The Land of Far Beyond by Enid Blyton

Author:Enid Blyton
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781901881226
Publisher: Element Books Ltd
Published: 1998-10-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XI

THE BAND OF SOLDIERS. THE THREE WARRIORS, QUARRELSOME, STRIFE, AND MALICE. DICK COWARDLY RUNS AWAY. GALLANT AND DARING FACE THE SOLDIERS

‘WE SHALL SOON BE at the House of Peace now,’ said Mr Scornful, pleased. ‘We seem to have been looking for it for ages! It has such a nice name. I shall be glad to have a little peace, after our night in the giant’s castle – and after hearing all the hurtful, spiteful things those last three companions of ours had to say!’

‘I shall be gladder than anyone to get to the House of Peace,’ said poor Dick Cowardly, who had not yet recovered from his stay in the castle, and was full of fears and frights.

‘Oh, cheer up!’ said Peter. ‘Things are never so bad as they seem!’

But Dick found it very difficult to cheer up. He walked on beside Mr Scornful, bending beneath his burden, his eyes on the ground. Mr Scornful had no patience with him.

‘I’ve no use for anyone with as little spirit as you!’ he said to Dick. ‘Go and walk with the girls!’

So poor Dick shuffled behind to walk with the girls. They did not particularly want him with them either, but they put up with him, and tried to encourage him to look on the bright side of things.

‘We’ll soon be at the House of Peace,’ said Anna. ‘Stand up straight, Dick, and look up to the sky. See how blue it is today. Don’t keep your eyes on the ground!’

‘It can’t be very far to the Land of Far Beyond,’ said Lily, comfortingly. ‘Then you’ll lose your burden and will feel happier.’

Dick stood up straight and looked up to the blue sky. Then he dropped his eyes and looked ahead of him, trying to see if the House of Peace lay anywhere nearby.

He stopped. He gave a scream, and pointed to where something shone and glinted in the sun. ‘Soldiers!’ he said. ‘Come to fight us and take us prisoner!’

Everyone stopped. Sure enough, not far in front of them a band of soldiers barred the way. Their shields glittered in the sunlight, and their drawn swords shone brightly. Their helmets, set with plumes, shone too, and they stood immovable, waiting for the travellers to come up to them.

Mr Scornful looked at the soldiers doubtfully. He wondered if they were a band belonging to the Giant Cruelty. He had no weapon to fight with, except his hazel staff, and that was of no use against swords.

‘What are we going to do now?’ asked Dick, his teeth chattering with terror.

‘Look! There goes a man on horseback, trying to ride full tilt at the soldiers!’ said Peter, jumping out of the way as a fully armed rider galloped up behind him, his horse’s hoofs tearing up the grassy path as he went.

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