And then Kiki began to talk excitedly. She left Jack and flew to the broken edge of the hole in the column. She peered down it. Jack bit his lip. Oh, Kiki, Kiki, don’t give the game away!
Kiki had heard the others coming. She had heard Bill’s deep voice as he came up the spiral stairway; she had heard Lucy-Ann’s high voice just behind. She had gone to welcome them.
‘Kiki!’ called Jack. ‘Come here.’
‘Shut the door, shut the door, wipe your feet, beg your pardon!’ shouted Kiki excitedly, her head inside the column. And then an answering call came from inside too.
‘Hallo, Kiki, old bird! So there you are! Where’s Jack?’ It was Bill’s cheery deep voice.
Mr Eppy sprang to attention at once. He gave a short sharp order to his three men, and they ran to the column to wait. Jack gave a yell.
‘Look out, Bill! Danger! Look out!’
There was silence from inside the column. Then Bill’s voice came up again.
‘What’s up?’
‘Mr Epp . . .’ began Jack, and was silenced as Mr Eppy placed a heavy and very rough hand over his mouth.
Bill shouted again. ‘What’s up?’ As he got no reply he appeared at the hole in the column and swung himself astride the edge. The men were at the other side, hidden, waiting to spring.
Bill saw Mr Eppy apparently holding down Jack, and he leapt off the broken edge of the hole in the column at once. The three men sprang on him and bore him to the ground.
One sat on his head so that he could not shout. Jack squirmed under Mr Eppy’s hand, kicking and trying to bite, but the man was very strong indeed.
Then up the column came Philip, wondering what had happened to Bill, and when he saw him being well and truly sat on he sprang to his rescue. Mr Eppy shouted a few words and the men released Bill. He sat up at once, feeling his nose, and wondering if any of his teeth were loose!
‘What on earth is all this?’ he began. But before he could go on, a call from inside the column came to him. It was Lucy-Ann.
‘Bill! Oh, Bill! What’s happened? Can we come out?’
Bill considered. ‘I’m going to help the girls out,’ he said to Mr Eppy, who nodded, and very soon both girls, and a very scared Micky, were standing in the old courtyard with Philip, Jack and Bill.
‘What’s happened?’ said Lucy-Ann. ‘Oh, I’m so glad to see you, Jack. I was dreadfully worried about you. Gracious, there’s Lucian!’
‘Oh, I say!’ said Lucian, trying to put a brave face on things. ‘Fancy meeting you here!’
Mr Eppy said something snappish in Greek and poor Lucian collapsed again. Then Mr Eppy turned to Bill, who was now eyeing him with a very sinister look indeed. Bill was extremely angry, and his injured nose was swelling rapidly.
‘Look here, Eppy, or whatever your name is,’ he said, ‘you’re going to run into serious trouble. You can’t roam round with a posse of shady fellows like these, acting like gangsters. What are you doing here, anyway?’
‘It’s my island,’ said Mr Eppy with a note of triumph in his voice. ‘I’ve bought it. You can clear off – when I’ve found the way to the treasure with your help. Otherwise I shall have you arrested for trespassing and for trying to steal what is mine.’
‘You’re mad,’ said Bill, in scorn. ‘Absolutely crazy. I don’t believe a word of it! You only heard of the island a day or two ago – you haven’t had time to buy it. That’s a wonderful tale – but you won’t get me to believe it. Now, you keep your hands off all of us, and behave yourself – or you’re the one that’s going to land in prison and pretty quick too!’
Mr Eppy gave an order – and Bill was pounced on again by the three men. He was down on the ground in no time, and one of the men was tying his wrists and ankles together. Bill was strong, but his strength was no use against the three. Mr Eppy had Jack by the wrists so that he could not go to Bill’s help, and as soon as Philip ran to help, he was struck by one of the men and sent spinning. Lucy-Ann began to cry with fright.
Lucian did nothing. He was trembling in a corner. Kiki and Micky were high up in a tree, watching in amazement. What was all this to-do? Kiki swooped down and gave Mr Eppy a nip on the ear again, and he nearly let Jack go, the pain was so sharp.
After Bill was tied up, the boys were tied too. ‘Don’t touch the girls,’ threatened Bill. ‘If you do you’ll get more than you bargained for when we get out of here!’
