Yes, we have, said Dinah. What are all these men? Why is Jo-Jo with them?
Tell you everything soon, said Sam, getting out of the boat. I must telephone before I do anything. You show me the phone, there’s a good girl.
Sam put through a call, asking for four or five motorcars to be sent to Craggy-Tops at once, to take away the prisoners. Aunt Polly, her heart beating fast, listened in the greatest surprise. What could all this mean?
She soon understood when the sailing-boat arrived, and Bill and the boys came into the house. They told her the whole story, and she sank back on the couch in horror when she heard what a wicked and dangerous fellow Jo-Jo was.
As clever as a bagful of monkeys, said Bill. But he’s not got away with it this time thanks to these four smart children.
It’s funny, said Jack. We went to the island to find a Great Auk and we found instead a whole gang of men working at hidden printing-machines down in the mines.
If I’d known you were doing things like that, I’d have sent you all to bed, said Aunt Polly severely. That made everyone laugh.
Oh, naughty girl, naughty girl, Polly! cried Kiki, flying to Aunt Polly’s shoulder.
The cars arrived as the boys and Bill were in the middle of a most enormous meal. The men were packed into them and driven off swiftly. Sam said goodbye and departed with them.
Good work, Bill! he said as he went. And those kids want a pat on the back too.
They got plenty of pats. The next day or two were so exciting that not one of the children slept properly at night.
For one thing they were taken to the nearest big town, and had to tell all they knew to two or three very solemn gentlemen.
Big Wigs, said Bill mysteriously. Very big wigs. Jack, have you got the photograph of that pile of tins you saw on the island? Jo-Jo denies that he ever took supplies there, and we’ve found some empty tins in the cellar at Craggy-Tops which we may be able to identify by means of your snap.
So even the little photograph of the tins came in useful, and was a bit of what Bill called the evidence against the prisoners.
Another little bit of excitement was Jack’s nugget. The boy was disappointed to hear that it was not valuable but as a curiosity, a memory of a great adventure, it was thrilling.
I shall take it back to school with me and present it to the museum we have there, said Jack. All the boys will love to see it and handle it and hear how I got it. Won’t they be envious! It isn’t everybody who gets lost in old copper-mines and finds a nugget hidden away. The only thing is I’m awfully disappointed it’s not valuable, because I did want to sell it and share the money between us.
Yes, said Lucy, that would have been lovely. Tufty’s share of it would have paid for his and Dinah’s schooling, so that their mother and aunt could have had a rest, and not had to work so hard. It’s a pity we couldn’t have got a lot of money for it.
But that didn’t matter a bit, because, most unexpectedly, a very large sum came to the four children from another source. A reward had been offered to anyone giving information that would lead to the discovery of the counterfeiters and it was naturally presented to the four children, though Bill had his share of it too.
Philip’s mother came to Craggy-Tops when she heard all about the strange and thrilling adventure and its unexpectedly marvellous results. Jack and Lucy-Ann loved her. She was pretty and kind and merry, everything a mother should be.
She’s just wasted as a business woman, I think, said Jack to Philip. She’s a mother, and she ought to live like a mother, and have a nice home of her own and you and Dinah with her.
We’re going to, said Dinah, her eyes glowing. At last we’re going to. There’s enough money now for Mother to make a home for us herself, and stop her hard work. We’ve reckoned it all out. And what about you and Lucy-Ann coming to live with us, Freckles? You don’t want to go back to your crusty old uncle and horrid old housekeeper, do you?
Oh! said Lucy-Ann, her green eyes shining like stars. She fell on Philip and hugged him tightly. Dinah never did that, but Philip found that he liked it. Oh! Nothing could be nicer! We’d share your mother, and we’d have such fun together. But do you think your mother will have us?
Of course, said Dinah. We particularly asked her that. She says if she’s got to put up with two children, she might as well put up with four.
And Kiki too? asked Jack, a sudden doubt creeping into his mind.
Well, of course! said Dinah and Philip together. It was unthinkable that Kiki should not live with them all.
What’s going to happen to your Aunt Polly and Uncle Jocelyn? asked Jack. I’m sorry for your aunt she oughtn’t to live in this ruined old house, slaving away, looking after your uncle, being lonely and miserable and ill. But I suppose your uncle will never leave Craggy-Tops?
Well, he’s got to now and do you know why? said Dinah. It’s because the well-water is salt. The sea did go into it, entering it from the old passage down there so it’s undrinkable. It would cost too much to put the well right, so poor old Uncle had to choose between staying at Craggy-Tops and dying of thirst, or leaving it and going somewhere else.
Everyone laughed. Well, Jo-Jo did some good after all when he flooded the mines, said Philip. It has forced Uncle Jocelyn to make up his mind to move and Aunt Polly will be able to get the little cottage she has always wanted, and live there in peace, instead of in this great ruin with no Jo-Jo to do the rough jobs.
Oh that horrid Jo-Jo! said Lucy-Ann, with one of her shivers. How I did hate him! I’m glad he’s locked away for years and years. I shall be grown up when he comes out of prison, and I shan’t be afraid of him any more.
Bill arrived in his car, bringing with him a crate of ginger-beer, for now no-one could drink the well-water. The children cheered. It was nice to have ginger-beer for breakfast, dinner and tea. Bill presented Aunt Polly and Philip’s mother with a most enormous thermos flask full of hot tea.
Oh, Bill! said Philip’s mother, with a little squeal that Kiki promptly imitated, what an enormous flask! I’ve never seen such a giant. Thank you so much.
Bill stayed to supper. It was very hilarious, especially when Philip’s mouse ran out of his sleeve on to the table to Dinah’s plate. That upset Dinah and made everyone laugh. Lucy-Ann looked round at the laughing company and felt glad. She was going to live with a grown-up she would love, and children she was fond of. Everything was fun. Everything had turned out right. What a good thing she and Jack had escaped from Mr. Roy all those weeks ago, and run away with Philip to Craggy-Tops!
It’s been a grand adventure, said Lucy-Ann out loud. But I’m glad it’s over. Adventures are too exciting when they’re happening.
Oh no, said Philip at once. That’s the best part of an adventure when it’s happening. I think it’s a great pity it’s all over.
What a pity, what a pity! said Kiki, having the last word as usual. Wipe your feet and shut the door. Put the kettle on. God save the King!
THE END