1

Anthony Buckeridge
Thats
JENNINGS
OUVRAGE NON TRADUIT EN RAN!AIS
VERSION ORIGINA"E

#A$#I""AN
$%I"DRENBO&S
'(()
2
Anthony Buckeridge
Thats
JENNINGS
"Trust Jennings and Darbishire to
make a dogs dinner of it," grumbled
Venables.
Nothing's going right for Jennings
First of all there'shis brilliant !lan to
soften u! !oor "r #ilkins b$ gi%ing him
a !ot !lant and a get&'ell (ard. )o' (ould
Jennings ha%e kno'n that the lil$ 'as a
bun(h of rhubarb or that the (ard 'as
rather insulting*
+ut that's nothing like the trouble
Jennings and Darbishire get into 'hen
the$ start sear(hing for buried treasure . ..
The t'ent$&fourth book in the (lassi(
Jennings series & some of the funniest
s(hool stories e%er 'ritten.

,
-
Contents
Chapter
'* So+tening U, O-d .i-kie /
0 * 1-ant in a 1ot '2
3 * Badger4Snatcher5 0/
) * $-ose Secret 36
2 * Bird o+ I--4O7en )2
6 * $hange in the .eather 28
/ * 1-an o+ $a7,aign 68
8 * The Runner /)
( * %ide4and4Seek 80
'9 * The %o-e in the Ground (0
'' * O-d Boys: Reunion '93
'0 * $urtain Do;n '')
.
For the /eeds se(tion of The 0ld +o$s' +ook 1lub
AUT%OR:S NOTE
2a(h of the Jennings books is a stor$ (om!lete in
itself. 3!art from the first title, Jennings Goes to School,
the books (an be read in an$ order.
Anthony Buckeridge
4
$ha,ter '
So+tening U, O-d .i-kie
5t 'as seldom, if e%er, that "r #ilkins of /inbur$
1ourt 6(hool arri%ed late for his maths lesson 'ith Form
Three on #ednesda$ mornings.
5ndeed, he usuall$ arri%ed earl$ and 'ould s!end the
time of 'aiting in fidgeting 'ith his lesson notes and toe&
ta!!ing 'ith im!atien(e as the (lass sauntered in from the
!la$ground, ho!ing to dela$ the start of the lesson 'ith
unlikel$ e7(uses about lost !en(il shar!eners, missing te7t
books and ball!oint !ens that had %anished from no kno'n
(ause.
"r #ilkins 'as used to this and 'ould seek to im!ose
order on his (hattering flo(k b$ booming out orders and
threats at the to! of his !o'erful %oi(e.
"1ome along, (ome along, (ome along8" he 'ould
bello' in the tones of a drill sergeant instru(ting a s9uad of
a'k'ard re(ruits. "#e'%e got 'ork to do this lesson and
5'm not going to 'aste time 'aiting for sill$ little
:
bo$s 'ho'%e forgotten to bring their geometr$ sets."
3nd 'hen silen(e !re%ailed he 'ould redu(e the %olume of
his loud&hailer of a %oi(e and sa$ in gentler tones; "<ight8
No', !erha!s, 'e (an get on 'ith the lesson."
+ut on this #ednesda$ morning the usual !attern 'as
altered and "r #ilkins 'as absent 'hen the (lass troo!ed
in after break. That being so, the hubbub lasted longer than
usual, but e%entuall$ the bo$s 9uietened do'n and sat
a'aiting the master's arri%al.
"#hat's gone 'rong*" 9ueried Venables, an untid$
ele%en&$ear&old 'ith untu(ked shirt and trailing shoela(es.
"0ld #ilkie running behind s(hedule* Ne%er been kno'n
before8"
Tem!le, a sturd$, broad&shouldered bo$, did his best to
imitate the (ra(kling sound of a station loud&s!eaker, and
s9ua'ked; "3ttention, !lease8 )ere is a s!e(ial announ(e&
ment. #e a!ologise to (ustomers for the late arri%al of "r
/. =. #ilkins due in 1lassroom Three at ele%en&oh&fi%e
>"T. )e has either run off the rails or got lost in the fog."
"/et's ho!e he sta$s lost," said the e7(itable, fair&
haired 3tkinson. "#ith an$ lu(k 'e'll get a free !eriod. 5t
(ouldn't ha%e ha!!ened at a better time. )e 'as going to
gi%e us another maths test this lesson, don't forget."