It was no use. Dinah and Lucy-Ann were also tied up. Dinah was angry and mutinous, and Lucy-Ann was very frightened.
‘And now,’ said Mr Eppy, ‘now we go to find the Andra treasure. My treasure! You had only the plan – I have the island, and I shall soon own the treasure! Thank you for showing me the way down!’
He went inside the column, and the three men fol- lowed him. Lucian was beckoned over and made to go down just behind his uncle. He looked very frightened.
‘Well!’ said Bill. ‘Of all the scoundrels! Can we possibly get free whilst they’re down there? It’s our only chance!’
24
Prisoners!
Everyone waited till the last man had disappeared down the column. Then Bill spoke.
‘Well, I’m blessed if I’ll ever look at a treasure map again, or listen to anything you kids have to tell me! It’s fatal. We plunge into trouble immediately. Jack, Philip – can you possibly loosen your ropes?’
‘I’ve been trying,’ said Philip, and Jack said the same. ‘Those beasts know how to tie knots all right. The rope is biting into my ankles like anything, and I can hardly move my hands.’
All of them had their hands tied behind their backs, and it was really impossible to get free. Bill rolled himself over and over to the girls. He was very sorry for poor Lucy-Ann. Dinah was as tough as a boy, but Lucy-Ann could not help being scared.
‘Lucy-Ann, don’t be upset,’ said Bill, ending up just by her. ‘We’ll think of some wonderful way to get even with these rogues.’
‘I hope they’ll get lost in the labyrinth,’ said Jack fiercely, still struggling with the rope that tied his wrists.
‘They probably will,’ said Bill. ‘In any case, they’ll be a long time gone. We must somehow get free before they come back.’
‘The first thing I’ll do when I get free is to hop inside the column and get some of the food we put down there,’ said Jack. ‘That’s if the brutes have left us any! I bet they’ve taken most of it with them.’
Bill privately thought they probably would have taken it, but he didn’t say so. He gave up trying to loosen the rope round his wrists. It only made it cut into his flesh unbearably.
He looked round to see if there was a sharp stone he could perhaps rub his ropes on. He saw one and rolled over to it. But as his hands were behind his back he could not see what he was doing, and cut his fingers on the stone till they bled. He gave it up.
Kiki was up in the tree, muttering to herself. All the shouting and struggling had frightened her. She cocked her head down at Jack and decided it was safe to go to him. She flew down and landed on his middle.
‘Send for the doctor,’ she said, her head on one side. ‘Send for the doctor, mistersir.’
‘Good idea, Kiki,’ said Jack, with an attempt at a grin. ‘Tell him to come quickly! Te lephone him at once!’
Kiki at once gave an imitation of a telephone bell ringing. It sounded queer in that old ruined courtyard! Even Lucy-Ann gave a little laugh.
‘Hello, hello!’ said Kiki, pleased at the attention she was getting. ‘Hello!’
‘She’s telephoning now!’ grinned Jack. ‘Good old Kiki. Got the doctor yet? Tell him we’re all suffering from a nasty attack of Eppy-itis!’
Micky leapt down from the tree to join in the fun. He too had been badly scared, but now that everyone was talking and laughing, and the noisy men had gone, he felt safer. He landed on Philip, and tried to cuddle on to his shoulder. Philip was sitting up, his hands tied behind him.
‘Sorry I can’t stroke you, old thing, and make a bit of fu
ss of you after your scare,’ said the boy. ‘But my hands are tied! Yes, that’s right – go and look for them. I’ve still got them – but they’re behind me!’
Micky badly wanted to be nursed, but he could not find any arms to cuddle into! He went behind Philip to investigate. What had the boy done with his hands and arms? Ah – there they were behind him! Micky pulled at Philip’s hands with his tiny paws. He wanted to be stroked and petted.
‘Sorry, Micky – nothing doing,’ said Philip. He grinned round at the others. ‘Micky can’t understand why I don’t use my hands to pet him! He’s pulling at them!’
Micky had discovered the rope that bound Philip’s wrists together. He was puzzled. What had Philip done with this rope? Why was it so tightly round the boy’s hands? Micky tugged at the rope, and pulled at the knot.
Philip sat very still. ‘That’s right, Micky,’ he said, in a caressing voice. ‘That’s right! You tackle those knots. Then I can pet you all you like!’
