#r sense,! said Mr En+ler- !"t is not easy to ta&e +reat 'i%t#res li&e these fro( their fra(es and %arry the( off #nnoti%ed/ 0a - wo#ld 4yo#4 $e a$le to do it3! "t was at this )ery (o(ent that Ern de%ided to +o and find Fatty- Mr En+ler 2#('ed when Ern*s )oi%e %a(e into the roo(, so#ndin+ #r+ent!Fatty/ Fatty, here/ "*)e +ot so(ethin+ to as& yo#/! !E;%#se (e, sir - that*s (y friend- "*d $etter +o and see what he wants,! said Fatty, s#r'rised to see Ern loo&in+ so a+itated- !Than& yo# for +i)in+ (e so (#%h infor(ation- 7ery &ind of yo#-! 0e went o)er to Ern- !Ern/ .hat is it3 =ow don*t $l#rt it o#t at the to' of yo#r )oi%e, for +oodness sa&e- 6o(e into the hall and tell (e :#ietly-! !.ell, Fatty, yo# &now that sea-'i%t#re " li&ed so (#%h - the one " showed yo# yesterday, with the hi+h %liffs and the swirlin+ sea $elow3! ! es, " re(e($er it :#ite well- "t*s still o)er there,! said Fatty, wa)in+ an ar( towards it! es - well, there*s so(ethin+ )ery :#eer a$o#t it today,! said Ern, a+itated- !6o(e and loo&-! !.hat do yo# (ean - :#eer3! as&ed Fatty, s#r'rised, as they %a(e #' to the 'i%t#re!9o(ethin+*s +one o#t of it,! said Ern- !9o(ethin+ " noti%ed 'arti%#larly yesterday, Fatty- "t*s not there today, strai+ht it isn*t/! !.ell, what 4was4 it3! as&ed Fatty, e;as'erated- !The 'i%t#re loo&s 4e;a%tly4 the sa(e to (e/! !Fatty, " 'ro(ise yo# "*( tellin+ the tr#th,! said Ern- !" 'ro(ise yo#/ =ow loo& - see that ro%& there - and the sea swirlin+ #' to it - and that wa)e %o(in+ #' $ehind3 .ell, Fatty, 4yesterday there was a little red $oat4 'ainted on that wa)e, with two tiny sailors in it- " noti%ed it 'arti%#larly, and " tho#+ht to (eself, well, the artist '#t in that $oat 2#st so*s 'eo'le loo&in+ at his 'i%t#re wo#ld reali5e how enor(o#s the %liffs were, and how +rand the sea was, swirlin+ ro#nd the ro%&s- 9ee3 "f the artist hadn*t '#t a $oat there, " wo#ldn*t ha)e &nown how stee' and hi+h the %liffs were, so so---! !9o the 'i%t#re wo#ld ha)e lost so(e of its +rande#r, yo# (ean,! said Fatty, with (#%h interest!Ern, this is, as yo# say, )ery :#eer- "n fa%t, (ost 'e%#liar- 4.hy4 did so(eone 'aint o#t that $oat3 "t (#st ha)e $een the Fren%h(an who did it, of %o#rse-! !1erha's he doesn*t li&e $oats,! said Ern- !May$e he +ets seasi%&- B#t Fatty, yo# %an*t see any (ar&s where he (i+ht ha)e washed the $oat off the 'i%t#re, or 'ainted it o#t with +reens or $l#es/ That*s what $eats (e/! !"t %ertainly is )ery stran+e,! said Fatty, e;tre(ely '#55led- ! o# really 4are4 :#ite s#re, Ern, that the $oat was there yesterday3! !.ell, Bets was with (e when we loo&ed %aref#lly at the 'i%t#re-! said Ern- !9he li&ed the 'aintin+

too- " e;'e%t she*d re(e($er the $oat all ri+ht- .e*ll as& her-! !Ern, listen - don*t (ention this to anyone - not to anyone at all-! said Fatty- !" %an*t at the (o(ent thin& why anyone sho#ld re(o)e - or wash o#t - a $oat fro( a sea-'i%t#re, $#t "*d li&e to thin& a$o#t it $efore we tell anyone- 9ee3! !?i+ht,! said Ern- !=ow "*ll +o and loo& at so(e of the others- May$e 4all4 the $oats ha)e $een re(o)ed/! B#t no - those 'i%t#res that had $oats in the(, still had their $oats - and their %lo#ds and their wa)es- Ern %o#ld see nothin+ (issin+ in the(- =or %o#ld Fatty!Loo& - there*s the Fren%h(an who was %o'yin+ the 'i%t#re yesterday,! said Ern s#ddenly- !0e*s %o'yin+ that s(all one o)er there now- Let*s +o and as& hi( if 4he4 re(o)ed that little $oat fro( the $i+ 'i%t#re-! B#t $efore they %o#ld +et to hi(, Mr En+ler, the A#strian, had +one o)er to hi(, and was in %lose %on)ersation- Then the two (en arose and went into the Ar(o#r ?oo(, finally disa''earin+ into a s(all roo( $eyond!=o $anshee wailin+ today, Fatty,! said Ern, with a +rin, as they wal&ed ro#nd the show of sea'i%t#res!=ot the ri+ht day/! said Fatty, and i((ediately fell into s#%h dee' tho#+ht that he didn*t hear a word of what Ern was sayin+ to hi(- 4!=ot the ri+ht day3!4 .hy was one s'e%ial day of the wee& the !ri+ht! day3 Fatty didn*t $elie)e in the Banshee, e)en altho#+h he had felt )ery s%ared when it had wailed the day $efore!Ern, " ha)e a feelin+ "*d li&e to +o and ha)e a loo& down that tra'-door hole a+ain,! he said, s#ddenly- ! o# &ee' wat%h for (e, see, and +i)e a whistle if yo# see anyone %o(in+- All the artists are +one e;%e't that Fren%h(an, and as far as " %an see he*s ha)in+ a +ood heart-to-heart tal& with Mr En+ler - +oodness &nows what a$o#t- " wish " did/! 0e and Ern went into the Ar(o#r ?oo(, and Ern stationed hi(self in the (iddle, so that he %o#ld wat%h all doors, and hear anyone a''roa%hin+ fro( any dire%tion- Fatty went :#ietly to the +reat fire'la%e- 0e (ana+ed to (o)e the %a#ldron to one side, and saw the tra'-door #nderneath as $efore- 0e t#rned to Ern- !E)erythin+ safe3! he said, and Ern nodded- =ot a footste' was to $e heard anywhere, %o(in+ a%ross the stone floors, not a )oi%e e%hoedFatty '#lled #' the tra'-door lid, and 'eered down- es - there were ste's leadin+ downwards- To what3 To the $anshee - and (ay$e her (a%hinery3 .here was the 4lower4 entran%e to this 'assa+e thro#+h the hill - the one the do+s (#st ha)e fo#nd and ta&en to +et #' to Banshee Towers, and s%ra$$le a$o#t #nder the tra'-door3 "t (#st $e a )ery well-hidden one, so(ewhere on the deserted hillside/ Fatty wished he dared to +o down the ste's and see what he %o#ld find- B#t he (i+ht $e a lon+ ti(e +one, and he %o#ldn*t lea)e Ern $ehind- =or did he want to ta&e Ern with hi(- =either of the( had tor%hes, and it wo#ld $e dan+ero#s0e heard a s#dden hiss fro( Ern, and stood #' at on%e- There was 2#st ti(e to sh#t the tra'-door and re'la%e the +reat iron %a#ldron, so that the tra'-door lid %o#ld not $e seen/ 8#st in ti(e/ Footste's so#nded in the little roo( $eyond, and )oi%es- Mr En+ler and the artist were %o(in+ $a%&/ Fatty $e%&oned to Ern and the two fled into the hall and then thro#+h the t#rnstiles- The t#rnstile (an was not there and to Fatty*s s#r'rise he s#ddenly saw hi( wal&in+ o#t of the hall-entran%e with Mr En+ler and the artist/ !9o they are all three $#ddies,! tho#+ht Fatty- !.ell, " don*t &now what it (eans, $#t it (eans

4so(e4thin+/ "*)e +ot to wor& all this o#t, so(ehow- "t*s %ertainly addin+ #' to a (ystery of so(e sort - $#t " %an*t for the life of (e see what or why or how/! 0e and Ern went to +et the two do+s, who, tired of $ein+ in the shed, were whinin+ and 'awin+ at the +ate- They $ar&ed franti%ally and 2oyf#lly when the two $oys %a(e #'- They ho''ed into their $o;es on the rear (#d+#ards and Fatty and Ern were soon sailin+ dan+ero#sly fast down the stee' Banshee 0ill!" thin& "*ll %all a Meetin+ to(orrow,! Fatty said to Ern- !9o(ethin+*s +oin+ on #' there that " %an*t (a&e head or tail of- "f we +et the others to hear what we ha)e to say and we all tal& a$o#t it, we (i+ht see dayli+ht- <ood thin+ we went #', Ern, or yo# wo#ldn*t ha)e s'otted the (issin+ $oat"*( s#re that*s a %l#e to the (ystery, whate)er it is - $#t it*s 2#st a$o#t the (ost '#55lin+ %l#e we*)e e)er had/ .e don*t e)en &now what the (ystery 4is4, or if the %l#e really $elon+s to it.hew/!

1> - A= "=TE?E9T"=< TAL@ - A=D A <OOD "DEA/ Fatty tele'honed Larry and Daisy that ni+ht, and also 1i' and Bets- 0e wo#ld not tell the( why the Meetin+ was $ein+ %alled, and they all felt rather e;%ited- !"s it a Mystery, Fatty3 Oh, do say it*s another Mystery/! said Bets- !0a)e yo# any %l#es yet3! !One,! said Fatty- !And " don*t e)en &now what it*s a %l#e 4to4 - or if it 4is4 a %l#e/ Tell yo# all a$o#t it to(orrow- Be here at ten, 'lease- A%t#ally, it*s a %l#e Ern fo#nd - " didn*t e)en noti%e it/! 8#st $efore ten o*%lo%& there %a(e &no%&in+s on the door of Fatty*s wor&roo(- 0e had li+hted the sto)e, and had set o#t a )ariety of $is%#its- As Fatty said, !"t*s so (#%h 4easier4 to tal& when yo#*)e +ot so(ethin+ to eat as well/! "n %a(e Larry, Daisy, 1i' and Bets, loo&in+ ea+er and e;%ited- B#ster and Bin+o +a)e the( a (ost #'roario#s +reetin+, and #'set the 'late of $is%#its!=ow listen, yo# two do+s-! said Fatty, sternly, !" don*t &now whi%h of yo# had the $ri+ht idea of #'settin+ $is%#its all o)er the floor, $#t " tell yo# this - not 4one4 $is%#it do yo# ha)e till we*)e finished o#r Meetin+- " &now do+s %onsider it %le)er to #'set 'lates of $is%#its and %ats thin& it is s(art to #'set (il&, so that they %an hel' the(sel)es $#t "*( 2#st a $it s(arter than yo# are, see3 9"T/! The do+s sat, eyein+ the $is%#its (o#rnf#lly- Bets felt sorry for the( and 'atted the(- !Do $e+in the Meetin+, Fatty,! she said- !.e*re LO=<"=< to hear a$o#t this new Mystery- "s it 4really4 one3! !.ell, that*s what we*re +oin+ to de%ide,! said Fatty- !"f it is, we (#st (a&e o#r 'lans to sol)e it- "f it isn*t, we 2#st don*t $other any (ore- =ow, listen to what Ern dis%o)ered yesterday when we went #' to Banshee Towers- Ern, wo#ld yo# li&e to ta&e o)er - and tell what ha''ened3! !Oh, no than&s, Fatty,! said Ern, #neasily- ! o#*re the one to tal&- There*s no$ody tal&s li&e yo#- " %o#ld listen for a+es- My #n%le, Mr <oon always said yo# had the +ift of the +a$ and he*s ri+hto# %o#ld tal& the hind le+ off a don&ey, yo# %o#ld, or the tail off a horse, or the---! !.ell, really, Ern - anyone wo#ld thin& 4yo#4 had the +ift of the +a$,! said Larry, s#r'rised- !Do +o on/! !=o,! said Ern, and s#$sided- 9o Fatty too& o)er, and $e+an the tale of Ern*s stran+e dis%o)ery-

