Chapter one

CHAPTER   SIX

 

Next Morning

 

 

the next morning they all met at Peter's house again and went off ta Windy Woods. Some of them had things to eat, and Peter had the drinks again. Janet had a big book with her. She had promised to lend it to Colin for the day.

" Here's Daddy's book that I told you about," she said. " It's all about ships—every single ship there is. I told you I'd bring it to show you. But Daddy says I've got to give it back to him in two or three days' time. So don't keep it too long."

" Thanks awfully," said Colin, and took it, very pleased. He loved ships, and this was really a wonderful book. He knew he must be very careful with it indeed.

Scamper trotted with them, as usual. They came to Windy Woods and made their way to their tree. Scamper at once put himself into his " sentry-box " and sat there, serious and important.

 

 

 

 

" Woof," he said, and Janet patted him.

" Yes—we know you'll be on guard," she said. " Good dog! "

They all climbed up. Peter undid the rubber sheet from the cushions and spread them out over the platform. Just as he had finished, the girls gave a startled cry. " Look ! The lid of the biscuit-tin is off—and most of the biscuits are gone! We left quite a lot, but only a few are here. And some of the chocolate we left is gone too—and the lemonade-bottle is empty. It was half-full."

 

 

They all looked into the cubby-hole. Yes— the biscuits were certainly gone. The Secret Seven looked at one another. Then Janet spoke suddenly.

" Do you know what I think ? I think it's that cheeky little squirrel! I bet he came here after we had gone, looked into our cubby-hole, and took our things. Squirrels are very clever!"

" But what about the lemonade ? " asked Peter, doubtfully.

" Squirrels use their paws like monkeys," said Janet. " We' ve seen them holding nuts in their paws and chewing them. I'm sure that squirrel would be clever enough to take the cork out of the bottle. I expect it emptied some of the lemonade out. It wouldn't like the taste."

" I can believe in a squirrel that takes a cork out of a bottle and even empties some of the lemonade out," said Peter. " But I can't somehow believe in a squirrel that puts the cork back again. I believe it's that boy ! "

" So do I," said George. But the others didn't. They were sure that it was the squirrel.

" Anyway, don't let's worry," said Jack. " We've got plenty of food today. If the squirrel likes a few biscuits and a bit of chocolate, he can have them."

 

They had been sensible that morning and had brought dominoes to play with. However, they could just as well have brought cards, because there was no wind. The sun was not to be seen, and the clouds were low.

" I hope it's not going to rain," said Colin, looking up. " I believe it is."

" Well, we shan't feel it much, hidden away in the middle of a thick oak-tree," said Pam. " I don't expect we'll get a single drop on our platform."

When it did begin to rain, and the drops pattered on the leaves, only one or two got through to their platform. But Colin was worried.

" I'd better put this ship book into the cubby-hole," he said. " Hadn't I, Janet ? Your father might be cross if it got wet."

" Well, he would," said Janet. " He's very careful about books. Put it at the back of the cubby-hole, then it won't get even a drop."

So the game was stopped while Colin tucked the big book away very carefully behind the little pile of food in the hole. The rain came down harder. It was rather fun to sit and listen to it pelting down on the leaves, and yet get hardly a drop on the platform.

 

 

By dinner-time the rain had stopped. " We'd better make a dash for it now," said Peter, trying to peer through the branches to see if there was any blue sky. " Now what about our things ? Do you suppose it's safe to leave them, after some of the biscuits and chocolate have been taken ? "

" Quite safe," said Pam, horrified at the thought of dragging everything down the tree to take home. " If the squirrel—or whoever the thief was—didn't take the cushions or the mugs and things yesterday it's not likely he will today. And we've only left a few biscuits."

 

" Right," said Peter. " We'll just tie up the cushions in the rubber sheet and go. Scamper ! We're coming ! "

" Woof! " said Scamper, and they heard him leaping up at the tree-trunk. He had been very bored in his sentry-box all by himself.

They went down the tree carefully, because the rain had made parts of it rather slippery. Scamper gave them a most hilarious welcome.

They all went off to their homes—and alas— nobody noticed that Colin wasn't carrying the book of ships. He had forgotten all about it— and it was still tucked away in the cubby-hole half-way up the great big oak-tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER   SEVEN

 

Windy Woods at Night

 

 

it wasn't until Colin was undressing for bed that night that he suddenly remembered the book of ships. Where was it ?