6hudders of mo(k horror s!read round the room at this
(hilling reminder. For the last maths test had been a
sear(hing e7amination of the !re%ious month's 'ork; the
results 'ere disastrous and "r #ilkins had threatened
'oeful !unishments and e%erlasting detention to those 'ho
failed to make the grade ne7t time. +ut 'as "r #ilkins
(oming into (lass this morning, or 'asn't he* 5t 'as a
matter of some im!ortan(e.
?
3t that moment the door 'as flung 'ide and Jennings,
a li%el$ ele%en&$ear&old 'ith a 'ide&a'ake look in his
e$es, shot into the room as though e@e(ted from a (ata!ult.
")e$, listen, $ou lot8 6to!&!ress ne's&flash8" he (ried
e7(itedl$. "0ld #ilkie's not (oming. )e's ill. )e's gone to
bed."
The ne's&flash 'as re(ei%ed 'ith a mi7ture of ho!e,
@o$ and disbelief. The$ had heard Jennings' s!e(ial ne's&
bulletins so man$ times in the !ast that the$ 'ere 'ar$ of
a((e!ting them 'ithout 9uestion.
")o' do $ou kno'*" demanded Venables. "5 bet $ou
@ust made it u!."
"No, 5 didn't. 5 heard it from "atron 'hen 5 'ent u! to
the dis!ensar$ for m$ (ough medi(ine. )e's in bed and he's
sent a message via me to Form Three to sa$ 'e'%e got to go
on re%ising for another test as soon as he (omes ba(k."
"#hat's the matter 'ith him*" asked <umbelo'.
"5 don't kno'. 1ould be an$thing. "easles, +la(k
Death, ingro'ing (hilblains & $ou name it, he's !robabl$
got it."
"3h, but ho' long is he going to sta$ ill*" !ondered
"artin&Jones. "5f he's (oming ba(k, sa$, ne7t 'eek 'e
shan't be mu(h better off."
"Ne%er mind ne7t 'eek. #e'%e got a free !eriod this
morning, so 'e might as 'ell en@o$ it." Tem!le's light&
hearted ad%i(e 'as generall$ a!!ro%ed and, heedless of "r
#ilkins' instru(tions to (arr$ on re%ising their 'ork, Form
Three settled do'n to en@o$ this une7!e(ted break in the
time&table.
"artin&Jones and <umbelo' !la$ed noughts and
(rosses on the ba(k (o%er of an e7er(ise book; Venables
A
and Tem!le sele(ted their 3ll&#orld football team to
!la$ against "ars in the earl$ $ears of the t'ent$&first
(entur$. +rom'i(h dre' !i(tures of the bed&ridden "r
#ilkins on his 'riting&!ad, de!i(ting a large bottle of
medi(ine on the bedside table and a !air of (rut(hes beside
the bed for 'hen the in%alid felt 'ell enough to !ut a foot
to the floor. +o$s 'ho (ould think of nothing better to do
s!ent&the time fli(king !ellets of (he'ed&u! !a!er from
elasti( bands at an$one 'ithin firing&range.
6eated at the ba(k of the room 'as Darbishire, fair&
haired and bes!e(ta(led, a lo$al follo'er of Jennings but as
different in (hara(ter from his friend as (halk from (heese.
#hereas Jennings 'as im!ulsi%e, Darbishire 'as (autiousB
'here Jennings 'as al'a$s 'illing to take the lead,
Darbishire 'as ne%er one to thrust himself for'ard. There
'ere, indeed, man$ times 'hen Darbishire's diffident
nature shrank in alarm from Jennings' ill&fated !lans to
enli%en the monoton$ of boarding&s(hool routine.
Darbishire had a li%el$ imagination and s!ent man$ of
his 'aking hours in a fantas$ 'orld in 'hi(h he !i(tured
himself as the hero of im!robable e7!loits from 'hi(h, in
the real 'orld, he 'ould ha%e s(urried a'a$ like a startled
rabbit.
No', he 'as sitting 9uietl$ in his desk tr$ing to dodge
the !ellets of (he'ed&u! !a!er fl$ing about his ears and
'ondering 'hether in imagination he 'ould !refer to be
(om!eting in a trans&3tlanti( $a(ht ra(e or (ondu(ting an
o!era at >l$ndebourne. )e de(ided on the $a(ht ra(e.