!Ern went to loo& at that $i+ sea-'i%t#re that he and Bets li&ed so (#%h,! he said- !Do yo# re(e($er it, Bets3! !Oh 4yes4 - e)ery $it of it- "t was lo)ely/! said Bets!.ell, des%ri$e it,! said Fatty- !And don*t lea)e e)en the s(allest detail o#t, Bets- "t*s i('ortant-! !"t was a 'i%t#re of a stor(y sea, with wa)es lashin+ a+ainst a )ery hi+h %liff,! said Bets- !The s&y was $l#e in 'arts, and white in others- "t was so f#ll of s'ray that it al(ost (ade (e feel wet-! !Anythin+ else3! as&ed Fatty!.ell no - e;%e't that there was a tiny red $oat $o$$in+ on a wa)e-! said Bets- !.hen " saw that " s#ddenly reali5ed how enor(o#s the %liff was, and " tho#+ht the artist (#st ha)e '#t it there on '#r'ose - to (a&e the %liff +rander and the sea (ore - well, (ore (a+nifi%ent, yo# &now-! !Bets - that*s 2#st what we wanted yo# to re(e($er - the 4$oat4,! said Fatty, !$e%a#se the $oat is the only %l#e we ha)e- That little $oat is no lon+er in the 'i%t#re- "t*s +one- "t isn*t there/! There was an astonished silen%e- !.ell, what*s ha''ened to it3! said 1i'- at last- !Did so(e artist there wash it o#t - or 'aint o)er it3 1erha's he didn*t li&e it3! !=o, he didn*t wash it o#t, it see(s,! said Fatty- !There are 4no4 (ar&s and 4no4 eras#res- =ow isn*t that a 'e%#liar little Mystery3! !"t*s i('ossi$le/! said 1i'- !1erha's Bets and Ern are (ista&en - the little $oat (#st ha)e $een in another of the sea-'i%t#res- After all, there are (asses of the( #' in that $i+ hall-! ! es- 4That*s4 the sol#tion/! said Larry- !"t*s o$)io#s/ Ern*s (ista&in+ one 'i%t#re for anotherThere (#st $e 4another4 'i%t#re there, with the little $oat in it - there %an*t ha)e $een a $oat in the one Ern thin&s there was- es, " 4&now4 that Bets saw it as well - $#t she too (ay ha)e seen it in a different 'i%t#re, that*s all- After all, she didn*t +o #' with yo# and Ern yesterday- "f she had, she wo#ld 'ro$a$ly ha)e 'ointed o#t that it was in a different 'i%t#re, and e)en ta&en yo# to it-! !" tell yo#,! said Ern, e;as'erated, !" tell yo# the $oat was in T0AT 1A?T"6ALA? 1"6TA?E " 9A. E9TE?DA A=D T0E DA BEFO?E- " o#+ht to &now/ " stood in front of it for a+es- " feel as if " %o#ld al(ost 'aint the sa(e 'i%t#re (yself/! !All ri+ht, Ern, %al( down,! said Fatty- !=ow, Find-O#ters, any ideas3! ! o#*re 4s#re4, Ern, that it*s the sa(e 'i%t#re, and is in e;a%tly the sa(e 'la%e3! as&ed Daisy!9a(e %liffs, sa(e wa)es, sa(e s&y, sa(e fra(e, e)erythin+3! !9a(e e)erythin+,! said Ern, rather s#l&ily- !<oodness &nows " loo&ed at it lon+ eno#+h- "t*s 2#st the 4$oat4 that is (issin+ - the little tiny $oat-! !.ell, " si('ly don*t see any answer to this 'arti%#lar '#55le,! said Fatty- !"t*s %ertainly a (ystery $#t rather a silly little (ystery, with no rhy(e or reason - 2#st a sea-'i%t#re fro( whi%h a )ery s(all red $oat has +one- .e (#st +i)e it #'-! !The s(allest (ystery we*)e e)er had, and the only one i('ossi$le to sol)e - what a 'ity/! said Larry!" thin& we 4all4 o#+ht to 'o' #' to Banshee Towers and ha)e a loo& ro#nd to see if $y any %han%e the 'i%t#re with the $oat has $een h#n+ so(ewhere else,! said Daisy- !After all, so(e of

the 'i%t#res loo& )ery ali&e - they are 4all4 sea-'i%t#res with wa)es and %liffs and s&ies and shi's"*d rather li&e to sol)e this 'arti%#lar little (ystery - not lea)e it in the air- "t*s a ni%e day - we %o#ld %y%le #' a+ain-! ! es- Let*s do that,! said 1i'- !.hat do yo# say Ern3! !<ood idea-! said Ern- !"*d li&e to find (y little $oat/ Let*s +o now/! And $efore lon+ the si; %hildren were on their $i%y%les, on%e (ore on their way to Banshee Towers- A little Mystery li&e this was not +oin+ to $eat the Find-O#ters/ They too& the do+s too, in the $o;es on Ern*s and Fatty*s $a%& wheels- "t was :#ite a little %o('any, %y%lin+ alon+ #' the hill to Banshee TowersThey were there at last - $#t what a sho%&/ There was a noti%e #' that said !6LO9ED FO? TEM1O?A? ?E1A"?9!!Blow/ Loo& at that/! said Ern, in dis(ay- !=ow we shan*t $e a$le to find o#t a$o#t the $oat-! "t was indeed a $low- !1antin+ #' that stee' hill all for nothin+/! +roaned 1i'- !"s the t#rnstile (an anywhere a$o#t3 0e*s a s#rly fellow, $#t he (i+ht let #s in if we told hi( we only want to $e there for half a (in#te-! !" wonder what re'airs they are doin+3! said Fatty- !The 'la%e see(ed in )ery +ood order to (e-! !Loo& - it*s 'ro$a$ly 'i'es they are re'la%in+,! said Larry- 'ointin+ to a 'ile of 'i'es of all si5es!Loo&s as if their water-syste( has +one wron+- These ar% lead 'i'es - li&e we ha)e in o#r ho#ses at ho(e- 1ro$a$ly the 'la%e is da(' and yo# %an*t ha)e da(' in a 'i%t#re-+allery- ?#ins the 'i%t#res at on%e/! ! es- o#*re 'ro$a$ly ri+ht,! said Fatty, e;a(inin+ the 'i'es- !.ell, Easter is o)er so they won*t ha)e (any )isitors till .hits#n - +ood ti(e now to do any re'airs- .ell, what shall we do3 9hall we 2#st loo& ro#nd to see if 4any4one*s a$o#t3 ! They wandered aro#nd, $#t saw no one- !.hat a waste of a (ornin+,! said Larry- !.hat %an we do now3! !" tell yo# what we 4%o#ld4 do, whi%h wo#ld $e rather f#n,! said 1i'- ! o# re(e($er how the do+s dis%o)ered so(e se%ret way #' the hill, that led to the +reat fire'la%e in the Ar(o#r ?oo(3 They (#st ha)e fo#nd an entran%e so(ewhere on the hill - a %a)e or a hole of so(e sort - that had a 'assa+e leadin+ to Banshee Towers/ 6an*t we loo& for that3! !.ell, it 4wo#ld4 $e f#n,! said Larry, and the others nodded- !Anyone $ro#+ht a tor%h3! Three of the( had tor%hes in their 'o%&ets- <ood/ !" don*t e;'e%t there*s (#%h %han%e either of findin+ where the do+s (ade their way into the hill, or of +ettin+ #' any 'assa+es o#rsel)es,! said Fatty- !"t was 'ro$a$ly nothin+ (ore than a lar+e ra$$it-hole they fo#nd, leadin+ into so(e #nder+ro#nd warren- Anyway - let*s ha)e a shot at findin+ it-! !The do+s will hel',! said Ern, and away they went on their $i%y%les down the hill with Bin+o and B#ster ra%in+ $ehind- 0alfway down Fatty lea't off his $i&e, and %alled to B#ster!B#ster/ Find/ Find, B#ster/! B#ster stood still with his ears 'ri%&ed- 4Find34 .hat was he to find3 There were no ra$$its here0e and Bin+o hadn*t sniffed the s%ent of a sin+le one- .hat 4%o#ld4 Fatty (ean3

!Find, B#ster/ Find the hole yo# dis%o)ered the other day/! ordered Fatty- !F"=D/! 0e 'ointed here and there o)er the hill- B#ster still stood with his ears %o%&ed, his head on one side, tryin+ his hardest to #nderstand what his (aster wanted- "t s#ddenly dawned on hi( that there was a hole so(ewhere - the hole he and Bin+o had fo#nd - 'erha's that was what Fatty wanted3 A hole/ 0e +a)e a shar' little $ar&, and ran a little way #'hill- 0e stood there, loo&in+ fro( side to side, sniffin+ the wind- Bin+o %a(e to 2oin hi(, tho#+h he hadn*t the faintest idea of what Fatty wantedB#ster +a)e another short $ar&, and ran to the ri+ht, and then (ade for a +reat $#sh that o)erh#n+ a stee' 'art of the hill- Bin+o followed, ya''in+!6o(e on - " thin& old B#ster has #nderstood what " (eant,! said Fatty, and he and the others %li($ed #' the hill, soon $e%o(in+ o#t of $reath, for it was )ery stee' 2#st there- They had %aref#lly hidden their $i%y%les #nder so(e thi%& $#shes, a little lower downBoth do+s had disa''eared/ Fatty yelled lo#dly- !BA9TE?/ .here are yo#3 BA9TE?/! B#ster a''eared $y the o)erhan+in+ $#sh, and $ar&ed- Bin+o a''eared and $ar&ed too- .hat B#ster did, he had to do as well/ !6o(e on,! said Fatty- !" thin& B#ster*s fo#nd what we want/ .hew - loo& here, #nder this $#sh a +reat hole/ " $et B#ster tho#+ht it was a +iant ra$$it-hole- " ha)e a feelin+ that this is where 4we4 disa''ear - into the heart of the hill- Let*s ho'e we %o(e #' in the ri+ht 'la%e/ Follow (e, e)ery$ody/! And there they +o, one $y one- Be %aref#l, Fatty - there (ay $e dan+er ahead/

1B - A1 T0E 1A99A<E - A=D A EAEE? F"=D/ The hole was :#ite a lar+e one, with lon+ +rass and so(e &ind of %ree'in+ 'lant +rowin+ a%ross the entran%e- Fatty, $ent do#$le, '#shed his way into it, shinin+ his tor%h in front of hi(- 0e %o#ld hear B#ster and Bin+o s%ra$$lin+ so(e way ahead, +i)in+ little woofs, as if %hattin+ with ea%h otherThe hole $e%a(e (#%h lar+er after a few yards, and Fatty was a$le to strai+hten hi(self a little and (a&e his way (ore %o(forta$ly- 0e soon saw that the 'assa+e he was in was now of ro%&, not of earth- "t was )ery #ne)en, and at ti(es the roof %a(e down so low that he had to $end al(ost do#$leBehind hi( %a(e Bets, then Larry, then Daisy, Ern and 1i' $ein+ the last two- Larry and 1i' held the other tor%hes, whi%h +a)e a )ery +ood li+ht in the $la%& dar&ness of the stran+e 'assa+eAhead were the two do+s, )ery 'leased and e;%ited to thin& that Fatty and the others were #sin+ the 'assa+e they had fo#nd so(e days $efore/ !My word - isn*t it stee'/! sho#ted Fatty, and (ade the others 2#(' - for his )oi%e so#nded )ery stran+e in the narrow 'assa+e - not at all li&e Fatty*s #s#al )oi%e/ "t was (#ffled and (ysterio#s, and had a :#eer e%ho!9tee'-tee-ee'/! %a(e the e%ho- The do+s didn*t li&e it- They sto''ed, 'ri%&ed their ears, and whined-

!"t*s all ri+ht, B#ster-! said Fatty- !Only the e%ho- 6arry on/! !6arry-on, arry-on - on - on/! said the e%ho, and the do+s $ar&ed an+rily- That was worse still, of %o#rse/ The ro%&y 'assa+e was i((ediately f#ll of wild $ar&s, and the do+s were )ery fri+htened indeed- .as this 'la%e f#ll of h#ndreds of do+s3 They (ade their way $a%& to Fatty in alar(, and he 'atted the(, and s'o&e :#ietly, tryin+ to defeat the %#rio#s e%ho!=ow, now - it*s all ri+ht- <ood do+s/ 7E? +ood do+s/ <o on now - show #s the way-! !.ay,! said the e%ho, also :#ietly- !.ay-way-waaaaay/! After they had all %li($ed a +ood while, )ery +lad indeed of their tor%hes, Fatty sto''ed for a restThe last $it had $een )ery stee' indeed- 0e waited #ntil the others had %o(e #' %lose, and then s'o&e!.e 4sho#ld4 $e near Banshee Towers now,! he said- ! o# re(e($er that there is a tra'-door #nder the old %a#ldron - well, that (eans that any noise we (a&e now (ay e%ho #' into the Ar(o#r ?oo(- 9o $e )ery :#iet, 'lease - 2#st in 4%ase4 anyone is there-! .itho#t a word, and (a&in+ as little noise as 'ossi$le, the si; went %li($in+ #'- Fatty (ade the do+s &ee' %lose to hi(, so that he %o#ld 're)ent the( $ar&in+B#t $efore they %a(e to the tra'-door they %a(e to so(ethin+ that s#r'rised the( )ery (#%h/ Fatty saw it first, of %o#rse, $e%a#se he was leadin+- 0is tor%h s#ddenly showed hi( a $i+ s'a%e 2#st in front, and he sto''ed in s#r'rise- The t#nnel had widened o#t into a &ind of #nder+ro#nd roo( - a roo( with an #ne)en ro%&y floor, and e:#ally #ne)en ro%&y walls- Fatty was a$le to stand %o('letely #'ri+ht- 0e shone his tor%h ro#nd the #nder+ro#nd roo( in s#r'rise0e +a)e a short whistle- !.hew/ .hat*s all this3 E#i%&, e)eryone, %o(e and loo&/! They %rowded into the stran+e ro%&y roo(- "t was :#ite e('ty e;%e't for three thin+s: a 'ie%e of 'e%#liar-loo&in+ (a%hinery - so(ethin+ that loo&ed li&e a deflated $alloon - and a %hair/ !.hat on 4earth4 is all this3! said 1i', shinin+ his tor%h on the (a%hinery!At a +#ess " sho#ld say it was the (a%hinery that sets the dear old $anshee wailin+ at the to' of her )oi%e/! said Fatty!Are yo# s#re3! said Bets- !.hat*s that $alloon thin+ for3 9hine yo#r tor%h on it, Fatty-! !" sho#ld thin& that this $alloon is inflated $y a '#(' wor&ed $y that $it of (a%hinery,! said Fatty!And then, when it 4de4flates, it (a&es that s%rea(in+, wailin+ $anshee noise-! !B#t how is it that it*s heard all o)er Banshee Towers3! as&ed Bets, '#55led!Oh, there are 'ro$a$ly a('lifiers in e)ery roo(,! said Fatty, who always see(ed to &now e)erythin+- ! o# &now - thin+s that (a+nify any so#nd, and (a&e it tre(endo#sly lo#d- Don*t yo# re(e($er how lo#d the wailin+ was when we heard it the other day3 And how %lear and distin%t it was3! !Oh yes,! said Bets, shi)erin+ as she re(e($ered the horri$le noise- !B#t Fatty - what a 'e%#liar thin+ to do - to fill the 'la%e with wails li&e that/ " sho#ld ha)e tho#+ht it wo#ld fri+hten 'eo'le away - not $rin+ the( here/! ! es- "t see(s a $it odd when yo# '#t it li&e that, Bets,! said Fatty, fiddlin+ a$o#t with the (a%hinery- !" wonder how this wor&s- .hat*s this wheel for3!

