The boys settled down and torches were put on. Julian related the curious happenings to the two interested girls. George was thrilled.
Oh I say! Fancy all this springing up out of the blue so suddenly! What are you going to do?
Warn Guy first thing in the morning – and then get in touch with the police, I think, said Julian. We ourselves cant stop the men searching the camp, and as soon as they do find the slab theyre looking for, they can easily get what they want and go off with it!
Well, its really thrilling, said George. I wish Id been with you. Ill never go to sleep tonight!
But they did manage to drop off to sleep, for they were all very tired. After a few hours, just as dawn was breaking, Timmy lifted his head and growled. George awoke at once.
What is it, Tim? I cant hear anything.
But Timmy could, that was certain. George woke Julian, and made him listen to Timmys continuous growling.
What do you think hes growling at? she asked. He keeps on and on. I cant hear a thing, can you?
No, said Julian, listening. Well, its no use my creeping out and going searching in the dark for whatever Timmys growling at. It might be something silly like a weasel or a hedgehog or a stoat. Shut up, Tim. Thats enough.
Although it was as dark as night under the thick old gorse-bush, outside it was just getting light. What was Timmy growling at? Were there people about again? Or was it just one of the hedgehogs he so heartily disliked?
He stopped growling at last and put his head down on his paws, closing his eyes. George patted him.
Well, whatever it was, its gone. Are you comfy, Julian? Its very cramped in here – and hot too, isnt it?
Yes. Well get up fairly early and go to warn Guy – then well have a swim, said Julian, yawning. He switched off his torch and went to sleep again.
It was late when they awoke. Dick was the first, and he looked at his watch. He gave an exclamation.
Gosh! Its half past eight! Hey, Ju – Anne – George – wake up, its almost afternoon!
Everyone felt stiff and cramped, and they went off to have a swim and to warn Guy. As they came near the camp, they stopped in amazement.
Someone was howling down in the trench, howling so miserably and so broken-heartedly that the Five felt quite panic-stricken. Whatever in the world could have happened? They ran to the edge of the excavations and looked down into the trench.
The boy was there, lying on his face, sobbing. He kept lifting his head and howling, then putting it down again.
Guy! GUY! Whatevers happened? shouted Julian. He leapt down beside the boy. Are you hurt’? Is Jet hurt? Whats the matter?
Its Guy! Hes gone! Theyve taken him, howled the boy. And I was so awful to him. Now hes gone. Hell never come back, I know he wont!
Guys gone? But – but youre Guy! said Julian in astonishment. What do you mean?
He felt sure that the boy really was mad now – quite mad – talking about himself like that. He patted him on the shoulder. Look – youre ill. You come along with us. You need a doctor.
The boy sprang to his feet, his face swollen and stained. Im not ill! I tell you Guys gone. Im not Guy. Hes my twin. There are two of us.
Everyone gasped. It took half a minute to think about this and get everything straight – and then, of course many things were clear! There was not one mad boy, there were two ordinary boys – but they were twins! There wasnt, as they had thought, just one boy who contradicted himself all the time, who seemed continually to appear suddenly and unexpectedly, and who was sometimes nice and sometimes not.
Twins! Why on earth didnt we think of that before? said Julian. We thought there was only one of you. You were never together.
No. We quarrelled – quarrelled bitterly, said the boy, tears in his eyes again. And when twins quarrel, really quarrel, its worse than any quarrel there is! We hated one another then – we really did! We wouldnt be with one another, we wouldnt eat together, or dig together, or sleep together. Weve often quarrelled before, but not like this – not like this! I just pretended that he didnt exist – and he did the same with me!
What a to-do! said Julian, astonished and worried. Well now – whats happened to make you so upset? Tell me!
Guy wanted to be friends with me again last night, said the boy. And I wouldnt. I hit him and walked away. Then this morning I was sorry and went to find him and be friends – and – and…
He stopped and howled again. Everyone felt very sad and uncomfortable. Go on, tell us, said Julian, gently.
I was just in time to see him fighting two men, and screaming at them, and kicking – then they hustled him away somewhere! said the boy. I fell down in the trench and hurt my leg – and by the time I dragged myself up, Guy had gone – and so had everyone else!
He turned away and wept again. Ill never forgive myself, never! If Id made friends last night I could have helped him – and I didnt!
Chapter Fifteen
WELL DONE, GEORGE!
It was Anne who comforted the boy. She went to him and pulled him down on a stone beside her. Let me look at your leg, she said. Its pretty bad, isnt it? Look, Ill bind it up for you. Dont be so upset – well help you. I think we know whats happened, dont we Julian?
The boy looked at Anne gratefully, and sniffed hard. When she offered him her handkerchief, he took it and wiped his face. Dick gave Anne his big hanky to bind up the boys cut and bruised leg. He must have fallen right into the trench in his fright at seeing his brother fighting and being taken away.
How do you know whats happened? he said to Julian. Can you get Guy back? Do say you can! Ill never forgive myself for this. My twin-brother – and I wasnt there to fight by his side when he needed me!
Now dont soak my hanky all over again! said Anne. He gave her a forlorn little smile and turned to Julian again.
My names Harry Lawdler, and Guy and I are mad on old camps and buildings and things. We spend almost all our holidays together, digging and finding all kinds of things, like these. He nodded his head towards the little shelf of relics that the four had seen before.
Yes – Guy told us, said Dick. But he never said a word about you. We were often very puzzled – we thought you and he were one boy – not two, you see – and we couldnt understand a lot of things you both said. Youre so very, very alike.
Well – I tell you, we each pretended that the other didnt even exist, said Harry. Were like that. We love each other best in the world, and we hate each other worse – when we quarrel. Were simply horrible then!
Can you tell us a bit about the people that Guy was fighting? asked Dick.
Yes. They were some that came before, wanting Guy to clear out while they had a look round, said Harry, wiping his face again. Guy was pretty rude to them. In fact I heard him say that if they messed about his camp he would throw stones at them – hes like that, you know, very fierce, when hes roused.
And you think these were the same people? said Dick. Which way did they go with Guy?
That way, said Harry, pointing. Ive hunted the whole camp round, but theyre gone – disappeared into thin air! Its extraordinary!
Lets have a hunt round, said Julian. We might find something. But I imagine that the searchers have taken Guy off with them because he knew too much – perhaps they found here what they were looking for, and saw Guy watching.
Oh! Then were too late! said George, in deep disappointment. Theyve got what they want – and theyll disappear now and never be caught. I expect by now they are speeding away in a fast car – and have taken Guy with them to make sure he doesnt talk before theyre safely in another country!
Oh no! cried Harry. Hes not kidnapped, is he? Dont say that!
Come on – lets have a hunt, said Julian, and they all made their way among the various trenches and pits, looking for they hardly knew what.