Just then, Jennings sidled into the seat beside him.
")e$, Darbi, it's reall$ lu(k$ that "atron ga%e me that
message from 0ld #ilkie," he said. "#e shouldn't ha%e
kno'n he 'as still going to gi%e us the test, other'ise."
1C
)e glan(ed round the room, noting the (arefree
demeanour of the noughts&and&(rossers, the s(ribblers, the
football team sele(tors and the fli(kers of (he'ed&u!
!ellets. "5t's all %er$ 'ell for these blokes to s!end the
lesson fooling about, but the$ 'on't half be u! a gum&tree
'hen 0ld #ilkie (omes ba(k."
Darbishire nodded in agreement. 3bandoning his
dream 'orld, he handed o%er the tiller to a fello'&$a(hts&
man and (ame do'n to earth. "Dou'%e got a !oint there,
Jen," he said. "1onsidering he's gi%ing us all this time for
re%ision, he'll e7!e(t us to get about ninet$ !er (ent in this
ne' test 'hen he (omes ba(k." )e sighed and shook his
head. "Nobod$ on earth (ould !ossibl$ get ninet$ !er (ent
in 0ld #ilkie's maths tests. Not e%en old 2instein."
"0ld who!" Jennings 9ueried.
"2instein. )e 'as a famous mathemati(ian and he
in%ented something (alled the Theor$ of thingumm$&
'hat's&it."
"1alled what?"
Darbishire ga%e a stir to his sluggish memor$. "5t 'as
a thing (alled the Theor$ of <elati%it$."
Jennings 'as out of his de!th. "<elati%it$* Dou mean
aunts and un(les and relati%es like that*"
"No, not that sort of relati%it$ & the other sort."
"5 didn't kno' there 'as another sort."
Darbishire, too, 'as out of his de!th, but he didn't
'ant to admit it. )e remo%ed a stra$ !a!er !ellet that had
(ome to rest behind his ear and said; "#ell, 5 @ust ha!!ened
to be fli(king through the en($(lo!aedia in the librar$ the
other da$ and there 'as this arti(le about relati%it$. 5 didn't
read it be(ause 5 (ouldn't understand it, but it said it 'as
terribl$ im!ortant and that old 2instein
11
had sol%ed the !roblem and the ans'er 'as E = me

!"
Jennings looked e%en blanker than before. "+ut 'hat
on earth does it mean*"
Darbishire shrugged. "0h, 5 don't kno' 'hat it means!
5t's @ust the ans'er to the !roblem."
"#hat !roblem*"
"2instein's Theor$ of thingumm$&'hat's&it. 5 bet
there's not man$ !eo!le 'ho kno' that."
Jennings snorted. "Dou're (raE$8 #hat's all this got to
do 'ith 0ld #ilkie's maths test*"
"5t's ob%ious," Darbishire re!lied solemnl$. "6u!!ose,
sa$, for instan(e, 0ld #ilkie said; '#hat is the ans'er to
old 2instein's theor$*', $ou'd @ust !ut E F me

and $ou'd get

a hundred !er (ent, to! marks."
This 'as getting them no'here, Jennings de(ided. 3
far better 'a$ of kee!ing on good terms 'ith "r #ilkins
'ould be to offer him their s$m!ath$ on the state of his
health.
"#e (ould send him a get&'ell (ard signed b$ e%er$&
bod$ in the form sa$ing ho' mu(h 'e miss him and 'e
ho!e he gets better soon."
"That's stret(hing it a bit," Darbishire !ointed out.
"The longer he sta$s ill, the better."
"Des, but 'e (ouldn't !ut that on a greetings (ard,
'hate%er 'e think," Jennings argued. "+ut if 'e ga%e him
a bun(h of flo'ers or a !ot !lant or something as 'ell, it'd
!ut us in his good books 'hen he (omes ba(k."
Darbishire sniffed. "5 shouldn't think 0ld #ilkie has
got an$ good books, if $ou ask me."
Jennings stood u! and thum!ed the desk to attra(t
attention.