0e t#rned the wheel to the ri+ht- =othin+ ha''ened- 0e t#rned it to the left - and, )ery s#ddenly indeed, so(ethin+ $e+an to wor& inside the (a%hinery - %lan& - %li%& - %lon& - %li%& - %l#n&--!"t*s wor&in+/ T#rn it off, :#i%&/! %ried Bets, afraid of what (i+ht ha''en- B#t Fatty didn*t- 0e wat%hed the (a%hine, a little +rin on his fa%e- Oh, Fatty, Fatty - yo# &now :#ite well what yo#*)e done/ The $alloon-thin+ $e+an to (o)e- B#ster saw it tre($lin+, and he +rowled and showed his teethBin+o i((ediately did the sa(e- The $alloon +rew $i++er and $i++er - and then %a(e another lo#d %li%&, and so(ethin+ fell into 'la%e and $e+an whinin+- The %hildren %o#ldn*t see what it was!" $et that*s the a('lifier +ettin+ ready to wor&/! said Fatty, his eyes +lea(in+- !.e*ll hear so(ethin+ in a (in#te- Don*t $e s%ared, little Bets- "t*s only (a%hinery- Ah - here we +o/! And then, fro( the now f#lly-inflated $alloon, %a(e a weird, #nha''y so#nd - a wailin+ that held e)eryone s'ell$o#nd, it see(ed so h#(an/ Bets too& Fatty*s hand at on%e, fri+htened at the stran+e noise- "t so#nded so )ery )ery heart-rendin+!"t*s only a )ery %le)er tri%&, Bets,! said Fatty, in a low )oi%e- !8#st a $it of (a%hinery - and a s'e%ially fitted-#' $alloon - and an a('lifier to (a&e the wails )ery lo#d indeed- All fitted neatly into a (ost %on)enient #nder+ro#nd hole in a ro%&- " wonder if Mr En+ler is at the $otto( of this/! !Oh- Fatty - 1LEA9E sto' the (a%hine/! $e++ed Bets- !" 0ATE this wailin+- " 0ATE it-! Fatty '#lled a little le)er- The (a%hinery slowed down- The $alloon +rad#ally deflated- The wailin+ +rew slower and softer, and then sto''ed alto+ether- There was a (ar)ello#s silen%e, and e)eryone en2oyed the s#dden 'ea%e- Bets hea)ed an enor(o#s si+h!Ooooooooo/ " shall ne)er hear a (ore horri$le noise in all (y life than that wailin+- Fatty, no real $anshee %o#ld e)er ha)e wailed li&e that, s#rely-! !" sho#ld find it )ery diffi%#lt to $elie)e in a real $anshee, Bets,! said Fatty, e;a(inin+ the (a%hinery %aref#lly, $y the li+ht of his tor%h- !" e)en find it diffi%#lt to $elie)e in a (an li&e En+ler, who is wi%&ed eno#+h to ri+ #' a thin+ li&e this- B#t #nfort#nately, 4he*s4 real eno#+h/ .ell, what do we do now3! !Fatty, 'lease let*s +o #' thro#+h the tra'-door if we %an, and ha)e a loo& at those 'i%t#res a+ain,! $e++ed Ern- !" do want to see if Bets re(e($ers the one that the $oat was in- "f she does, "*ll &now "*( ri+ht a$o#t it- "f she doesn*t - well, then there*s no (ystery- "*( $e+innin+ to ho'e there isn*t/ .hat with $anshees, and disa''earin+ $oats, and hidden (a%hinery " feel rather si%&/! !.ell, don*t $e si%& in here Ern, there really isn*t roo(/! said Fatty, $ris&ly- !?i+ht - we*ll +o #' thro#+h the tra'-door - 'ro)idin+ no$ody*s a$o#t- B#t " thin& that if there had $een, we sho#ld ha)e had a )isitor down here 'retty :#i%&ly, tryin+ to find o#t .0 the $anshee wailed all on her own/ " ha)e a feelin+ that the 'la%e really 4is4 sh#t #' today-! Fatty went to an o'enin+ in the f#rthest wall of the :#eer little ro%&-roo(, and shone his tor%h into it- !8#st as " tho#+ht/! he anno#n%ed- !9te's/ 9te's %#t into the ro%&, 2#st li&e a ladder/ " $et it*s the ste's we saw leadin+ down fro( that hole in the hearth, where the tra'-door was/! The others %rowded ro#nd hi(- es - there were the ste's that they had seen the other day fro( a$o)e/ !"*ll +o first,! said Fatty- !Better (a&e no noise, 2#st in 4%ase4 anyone*s a$o#t- B#t " feel %ertain there isn*t, or whoe)er was here wo#ld ha)e %o(e r#shin+ to see why the $anshee (a%hinery was s#ddenly wor&in+/!

E)eryone was silent as Fatty %li($ed the ro%&y ste's- 0e soon %a(e to the to', $#t %o#ld see nothin+ a$o)e his head $#t the tra'-door set fir(ly in its 'la%e- !0ere +oes/! said Fatty, and +a)e it a '#sh #'wards- "t #'set the iron %a#ldron standin+ o)er it and this fell o)er on its side with a terrifi% %latter that s%ared Fatty al(ost as (#%h as it fri+htened the others down $elow/ 0e stood at the to' of the ste's, listenin+- To his enor(o#s relief he %o#ld hear nothin+ - no sho#ts of s#r'rise, no %latter of r#nnin+ feet - nothin+/ The 'la%e (#st $e %o('letely e('ty- .ell, than& +oodness for 4that4/ Fatty %li($ed o#t of the tra'-door hole and loo&ed ro#nd- The 'la%e see(ed a$sol#tely deserted.ell, now they %o#ld e;a(ine the 'i%t#res to their heart*s %ontent - and (ay$e sol)e the (ystery of the (issin+ $oat/ One $y one he ha#led the others #' fro( the hole in the hearth- The do+s were handed #' last of all $y Ern, and were )ery +lad to s%#rry aro#nd and stret%h their le+s 'ro'erly/ 0ow they had hated that wailin+/ !" want to loo& at that lo)ely sea-'i%t#re,! said Bets, at on%e- !Ern, %o(e with (e-! 9he and Ern h#rried thro#+h the Ar(o#r ?oo( into the +reat hall where the 'i%t#res h#n+- es there they all were, in their $l#es and +reens, s#nshiny, stor(y, windy, so(e of the( stret%hin+ fro( floor to %eilin+!0ere*s that $oat-'i%t#re,! %alled Ern, standin+ in front of it- !Do yo# re(e($er it, Bets3! !Oh 4yes4/! said Bets- ! es - there was a little red $oat that*s not there now- " 4&now4 there was one, Ern, it was on this wa)e here, wasn*t it3! And Bets to#%hed one of the wa)es not far fro( the $otto( of the 'i%t#re! es/! said Ern, tri#('hantly- !That*s 4e;a%tly4 where it was, Bets- " told yo# that, didn*t ", Fatty3 =ow Bets has told yo# too- .e %an*t $oth $e wron+/! !Fatty - where do yo# thin& the $oat has +one3! said Bets, really '#55led- !"t doesn*t loo& as if it*s $een washed o#t or 'ainted o)er-! !A $i+ wa)e 'ro$a$ly %a#+ht it and it san& to the $otto(,! said 1i', sole(nly- !That*s the si('lest e;'lanation, Bets-! !Don*t $e so 4silly4/! said Bets, :#ite worried o)er the )anished $oat- !Fatty, "*d li&e to loo& at so(e of the other 'i%t#res too-! B#t $efore they %o#ld do that, do+s, who had $een wanderin+ ha''ily a$o#t to+ether, s#ddenly stood still and $e+an to +rowl, their ha%&les risin+ on their ne%&s- Fatty sh#shed e)eryone at on%e!<et $a%& into the Ar(o#r ?oo(, +irls- 9o(e$ody*s %o(in+/! he whis'ered- !B#%& #'- o#*ll ha)e to +et down the tra'-door :#i%&ly, and r#n for yo#r li)es/ .e shall $e in real tro#$le if we*re fo#nd here- Larry and 1i', loo& after the +irls/! The two +irls shot off into the Ar(o#r ?oo( with 1i' and Larry, and were soon down the ste'sThey wanted to wait for Ern and Fatty, $#t Larry wo#ldn*t let the(- ! o#*re in (y %har+e now,! he said- !E#i%&ly now - +et alon+ #nder+ro#nd/! Fatty too went to the Ar(o#r ?oo( with Ern, ho'in+ there wo#ld $e ti(e for the( $oth to sli' down the hole- B#t there wasn*t/ 0e 2#st (ana+ed to '#sh the %a#ldron :#i%&ly o)er the tra'-door and ste' $a%& on to the hearth-r#+-

Footste's %a(e to the door of the roo( and a )oi%e sna''ed o#t- !9tand where yo# are/ .hat*s all this3 0ow did yo# +et in, yo# $oys/ Answer (e at on%e/!

1D - 1?"9O=E?9 - 4=O.4 .0AT 6A= BE DO=E3 "t was Mr En+ler who stood there, sho#tin+/ 0e loo&ed e;tre(ely an+ry, and his fa%e was )ery red- Behind hi( stood the t#rnstile (an, a sneerin+ s(ile on his fa%e- B#ster flew at the(, with Bin+o $ehind hi(, and $oth do+s were &i%&ed hard $y the two (en, and howled in 'ain!6all off these do+s, or "*ll &ill the(,! said Mr En+ler, '#llin+ a +reat sword fro( the wall, where it had $een han+in+!9"T, B#ster, 9"T, Bin+o/! sho#ted Fatty, his heart %old with fear- To his enor(o#s relief $oth do+s sat at on%e, +rowlin+ sa)a+ely, their ha%&les still #'- Than& +oodness B#ster had $een trained to $e instantly o$edient, tho#+ht Fatty- Bin+o, of %o#rse, had 2#st %o'ied B#ster- 0ow fier%e they $oth loo&ed, showin+ their teeth, lon+in+ to +et at these two (en who dared to sho#t at Fatty and Ern!<ood thin+ they o$ey yo#,! said Mr En+ler, still holdin+ the sword- !" li&e do+s, or " wo#ldn*t +i)e the( a %han%e- =ow e;'lain yo#r 'resen%e here, 'lease- The door was lo%&ed - so " 'res#(e yo# %a(e in thro#+h one of the windows- " saw that one was o'en when " %a(e - the one on the first floor- Easy eno#+h to %li($ #' i)y, isn*t it - easy to $rea& into a 'la%e- o# $oys will ha)e to e;'lain all that when yo# %o(e $efore the 'oli%e/! Fatty was than&f#l that the (an tho#+ht they had $ro&en in thro#+h an o'en window- 0e said nothin+- 0e was %ertainly not +oin+ to e;'lain a$o#t the tra'-door in the hearth/ "f the (an didn*t &now of it, well and +ood/ !Oh, don*t ta&e #s to the 'oli%e, sir,! $l#rted o#t Ern, thin&in+ of <oon*s fa%e, if he, Ern, were ta&en to the 'oli%e station- !1lease don*t- .e weren*t doin+ any har(, reely we weren*t- .e were 2#st loo&in+ ro#nd, li&e-! !"*)e seen these &ids $efore, sir,! said the t#rnstile (an- !6hee&y lot they are, too- 9i; of the( ha)e $een %o(in+ #' - with these do+s- " 4told4 the( do+s weren*t allowed- " was a $it afraid these &ids (i+ht find o#t what we---! !9h#t #', Flint, yo# fool/! sna''ed Mr En+ler, %learly afraid that he was a$o#t to say so(ethin+ he didn*t want the $oys to hear- !<o and $e+in to load the )an- and $e shar' a$o#t it- "*ll deal with what*s not ready, and yo# %an fet%h it later-! 0e t#rned to the two listenin+ $oys- !"*( afraid yo# are +oin+ to ha)e a )ery 'oor wee&-end,! he said- !"*)e de%ided 4not4 to hand yo# o)er to the 'oli%e - $#t to lea)e yo# all alone here, witho#t food or drin& for two or three days- 8#st to tea%h yo# what ha''ens to lads who $rea& into 'la%es/ Oh, yo# needn*t thin& yo# %an +et o#t of the window yo# so easily sli''ed in $y/ " shall tie yo# #' and lo%& yo# in this roo(, and when " %o(e $a%& on Monday - or (ay$e T#esday - "*ll listen to yo#r a'olo+ies and let yo# +o - 'erha's/! !B#t, sir - o#r 'arents will $e so worried,! $e+an Fatty- !.e ha)en*t done any har(- .e a'olo+i5e 4now4- .e do really- Don*t we, Ern3 ! !Ooooh yes,! said Ern, fer)ently, a little s#r'rised to hear Fatty tal&in+ in s#%h a h#($le )oi%e.hy, Fatty so#nded 4s%ared4/ !First ti(e "*)e e)er seen hi( fri+htened,! tho#+ht Ern-