Then, with a shock, he knew. He had left it hi the tree-house cubby-hole. How dreadful ! Suppose that mischievous squirrel found it and tore the pages or nibbled at them! Suppose a storm came and blew rain into the hole and spoilt the book ! How angry Janet's father would be!

Colin dressed hurriedly again. He must go and get the book. But he had reckoned without his family. They seemed to be continually moving about the house that night, running upstairs, standing in the hall, going in and out of the garden. It was maddening.

Colin sat by his window till half past ten. Would his tiresome family never, never go to bed? Ah—that sounded like Granny coming upstairs.

It wasn't until eleven o'clock that Colin

 

 

felt it was safe to slip out of the house. He got safely out into the garden and jumped when an owl hooted suddenly. He stopped.

Would he know the way to the tree in the dark? It was almost dark now, and in the wood it would be pitch-black. Colin felt a nasty little stab of fear. It wouldn't really be very nice in Windy Woods at night. Suppose he missed the way, didn't find the tree, and got lost ? He really would feel an awful idiot, and his mother would be worried and cross.

He had to pass Peter's farm on the way. He wondered if Peter was awake. If he was, he would go with him, he was sure. He stepped into Peter's garden and made his way quietly to the farm-house. He knew where Peter's bedroom was.

The farm-house was in complete darkness. Everyone was hi bed. Colin took up a few small pebbles and threw one carefully at Peter's window. It fell back again. Colin threw another, waiting for it to hit the window.

But it didn't. The window was open and the pebble flew inside and hit Peter neatly on the cheek, as he slept peacefully hi bed.

He woke with a jump, sat up and stared

 

crossly round the dark room. He rubbed his cheek, wondering what had happened. Another pebble came in at the window and hit the wall.

" Hallo ! Someone's throwing stones ! ' said Peter to himself, and he went cautiously to the window. He made out someone standing below.

" Who is it ? " whispered Peter as loudly as he could without making too much noise.

" Hist! It's me, Colin ! " came a whisper from below. " Peter, listen—I've left your father's book in the tree-house—in the cubbyhole. I simply must get it. Will you come with me? "

" Oooh yes, rather," said Peter, thrilled at the idea of going into Windy Woods at night   

 and climbing up into the tree-house. It would be quite an adventure ! Lovely!

He slipped on a jersey and pair of shorts, and shinned down the tree that grew obligingly outside his window. In a moment he and Colin were slipping down the path like shadows.

Colin felt perfectly brave the moment that Peter was with him. " I was afraid I might

not find the tree," he whispered, as they padded along. " You're so good at finding your way, and I thought you'd know it even in the dark."

" Yes, I shall," said Peter, " But anyway I've brought a torch with me. This is fun, isn't it ? "

They came to Windy Woods, which were quiet tonight. Very little wind was about, and the trees made hardly any noise. An owl hooted again and made both boys jump.

" I'm glad I'm not a mouse," said Peter. " I should be scared stiff of an owl's hoot! "

They came to their tree. Peter went up first, shining the torch down now and again for Colin, who found it difficult to climb in the dark. At last they came to the platform. It looked queer and desolate in the light of Peter's torch.

" Now to get the book," said Colin, and he shone the torch in at the hole. He gave a sudden exclamation.

" I say! Someone's been here again! Everything is topsy-turvy and muddled up as if someone's been hunting for something. Food probably."

" Well, we didn't leave much," said Peter. " Blow! It can't be that squirrel. It must be someone who has discovered our tree-house. Is your book there ? "

" Yes, thank goodness," said Colin. " Peter, who comes here ? It's maddening ! "

" Can't think," said Peter. And then he heard a sound that astonished him. It was a very small sound indeed, and it came from somewhere in the tree.

" Did you hear that ? " whispered Peter. " It sounded like a tiny mew—but there can't be a cat up here ! "

He swung his torch round and about to see if he could find a hidden cat—and then he suddenly clutched Colin and pointed silently.

In the light of his torch was a pair of bare feet! Someone—someone was sitting silently on a branch above them, his feet showing in the torch-light. Who could he be ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER   BIGHT

 

Someone in the Tree-House

 

peter suddenly made a grab for the two bare feet and caught hold of them. There was a yell, and the feet began to kick out. But Peter held them tightly.

" You come on down," he said, angrily. " Who are you ? How dare you come to our tree-house and mess our things up. Come on down!''