Everyone pricked up their ears at once. They looked eagerly at Philip. ‘I say, Philip – is Micky – can Micky – do anything?’
‘Don’t know,’ said Philip. ‘He’s fiddling about like anything. Go it, Micky. Pull those knots undone!’
But Micky couldn’t. His tiny paws were not strong enough to undo the tightly tied knots of the rope. He gave it up. But he thought of something else!
He put his mouth down to the rope, and tried to gnaw it with his teeth!
‘What are you doing, Micky?’ cried Philip, feeling the wet little mouth against his wrist. ‘Gosh, Bill, the clever little thing is trying to gnaw through the rope now!’
Everyone watched Philip intently. His face showed clearly all he was thinking. ‘That’s it, Micky – bite away!’ he said. ‘Good little monkey! No, go away, Kiki – don’t interfere with Micky!’
Kiki had gone to Philip and was now getting behind him to see what Micky was up to. She watched him.
‘One, two, three, GO!’ she said, for all the world as if she was encouraging him.
‘Come here, Kiki. Leave Micky alone in his good work,’ ordered Jack, and Kiki came obediently.
‘How’s Micky getting on?’ asked Bill.
‘Fine, I think,’ answered Philip, trying his hands to see if they felt any looser. ‘I think the rope doesn’t feel quite so tight. Go it, Micky.’
It was a long job, but Micky was patient and perservering. Once he knew that he was doing what Philip wanted, he went on and on. Bill marvelled at the way Philip understood animals and animals understood him. Any creature would do anything in the world for Philip!
‘They’re getting loose!’ exclaimed Philip. ‘Go on, Micky – just a bite or two more!’
And, sure enough, after another bout of patient gnawing, the rope snapped when Philip pulled on it. He brought his freed hands round to the front of him, groaning.
‘My word – they’re painful! Thanks, Micky, old thing – you did a very good job of work. Wait till my hands feel a bit better and I’ll pat you from head to tail!’
The rope was still dangling from one of his wrists, the knots in it tied as tightly as ever. Philip picked it off with the other hand. He opened and shut his numb fingers, and then proceeded to pet the little monkey, who, delighted to be fussed, snuggled into Philip’s arms with contented little grunts.
Nobody hurried Philip. Nobody begged him to be quick and undo their bonds. Everyone knew that it was right for Micky to have his reward.
‘Now, that’s enough, old fellow,’ said Philip at last. ‘I must see to the others. You come and help!’
Philip put Micky on to his usual place on his shoulder. He felt in his pocket for a knife. His hands still felt queer and stiff, but they were rapidly getting more life into them. He brought out his knife and clicked it open.
He cut the rope round his ankles, and then he tried to stand up. His feet felt numb, for his ankles had been tied very tightly. But he was soon able to walk steadily. He went straight over to the girls.
He cut their bonds with his knife and Lucy-Ann gave a groan of thankfulness. ‘Oh, Philip – thank you! That’s better. Dinah, are your hands all right?’
‘Bit stiff and numb,’ said Dinah, rubbing them together. ‘Wouldn’t I like to tie up Mr Eppy! And wouldn’t I make the ropes tight! The brute! He must be mad.’
Soon everyone was free. Bill found it hardest to stand because his ankles had been tied very viciously, and so had his hands. It took him some time to get the blood flowing freely in them, and it was a very painful process at first.
Everyone made a fuss of Micky, and the little monkey enjoyed it all thoroughly, chattering softly. Jack kept an eye on Kiki. She was jealous, and was looking out for a chance to nip Micky’s long tail.
‘I’ll tie you up if you try any tricks, Kiki,’ warned Jack, and tapped her smartly on the beak. She put her head under her wing, muttering to herself. ‘Poor Polly, poor Polly, don’t sniff, use your hanky!’
‘She’s irrepressible!’ said Bill, still massaging his wrists. ‘Well, I feel better now. What about some food, lads? If it’s still there, of course!’
Jack was halfway to the column already. He had to get Philip to give him a good leg-up because his ankles still felt weak. Up he went, and dropped down inside. He looked about for the food. It was dark inside the column now, for the sun had gone. He felt about and, to his delight, found some bread and what felt like cheese. He called to Philip.
‘Look out, Philip, I’m throwing the food out.’