! o# %an a'olo+i5e when yo# ne;t see (e, and ha)e had ti(e to thin& what fools yo# ha)e $oth $een,! said Mr En+ler- The t#rnstile (an +rinned sar%asti%ally- 0e was )ery, )ery +lad to see that !%hee&y fat $oy! as he tho#+ht of hi(, standin+ there, %a#+ht so easily!Tie the( #',! said Mr En+ler, to the t#rnstile (an- !"*( +oin+ to see if 1o#ssin is there- 0e*s a$o#t d#e now-! Fatty wondered who 1o#ssin was- "t was a Fren%h na(e, so (ay$e it was the Fren%h artist- 0e stood waitin+ for the t#rnstile (an to tie #' hi( and Ern- !<ot to +o and +et so(e ro'e, if yo# want (e to tie the( #',! said the (an, t#rnin+!=o- Ase those %#rtain %ords,! said Mr En+lar- !" (#st +o and see if 1o#ssin has %o(e- These $oys are not to $e left alone #ntil their wrists are tied ti+htly, $ehind their $a%&s/ T"<0TL , " said, Flint- And DO=*T tal& to the( - else "*ll tal& to 4yo#4/ Do yo# hear (e3 ! ! es,! said Flint, s#l&ily, and went to tear down the %ords that '#lled the +reat %#rtains o'en or sh#t- 0e had soon tied the $oys $y their wrists and an&les )ery ti+htly indeed! o# &now these %ords are too ti+ht,! said Fatty, $etween his teeth- !=o need to $e so $r#tal-! !0a - yo#*re not so f#nny now, are yo#/! said Flint- !6hee&in+ (e o#t there, yo# was- Don*t feel li&e %hee&in+ (e now, do yo#3 ! Fatty heard another )oi%e - the Fren%h artist*s- 0e was in the +reat hall, with En+ler- 0e was s'ea&in+ in Fren%h, whi%h Fatty #nderstood 'erfe%tly- 0e strained his ears to listen- 0e was e;tre(ely s#r'rised to hear noises as of a ladder $ein+ dra++ed alon+ the hall, and set #' so(ewhere- 0e listened hard- 4That4 so#nded li&e a &nife $ein+ #sed to %#t so(ethin+- .hat on earth were they doin+3 =ot da(a+in+ the 'i%t#res, s#rely/ Then he tho#+ht he heard the so#nd of a $r#sh $ein+ sla''ed o)er so(e s#rfa%e- A $r#sh3 A 4'aint4-$r#sh 'ro$a$ly- .as the Fren%h(an 'aintin+ a 'i%t#re o#t there, his easel set #' as #s#al3 =o, it %o#ldn*t $e that - he wo#ldn*t 4sla'4 the 'aint on/ Flint, the t#rnstile (an, finished tyin+ Ern*s wrists, stood $a%& and +rinned at the two an+ry $oys!.ell - ha''y drea(s/! he said- !And (ay the rats and (i%e r#n all o)er yo# toni+ht/ This 'la%e is f#ll of the(-! ! o# wait till we see yo# a+ain,! said Fatty- !.e*ll $e handin+ yo# o)er to the 'oli%e, " ho'e/ .hat are yo# all #' to3 Beats (e/! ! o# won*t see (e a+ain - "*( off to the 9tates/! said Flint- !A(eri%a*s the 'la%e for (e now- .e*ll soon $e off - and the old $anshee %an wail her head off for #s, we shan*t hear her/! 0e went o#t- $an+ed the door, and the $oys heard the &ey $ein+ t#rned in the lo%&- Ern +roaned as he lay tr#ssed #' on the floor $eside Fatty!This is a ni%e how-do-yo#-do,! he said- !<ood thin+ the (en don*t +#ess we---! !9h#t #', Ern,! hissed Fatty- !They (ay $e listenin+, ho'in+ we*ll +i)e so(ethin+ away- 6an yo# stand #'3! !=o,! said Ern, tryin+- !0allo, Bin+o - 'ity yo# %an*t #ntie (e- "s B#ster %le)er eno#+h to #ntie 4yo#4, Fatty3 0a)e yo# ta#+ht hi( thin+s li&e that yet3! B#ster and Bin+o were '#55led and distressed to see Fatty and Ern rollin+ on the floor, +roanin+

as their %ords see(ed to +et ti+hter and ti+hter- They li%&ed the $oys* fa%es, and whined 'itif#llyFatty rolled to a settee and $y (eans of #sin+ his tied hands, (ana+ed to +et hi(self into a sittin+ 'osition- 0e then stood #' on his tied feet and $e+an to ho' to a window that o)erloo&ed the yard o#tside0e was interested to see a s(all )an there - a 'lain dar& $l#e one- Flint, the t#rnstile (an, (#st ha)e 2#st finished loadin+ it- for he was at that (o(ent sla((in+ the door at the $a%&- Then he went to the front, ho''ed into the dri)er*s seat, and started #' the en+ine- At the sa(e ti(e a %ar dro)e #' $ehind it, and the two dro)e off to+ether- Fatty :#i%&ly (e(ori5ed the n#($ers of the )an and of the %ar!8BL BBB - and 1O? >K>,! he (#ttered- !<osh, " wish " %o#ld write those n#($ers down - "*ll ne)er re(e($er the(- Ern, %an yo# re(e($er 8BL BBB and 1O? >K>3! !" don*t thin& so,! said 'oor Ern- !" %an*t thin& of anythin+ $#t (y wrists and an&les- Fatty, what are we +oin+ to do3 .e*ll ne)er $e a$le to +et these %ords off-! !Of %o#rse we shall/! said Fatty- !" didn*t want to +et the( off $efore those fellows went - " was afraid they (i+ht %o(e $a%& at any (o(ent-! !B#t 0O. %an we +et o#r hands free3! said Ern- !The %ord*s (#%h too stron+/! Fatty ho''ed a%ross to the wall, where a %#rio#s forei+n &nife h#n+- 0e raised his wrists $ehind his $a%& and 'la%ed the( so that the %ords were a+ainst the ed+e of the &nife- 7ery +ently he $e+an to r#$ the %ords #' and down the &nife, %aref#l not to 'ress too hard and %#t hi(selfErn wat%hed hi( in ad(iration- Tr#st old Fatty to thin& of so(ethin+ s(art/ Fatty wor&ed away and finally felt one %ord +i)e - then another- 0e '#lled hard, and )ery than&f#lly felt the %ords loosenin+ and sli''in+ off his hands!My word, (y hands are all n#($ and stiff,! he said, tryin+ to $end the( this way and that- !"*ll #ndo yo#rs, Ern, when " %an feel so(e life in (y fin+ers-! B#ster ran to hi( and li%&ed Fatty*s hands, whinin+- 0e &new Fatty was in so(e &ind of tro#$le and his do++y (ind was #'set and worried- There didn*t see( to $e anythin+ at all that he %o#ld do for Fatty"t was so(e ti(e $efore Fatty %o#ld #se his hands, and e)en then they were sho%&in+ly 'ainf#l0e s'ent a+es tryin+ to #ndo Ern*s %ords- 0e dared not #se the &nife on the(, for his hands were now too n#($ to #se a &nife safelyB#t at last Ern*s %ords were #ndone too- 0is hands were worse than Fatty*s, for Flint had tied the( )ery )i%io#sly- 9oon their an&les were #ntied as well, and life $e+an to see( a little $ri+hter!Are we +oin+ to es%a'e down the #nder+ro#nd 'assa+e3! as&ed Ern- !" don*t thin& " %an wal&, tho#+h- My le+s are all 'ins and needles and " %an*t feel (y feet-! !The +irls and 1i' and Larry will send hel' for #s,! said Fatty- !.hat 4"*d4 li&e to do is to +et o#t of this roo( and wander ro#nd so(e of the #'stairs roo(s- " ha)e a feelin+ we (i+ht find so(ethin+ interestin+ there/! !That fellow lo%&ed the door- " heard hi(,! said Ern!" &now - $#t we 4(i+ht4 $e a$le to +et to it, and #nlo%& it fro( 4this4 side,! said Fatty- 0e wal&ed #nsteadily to the door and loo&ed at the lo%&- Then he $ent down and loo&ed #nder the door- Ern wat%hed hi( in interest- .hat was old Fatty #' to now3

!"*( +oin+ to #se an old tri%& - one "*)e #sed $efore, Ern,! said Fatty- 0e went to the ta$le and too& a %atalo+#e fro( the 'ile there- 0e tore o#t the (iddle 'a+es, lea)in+ only the stiff o#ter %o)ers- These he too& o)er to the door, &nelt down a+ain and '#shed the( flat #nderneath it, so that the +reater 'art of the %o)ers was on the other side of the doorThen he stood #', and, with the end of his 'en&nife $lade, 2i++led the &ey in the lo%& #ntil it was in a 'osition for hi( to +i)e it a '#sh, and send it o#t on the other side of the door/ The &ey 'ro('tly fell o#t - and there was a little th#d as it landed on the floor at the $otto( of the door- B#ster and Bin+o $ar&ed lo#dly- .hat was ha''enin+ now3 !<ood/! said Fatty, '#llin+ at the 'ie%e of stiff %o)er showin+ #nder the door on his side- 6aref#lly he '#lled it towards hi(, oh so +ently - and, as the stiff %o)ers %a(e #nder the door, 4the &ey lyin+ on the( %a(e too4/ There it was at last, safely on their side of the door- !=ow,! said Fatty, !.e %an #nlo%& the door fro( o#r side, and do a little e;'lorin+ " 6o(e on- Ern- 6an yo# wal& all ri+ht3!

15 - FATT DOE9 A L"TTLE DETE6T"7E .O?@/ Fatty 'i%&ed #' the &ey that he had so %aref#lly '#lled #nder the $otto( of the door- !0o'e " %an t#rn it/! he said, (a&in+ a fa%e as he '#t the &ey in the lo%&- !My wrist feels as if it hasn*t e)en the stren+th to t#rn a &ey if the lo%& is stiff/! B#t the &ey t#rned easily/ Fatty o'ened the door and 'eered o#t %a#tio#sly into the 1i%t#re 0all0e &new that he had seen the %ar and the )an +o off $#t he didn*t want to r#n into anyone who (i+ht still $e in the 'la%eAll was :#iet- B#ster and Bin+o, )ery (#%h on +#ard, stood %lose $y the $oys, ready to +rowl and fly at anyone who (i+ht $e +oin+ to h#rt the(!There %an*t $e any$ody here now,! said Fatty- !The do+s wo#ld $e +rowlin+ if there were- 0allo loo&, there*s a ste'-ladder o)er there - and a tin of so(ethin+, with a $r#sh in it- Loo&s as if so(e$ody*s $een #' to so(ethin+- o# re(e($er we heard a ladder $ein+ '#lled a%ross the floor, Ern - and the sla''in+ of a $r#sh3! They were '#55led when they %a(e to the tin- They had e;'e%ted it to $e f#ll of 'aint - $#t it wasn*t/ !"t*s so(e &ind of +l#ey-'aste,! said Fatty, di''in+ his fin+er into the tin- !My word - don*t +et it on yo#r %lothes, Ern - it*s a$o#t the stron+est 'aste or +l#e "*)e e)er felt- " 2#st %an*t +et it off (y fin+er/ =ow - what on earth was it #sed for3! They +a5ed at the two sea-'i%t#res on ea%h side of the tin- =othin+ to hel' the( there - $#t wait a (in#te/ Fatty s#ddenly noti%ed a thin, shinin+ strea& of what loo&ed li&e so(ethin+ sti%&y down the inner side of one of the fra(es- 0e to#%hed it- "t 4was4 sti%&y/ 0e was )ery '#55led- .hy had so(eone #sed +l#e of so(e &ind - had the fra(e %ra%&ed, and needed a little +l#ein+3 1i%t#res weren*t 4+l#ed4 into their fra(es - they were $a%&ed with $oard, and then the fra(es were neatly 'la%ed o)er the(- Fatty +a)e #', '#ttin+ the stran+e fa%t into a %orner of his (ind to %onsider later!6o(e on, Fatty - what are yo# drea(in+ a$o#t, standin+ there +a5in+ down at that tin of +l#e, or whate)er it is,! said Ern, i('atiently- !" want to +et o#t of this 'la%e- 9o do the do+s/! Bin+o was whinin+- 0e didn*t li&e Banshee Towers- 0e wanted to ha)e a +ood lon+ r#n and