" Let me go," said a boy's voice, and then there came the mewing noise again—and to the two boys' surprise a small kitten leapt down to a nearby branch and stared at Peter and Colin with wide-open green eyes.

" A kitten ! " said Colin. " It must be that boy with the kitten ! He did come back after all!"

" Don't pull me, don't pull me ! " called the boy on the bough above. " I'm slipping."

.Peter let go his feet. " Come on down then, and don't play the fool, because we're two to one," he said.

The feet came down lower, then the legs,

 

 

and then a thin body. Then came the whole boy, looking scared and white of face.

" Sit down," ordered Peter. " Don't move. Now you just tell us what you're doing in our tree."

The boy sat down. He looked up at them sulkily. He was thin and pale, and his hair wanted cutting.

" I only came here to hide," he said. " I've not done any harm—except to take a few biscuits last night. But if you'd been as hungry as I was, you'd have taken them too."

 

" What are you hiding from? " asked Colin. " Have you run away from home or something? "

" I shan't tell you anything," said the boy. " You might tell the police."

" We shan't," said Colin. " At least—not if we can help it. Why should we tell the police anyhow?"

The kitten crept quietly back to the boy and cuddled into his coat. Colin and Peter saw that it had a bleeding leg. The boy put up his hand and stroked it gently. It began to purr.

Both Colin and Peter suddenly felt certain that the boy couldn't be terribly bad because he so obviously loved the kitten—and the kitten trusted him. They stared at the sullen boy.

" Go on—tell us," said Peter, keeping the light of his torch full on the boy. " We might be able to help you."

"Will you let me stay here at night? " asked the boy. " In case they find me. They know I'm somewhere in Windy Woods."

"Who?" asked Peter. " Tell us everything. What's your name, to begin with ? "

" Jeff," said the boy, still stroking the kitten.

It all began when my mother went to hospital.

 

I lived with her. My dad's dead, so there's only us two. But when Mum was taken to hospital I was sent to my Uncle Harry and my Aunt Lizzy."

" Well, go on," said Peter. " Why did you run away? "

" I stayed there a week," said Jeff, " and my mother didn't come out of the hospital, and nobody would tell me anything. Suppose she never came out ? What was I to do? All I had was my kitten."

" Well, wouldn't your uncle and aunt have looked after you ? " asked Peter.

" I didn't want them to," said Jeff. " They are bad. My mother always said so, and she knew. They've got bad friends, and they do bad things."

" What do they do ? " asked Peter.

" Oh—steal—and worse things," said Jeff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

" They were all right to me—I mean they gave me food, and my aunt mended some of my clothes—but they were cruel to my kitten."

Colin and Peter stared at Jeff in sympathy. Peter knew how he would have felt if someone had been unkind to Scamper. " Did—did they hurt the kitten's leg where it's bleeding ? " he asked.

 

Jeff nodded. " Yes. Uncle kicked at it. It's not so bad now, but it was very bad at first. So that day I ran away, and took the kitten with me. I hid in an empty house, first, but they came after me. Then I came to this wood, and guessed you were up this tree, when your dog barked. So when you'd gone I climbed up."

" I see," said Peter. " And ate our biscuits and chocolate. But why are your uncle and aunt bothering about you? They know you can go back when you want to."

" 'Tisn't my aunt," said Jeff. " It's my uncle and his friend Mr. Tizer. They're afraid I know too much."

" Too much about what ? " asked Colin.

" I used to sleep in the sitting-room," explained Jeff. " And one night I heard them talking about some plan they were making. I just heard a few things—but I couldn't make head or tail of them. I turned over to get more comfortable, and my uncle jumped up and accused me of listening."

" Ah—and now that you've run away they're afraid you will tell someone what you heard," said Colin. " Did you hear much ? "

" No—nothing to make any sense,"  said

 

 

 

Jeff. " But they don't believe that, and they're after me. I saw Mr. Tizer in the woods today with his dog. They're hunting me—and I'm scared. That's why I came up to your tree-house ! Can't I stay ? "

"Yea—you stay here for the night," said Peter. " Get out the cushions. Make yourself comfortable. And tomorrow we'll all come and see what's best to be done! Don't you worry—the Secret Seven will put things right!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER   NINE

 

Another Meeting

 

peter and Colin helped the boy to get out the cushions from the rubber sheet. The kitten sat on a nearby branch, watching. It was a dear little thing, a fluffy tabby.