")e$, shut u! and listen, $ou (loth&eared lot,G he
12
began. "Darbi and 5 ha%e 'orked out a !lan to soften
u! 0ld 6ir. #e're going to send him a get&'ell (ard and a
!lant in a !ot. 3ll (ontributions to be handed to the )on
6e(, 1. 2. J. Darbishire, b$ tomorro'."
The announ(ement 'as re(ei%ed 'ith mi7ed feelings.
3tkinson said, "5t'd need more than a flo'er&!ot to
soften u! 0ld #ilkie & e%en if $ou biffed him o%er the head
'ith it8"
"Des, but it 'on't (ost mu(h," Venables !ointed out.
"#e (ould all sign it and 'rite messages on it, like, sa$, for
instan(e, 'Thinking of $ou, l$ing in bed. Don't get u! too
soon8' "
"0r ho' about, ')a%e been re%ising for the test in all
our s!are time,' " suggested "artin&Jones, 'ho had gro'n
tired of noughts and (rosses and 'as no' dra'ing an
ele!hant des(ending from an air(raft b$ !ara(hute.
"5 kno' 'hat 5'll !ut," said Darbishire. "5'll @ust 'rite,
E = me

! That'll sho' him 5'%e been doing a lot of resear(h

and ha%en't been 'asting m$ time."
Jennings' !lan 'as a!!ro%ed. 5t 'as agreed that,
unlike most of Jennings' ideas, e%en if no good (ame of it,
at least it (ould do no harm.
#ith a minimum subs(ri!tion of 2C !en(e !er head
Hand nobod$ %olunteered to !a$ more than the minimumI
the sum of J,.-C from the se%enteen bo$s of Form Three
'as !ledged to the "r #ilkins >et&#ell&1ard&!lus&=ot&
=lant Fund. 3dministrator, J. 1. T. Jennings, Treasurer, 1.
2. J. Darbishire.
"5'll get !ermission from "r 1arter to go do'n to the
%illage on 6aturda$," Jennings announ(ed in Dormitor$
Four that e%ening. "5 kno' the$ sell greetings (ards, so
the$'re bound to sell flo'er&!ots to go 'ith them."
1,
"5'd better (ome 'ith $ou," said Darbishire. "3fter all,
5'm in (harge of the mone$ & if e%er$bod$'s !aid u! b$
then. 5f not, 'e'll ha%e to borro' some from "r 1arter or
one of the other masters."
"#h$ not ask 0ld #ilkie*" 3tkinson suggested. ")e
ought to be 'illing to fork out, seeing it's all being done for
his benefit."
There 'ere groans of derision at this fatuous sugges&
tion, and Venables said, "Dou're (raE$8 Dou (an't e7!e(t
0ld 6ir to fork out for his o'n get&'ell fund."
""a$be not," 3tkinson (on(eded. "5 'as onl$ thinking
that 'e (an't 'ait for late !a$ers. 5f he (omes ba(k into
s(hool before 'e'%e gi%en him his flo'er&!ot, the 'hole
s(heme 'ill be a 'ash&out."
+ut all 'as 'ell. The subs(ri!tions had all tinkled into
the treasurer's em!t$ toffee tin b$ 6aturda$ morning, and
an in9uir$ to "atron re%ealed that the in%alid had not $et
regained his usual health and %igour. )e ho!ed to be ba(k
on "onda$ morning.
1-
$ha,ter 0
1-ant in a 1ot
5t 'ould be stret(hing the fa(ts to des(ribe the /inbur$
>eneral 6tores and =ost 0ffi(e as an u!&to&date su!ermar&
ket. True, it has a hand&o!erated ba(on&sli(er and a luke&
'arm freeEer (abinet, but it la(ks the ele(troni( bar&(ode
(om!uters to be found in the sho!!ing&mall in the market
to'n of Dunhambur$, some fi%e miles to the 'est.
Des!ite this, /inbur$ >eneral 6tores !ro%ides its rural
(ustomers 'ith man$ items that might 'ell be diffi(ult to
find in the 'ell&heeled su!ermarkets of Dunhambur$. 0ne
(an bu$ !araffin b$ the !int, home&knitted bedso(ks, (orn&
!lasters, rat&tra!s, and a foul&smelling substan(e for treat&
ing li%er&fluke in shee!. 5n addition, of (ourse, it (aters for
the normal dail$ needs of its (ustomers; there is a ra(k of
highl$ (oloured greetings (ards @ust inside the door and a
sele(tion of !ot !lants dis!la$ed on a shelf at the ba(k of
the sho!.