stret%h his le+s!All ri+ht, Bin+o, old thin+-! said Fatty- !.e*ll soon $e off and away- " 2#st want to ha)e a little loo& ro#nd - a *snoo'* is a $etter na(e, 'erha's - and see if " %an #nearth a few of Mr En+ler*s :#eer little se%rets/! They went to a $i+ stair%ase that had a )ery lar+e $oard at the $otto( with the words !1?"7ATE=O E=T? -! Fatty too& not the sli+htest noti%e of the $i+ $oard, $#t went strai+ht #' the stairs- 0e went rather slowly, and so did Ern, for their an&les were still swollen and 'ainf#l after the %r#elly ti+ht %ordsThe do+s ra%ed #' $efore the(, $ar&in+They %a(e to a $i+ roo(- There was a lar+e des& there, and a s(aller one- 1i%t#res and e('ty fra(es were sta%&ed all o)er the 'la%e- There was a +reat 'ile of %atalo+#es on the $i+ des&, and a s%atterin+ of letters!7ery interestin+,! said Fatty, t#rnin+ o)er the %an)ases on whi%h )ario#s 'i%t#res had $een 'ainted- !All sea-'i%t#res, of %o#rse- Loo& here, Ern - re(e($er this one3! ! es, it*s a do#$le of the one we saw in the fra(e $y the tin of +l#e,! he said- !6an*t see any differen%e/ That*s a %o'y- " s#''ose- Done $y that Fren%h artist- That*s all he did, see(s to (e sit there and %o'y so(e$ody else*s 'i%t#res/ F#nny - " sho#ld ha)e tho#+ht a 4real4 artist wo#ldn*t want to %o'y-! !0e (i+ht - if he were well 'aid, Ern,! said Fatty- !0allo - here*s a 'ile of letters all neatly sta%&ed to+ether and tied with 'in& ta'e- Let*s ha)e a loo& and see who they*re fro(/! !Do yo# thin& yo# o#+ht to loo& at other 'eo'le*s letters3! said Ern, #n%o(forta$ly!Oh, " thin& that after the &ind of treat(ent the s'itef#l Mr En+ler ser)ed o#t to #s he really %an*t %o('lain of anythin+ 4we4 do/! said Fatty, readin+ so(e of the letters- !"n any %ase, Ern, " intend to +i)e the( to "ns'e%tor 8en&s- 0e will $e )ery 'leased indeed to ha)e the(-! !6oo/! said Ern, astonished- !" wo#ldn*t say that, Fatty- 0e (i+ht lo%& yo# #' for ta&in+ the(Better lea)e the( here-! Fatty too& no noti%e- 0e was a$sor$ed in one or two of the letters- Ern 'ee'ed at the headin+ on ea%h- !The 0edlin+ Art <allery, Diddin+ha(e, A-9-A-! was one- !Art 9hows 6o('any, =ew or&, A-9-A-! was another- !<rand 1i%t#res 6o('any, 0in&lin+, A-9-A-! a third- !<ra%io#s/! tho#+ht Ern- !.hat does Fatty thin& he %an find in letters li&e that/! 0e 'ee'ed down a sheet that Fatty was a$sor$ed in readin+, $#t %o#ldn*t (a&e head or tail if it!8#st a list of 'i%t#res, and 'ri%es and artists,! tho#+ht Ern- 0e s'o&e alo#d!Fatty, " re%&on we*re 2#st wastin+ ti(e now- Let*s +o- Those fellows (i+ht %o(e $a%& sooner then we e;'e%t - and anyway Bets and the others (i+ht already $e sendin+ hel' to #s, yo# &nowThat*d $e a waste of ti(e, seein+ that we %an 2#st wal& o#t and +o ho(e when we want to/! !?i+ht, Ern,! said Fatty- !8#st let (e (a&e a list of the Art <alleries listed here that $#y 'i%t#res fro( En+ler-! 0e s%ri$$led :#i%&ly, and then too& a last loo& ro#nd- !.e*ll 2#st 'ee' in the roo( ne;t door first- " ha)e a feelin+ we still ha)en*t seen :#ite all " e;'e%ted to see-! They went into the ne;t roo(, a s(aller one- Ern stared in s#r'rise- "t was fitted #' as a )ery %o(forta$le $edroo(/ A lar+e wardro$e stood o'en, showin+ (any %lothes han+in+ thereThrown a%ross an #n(ade $ed was a dar& 'aintin+ o)erall, %o)ered with s(#d+es of oil-'aint- A

$oo& lay on a ta$le $eside the $edFatty 'i%&ed it #'- !At a +#ess " sho#ld say this $oo& was a Fren%h one/! he said- 0e loo&ed down at it and nodded- ! es - all a$o#t fa(o#s 6ontinental 'i%t#res - es'e%ially 'i%t#res of the sea/! Fatty t#rned to the flyleaf at the $e+innin+ of the $oo&- !And here the owner has &indly written his na(e - it $elon+s to that Fren%h artist, of %o#rse - and here is his address - Fran%ois 0enri Ortalo, J1, ?#e 6arnot, 1aris- 7ery ni%e of hi( to lea)e it so handy/ "nterestin+ to see that Mr En+ler has +i)en hi( s#%h a ni%e roo( to li)e in, too- 0e (#st $e )ery #sef#l to hi(/! !Oh, do sto' (essin+ a$o#t with $oo&s and letters/! said Ern des'arin+ly- !" want to +o/ " hate this 'la%e- At any (o(ent " e;'e%t to hear that awf#l $anshee-wail-! !All ri+ht, Ern, we*ll +o,! said Fatty, s%ri$$lin+ :#i%&ly a+ain in his note$oo&- !" thin& we*d $etter (a&e o#rsel)es s%ar%e, anyway, in %ase Mr En+ler 'o's $a%& a+ain thro#+h the front door- " don*t feel in%lined to (eet hi( a+ain today- " don*t li&e his (anners/! !0e*s a $east,! said Ern !My an&les still feel as if "*)e $een r#nnin+ for (iles, they a%he so, where they were tied-! !Ah well,! said Fatty, sna''in+ sh#t his note$oo&- !.e*ll soon for+et o#r wrists and an&lesA%t#ally "*( feelin+ rather $#%&ed- " thin& "*)e now +ot the whole (ystery wra''ed #' )ery neatly indeed/! ! o#*re $oastin+ Fatty/! said Ern, dis$elie)in+ly- !.hat a$o#t the little 'ainted $oat that disa''eared fro( that 'i%t#re downstairs3 " $et yo# don*t &now how 4that4 ha''ened3! !.ell, we*ll see,! said Fatty- !" really thin& "*( $e+innin+ to see dayli+ht/ .e*ll +o ho(e now and find the others and tell the( what we*)e fo#nd- Let*s see - they had to es%a'e down that #nder+ro#nd 'assa+e in the hill - and find their $i&es - and then ride ho(e-! !.ell, #nless they sto''ed on the way to ha)e i%e-%rea(s or so(ethin+, they will $e ho(e $efore #s,! said Ern!They*d hardly sto' for i%e-%rea(s when they &new we were in tro#$le/! said Fatty!=o, " for+ot that,! said Ern- !6o(e on - let*s +o downstairs, sli' o#t of the front door with the do+s, and r#n down the hill to where we left o#r $i&es #nderneath that $#sh-! They went down the stairs with the two e;%ited do+s, $oth wa++in+ their tails (adly, tho#+h as Ern 'ointed o#t, Bin+o*s tail 4wa)ed4 rather than wa++ed, it was so )ery )ery lon+/ They o'ened the front door and sli''ed o#t, sh#ttin+ it :#ietly $ehind the(- They (ade their way %a#tio#sly down the hill, &ee'in+ %lose to the hed+es, half-afraid of seein+ Mr En+ler and his %o('anions so(ewhere a$o#t- The two do+s, sensin+ that all was not :#ite ri+ht with their (asters, 'ressed %lose to their heels, and didn*t e)en atte('t to +o sniffin+ for ra$$itsAt last they %a(e to where they had left their $i%y%les, hidden in $#shes- They loo&ed ro#nd for the $i%y%les $elon+in+ to the other fo#r, $#t they were +one!<ood - then they +ot down the $anshee 'assa+e safely-! said Fatty- !They %an*t really $e )ery (#%h in front of #s now - we were 'retty :#i%& down that hill/! They were soon ridin+ fast down the rest of the hill, the do+s $#('in+ in their $o;es $ehind- "t was a (ira%le that they didn*t fall o#t, for the $oys went so fast!.hat do we do when we +et $a%&3! sho#ted Ern- !" ho'e yo# won*t +o and re'ort e)erythin+ to

(y An%le <oon- " wo#ldn*t li&e that- o# &now "*( in tro#$le with hi(/! !Don*t worry, Ern- .e hold all the winnin+ %ards now,! sho#ted $a%& Fatty, %o(forta$ly- !" rather thin& we o#+ht to +o o)er <oon*s head, and +et in to#%h with 6hief "ns'e%tor 8en&s- .e &now hi( :#ite well eno#+h- This is a $it too $i+ a thin+ for a )illa+e 'oli%e(an to handle-! !L#)ad#%&/! said Ern- in awe- !B#t won*t the 6hief "ns'e%tor thin& it*s a $it %hee&y of #s to tele'hone hi(3 " (ean, he*s a Bi+ =oise, he is-! !.e*ll +et $a%& to (y shed first,! said Fatty, freewheelin+ )ery fast- !And find o#t where the others are- They %an*t ha)e $een $a%& )ery lon+- My word, Ern -"*( $e+innin+ to feel $#%&ed- "*( seein+ dayli+ht/ The Mystery is dissol)in+ - e)erythin+ F"T9/! !<o on, Fatty/! said Ern, dis$elie)in+ly- !"t*s 2#st a (#ddle to (e, strai+ht it is/ Fits/ The only fits 4"4 &now are the ones "*ll ha)e when (y #n%le +ets hold of (e/ Oooh, Fatty, +o slower - old Bin+o nearly shot o#t of his $o; 2#st then- FATT /!

1G - A 0O??"D 90O6@/ Fatty and Ern arri)ed at Fatty*s ho(e safely, (#%h to B#ster*s relief- 1art of the road had $een so $#('y that 'oor B#ster had fo#nd hi(self wishin+ he had shar' %at-%laws to hold on with, instead of his own $l#nt ones/ 0e had de%ided that he didn*t want to +o $i%y%lin+ with Fatty e)er a+ain- Bi%y%lin+ and do+s didn*t really +o )ery well to+ether/ 0e and Bin+o 2#('ed +ladly o#t of the $o;es tied on to the $a%& (#d+#ards, and B#ster went to see if anyone had '#t so(ethin+ +ood into his ena(el $owl- Ah - &ind old 6oo&ie/ 9he had filled his $owl with so(e ni%e fresh (eat- Bin+o r#shed #' too - and, h#n+ry as he was, B#ster re(e($ered his (anners, and allowed Bin+o to share!<ood, B#ster, "*( 'leased with yo#,! said Fatty- !.e*ll $#y a +ood dollo' of (eat for Bin+o, and "*( s#re he*ll share his with yo# too- =ow yo# two do+s stay o#t here-! 0e o'ened the door of his shed- =o one was there/ !.here are the others3! he said, loo&in+ ro#nd- !<osh - " ho'e they*re all ri+ht- .hat*s ha''ened to the(3 .e %ertainly didn*t 'ass the( on the way/! !1erha's one of the( had a '#n%t#re,! said Ern - and as it ha''ened, he was :#ite ri+ht/ Larry*s front tyre s#ddenly went flat, and he and the others had sto''ed at a little o'enin+ in a near$y wood, while Larry (ended the '#n%t#reErn and Fatty had a%t#ally %y%led 'ast the(, and hadn*t e)en seen the(, or heard their sho#ts/ ! o# si('ly 4whi55ed4 $y,! %o('lained Larry, when at last he and the others arri)ed at Fatty*s wor&roo(- !.e yelled and sho#ted, $#t yo# were +one - 'sssst/ li&e that/ 9i;ty (iles an ho#r and the two do+s $#('in+ #' and down li&e a''les in a $as&et/! !Fatty, are yo# all ri+ht3 .hat ha''ened when we left yo#3! said Bets- !" was so afraid those (en (i+ht h#rt yo#/! !Oh, 4we4 were all ri+ht,! said Fatty, h#rriedly '#llin+ his %oat slee)es down as far as they wo#ld +o, to hide the 'ainf#l red lines ro#nd his wrists- !.e fo#nd o#t a whole lot of interestin+ thin+s, Bets- .e (#st ha)e a Meetin+ at on%e/!