" You can have the rest of our biscuits, and a drink too, if you want to," said Colin. " Golly—I nearly forgot that ship book! I must get it out of the cubby-hole ! "

He pulled it out, and then the two boys began to climb down the tree again, feeling carefully for footholds. It wasn't nearly so easy to climb down in the dark as it was in the daylight!

" Good night," called the boy, gratefully. " And thanks for your help. Are you coming tomorrow? Could you bring me a spot of milk for my kitten, please ?"

" Yes, of course—and a bit of fish if we can," called back Peter. " Don't fall out of the tree when you're asleep."

" No, I shan't," said the boy, sounding much more cheerful.

 

Colin and Peter made their way home, talking in low voices about the boy and his curious story.

" What do you suppose his uncle and that friend of his—Mr. Tizer—were planning to do, and were afraid Jeff had overheard? " said Peter. " If it was a robbery or something we ought to try and stop it."

" Well—if we can find out anything from Jeff, I really do think we ought to tell someone," said Colin. " Your parents, for instance."

" Yes. But it would be nice to see if the Secret Seven can do something about it first," said Peter. " We'll call a meeting tomorrow— up in the tree, with Jeff there—and we'll see what we can get out of him. He must have heard something that was said ! "

" Right," said Colin, beginning to feel excited. " This is grand! Just when we thought nothing would ever happen, something does. Do you want me to go and tell everyone tomorrow morning that something is up, and we must meet at the tree ? "

" Yes," said Peter. " Passwords and everything. I'll be at the bottom of the tree, and nobody must yell out the password—just whisper it. Badges must be worn too."

 

 

 

" Good," said Colin, pleased. " Well, we'll say good night here—this is your gate, isn't it? Good thing I went back for this book tonight, wasn't it ? We wouldn't have caught Jeff if I hadn't."

The boys went their different ways, and Peter wondered whether or not to wake Janet and tell her about the boy in the tree-house, but he decided not to. It would keep till morning!

All the Secret Seven were excited next morning when they heard about the meeting to be held, and were told about Jeff.

 

" Can we take Scamper with us, do you think ? " asked Pam. " Do you suppose he would frighten the kitten ? "

" No. He's nice with kittens," said Peter. " Anyway, he'll be on guard down below, and the kitten will be up the tree with Jeff. I must remember to take a bottle of milk, and a saucer, and some fish."

" Good thing we had haddock for breakfast," said Janet. " I'll wrap a bit up in grease-proof paper. Poor little kitten ! Do you suppose its leg will be all right ? Fancy anyone kicking a kitten ! "

Promptly at ten o'clock the Secret Seven met at the foot of the tree. The password was whispered importantly to Peter.

" Adventure ! "

" Adventure! "

" Adventure !   Is that boy up there ? "

" Yes. Got your badge on ? Good. Are we all here now ? Well, up we go. Scamper, on guard, please ! "

Scamper looked at Peter, wagged his tail, and at once ran to his sentry-box in the nearby tree. He sat down on his bit of rug there, and looked quite stern as if to say, " Strangers, beware ! I'm on guard. Grrrrrrrrr ! "

Peter went up the tree first, the bottle of milk in his pocket, and the little saucer between his teeth. The others followed. Peter saw Jeff peering down anxiously as he heard them climbing up.

" Hello, Jeff! " said Peter, clambering up on to the platform of boards. " Had a good night ? How's the kitten ? "

" Its leg's much better," said Jeff. " And I slept all night except when the wind blew too hard. I say—nobody will give me away, will they ? How many of you are there ? "

" Seven," said Peter. " Move up a bit, Jeff, and make room. We're a Secret Society— the Secret Seven. We have our password and badges—and we hold meetings. If anything turns up for us to do, we do it."

Jeff sat at the back of the platform and looked at each member climbing up. Colin he knew from the night before. Barbara, Janet, Pam, George, Jack—they all climbed up and grinned kindly at him. The kitten mewed.

" Here's your milk, you tiny little thing ! " said Peter, and he poured some out of the bottle into the saucer he had brought. " Janet, where's the bit of fish ? "

 

 

 

The meeting was forgotten as the Seven crowded together on the little platform to watch the hungry kitten lap the milk and pounce on the fish. Jeff watched too. He smiled round gratefully at the children.

