Five On Kirrin Island Again Chapter Ten A SURPRISING SIGNAL（在线收听）

Chapter Ten A SURPRISING SIGNAL

'WHAT'S up with George?' demanded Julian, as soon as they were safely out of earshot. 'I know you kicked her at  tea-time, for talking too  much about  the island  -  that was  idiotic of her  -  but why has she gone home in a huff?'

Dick  told  them  how  he  had  trodden  on  poor  Timmy's  tail  to  make  him  whine,  so  that  George would turn her attention to him and stop talking. Julian laughed, but Anne was indignant.

'That was horrid of you, Dick.'

'Yes, it was,' said  Dick.  'But  I  couldn't  think of any other way to  head George off the island.  I really  honestly  thought  she  was  giving  away  to  that  fellow  all  the  things  he  badly  wanted  to know. But now I think he wanted to know them for quite another reason.'

'What do you mean?' said Julian, puzzled.

'Well,  I thought  at  first  he must be after Uncle  Quentin's  secret,  whatever it is,' said  Dick, 'and that was why he wanted to know all the ins and outs of everything. But now that he's told me he's a journalist - that's a man who writes for the newspapers, Anne - I think after all he only wants the information so that he can use it for his paper, and make a splash when Uncle has finished his work.'

'Yes, I think that too,' said Julian, thoughtfully; in fact, I'm pretty sure of it. Well, there's no harm in that, but I don't see why we should sit there and be pumped all the time. He could easily say,

"Look  here,  I'd  be  obliged  if  you'd  spill  the  beans  about  Kirrin  Island  --  I  want  to  use  it  in  a newspaper story." But he didn't say that.'

'No.  So  I  was  suspicious,'  said  Dick.  'But  I  see  now  he'd  want  all  sorts  of  tit-bits  about  Kirrin Island to put in his newspaper, whatever it is. Blow! Now I shall have to explain to George I was wrong - and she really is in a temper!'

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'Let's take the road to Kirrin Village and go to get some bones for Timmy at the butcher's,' said Julian.

'A sort of apology to Tim!' This seemed a good idea. They bought two large meaty ones at the butcher's,  and  then  went  to  Kirrin  Cottage.  George  was  up  in  her  bedroom  with  Timmy.  The three went up to find her.

She was sitting on the floor with a book. She looked up sulkily as they came in.

'George, sorry I was such a beast,' said Dick. 'I did it for a good cause, if you only knew it. But I've discovered that Mr. Curton isn't a spy, seeking out your father's secret - he's only a journalist, smelling out a story for a paper! Look - I've brought these for Timmy - 'I apologize to him too.'

George  was  in  a  very  bad  temper,  but  she  tried  to  pond  to  Dick's  friendliness.  She  gave  him  a small smile 'All right. Thanks for the bones. Don't talk to me right anybody. I feel mad, but I'll get over it.' They left her sitting on the floor. It was always best.

'How queer,' said Julian. 'Why twelve flashes? Hallo here we go again!' Another six flashes came from the tower, then no more at all. Julian wished he had a telescope, then he could see right into the tower! He sat and thought for a moment, puzzled. Then he heard the others come pounding up the stairs. They burst into the room.

'Julian! Father flashed eighteen times instead of six!' 'Did  you count them, Ju?' 'Why did he do that? Is he in danger of some sort?'

'No. If he was he'd flash the S.O.S. signal,' said Julian.

'He doesn't know Morse!' said George.

'Well, I expect he just wants to let us know that he needs something,' said Julian. 'We must go over today and find out  what it is. More food perhaps.' So, when Aunt Fanny came home they suggested they should all go over to the island. Aunt Fanny was pleased.

'Oh yes! That would be nice. I expect your uncle wants a message sent off somewhere. We'll go this morning.'

George  flew  off  to  tell  James  she  wanted  her  boat.  Aunt  Fanny  packed  up  plenty  of  food  with Joanna's help. Then they set off to Kirrin Island in George's boat. As they rounded the low wall of rocks and came into the little cove, they saw Uncle Quentin waiting for them. He waved his hand, and helped to pull in the boat when it ran gently on to the sand.

'We saw your treble signal,' said Aunt Fanny. 'Did you want something, dear?'

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'Yes,  I  did,'  said  Uncle  Quentin.  'What's  in  your  basket,  Fanny?  More  of  those  delicious sandwiches. I'll have some!'

'Oh Quentin haven't you been having your meals properly again?' said Aunt Fanny. 'What about that lovely soup?'

'What soup?' said Uncle Quentin, looking surprised. I wish I'd known about it. I could have done with some last night.'

'But Quentin! I told you about it before,' said Aunt Fanny. 'It will be bad by now. You must pour it away. Now don't forget pour it away! Where is it? Perhaps I had better pour it away myself.'

'No. I'll do it,' said Uncle Quentin. 'Let's sit down and have our lunch.'

It was much too early for lunch, but Aunt Fanny at once sat down and began to unpack the food.

The  children  were  always  ready  for  a  meal  at  any  time,  so  they  didn't  in  the  least  mind  lunch being so early.

'Well,  dear  -  how  is  your  work  getting  on?'  asked  Aunt  Fanny,  watching  her  husband  devour sandwich after sandwich. She began to wonder if he had had anything at all to eat since she had left him two days ago.

'Oh  very  well  indeed,'  said  her  husband.  'Couldn't  be  better.  Just  got  to  a  most  tricky  and interesting point. I'll have another sandwich, please.'

'Why did you signal eighteen times, Uncle Quentin?' asked Anne.

'Ah well it's  difficult  to  explain, really,' said  her  uncle.  'The fact  is  -  I can't  help  feeling there's somebody else on this island besides myself!'

'Quentin!  What  in  the  world  do  you  mean?'  cried  Aunt  Fanny,  in  alarm.  She  looked  over  her shoulder as if she half expected to see somebody there. All the children stared in amazement at Uncle Quentin.

He  took  another  sandwich.  'Yes,  I  know  it  sounds  mad.  Nobody  else  could  possibly  have  got here. But I know there is someone!'

'Oh don't Uncle!' said Anne, with a shiver. 'It sounds horrid. And you're all alone at night too!'

'Ah, that's just it! I wouldn't mind a bit if I was all alone at night!' said her uncle. 'What worries me is that I don't think I shall be all alone.'

'Uncle, what makes you think there's somebody here?' asked Julian.

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'Well,  when  I  had  finished  the  experiment  I  was  doing  last  night  -  about  half  past  three  in  the early morning it would be - but pitch dark, of course,' said Uncle Quentin, 'I came into the open for a breath of fresh air. And I could swear I heard somebody cough - yes, cough twice!'

'Good gracious!' said Aunt Fanny, startled. 'But Quentin - you might have been mistaken. You do imagine things sometimes, you know, when you're tired.'

'Yes,  I know,' said  her husband. 'But  I couldn't  imagine this,  could  I?' He put  his  hand into  his pocket and took something out. He showed it to the others. It was a cigarette end, quite crisp and fresh.

'Now,  I don't  smoke cigarettes.  Nor do any of  you! Well then who smoked that cigarette? And how did it come here? No one would bring him by boat and that's the only way here.'

There was a silence. Anne felt scared. George stared at her father, puzzled. Who could be here?

And why? And how had they got there?

'Well, Quentin - what are you going to do?' said his wife. 'What would be best?'

'I'll be all right if George will give her consent to something,' said Uncle Quentin. 'I want Timmy here, George! Will you leave him behind with me?'