AdvFour2 – The Adventurous Four Again – Blyton, Enid.

AdvFour2 – The Adventurous Four Again – Blyton, Enid.

CHAPTER 1.

Back with Andy Again.

THREE very excited children bumped along a rough country lane in a farmer’s cart. The Scottish carter sat in front, saving nothing, but listening with a little smile to the children’s happy voices.

“We shall see Andy again soon! We haven’t seen him since our exciting adventures last summer!” said Tom, a red-haired boy of twelve.

“It was bad luck getting measles in the Christmas hols, so that we couldn’t come up here and stay in our little cottage,” said Jill. She and her sister Mary were twins, and were very like each other. They each had long golden plaits and blue eyes, and were younger than Tom.

Tom spoke to the carter. “Jock! Did you hear about our adventures last year?” he asked.

Jock nodded his head. He hardly ever said a word.

The children, with their friend Andy, had indeed had some thrilling adventures. They had gone out in Andy’s father’s fishing-boat one day, and had been caught by a storm. They had been swept miles out of their course on to a lonely island—and had found a nest of enemy submarines in the waters there, hiding to pounce on any ships that came within their reach.

“And poor Andy lost his father’s boat,” said Jill, remembering how afraid Andy had been of what his father might say about the lost boat.

“But it didn’t matter—because Andy was given a much, much better boat!” said Mary. “And it was called Andy—do you remember, it had his name painted on it? Wasn’t Andy pleased?”

The fisherboy had been more than pleased. He had been filled with the greatest delight. The new fishing boat was a magnificent one, with a lovely red sail. Andy’s father had been overjoyed too, for a fishing-boat meant his livelihood to him. Catching fish and selling them was his work and Andy’s—and now they had one of the finest boats on the coast.

The farm-cart jolted along, and soon the children came in sight of the sea. The coast there was rocky and dangerous, but the sea was a lovely blue, and the children shouted in joy to see it.

“The sea! There it is! And look—there are the fishing-boats out on it!”

“I bet I can see Andy’s,” shouted Tom. “Look—that one with the bright red sail! Isn’t that Andy’s, Jock?”

Jock nodded, and the three children fixed their eyes on. the red-sailed boat. Andy’s boat! Andy was out there on the restless sea—and soon they would go out with him. What fun they would have!

Their mother was already waiting for them in the cottage she had bought in the fishing village. She had gone there two days ahead of the children to get things ready for them, when they broke up from school. It was the Easter holiday, and everywhere the trees were leafing, the hedges were greening, and the banks were starred with primroses, violets and celandines.

“A whole month’s holiday by the sea—with Andy and his boat!” said Tom. “I simply can’t think of anything lovelier. I don’t expect we’ll have any adventures this time—but that won’t matter.”

“We had enough last summer to last us for years,” said Jill. “I was frightened sometimes—but it all ended happily.”

“Except for those hidden enemy submarines!” said Tom. “They didn’t have a very happy ending! Look—there’s Mother!”

Sure enough, it was their mother, standing at the next comer, waving. The children tumbled out of the cart and flung themselves on her.

“Mother! It’s lovely to see you. Is everything all right?”

“Is the cottage ready? Have you seen Andy?”

“I’m awfully hungry. Mother. Is there anything nice to eat?” That was Tom. of course. He was always hungry. His mother laughed.

“Welcome back to our little village, children! Yes, there’s plenty to eat, Tom. And yes, I’ve seen Andy. He was sorry he couldn’t meet you, but there’s a good shoal of fish in, and he had to go out to help his father in the boat.”

“Does the boat go well?” asked Tom eagerly. “It was marvellous last summer. I’ve often thought of Andy whilst we were at school, and envied him. There lie was, sailing out in all weathers, having a wonderful time—and I was writing Latin exercises at school, and being ticked off because I threw a rubber at someone.”

“Oh Tom—don’t tell me your report is a bad one!” said his mother, as they all walked down a slope to the little fishing village below. Jock came behind carrying large trunks as easily as if they were empty boxes!

“When will Andy be back?” asked Jill. “Has he changed. Mother? Is he still the same old Andy?”

“Of course,” said her mother. “He’s grown a bit taller—and a bit broader—but he’s almost fifteen now, you know. You’re nearly thirteen, Tom! You’ve grown too. So have the girls. You’ll see Andy later in the evening, when the fishing-boats come back. He promised to come straight up and see you.”

“We’ll go down to the shore and wait for his boat to come in, said Tom. “After we’ve had something to eat, I mean. What is there, Mother?”

“Ham, eggs, three kinds of scones, two kinds of jam. and a fish-pie,” said his mother. “Will that do for you?”

“I should think so,” said Tom, who felt as if he could eat the whole lot at once. “Golly, it’s good to be back again. Mother—and to think of all the sailing we’ll have!”

“Well—don’t find enemy submarines this time,” said his mother, as she swung open a little white gate that led through a tiny garden to the cottage. “I really couldn’t bear it if you got lost on a lonely island again.

They all ran up the path to the wooden door. It stood open. A bright fire burned in the living-room, and the table was set with so many dishes of food that Tom gave a whoop of delight.

“Golly! Must I wash my hands? Can’t we begin now?”

“No. Wash first,” said his mother firmly. “You all look like sweeps. Would you like boiled eggs to begin with, or fish-pie?”

“Both!” shouted Tom, and ran to wash in the little sink that was the only place where water ran from a tap.

They all made an enormous meal. “I can see I shall have my work cut out to satisfy your appetites these holidays! ” said their mother. “No—you needn’t help to clear away and wash up, twins. I’ve got Mrs. MacIntyre coming in to help. You can put on your jerseys and shorts and go down to meet Andy. I expect the boats will be putting in soon, if they’ve made a good catch.”

The children hurriedly pulled off their school-clothes, and scrambled to find their jerseys and shorts. The weather was fine and sunny, almost like summer. If only it would stay like that all the holidays!

They raced down to the shore. Fine, soft sand lay between the rocks that jutted up all over the beach. A little stone jetty ran a short distance into the water. To this jetty the fishing-boats came with their hauls.

Andy’s boat was clearly to be seen, a good way out But now they were all coming in—the Sea-Gull, the Mary-Arm, the Jessie, the Andy, the Starfish and the rest. The breeze filled the sails, and they billowed put prettily.

“It’s a fine sight, a fishing-fleet coming home!” said Tom, running up the jetty and down, so excited that he couldn’t stand still. “I wish I had a boat of my own! Hi, Andy, Andy! Come in first, show us what your boat can do!

Almost as if Andy had heard, the red-sailed boat surged forward in front of the others. The wind swept down on her, and she glided along like a red-winged bird on the water.

“There’s Andy! There’s his father too!” shouted Jill. “Andy, we’re here! Have you made a good catch?”

“Ahoy there!” came Andy’s voice. “Ahoy!”

Then the beautiful boat came deftly to the stone jetty, and Andy leapt off. He and Tom shook hands, both grinning widely in delight. The twins flung themselves on the fisherboy and hugged him, squealing in delight.

“Andy, you’ve grown! Andy, you’re browner than ever! Oh, Andy, we’re all back again, isn’t it lovely?”

“Grand,” said Andy, as pleased as they were. He repeated the word and rolled the r in it even more. “Gr-r-r-r-rand!”

Then his father jumped out to make the boat fast. He smiled at the three children, and shook hands gravely with them all. He never had much to say, and the children knew he was strict with Andy, and made him work bard. But they liked him and trusted him. “You’ll help with the fish, Andy,” he said, and the boy turned at once to bring in the great catch they had made. The children helped too.