B#t $efore they %o#ld really settle down to it, so(eone %a(e &no%&in+ at the shed door, o'ened it and loo&ed in- !Frederi%&, are yo# there3 There*s so(eone on the tele'hone for yo#-! !Oh, Mother, %an*t yo# say "*( $#sy or so(ethin+/! said Fatty, e;as'erated- !.e*re 8A9T startin+ a (ost 4i('ortant4 Meetin+- 4?eally4 i('ortant-! !All ri+ht dear, "*ll +o $a%& and tell 6hief "ns'e%tor 8en&s what yo# say,! said his (other, and sh#t the doorB#t Fatty lea't #' with a yell- !MOT0E?/ .ait/ o# didn*t say it was "ns'e%tor 8en&s/ Mother, "*( %o(in+ strai+htaway/! Ern loo&ed ro#nd at the others, as Fatty shot o#t of the door at to' s'eed, B#ster at his heels- !" $et the "ns'e%tor*s heard of o#r dis%o)eries at Banshee Towers,! he said, 'leased- !" e;'e%t he wants to as& Fatty a whole lot of :#estions- F#nny how old Fatty always see(s to +et in on thin+s first, isn*t it3 My word, yo# wait till Fatty tells yo# what we dis%o)ered this (ornin+/! Fatty ran all the way #' the +arden to his ho#se, his (ind %onnin+ o)er li&ely reasons for the 6hief "ns'e%tor*s tele'hone %all!1ro$a$ly he*s heard a$o#t the Banshee Towers* +oin+s-on - the wailin+ $anshee, for instan%e and (ay$e he*s s#s'i%io#s of Mr En+ler*s doin+- .ell, " %an %ertainly +i)e hi( so(e #'-to-date infor(ation,! tho#+ht Fatty, feelin+ 'leased0e ran to the tele'hone and 'i%&ed #' the re%ei)er- !6hief "ns'e%tor 8en&s3 Frederi%& Trotte)ille here, sir- 9orry to &ee' yo# waitin+-! !Frederi%&, "*ll %o(e to the 'oint at on%e,! said the 6hief- !"*( sorry to say "*)e had a serio#s %o('laint a$o#t yo#- " e;'e%t yo# ha)e a 'erfe%tly +ood e;'lanation, and " sin%erely ho'e yo# ha)e-! Fatty felt (ost alar(ed- !.hat*s all this a$o#t, sir3! he as&ed, $ewildered!.ell, a%t#ally there are 4two4 %o('laints/! said the 6hief- !One, 4not4 )ery serio#s, fro( Mr <oon, a$o#t Ern, who, he says, was '#t in his %har+e $y Ern*s (other and who has r#n away and is $ein+ har$o#red $y yo# in yo#r shed-! !That*s :#ite ri+ht, sir,! said Fatty, at on%e- !And "*( s#re yo# won*t $la(e (e, sir- <oon went for 'oor old Ern, and he---! !"*( afraid Ern will ha)e to +o 4$a%&4 to <oon,! said the 6hief- !"t*s his (other*s wish - and 'arents do ha)e 4so(e4 ri+hts, yo# &now-! !All ri+ht, sir- "*ll see to it,! said Fatty, feelin+ )ery, )ery sorry for Ern!The se%ond %o('laint, Frederi%&,! said the %lear )oi%e down the tele'hone, !the se%ond %o('laint is (#%h (ore serio#s- "t*s $een '#t in $y a Mr En+ler, the owner of Banshee Towers0e a%%#ses yo# of $rea&in+ into the Towers, with another $oy, whose na(e he doesn*t &now and there are also two do+s %o('lained of- A''arently do+s are not allowed inside, and yo# were told this - and yet yo# were fo#nd there with a 4%o#'le4/ .hose is the se%ond do+3! !Ern*s,! said Fatty, in a s(all )oi%e- 0is heart was sin&in+ down and down and down!E?=*9/ " didn*t e)en &now he 4had4 a do+/! said the 6hief! es, sir, he has- 6alled Bin+o,! said Fatty-

!.hat on 4earth4 were yo# and Ern and two do+s doin+ wanderin+ a$o#t Banshee Towers3! de(anded the 6hief- !A''arently it was %losed for the day, and the doors were lo%&ed- Frederi%&, s#rely yo# 4didn*t4 $rea& in anywhere3! !.ell, not e;a%tly 4$rea&4 in, if yo# (ean s(ash lo%&s or windows or anythin+ li&e that,! said 'oor Fatty- !.e %ertainly did 4+et4 in - we---! The 6hief +a)e a dee' +roan- ! o# are a )ery, )ery foolish $oy, Frederi%&- o# ha)e 'layed ri+ht into this fellow En+ler*s hands- 0e is a s(art, s'itef#l, %le)er %roo&- .e*)e $een tryin+ to 'in so(ethin+ on hi( - and now yo#*)e (essed thin+s #' $y '#ttin+ yo#rself in 4his4 hands, Frederi%&- " si('ly do not &now how "*( +oin+ to +et yo# o#t of this fi;-! !" &now he*s a %roo&, sir-! said Fatty, in a s(all )oi%e- !.e were tryin+ to %at%h hi( o#t sir - that 'honey $anshee wailin+, for instan%e, and---! !4 o#4 &new he was a %roo&/! said the 6hief, )ery s#r'rised- !0ow on earth--- loo& here, Frederi%&, "*d $etter %o(e ro#nd and see yo#- " si('ly ne)er &now what yo# are #' to- The sooner yo# +row #' and 2oin the 'oli%e for%e so that " %an 4really4 &ee' (y eye on yo#, the $etter- 9tay at ho(e till " %o(e- That*s an order, see3! 0e sla((ed down the tele'hone, and Fatty '#t $a%& his own re%ei)er, (ost s#r'rised to find his hand sha&in+- <osh - this wasn*t f#nny at all- .hat in the world wo#ld his father say3 !" s#''ose " (#st $e +ettin+ a $it too $i+ for (y $oots,! said Fatty to hi(self- !My word, "*)e ne)er heard the 6hief +o off the handle li&e that $efore/ Did " feel a wor(3 es, " %ertainly did- " only wish " had a ni%e, dee' hole to +o to/! 0e %alled to his (other- !Mother/ The "ns'e%tor will $e alon+ in a little while- .ill yo# tell hi( we*re down in (y shed, 'lease3! Then away he went, ho'in+ that his (other wo#ldn*t %all hi( $a%& and as& hi( aw&ward :#estions- 0e o'ened the door of his shed, and went in! o# loo& +loo(y, Fatty- .hat*s #'3! said Bets, at on%e- Fatty san& down dra(ati%ally into a %hair, si+hed and 'assed his hand o)er his forehead!.ell, " rather thin& " (ay ha)e to +o to 'rison - or to Borstal or so(ewhere,! he said- !Old (an En+ler has '#t in a %o('laint a$o#t (e - %har+ed (e with Brea&in+ and Enterin+ Banshee Towers- And Mr <oon has 4also4 '#t in a %o('laint - that when Ern ran away, " *har$o#red* hi(-! ! o# ne)er har$o#red (e/! said Ern, who hadn*t the faintest idea of what !har$o#rin+! really (eant- !"*( not a shi'/ o# 2#st +a)e (e $oard and lod+in+, Fatty - let (e stay here in yo#r shed-! !.ell - that*s another way of sayin+ that " *har$o#red* yo# - +a)e yo# shelter,! said FattyErn 2#('ed #' at on%e- !"*ll +o $a%& to (y #n%le*s then,! he said- !" won*t let yo# +et '#nished $e%a#se yo#*)e $een &ind to 4(e4, Fatty/ That*s not fair/! !9it down, Ern,! said Fatty- !.e %an*t do anythin+ for the (o(ent- 6hief "ns'e%tor 8en&s is %o(in+ alon+ here soon- "*ll ha)e to wait for hi(- "*d li&e yo# all to stay, tho#+h-! !"s (y #n%le %o(in+ too3! said Ern, fearf#lly!" don*t thin& so-! said Fatty- !<osh - wo#ldn*t 4"4 li&e to '#t in a %o('laint a$o#t yo#r 4#n%le4, Ern- "n fa%t " %an thin& of se)eral %o('laints " %o#ld '#t in-!

!=othin+ to what 4"4 %o#ld thin& of,! said Ern, +loo(ily- !9ho#tin+ at (e and al(ost deafenin+ (e- 6li''in+ (e on the ear- 1#shin+ (e aro#nd- Ta&in+ (y---! !Listen - so(eone*s %o(in+,! said Fatty, his ears e)en shar'er 2#st then than those of the do+s- !" heard a %ar draw #' o#tside o#r front +ate, "*( s#re-! ! o# %o#ldn*t ha)e, Fatty/! said Larry- !"t*s ri+ht down the +arden, and---! B#t 2#st then the two do+s set #' s#%h a lo#d $ar&in+ that no$ody %o#ld hear anyone s'ea&!90AT A1/! sho#ted Fatty, (a&in+ a di)e for B#ster- !Do yo# want (e to $e had #' for %reatin+ a noisy dist#r$an%e, B#ster/ Ern, +et hold of Bin+o- They $oth see( to ha)e +one (ad-! A lo#d &no%& %a(e at the shed door, and the two do+s al(ost $ar&ed the 'la%e down- Then the door o'ened and there stood 6hief "ns'e%tor 8en&s, tall, $#rly, &een-eyed - $#t not s(ilin+ as he #s#ally was- 0e loo&ed ro#nd the little %o('any!Oh - so 4all4 the Find-O#ters are here, are they3! he said, and s(iled- Fatty was (ost relie)ed to see that s(ile- 1erha's the "ns'e%tor wasn*t +oin+ to $e too hard on hi( after all!.ell, little Bets, so yo#*re here too, are yo#3! said the 6hief "ns'e%tor and 'atted her head- 9he %a#+ht hold of his hand!"ns'e%tor 8en&s, yo# won*t ta&e Fatty to 'rison, will yo#3! she said, in a s#ddenly %ho&y )oi%e!0e*s 2#st $een wor&in+ hard on a (ystery, that*s all- .e all ha)e-! !6heer #', Bets - " %o#ldn*t ta&e hi( if " tried/! said the 6hief- !0e*s not old eno#+h- 9till a &id, yo# &now - $it too $i+ for his $oots so(eti(es, that*s all- .ell, now, how*s e)ery$ody3 My word, here*s a new do+- .hat*s yo#r na(e, sir3! !Bin+o,! said Ern, with s#%h 'ride in his )oi%e that e)eryone s(iled- !0e*s 4(y4 do+, sir- My )ery own- o# sho#ld see hi( 'lay with B#ster here - they*re a 'air, they are-! !0e*s a ni%e do+- Ern,! said the 6hief, and 'atted Bin+o, who i((ediately rolled o)er on his $a%& in deli+ht- !" +ather yo#r #n%le doesn*t li&e hi(- " %an*t i(a+ine why-! !=or %an ", sir,! said Ern- !9ir, yo# won*t let (y #n%le ta&e hi( away fro( (e, or anythin+ li&e that, will yo#3! !.e*ll tal& a$o#t yo# and Bin+o later,! said the "ns'e%tor, !and see what %an $e done- "t*s Frederi%& here "*( worried a$o#t- This (an, En+ler, Frederi%&, %ertainly has a so#nd %o('laint a+ainst yo#- .hat do yo# &now a$o#t hi(3! !" &now a +reat deal,! said Fatty- !And )ery s#r'risin+ it is, sir- The others don*t yet &now all the thin+s " &now - 4they*ll4 $e s#r'rised too/ " rather thin& yo#*ll t#rn yo#r attention to Mr En+ler, sir and one or two others - when "*)e finished tellin+ (y story/! "ns'e%tor 8en&s loo&ed (ost s#r'rised- 0e too& o#t his 'i'e and $e+an to li+ht it, '#ffin+ o#t s(o&e- Then he sat $a%& %o(forta$ly in his %hair!Tell yo#r story, Fatty,! he said, in a (#%h (ore friendly tone- !"*( ready - no e($roidery, (ind 2#st the 'lain fa%ts - ones that yo# are a$sol#tely s#re of/! B#ster sat #' strai+ht, and Bin+o sat #' strai+ht too- They were +oin+ to listen with as (#%h interest as e)eryone else,

!.ell, sir,! said Fatty, in a )ery serio#s )oi%e- !"t all started with the disa''earan%e of a tiny $oat in a $i+ 'i%t#re---!

1H - FATT 9OL7E9 T0E M 9TE? / There was dead silen%e in the shed, as Fatty told the story of the Banshee Mystery!"t all started with the disa''earan%e of a tiny $oat in a $i+ 'i%t#re in the 1i%t#re-<allery at Banshee Towers,! he $e+an!A $oat in a 4'i%t#re4/! said the "ns'e%tor, astonished! es, sir- o# see, we tho#+ht we*d (a&e a few e;'editions these holidays, and that was one of the( - to Banshee Towers to see the lo)ely sea-'i%t#res there,! went on Fatty!"t was Ern and " who 4really4 wanted to +o,! said Bets!9o we all went #' on o#r $i&es, and 'aid a shillin+ to +o in- .e had a loo& ro#nd - the 'i%t#res were +rand,! said Fatty, !and Ern here stood for a+es in front of a )ery $i+ one---! !9(ashin+, it was/! said Ern, ta&in+ #' the story- !And it had a tiny red $oat, sir, 'ainted on a wa)e near the $otto( of the 'i%t#re-! !.ell, what a$o#t it3! said the "ns'e%tor!.ell, sir, we went a+ain the ne;t day- and " went to loo& at that 'i%t#re a+an - and the $oat was 4+one4/! said Ern- !And it wasn*t 'ainted o#t or anythin+ - it 2#st wasn*t there-! !9tran+e,! said "ns'e%tor 8en&s- ! o# (#st ha)e (ade a (ista&e - loo&ed at another 'i%t#re 'erha's-! !=o, sir - Bets here %an say the sa(e as (e,! said Ern- and Bets nodded!That was the $e+innin+ of the Mystery,! said Fatty- !" sort of s(elt so(ethin+ fishy fro( that )ery (o(ent- " didn*t (#%h li&e the t#rnstile (an, and " %ertainly didn*t li&e the owner of the 'i%t#res, a (an %alled Mr En+ler- And " didn*t (#%h li&e one of the artists there, a Fren%h(an-! !Oh - there were artists there, were there3! said the "ns'e%tor- !6o'yin+ the 'i%t#res3! ! es, sir - $#t not awf#lly well, in (y o'inion,! said Fatty- !E;%e't the Fren%h(an, sir - honestly he was )ery )ery +ood- 0e wasn*t )ery ni%e, tho#+h - he 'ainted Ern ri+ht a%ross the fa%e $y slashin+ at hi( with his $r#sh- B#t he was a 4real4 artist, sir- the others were only art-st#dents fro( so(e art-s%hool!"t said in the %atalo+#e, sir, that the 'i%t#res there $elon+ed to a 6o#nt L#dwi+, of A#stria, who had lent the( to this Mr En+ler to show in his +allery- Mr En+ler is an A#strian too, " $elie)e- The artists were %o'yin+ the( 2#st for 'ra%ti%e, or to sell as %o'ies afterwards- They were (ost of the( awf#l - " wo#ldn*t ha)e +i)en ten shillin+s for any of the(/! went on Fatty!Frederi%&, yo# (ay as well &now that we ha)e reason to $elie)e En+ler is a %roo&,! said the 6hief- !1lease tell (e strai+ht o#t if 4yo#4 ha)e any reason to $elie)e he is, and if so, .0AT reasons3 This is as i('ortant for yo#, as for (e-!

