Mystery of Tally-Ho Cottage by Enid Blyton

Author:Enid Blyton [Blyton, Enid]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-07-15T22:07:52+00:00

AN EXCITING TIME

Fatty did not arrive at Tally-Ho grounds till much later. His parents did not go to bed until ten past eleven that night, and Fatty waited and waited, fully dressed. He was not in disguise, because he did not intend to meet anyone if he could help it!

He had on his very thickest overcoat and a cap pulled over his thick hair. He whispered to Buster to keep quiet. The little Scottie watched him sorrowfully. He knew that Fatty meant to go out without him, and he was grieved. He wouldn’t even wag his tail when Fatty gave him one last pat.

The night was light and dark alternately. When the moon sailed out from behind a big cloud the road was as bright as day. When it sailed behind a cloud, it was difficult to see without a torch. Fatty kept in the shadow of the trees, and walked softly, listening for any footsteps.

He met no one at all. Peterswood had certainly gone to bed early that night!

He went down to the river and walked along the river-path to the wicket-gate leading into Tally-Ho grounds. He felt that to go in at the front gates would certainly attract attention - and, indeed, it was possible that Goon might be there, keeping watch also. ‘Though I don’t really believe that Maidenhead report,’ thought Fatty. ‘For one thing it would be silly of the Lorenzos to try and come back so soon - and for another, if they were going to, they would disguise themselves too thoroughly to be easily recognized!’

He let himself in at the gate. The Larkins’ cottage was in darkness, and there was not a sound. Fatty remembered that Ern would be watching from the treehouse, and he stopped under a bush to send out a hoot.

‘Hoo!’ called Fatty, on exactly the right note. ‘Hoo-hoo-hoo-HOO!’

And back came the answer from Ern in the tree. ‘Hoo! Hoo-hoo-hoo-HOO!’ It was so exactly like an owl that Fatty nodded his head approvingly. Ern was good!

He began to make his way to the big house. It was in utter darkness. Fatty wished he could suddenly see a flicker or flash there, to tell him that somebody was about - that would be exciting. But everything was silence and darkness in the deserted house.

Ern hooted again. Then, before Fatty could answer, there came another hoot, and then another.

Whatever was Ern doing? Then Fatty laughed. Of course! It was real owls this time. They liked hunting on a moonlight night like this.

He thought he would send back a hoot, however, in case it was Ern. So he put his thumbs to his mouth and sent out a long and quavering hoot.

Immediately an answering hoot came, one that sounded quite urgent! Was it Ern? It was impossible to sense exactly the right direction of the hoot. Could Ern be trying to give him a message - was he warning him?

Fatty decided to stand under a thick dark bush for a while and wait quietly. The night was so silent that he might be able to pick up any noise if someone was about.

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