Philip waited. Out came bread, cheese and a packet of some kind of meat. ‘Wa it a bit – here’s some more bread,’ shouted Jack, and out it came.
Jack climbed out again, grinning. ‘They must have been in such a hurry to get to the treasure that they didn’t even stop for a snack!’ he said. ‘They must have seen the food there.’
‘Bill, is it safe to sit and have a meal?’ asked Lucy-Ann anxiously.
‘Quite safe,’ said Bill. ‘I’m going to sit here by the column and I shall be very, very sorry for anyone who tries to get out whilst I’m here!’
25
What happened in the night
It was getting quite dark now. The sun had gone a long time ago, and the children could hardly see one another as they sat together in the courtyard, munching hungrily.
‘I’ve never known bread and cheese to taste so lovely,’ said Dinah. ‘Actually I didn’t think this cheese was terribly nice yesterday – sort of sweetish – but today it’s heavenly.’
‘Only because you’re so hungry,’ said Jack, giving Kiki some of his. ‘It’s goat-milk cheese, isn’t it, Bill? I say, look at Micky stuffing himself.’
‘Pop goes Micky,’ remarked Kiki, coming in at the right moment as usual. ‘One, two, three, POP!’
‘Idiot,’ said Jack. ‘Well, Bill – what are you thinking about?’
‘Quite a lot of things,’ said Bill soberly. ‘We ’ve had an extraordinary day. And I’m just planning what to do about it.’
‘Wasn’t that treasure wonderful!’ said Lucy-Ann, her eyes shining.
Jack had, of course, heard all about their adventures underground by now, and was very envious because he was the only one who had not seen the treasure chamber, with its remarkable collection of riches. He had listened with amazement, and had wished and wished he had been with the others.
‘What are your plans, Bill?’ asked Philip, feeling that he could think sensibly again now that he was free and had had a good meal. ‘I suppose we can’t do much tonight.’
‘No, we can’t,’ said Bill. ‘That’s quite certain. We’ve been through enough today without taking on any more adventures. Besides, the girls are nearly asleep, poor things!’
So they were. Excitement and exercise had completely tired them out. Lucy-Ann lay cuddled against Dinah, her eyes closed.
‘Well, I’m pretty sleepy myself,’ said Jack. He yawned loudly. ‘I wouldn’t mind a nice long snooze!’
‘Anyway, Bill – what could
we do, even if we wanted to do anything tonight?’ asked Philip, beginning to yawn too. ‘We can’t escape! Andros won’t come back, that’s obvious, if Mr Eppy has threatened him with prison. After all, he’s only an ordinary boatman! I expect Mr Eppy gave him plenty of money too, to make up for us not having paid him.’
‘Yes – money and threats combined would soon send Andros away,’ said Bill. ‘In any case, Andros would know, of course, that Mr Eppy had his own boat here – possibly two boats, as he sent for more men and goods. So we shouldn’t be absolutely stranded as Mr Eppy could always bring us back.’
‘Gosh, yes – his boats must be somewhere, mustn’t they?’ said Philip, waking up considerably. ‘We’ve only got to find them, Bill, and we’re all right! Hadn’t we better snoop round now, before the others come back from underground?’
‘No. Nothing more tonight,’ said Bill firmly. ‘I’ve already planned to do that tomorrow. When we find Mr Eppy’s boat or boats, we’ll be all right, I hope. Now listen – I’m going to be on guard for the first four hours, and, after that, you, Jack, and then you, Philip, will have a two-hour watch, and by that time it will be morning.’
‘What are we going to watch for? Are we to wait for dear old Eppy to pop his head out and say “Hello, there”?’ asked Jack, with a grin.
‘Exactly,’ said Bill. He had now lighted one of the lanterns, and it gave a weird light to the scene. ‘You two boys are tired – you won’t be any good at watching till you’ve had a sleep. You can have your turn when I wake you.’
‘Right,’ said Jack, settling himself against Philip. ‘We’ll let the big tough guy watch first. As a matter of fact, I believe I’m asleep already.’
‘What will you do if the others appear?’ asked Philip, with interest. ‘Knock them on the head as they come out of the hole?’
‘Probably,’ said Bill, and he lit his pipe. ‘You don’t need to worry about that. Good night! I’ll wake you in four hours’ time.’