!All ri+ht, sir- " %an +i)e yo# 'lenty of reasons,! said Fatty, $ris&ly- !"*( 'retty s#re that what he does is to +et that Fren%h artist to %o'y the 'i%t#res he has had lent to hi( fro( )ario#s Art +alleries all o)er the 'la%e- Then he ta&es the ori+inal 'i%t#re o#t of its fra(e, and rolls it #' - and sti%&s the finished %o'y in its 'la%e - and " (#st say that Fran%ois Ortalo (a&es so(e wonderf#l %o'ies/! !0e sells the ori+inals so(ewhere, for a lar+e s#( of (oney, of %o#rse,! said "ns'e%tor 8en&s!8#st what we s#s'e%ted - $#t %o#ldn*t 'ro)e/! !.ell, yo# %an 'ro)e it now, sir,! said Fatty- !That Fren%h artist (ade a $i+ (ista&e when he %o'ied that fine sea-'i%t#re that Ern and Bets lo)ed - he for+ot to '#t that tiny $oat into the %o'ied 'i%t#re/ That*s the 4only4 differen%e that Ern and Bets %o#ld see in the two 'i%t#res/! !A )ery, )ery s(all o(ission/! said "ns'e%tor 8en&s !One that (i+ht ha)e +one #nnoti%ed for years - in fa%t, it (i+ht 4ne)er4 ha)e $een s'otted- " don*t thin& anyone $#t shar'-eyed %hildren wo#ld noti%e and re(e($er a tiny $oat so %learly/ Ern - " %on+rat#late yo#/ o# (ay $e the (eans of %at%hin+ a )ery %le)er and re(ar&a$le swindler/! Ern went as red as a $eetroot, tried to say so(ethin+, and %o#ldn*t!Of %o#rse,! went on the "ns'e%tor, !we want to &now :#ite a few (ore thin+s, $efore we %an %har+e this ro+#e with stealin+- 1erha's yo# %an tell (e so(e of the(, Frederi%&3! !.ell- " don*t &now, sir,! said Fatty- !" 4%an4 tell yo# a few thin+s, tho#+h- The Fren%h(an*s 4real4 na(e and address, for instan%e- " fo#nd it in a $oo& when " - er - $ro&e into his $edroo(-! E)eryone stared at Fatty in s#r'rise- !.hat*s his na(e - :#i%&, +i)e it to (e,! said the 6hief, o'enin+ a note$oo&!0is na(e is Fran%ois 0enri Ortalo, of J1 ?#e 6arnot, 1aris,! said Fatty- !0e &nows all a$o#t the fa(o#s 'i%t#res on the 6ontinent of E#ro'e- " fo#nd his na(e in a $oo& a$o#t the(-! The 6hief +a)e a little whistle- !Oho - so Fran%ois Ortalo has t#rned #' here, has he3! he said- !" wo#ldn*t li&e to say how (any different %o#ntries want hi( for swindlin+ 'eo'le o)er 'i%t#res<ood wor&, Fatty/ Anythin+ else3! !.ell, " &now whi%h Art <alleries in A(eri%a 4$#y4 the ori+inal 'i%t#res,! said Fatty, and +a)e "ns'e%tor 8en&s the list he had written down that (ornin+ in the offi%e at Banshee Towers!Bless (y so#l/! said the 6hief, hardly a$le to $elie)e his ears- !A( " drea(in+3 .e*)e $een loo&in+ e)erywhere for this infor(ation- 0ow in the world do yo# &now this3! !.ell - " 2#st 4ha''ened4 to see Mr En+ler*s offi%e des&,! said Fatty, !and " 2#st +lan%ed at a few thin+s, sir-! !" %an only ho'e, Frederi%& Trotte)ille, that when yo# are +rown-#', yo# will 2oin the 'oli%e-for%e and not the ran&s of the $#r+lars/! said the "ns'e%tor- !" s#''ose yo# do &now that yo# had no ri+ht to +o snoo'in+ in that fellow*s des&, ro+#e tho#+h he is/! !.ell, " wasn*t s#re, sir,! said Fatty, with a twin&le in his eye- !B#t Ern here was rather sho%&ed, weren*t yo#, Ern3! !.ell, yes, " was,! said Ern- !B#t then " didn*t &now that Fatty was +ettin+ infor(ation to 'ass on to 4yo#4, sir-! !"s there really a 6o#nt L#dwi+, sir, who lends these 'i%t#res to Mr En+ler3! as&ed Fatty-

!Oh yes,! said the "ns'e%tor- !And he (#st $e a 'oor 2#d+e of art - $e%a#se altho#+h En+ler ne)er sends hi( $a%& his )al#a$le ori+inal 'i%t#res, $#t only d#d %o'ies, he has a''arently ne)er noti%ed the differen%e/! !Then he won*t noti%e that the tiny little $oat is (issin+ when he +ets the %o'y3! said Bets, a(a5ed!0e %ertainly won*t,! said the %hief- ! o# are (#%h s(arter than he is, little Bets/ And Ern too/! !6an yo# %har+e Mr En+ler - and the artist - and 'erha's the t#rnstile (an - with ro$$ery and swindlin+3 !as&ed Fatty!"t*s diffi%#lt,! said the "ns'e%tor- !"*d feel safer if " %o#ld find o#t how he +ets the ori+inal 'i%t#res safely o#t of the Art <alleries he shows the( in - s#%h as Banshee Towers, for instan%e- "t isn*t easy to s(#++le $i+ 'i%t#res o#t of a 'la%e yo# &now - or into one, for that (atter- "t*s $een really '#55lin+ #s- .e*)e wat%hed and wat%hed that fellow - not only here $#t in other 'la%es too - and we*)e ne)er $een a$le to lay o#r hands on any 'i%t#res $ein+ s(#++led o#t or in/! !Oh, that*s easy,! said Fatty- !" +#essed that early on, sir-! !Fatty/ o# ne)er told #s/ 40ow4 did they +et the 'i%t#res o#t3! said Larry, astonished!Do yo# re(e($er that there were always len+ths of fat lead 'i'es a$o#t - s#''osed to $e for re'airs3! said Fatty- !.ell, " went and snoo'ed down one - and " saw so(ethin+ ti+htly rolled #' in it - " %o#ldn*t i(a+ine then what it was - $#t now "*( a$sol#tely %ertain that it was a rolled-#', %an)as - a 'i%t#re off the walls- "t wo#ldn*t $e (issed, for a %o'y wo#ld $e i((ediately sla''ed into 'la%e/! !FATT / ?e(e($er that ladder this (ornin+ - and the %#ttin+ so#nd we heard when we were lo%&ed in that roo( - and the sla''in+ of a $r#sh3! al(ost sho#ted Ern, half-lea'in+ fro( his %hair- !That was what they were doin+ then/ They %li($ed #' the ladder to %#t the 'i%t#re o#t then they sla''ed so(e sort of +l#ey 'aste on the e('ty s'a%e - and stret%hed the %o'y o)er it it st#%& al(ost at on%e, of %o#rse-! ! es, " re(e($er,! said Fatty- ! o#*re :#ite ri+ht, Ern- o#*)e $een 'retty %le)er o)er this-! !.hy didn*t yo# tell #s all these thin+s3! said Bets!.ell, " wasn*t :#ite s#re how e)erythin+ fitted,! said Fatty- ! o# &now, it was a $it li&e a 2i+saw- " %o#ldn*t see the whole 'i%t#re, or &now what it (eant, till "*d fo#nd 4e)ery4 $it of the 2i+saw- "t wasn*t till this (ornin+ that " fo#nd the last 'ie%e - the 'i'es in the shed/ Then at last " &new how they (ana+ed to +et the 'i%t#res o#t witho#t anyone +#essin+/! ! o#*)e done re(ar&a$ly well- Fatty- B#t " rather fear the (en ha)e s(elt a rat and +one,! said the 6hief, sh#ttin+ his note$oo&- !9o(eone (#st ha)e ti''ed the( that we were on the wat%hThey went away in a $l#e )an and a %ar, a''arently- The (an we had on wat%h #nfort#nately wasn*t :#i%& eno#+h to ta&e the n#($ers- 9o " fear we %an*t set #' road-$lo%&s anywhere, or iss#e a +eneral warnin+ to the 'oli%e- .e 4ha)e4 to &now the re+istration n#($ers of the )ehi%les-! !Oh those - " nearly for+ot,! said Fatty- !" saw the n#($ers this (ornin+- =ow - let (e see - yes one was 1air of ?o+#es, and---! !1air of ?o+#es - 4that*s4 not a %ar-n#($er/! said Larry-

!And the other was 8olly Bad Lot,! said Fatty- ! es - 1O? >K> and 8BL BBB, sir- FO? for *1air of ?o+#es/* and 8BL for *8olly Bad Lot*- Easy way to re(e($er those )ehi%les, sir - the letters des%ri$ed the o%%#'ants so well/! !.ell, " won*t say what a (ar)el " thin& yo# are, or yo# 4(i+ht4 +et a swelled head,! said the "ns'e%tor, 2ottin+ down the n#($ers at on%e- !Do yo# ha''en to ha)e (e(ori5ed the n#($er of 4(y4 %ar in the sa(e way- Fatty3! ! es, sir- o#r %ar n#($er is 7<F III-! said Fatty, 'ro('tly- !Er - 7<F stands for 7ery <ood Fellow, sir-! !.ell, "*( +lad to hear that! said the "ns'e%tor, +ettin+ #'- !Than&s, Fatty, than&s, Ern- .e %an now 'in down those three ro+#es, and '#t the( so(ewhere where, " a( 'retty %ertain, they will not see (any $ea#tif#l 'i%t#res/! !.hat a$o#t Mr En+ler*s %o('laint a$o#t (e, sir3! as&ed Fatty- ! o# &now - $rea&in+ and enterin+ into Banshee Towers- A%t#ally we didn*t 4$rea&4 in, sir - we %a(e #' that #nder+ro#nd 'assa+e-! !0(: well, in the %ir%#(stan%es, %onsiderin+ that yo# ha)e +i)en (e so (#%h hel' in this %ase, Frederi%&, " shall %ross o#t that %o('laint in (y $oo&s,! said "ns'e%tor 8en&s, with a )ery $road s(ile indeed- !And yo# needn*t worry a$o#t Mr <oon- " a( +oin+ strai+ht #' to the 'oli%e station to tell hi( of the #ne;'e%ted - and really astonishin+ - hel' yo# ha)e +i)en (e this (ornin+- " (#st say that " thin& the Fi)e Find-O#ters are re(ar&a$ly +ood dete%ti)es/! !.hat a$o#t Ern3! as&ed Bets, an;io#sly- !.ill it $e 4safe4 for hi( to +o $a%& to Mr <oon*s3! !EA"TE safe,! said the "ns'e%tor- !" shall tell hi( that his ne'hew Ern was %le)er eno#+h to s'ot what is 'ro$a$ly the only %l#e in e;isten%e that %o#ld lead to the arrest of a s(art ro+#e li&e Mr En+ler- .ell done indeed, Ern/! And with that, o#t went the "ns'e%tor, (#r(#rin+ so(ethin+ to hi(self- !Let*s see now - (y %ar*s n#($er is 7<F - and Fatty said it stood for 7ery <ood Fellow- 0( - " 2#st wonder what 4else4 Fatty (a&es those letters stand for, when "*( 4o#t4 of fa)o#r- 0e*s %ertainly worth wat%hin+, is Master Frederi%& Trotte)ille/!

1I - OA 4=E7E?4 @=O. .0AT OLD FATT "9 A1 TO/ Mr <oon was a(a5ed to hear what "ns'e%tor 8en&s had to say- 0e si('ly %o#ldn*t $elie)e his ears!All those 'i%t#res %o'ied, and the ori+inals 4sold4/ That fellow En+ler (#st ha)e (ade a fort#neAnd yo# say Ern - E?=, (y ne'hew, was the one that s'otted the first %l#e/ "*d ne)er ha)e tho#+ht it of Ern, ne)er-! !.ell, <oon, " sho#ldn*t $e s#r'rised if yo#r ne'hew doesn*t (a&e a )ery fine 'oli%e-offi%er in so(e years* ti(e,! said "ns'e%tor 8en&s, $ris&ly- !"t*s a 'ity yo# s%ared hi( so (#%h, and he ran away- 0e (i+ht ha)e $een of so(e #se to yo#-! ! es, sir- " sort of lost (y te('er,! said Mr <oon- !"*d li&e hi( $a%&, sir- "f he*s +oin+ to $e as $rainy as yo# thin& he is, well, " wo#ldn*t (ind tea%hin+ hi( a few thin+s (yself, sir, that (i+ht $e #sef#l to hi( later on-!

