Enid Blyton - Five Go Down to the Sea (Famous Five)

Contents

Chapter One

THE HOLIDAY BEGINS

Blow! Ive got a puncture! said Dick. My tyres going flat. Worst time it could possibly happen!

Julian glanced down at Dicks back tyre. Then he looked at his watch. Youve just got time to pump it up and hope for the best, he said. Weve got seven minutes before the train goes.

Dick jumped off and took his pump. The others got off their bicycles, too, and stood round, watching to see if the tyre blew up well or not.

They were on their way to Kirrin Station to catch the train, bicycles and all. Their luggage had gone on in advance, and they thought they had left plenty of time to ride to the station, get their bicycles labelled and put in the luggage van, and catch the train comfortably.

We cant miss the train! said George, putting on her best scowl. She always hated it when things went wrong.

We can. Easiest thing in the world! said Julian, grinning at Georges fierce face. What do you say, Timmy?

Timmy barked sharply, as if to say he certainly agreed. He licked Georges hand and she patted him. The scowl left her face as she saw Dicks tyre coming up well. Theyd just do it! Dick felt his tyre, gave a sigh of relief, and put his pump back in its place.

Phew! That was hot work, he said, mounting his bicycle. Hope it will last till we get to the station. I was afraid youd have to go without me.

Oh, no, said Anne. Wed have caught the next train. Come on, Timmy!

The four cousins and Timmy the dog raced on towards the station. They cycled into the station yard just as the signal went up to show the train was due. The porter came towards them, his big round face red and smiling.

I sent your luggage off for you, he said. Not much between you, I must say - just one small trunk!

Well, we dont wear much on holidays, said Julian. Can you label our bikes quickly for us? I see the train is due.

The porter began to label the four bicycles. He didnt hurry. He wouldnt let the train go off again till he had done his job, that was certain. There it was now, coming round the bend.

You going off to Cornwall, I see? said the porter. And to Tremannon, too. You want to be careful of bathing there. Thats a fierce coast and a hungry sea.

Oh, do you know it? said Anne, surprised. Is it a nice place?

Nice? Well, I dunno about that, said the porter, raising his voice as the train came rumbling in. I used to go out in my uncles fishing-boat all round there, and its wild and lonely. I shouldnt have thought it was much of a place for a holiday - no pier, no ice-cream sellers, no concert parties, no cinema, no...

Good, said Julian. We can do without all those, thank you. We mean to bathe, and hire a boat, and fish, and bike all round about. Thats our kind of holiday!

Woof! said Timmy, wagging his tail.

Yes, and yours too, said George, rubbing his big head. Come on, wed better get into a carriage.

Ill see to your bikes, said the porter. Have a good holiday, and if you see my uncle, tell him you know me. His names same as mine, John Polpenny.

By Tre, Pol and Pen, you may know the Cornishmen, quoted Julian, getting into a carriage with the others. Thanks, John. Well look up your uncle if we can!

They each took a corner seat, and Timmy went to the opposite door, put his feet up on the ledge and his nose out of the window. He meant to stand like that all the way! He loved the rush of air past his nose.

Timmy, come down, said George.

Timmy took no notice. He was happy. It was holidays again, and he was with everybody he loved. They were going away together. There might be rabbits to chase. Timmy had never yet caught a rabbit, but he went on hoping!

Now, were off again! said Julian, settling into his corner. Gosh, how I do like the beginnings of a holiday, getting ready, looking at maps, planning how to get there, and then at last setting off!

On a lovely fine day like this! said Anne. George, how did your mother hear of Tremannon Farm?

Well, it was Father who heard about it, really, said George. You know Fathers got a lot of scientist friends who like to go off to lonely places and work out all kinds of ideas in peace and quiet. Well, one of them went to Tremannon Farm because he heard it was one of the quietest places in the kingdom. Father said his friend went there all skin and bone and came back as fat as a Christmas goose, and Mother said that sounded just the place for us to go to these hols!

Shes right! said Dick. I feel a bit skin-and-bonish myself after slaving at school for three months. I could do with fattening up!

They all laughed. You may feel skin-and-bonish, but you dont look it, said Julian. You want a bit of exercise to take your fat off. Well get it, too. Well walk and bike and bathe and climb...

And eat, said George. Timmy, you must be polite to the farm dogs, or youll have a bad time.

And you must remember that when you go out to play, youll have to ask the other dogs permission before you can chase their rabbits, said Dick solemnly.

Timmy thumped his tail against Dicks knees and opened his mouth to let his tongue hang out. He looked exactly as if he were laughing.

Thats right. Grin at my jokes, said Dick. Im glad youre coming, Tim, it would be awful without you.

He always has come with us, on every holiday, said George. And hes shared in every single adventure weve ever had.

Good old Timmy, said Julian. Well, he may share in one this time, too. You never know.

Im not going to have any adventures this time, said Anne in a firm voice. I just want a holiday, nothing more. Lets have a jolly good time, and not go on looking for anything strange or mysterious or adventurous.

Right, said Julian. Adventures are off this time. Definitely off. And if anything does turn up, we pooh-pooh it and walk off. Is that agreed?

"Yes," said Anne.

"All right," said George doubtfully.

"Fine," said Dick.

Julian looked surprised. "Goshyou're a poor lot, I must say. Well, I'll fall in with you, if you're all agreed. Even if we find ourselves right in the very middle of Goodness Knows What, we say ' No, thank you,' and walk away. That's agreed."

"Well," began George, "I'm not sure if..." But what she wasn't sure about nobody knew because Timmy chose that moment to get a cinder in his eye. He yelped, and sat back on the floor of the compartment, rubbing his eye with his paw.

"There!" said George, vexed. "I said that would happen to you. Let me get it out with the corner of my hanky, Timmy. Sit still. Ju, hold him, will you?"

The cinder was got out at last, and Timmy immediately went back to his post at the window, putting his head out as far as ever.

"We'll have to get him in and shut the windows," said George.

"No. I'm not going to cook slowly to a cinder in this hot carriage with all the windows shut, not even for the sake of Timmy's eyes," said Julian, firmly. "If you can't make him obey you and come inside, he can jolly well get another cinder in the other eye."

However, the problem was solved very quickly because at that moment the train gave a most unearthly shriek and disappeared headlong into utter blackness. Timmy, astounded, fell back into the carriage and tried to get on to George's knee, terrified.

"Don't be a baby, Timmy," said George. "It's only a tunnel! Ju, haul him off me. It's too hot to try and nurse a heavy dog like Timmy. Stop it, Timmy. I tell you it's only a tunnel."

The journey seemed very long. The carriage was so hot, and the train stopped at so many little out-of-the-way places, sometimes for ten minutes at a time. They had to change twice, and sit on sun-baked stations waiting for their next train to come along. Timmy panted loudly and hung his tongue out; George begged the porters for water at each changing-place.