5t 'as these t'o last items that Jennings and
Darbishire
1.
had in mind 'hen the$ arri%ed at the 6tores on 6atur&
da$ afternoon.
"#e ha%en't got time to hang aboutB 'e'%e got to be
ba(k b$ tea&time," Jennings said as the$ made their 'a$
inside. "Dou sta$ here and (hoose a (ard and 5'll go and
ha%e a look at the flo'er&!ot de!artment."
"Des, all right, onl$K" Darbishire sounded 'orried.
)e had an im!ortant de(ision to make and 'as an7ious to
make the best !ossible (hoi(e.
"0nl$ what! Jennings 9ueried im!atientl$.
"#ell, ho' shall 5 kno' 'hi(h (ard to (hoose*"
Jennings shrugged. "5t doesn't matter mu(h. 5t's onl$
for 0ld 6ir. >et an$ one $ou like."
6o sa$ing, Jennings hurried off to the other end of the
sho!, lea%ing Darbishire un(ertain 'here to start.
There 'as a be'ildering %ariet$ of (ards on the ra(ks,
man$ of them unsuitable for the !ur!ose the$ had in mind.
)e 'ould ha%e to ins!e(t ea(h one (arefull$ if he 'as to
make the right (hoi(e. 5t 'as nonsense for Jennings to sa$
it didn't matter 'hi(h. 0f course it mattered8 "r #ilkins
'as entitled to a (ard e7!ressing Form Three's fer%ent 'ish
for his s!eed$ re(o%er$.
Darbishire 'as soon s!oilt for (hoi(e. There 'ere
(ards sho'ing /abrador dogs being !atted b$ fre(kle&fa(ed
bo$s 'ith fishing&rods "Good luck, Son!#! There 'ere (ards
'ith 'edding bells "All the $est %or your %uture
ha&&inessI. 3nni%ersar$ (ards "'a&&y ()th Birthday,
Grandad!#, >et 'ell (ards "*hinking o% you, always!#! 3nd
then there 'ere the (omi( (ards 'here the @oke started on
the front (o%er and the !un(h&line a!!eared o%erleaf.
Darbishire (ouldn't resist the @oke$ (ards and s!ent
14
some time stud$ing ea(h one and gurgling 'ith
laughter at the so&(alled @okes.
"ean'hile, Jennings 'as furro'ing his bro's o%er
the sele(tion of !ot !lants on dis!la$. )a%ing no
kno'ledge of horti(ulture, he, too, 'as s!oilt for (hoi(e.
3!art from the fa(t that some of the blooms 'ere !ink and
some 'ere 'hite, all the !lants looked %er$ mu(h the same
to him.
)e 'as still fro'ning in thought 'hen, from behind
him, he heard a high&!it(hed, female %oi(e (om!laining
about the !ri(e of dog bis(uits. Jennings kne' that %oi(e ...
"iss Thor!e of 0aktree 1ottage had a habit of s!eaking in
the tones of an e7(itable !arrot asking for a nut.
">ood afternoon, "iss Thor!e," he said !olitel$.
")ullo&ullo&ullo," trilled "iss Thor!e in re!l$, re!la(&
ing the dog bis(uits on the shelf and beaming a smile at
Jennings. "#hat are $ou doing in the %illage* #h$ aren't
$ou in s(hool at this time in the afternoon*"
"5t's 6aturda$," Jennings e7!lained. "#e're allo'ed
out after lun(h."
"Des, of (ourse. 6ill$ of me. 5 should ha%e kno'n."
"iss Thor!e 'as a brisk, bird&like little lad$ 'ho
!la$ed a leading !art in the so(ial life of the (ommunit$,
organising (ar&boot sales and bull$ing the Distri(t 1oun(il
into !ro%iding bottle banks and litter baskets for the
%illage. Jennings and Darbishire kne' her 'ell, ha%ing
been in%ol%ed Hsometimes 'ith disastrous resultsI in
se%eral of her lo(al a(ti%ities.
"5'%e got to bu$ a !lant and 5 don't kno' 'hi(h one to
ha%e," Jennings e7!lained. "5 'onder if $ou'd hel! me."