" Thanks," he said. " Thanks an awful lot!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER   TEN

 

Jeff Tries to Remember

 

peter had also brought a jar of potted meat and a slab of cake for Jeff, and Colin had brought half a loaf and some butter. The boy took them hungrily, and didn't even wait to cut a slice of the bread.

He tore at it with his teeth, and the others watched him, feeling shocked to see such hunger.

Janet gently took the bread from him, cut a large slice, buttered it and spread it thickly with potted meat. " You'll like this better than mouthfuls of bread ! " she said.

Jeff ate everything they had brought, except the biscuits they were keeping for mid-morning. He wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his jacket with a sigh.

" That was good," he said. " I can't tell you how good! "

The kitten had finished its meal now too, and was sitting beside Jeff, washing its face.

" It looks fatter already," said Janet, stroking

 

 

it. " Poor little thing ! Fancy kicking a baby like this ! You wouldn't think there'd be anyone bad enough, would you ? "

" Mr. Tizer's very bad," said Jeff. " Worse than my uncle. He kicks me too."

" We want you to tell us all you can," said Peter, settling himself as comfortably as he could, with his back to the tree-trunk. " We think we ought to try and find out what it was that Mr. Tizer and your uncle were so afraid you had overheard. They must have been planning something wrong—something that ought to be stopped."

Jeff stared at them. " Stopped ? Who's going to stop it ? Not me. Nor you either. Nobody can stop Mr. Tizer, not even the police. Anyway I don't know anything."

" Jeff, you must try and think," said Colin. " You said you were asleep in the sitting-room on the sofa when your uncle and Mr. Tizer were planning something. You said you woke up and turned over, and they were angry with you because they thought you'd heard what they were talking about. You must be able to remember something \ "

" I can't," said Jeff, looking sullen.

Peter felt sure he could if he really wanted

 

 

to. " You're afraid of Mr. Tizer," he said. " That's why you won't try to remember. It's mean of you. We've been sorry for you and the kitten and helped you. Now you should help us. We'll see you don't come to any harm."

Jeff stroked the kitten, and it purred loudly. " Well—you've been jolly decent," he said at

 

 

 

last. " And I'll try and remember what I overheard. But it doesn't make any sense to me, and it won't to you, either I "

" Never mind.    Tell us," said Colin.

Jeff frowned as he tried to remember. " Let me see," he began. " I was asleep—and I woke up—and I heard their voices . . ."

" Yes.    Go on," said Peter.

" I don't know what they were talking about," said Jeff. " I was too sleepy to hear properly. I just heard a few things—things that don't make any sense."

" What things ? " asked Barbara, wishing she could jog Jeff and make him go faster in his story.

« Well—let's see—they talked about MKX," said Jeff, frowning hard. " Yes, I remember that clearly, MKX."

" MKX ? " said Jack. " What in the world does that mean ? Would it be a code-word for someone helping them in their plans? "

"I don't know," said Jeff. "But I do remember MKX. And I remember a date too—Thursday the 25th. They said that two or three times. That's next Thursday, isn't it?"

" Yes," said Peter.    " It is.   Perhaps that

 

 

was the date of their next robbery or whatever they were planning to do! I say—this is exciting. Go on, Jeff. Remember something else! "

" Don't hurry me," said Jeff. " Else I shall remember wrong."

There was a dead silence at once. No one wanted Jeff to " remember wrong I "

" They spoke about someone too," said Jeff, wrinkling his forehead. " Let's see. Yes— Emma Lane. They kept on about Emma Lane, I do remember that."

" Emma Lane? That's a good clue," said Colin. " We might be able to find out who she is. I've never heard of her."

"Anything else?" asked Peter. "You really are doing very well, Jeff. Think hard."

Jeff was pleased. He thought again, going back in his memory to that night on the sofa, hearing the two men's voices again in his mind.

" Oh yes ! " he said suddenly, " they said something about a red pillow. That puzzled me. A red pillow. I remember that."

It puzzled the others too. A red pillow didn't seem to fit into anything. Who would have a red pillow, and what for ?

 

 

 

" MKX. Thursday the 25th. Emma Lane. A red pillow," said Peter. " What a mix-up ! I can't make head or tail of any plot with those four things in it. In fact, the only thing that is at all possible to follow up is the Emma Lane clue. Anything more, Jeff? Think, do think!"

" There was something about a grating," said Jeff. " Watching through a grating— yes, that was it! Does that help you at all ? "

No, it didn't. It just added to all the mystery! How were the Secret Seven to tackle all that?