!4That*s4 the way to tal&- <oon,! said the 6hief, +ettin+ #', and %la''in+ the 'oli%e(an on the $a%&- ! o#n+sters nowadays ha)e so(e fine st#ff in the(, yo# &now- As for that $oy Frederi%& Trotte)ille - well, " 'ity all the ro+#es and swindlers and thie)es in a few years* ti(e- On%e Frederi%& +ets those $rains of his to wor&, they won*t ha)e a %han%e/! !" thin& "*ll +o down to the Trotte)illes* ho#se, and ha)e a word with Ern,! said <oon, +ettin+ #'!0is (other*s $een after (e a$o#t hi(, when she heard he wasn*t here- Downri+ht an+ry she was - not with Ern, $#t with 4(e4- 8#st li&e her sa#%e/! !Ah, yo# 2#st tell her how %le)er Ern has $een - that will s(ooth her down,! said the "ns'e%tor!.ell, +ood-$ye, <oon- "*ll let yo# &now when we %at%h those swindlers- o#*ll ha)e Ern $a%&, of %o#rse, and no hard words said on either side- And $y the way, what a 7E? ni%e, well-$eha)ed do+ he has, hasn*t he/ E)en 9"T9 when he*s told- "*( s#re yo#*ll en2oy ha)in+ Bin+o $a%&, too, <oon/! 0e de'arted, lea)in+ Mr <oon feelin+ rather li&e a 'ri%&ed $alloon, with the air slowly de'artin+ fro( hi(- .ell, he*d $etter +o down and see those !Find-O#ters! as they %alled the(sel)es- 9illy na(e - $#t no do#$t a$o#t it, so(ehow or other they 4did4 sol)e (ysteries, and find o#t e;traordinary %l#es!May$e it*s silly of (e to +o a+ainst the(,! tho#+ht <oon, frownin+- !Be $etter if " was (ore friendly, li&e, then they*d tell (e thin+s- That Ern now - whoe)er wo#ld ha)e tho#+ht he had a $rain in his head3 " %an*t $elie)e it/! 0e set off on his $i%y%le to ride to Fatty*s ho#se, &ee'in+ a shar' loo&-o#t for do+s- "t was a %#rio#s thin+, $#t as soon as do+s saw Mr <oon ridin+ (a2esti%ally down the road on his old $i%y%le, they see(ed to ha)e $#t one tho#+ht in their do++y (inds, and that was to ra%e o#t into the road at to' s'eed, $ar&in+ at the to' of their )oi%es, and lea' at 'oor Mr <oon*s an&les, as his feet went #' and down on the 'edalsDown in the shed no one +#essed that Mr <oon was %o(in+- They were all tal&in+ a$o#t their ad)ent#res in Banshee Towers- !T0E (ost e;%itin+ 'art was where we set off the wailin+ $anshee (a%hinery,! said Larry- !My word, that was a %le)er st#nt of Mr En+ler*s, wasn*t it/! !" 4wish4 we had that (a%hinery here,! said Fatty- !.hat a sho%& e)eryone wo#ld +et in the (iddle of the ni+ht/! !.ell, if yo# 'arti%#larly 4want4 to +i)e yo#r nei+h$o#rs a sho%&, 4yo#4 don*t need $anshee (a%hinery/! said 1i', +i)in+ Fatty a friendly '#n%h- !All yo# need is yo#r own fri+htf#l wail - yo#*re as +ood as any $anshee, Fatty- My word, when yo# wailed in that Ar(o#r ?oo(, the first day we were there, " nearly died of fri+ht/! !There*s only one 'art of the Mystery we didn*t sol)e,! said Larry- !And that was why the $anshee a''arently %hose Th#rsday for its wee&ly wail- .hy Th#rsday3! !.ell, a''arently there really 4wasn*t4 any (ystery a$o#t that,! said Fatty- !And " needn*t ha)e $othered (y head o)er it- Th#rsday is the t#rnstile (an*s half-day off - so he #sed to set the (a%hinery +oin+ to %lear e)eryone away early/ Then he*d $e a$le to sh#t #' the 'la%e and +et off in +ood ti(e- And "*)e no do#$t that the Fren%h artist #sed to do a $it of 'a%&in+ #' then %aref#lly '#ttin+ the 'i%t#res into those lead 'i'es, ready for %olle%tion-! !9h/ 9o(eone*s %o(in+-! said Bets- !Oh, Fatty -it*s Mr <oon- .hate)er is 4he4 here for3! !To %o('lain a$o#t (e *har$o#rin+* Ern, " s#''ose,! said Fatty, h#rryin+ to the window at the $a%& of the shed- !Loo&, "*( not seein+ hi( this (ornin+- " (i+ht $e a $it r#de if he starts sayin+ anythin+ nasty a$o#t old Ern- =ow yo# others tell hi( that Ern*s $een (ar)ello#s, and that e)en

the $anshee (#st ha)e $een 'retty s%ared of Ern, and---! !Ban+-$an+/! That was Mr <oon &no%&in+ at the shed doorFatty i((ediately lea't o#t of the window with B#ster- !"f yo# ha)e any tro#$le with <oon, don*t let it worry yo#,! he said, 'o''in+ his head thro#+h the window- !"*ll $e listenin+ o#t here, and "*ll %o(e to yo#r hel' at on%e-! Larry then o'ened the door, and there stood Mr <oon, not loo&in+ nearly so fier%e as #s#al- 0e ste''ed in, and to e)eryone*s i((ense astonish(ent, s(iled and nodded!<ood (ornin+, Mr <oon,! said Bets, 'olitely- The others (#ttered a +reetin+ too!.ell, well,! said Mr <oon, in an #ne;'e%tedly hearty )oi%e- !0ere yo# all are - oh, e;%e't Frederi%&- " - er - %a(e to %on+rat#late hi( - and yo# all - on hel'in+ to sol)e the (ystery of Banshee Towers- Ern, " hear that yo# were :#ite %le)er at s'ottin+ a )ery i('ortant %l#e-! Ern $l#shed $ri+ht red at this %o('li(ent, and %o#ldn*t find a word to say- There was an aw&ward silen%e- Bin+o $ro&e it $y s#ddenly +i)in+ a lo#d $ar&, and r#shin+ at Mr <oon*s an&lesMr <oon +a)e a si%&ly s(ile, and tried to '#sh hi( away- !Bin+o,! said Ern, s#ddenly, in a ste( )oi%e- !9to' that/ 9"T/! And Bin+o (ee&ly sat down at on%e, tho#+h he still loo&ed lon+in+ly at Mr <oon*s an&les/ !0a - well-trained do+ that,! said Mr <oon, s#r'rised- !Er - "*ll $e :#ite 'leased to ha)e hi( $a%& a+ain, Ern- Brin+ hi( with yo# when yo# %o(e-! There was another aw&ward and astonished silen%e- Ern $ro&e it- !Do yo# really want (e to %o(e $a%&, An%le - and Bin+o here, too3 0e*s not a $ad do+ - 2#st a $it e;%ita$le at ti(es, $#t he*s not (#%h (ore than a '#'-! !Oh, he*s a fine do+,! said Mr <oon, in a hearty )oi%e- !7ery fine- O$edient, too- My word, he (#st ha)e s%ared that old $anshee/ 0a ha ha/! =o$ody else la#+hed- They were all still a $it wary of their old ene(y!Of %o#rse, yo# &now,! said <oon, !that $anshee $#siness is a $it of a fra#d- The sort of thin+ that Frederi%& wo#ld (a&e a lot of- "t*s said to wail, " &now, $#t 4"*)e4 ne)er heard it whene)er "*)e $een near the Towers/ 0o ho - " $et it wo#ldn*t dare to raise its )oi%e if it saw 4(e4 anywhere near/! !.ell, 4we4 heard it all ri+ht,! said Bets- !"t so#nded li&e - oh, let (e see--- li&e---! And then, fro( o#tside the window, %a(e a little wail- 8#st a )ery little one at first- Then it $e%a(e lo#der and 'it%hed hi+her in tone, and soon the little roo( was f#ll of the (ost heart-rendin+, eerie wailin+ that <oon had e)er heard- Bets 2#('ed at first - $#t she and the others &new at on%e that it was only old Fatty showin+ the dis$elie)in+ Mr <oon what a $anshee*s wail was li&e/ !1retend to $e s%ared/! whis'ered Larry to the others - and at on%e they %l#t%hed one another, and loo&ed so fri+htened that Mr <oon felt as if 4he4 wanted to %l#t%h at so(e$ody too/ Bin+o was terrified, and r#shed ro#nd the roo(, yel'in+ at the to' of his )oi%e, tryin+ to find where the weird noise was %o(in+ fro(- .hat with the wailin+ and the $ar&in+, and e)eryone*s fri+htened loo&s, Mr <oon was s%ared o#t of his life-

!Eeee-oooooooo-oh-oh-oh- eeeeeeeeeeeee/! wailed Fatty, en2oyin+ hi(self thoro#+hly o#tside the window- B#ster $e+an to yel' as soon as he heard Bin+o $ar&in+, and when Fatty $e+an another set of wails, Mr <oon %o#ld stand it no lon+er!"*ll +et hel'/! he 'anted- !9o(eone*s in dan+er/! And o#t of the door he r#shed, and #' the +arden"t was (ost #nfort#nate that Fatty*s (other and the old %oo& were 'i%&in+ early daffodils in the +arden 2#st then- They heard the wailin+ too, and stood #'ri+ht at on%e, listenin+ in fri+ht!One of the %hildren had $een h#rt/! said Mrs Trotte)ille- !Oh, what terri$le s%rea(s and wails/ E#i%&, we (#st see what*s the (atter-! 9o down to the shed they r#shed at to' s'eed, 2#st as Mr <oon was ra%in+ #' the 'ath as if wild ti+ers were after hi(/ They (et at a %orner, and Mr <oon was &no%&ed flyin+ $y the 'l#(' %oo&0e sat down hea)ily in a $ed of (int, loo&in+ (ost astonished!.hat*s ha''ened, what*s ha''ened3! %ried Mrs Trotte)ille- !0as the shed sto)e fallen o)er3 0as there $een an a%%ident3! B#t Mr <oon had no $reath to re'ly- 0e 2#st went on sittin+ in the (int, 'antin+ lo#dly, ho'in+ that a $anshee wo#ldn*t s#ddenly a''ear $efore hi(- 1oor Mr <oon/ Mrs Trotte)ille and the %oo& ran to the shed, feelin+ )ery an;io#s indeed- B#t what in the world was this noise they heard 4now43 =o wailin+ - $#t shrie&s of la#+hter/ !0a ha ha ha/ Oh, " ne)er tho#+ht <oon %o#ld r#n li&e that/! !0o ho ho/ <ood old $anshee/! !0a ha, ho ho, he he, ho ho---! The la#+hter went on and on, and didn*t sto' e)en when Mrs Trotte)ille wal&ed into the shed, and +a5ed ro#nd at e)eryone in indi+nationThey had all %olla'sed into %hairs or on the floor- Fatty had %li($ed $a%& into the roo( thro#+h the window, and was wi'in+ tears fro( his eyes- 0e had no $reath left to $e a wailin+ $anshee any lon+er/ B#ster and Bin+o had +one %o('letely (ad and were $ar&in+ and tearin+ ro#nd and ro#nd the roo( non-sto'!F?EDE?"6@/ .0AT "9 ALL T0"93! de(anded Mrs Trotte)ille in a )ery %ross )oi%e indeed- 9he 'o&ed at Fatty with a hard forefin+er, as he lay %olla'sed in a %hair!Oh, Mother, don*t- o# &now "*( ti%&lish,! said Fatty- !Mother- " was only $ein+ a $anshee- .hy are yo# so %ross3 "t*s not a+ainst the law to wail li&e a $anshee is it3! And off $e went a+ain into another roar of la#+hter!" shall fet%h yo#r father,! said his (other, asto#nded at Fatty*s $eha)io#r- !" really do not &now what has %o(e o)er yo# all - or Mr <oon either/! !<oon - what*s he doin+ that*s #'set yo#, Mother/! as&ed Fatty at on%e!0e*s sittin+ down in the )ery (iddle of (y (int $ed, if yo# want to &now,! said his (other- !And ser)e hi( ri+ht too - r#shin+ strai+ht into #s li&e that-! !9ittin+ down in the 4(int4 $ed, Mother/ Oh, this is too +ood to $e tr#e/! said Fatty- !Mother, do yo# (ean to say yo# '#shed hi( o)er - oh, Mother, yo#*ll $e '#t into 'rison if yo# do thin+s li&e that- 1oor <oon - he*ll s(ell of (int for wee&s/!

!Oh, Fatty, 'lease don*t (a&e 4(e4 la#+h, too,! said his (other, feelin+ a s#dden desire to 2oin in the (erri(ent- !" don*t &now 4what4 to do with yo#, Fatty- o#*re a $ad lot- <o and hel' Mr <oon o#t of (y (int $ed- "*( s#re the 'oor (an is still there/! es - there he is, listenin+ in a(a5e(ent to the la#+hter %o(in+ fro( Fatty*s shed/ !.hat*s ha''enin+ now3 0ow is it so(ethin+ 4always4 ha''ens when that fat $oy is a$o#t3! he +r#nts- !1ooh, what a s(ell of (int/ One of these days, Master Frederi%& Trotte)ille, "*ll +et the $etter of yo#/ o# see if " don*t/! .ell, we*ll see ne;t ti(e there*s a Mystery to sol)e, Mr <oon- B#t don*t $e too s#re of yo#rself, will yo#3 o# 2#st =E7E? &now what old Fatty is #' to/