The re9uest 'as unusual. "5 didn't kno' $ou 'ere
keen on gardening," she re!lied.
1:
"0h, it's not for me," the bo$ hastened to assure her.
"5t's for "r #ilkins, one of our masters. )e's not %er$ 'ell
and 'e 'ant something to soften him u! 'hen he's better."
"6often him u!*"
"#ell, something to !ut him in a good mood. Dou see,
'e had a maths test and 'e all got lo' marks and he ble'
his to!."
")e ble' what!
")e got angr$, and he's going to gi%e us another one.
6o 'e thought if 'e gi%e him a ni(e !resent 'hen he
(omes into (lass he (ouldn't %er$ 'ell blast off his
laun(hing&!ad, (ould he*"
"iss Thor!e 'as sho(ked. To her 'a$ of thinking a
gift of flo'ers to one 'ho has been ill should be a gesture
of kindl$ s$m!ath$ and not an insuran(e !oli($ against
!ossible 'rath to (ome.
)o'e%er, she ran her e$e o%er the !lants on dis!la$,
and said, "5 shouldn't 'aste $our mone$ on an$ of these.
Far too e7!ensi%e."
"+ut 'e'%e got to gi%e him something++ Jennings !er&
sisted. "#e all agreed. 3nd Darbishire's (hoosing a greet&
ings (ard to go 'ith it."
"iss Thor!e (o(ked her head on one side like a blue&
tit ins!e(ting a !eanut. Then she said, "5'%e got the %er$
thing in m$ garden & ,onnecticut -ing!" Jennings looked
blank. "#ho*"
"5t's a beautiful flo'er 'hen it's in bloom. 5t's a lil$;
'e !lanted a 'hole ro' and the$'re @ust about read$ to be
!otted. Dou're 'el(ome to ha%e one for "r & er & "r
#ilkins. 5'm sure he'd be delighted."
"Thanks %er$ mu(h," Jennings said. "0nl$ 'e'%e got

1?
to be ba(k in s(hool b$ fi%e o'(lo(k, so (ould 'e (ome
and get it no', !lease*"
"No time like the !resent," she t'ittered. "5 (an't (ome
'ith $ou, 5'm afraid. 5'm due at a meeting in the %illage hall
in t'o minutes. +ut $ou (an hel! $ourself. ,onnecticut
-ing lil$ & don't forget. Dou'll find them in the bed on the
left&hand side of m$ barn. Dou (an't miss them."
"Des, butK" Jennings began, but "iss Thor!e, ha%ing
alread$ !aid for her !ur(hases, 'as no' hurr$ing out of the
sho! 'ith ne%er a ba(k'ard glan(e.
Jennings 'as familiar 'ith 0aktree 1ottage 'ith its
little barn at the end of the garden. No doubt he (ould find
the flo'er&bed on the left, but ho' (ould he identif$ the
lil$* H#hat 'as it (alled* 3lread$ he had forgotten its
botani(al name.I )e must (at(h u! 'ith "iss Thor!e and
ask for more detailed information.
#ith this in mind he hurried ba(k do'n the sho!, onl$
to find his 'a$ barred b$ Darbishire at the greetings&(ard
dis!la$.
"5 sa$, Jen, there's a frightfull$ funn$ @oke on this
one," Darbishire began, but Jennings (ut him short.
"1an't sto!8 5'%e got to (at(h her u! before she goes
into her meeting."
"2h8 #ho* #hat* #hi(h meeting*" 9ueried Darbi&
shire, 'ho 'as not abreast of re(ent de%elo!ments.
"Ne%er mind all that. Just bu$ $our (ard and follo'
me."
"+ut 5 ha%en't de(ided 'hi(h one to bu$ $et," Darbi&
shire demurred. "5 don't think the @oke$ ones 'ould be an$
good for 0ld 6ir," he 'ent on, re!la(ing the (ards in his
hand and !i(king u! another bat(h, at random, "but there's
one or t'o others 5 sa' that might beK"
1A
"0h, for goodness' sake8" Jennings broke in im!atientl$.
"5t doesn't matter 'hi(h one & it's onl$ for 0ld #ilkie. Just
take an$ old (ard and follo' me or 'e'll ne%er (at(h u! 'ith
her."
L 6o sa$ing, Jennings rushed out of the sho! in !ursuit
of his 9uarr$, no' hurr$ing to'ards the %illage hall.
Darbishire, un(ertain 'hat to do, 'as left holding a
handful of assorted (ards. Flustered, and slightl$ be'ildered,
he (rammed all but one of the (ards ba(k on to the ra(k and
hurried off to make his !ur(hase 'ithout so mu(h as a glan(e
at the (ard in his hand, 'hi(h he thrust at the $oung lad$ at
the (he(k&out. 3s she took his mone$, she sli!!ed the (ard
into an en%elo!e and handed it ba(k.
Darbishire muttered his thanks, !o(keted his !ur(hase
and, forgetting to !i(k u! his (hange, hurried from the sho!
to look for Jennings.
3t first there 'as no sign of him an$'here. Darbishire's
be'ilderment gre'. #here had Jennings gone* #ho 'as
this !erson he 'as tr$ing to (at(h* +ut then, a fe' moments
later, his friend (ame into sight, trotting ba(k from the
dire(tion of the %illage hall.
"5t's no good. There's a meeting going on and the$
'ouldn't let me in," he re!orted.
Darbishire's fog of be'ilderment gre' denser. "#hat's
ha!!ening* #ho 'ouldn't let $ou in 'here*"
"The %illage hall. 5 'as tr$ing to (at(h u! 'ith "iss
Thor!e."
"#hat did $ou 'ant her for* 5 thought $ou 'ere going
to bu$ a !ot !lant forK"
"5t's all (hanged," Jennings broke in. "6he told me not
to bu$ one be(ause she's got some better ones in her garden
and 'e (an hel! oursel%es, free of (harge."
2C
"0h, 5 see." 6atisfied at last, Darbishire fell into ste!
beside Jennings and the$ made their 'a$ to 0aktree 1ottage
on the outskirts of the %illage.
Jennings sto!!ed 'orr$ing about his abilit$ to identif$
"iss Thor!e's ,onnecticut -ing lil$. 3fter all, it 'as onl$
for 0ld 6ir 'ho !robabl$ didn't kno' mu(h about lilies,
an$'a$. 6urel$, any old lil$ 'ould do8
The bo$s rea(hed 0aktree 1ottage in a matter of
minutes. /etting themsel%es in through the garden gate, the$
made their 'a$ to the flo'er&beds bedside the barn.
)ere the !roblem started8
<o' u!on ro' of ne'l$ bedded !lants met their e$es.
3ll had lea%es, some had buds but none 'ere in flo'er. 6o
'hi(h ones 'ere the lilies* To Jennings' ine7!erien(ed e$e
the$ all looked alike and there 'as nothing to (hoose
bet'een them.
"#e'll @ust ha%e to guess and ho!e for the best," he said
after an ins!e(tion of the flo'er&beds had $ielded no
ins!iration. "=erha!s it's this ro'. The$ look like lilies don't
the$*"
"Des, bound to be," said Darbishire 'ho 'as an7ious
not to 'aste time, in (ase the$ should be late ba(k for tea. "5
re(kon $ou should ha%e bought one at the sho! and hang the
e7!ense. 3t least $ou'd kno' if $ou'd got the right sort."
Jennings ignored the (riti(ism. )e knelt and loosened
the earth 'ith his fingers around the root of 'hat might 'ell
ha%e been a ,onnecticut -ing lil$ and gingerl$ lifted the
!lant (lear of the soil.
Darbishire said 'ith a sniff of disa!!ro%al, "Dou're
(raE$8 Dou ha%en't e%en got a !ot to !ut it in, so ho' are $ou
going to get it home 'ith all that mud and stuff round the
roots*"
21
"5'll find something," Jennings muttered and set off
round the garden in sear(h of a suitable re(e!ta(le. +ut
there 'ere no flo'er&!ots an$'here about, so he e7tended
his sear(h, ending u! b$ the dustbin beside the ba(k door.
)e lifted the dustbin lid. 5nside, amongst an unsa%our$
(olle(tion of tea lea%es, fish bones, egg shells and dog&food
(ontainers he found a (ra(ked, un'ashed glass @ar. 5t 'ould
need 'ashing, he thought, and he 'ould ha%e to s(ra!e the
label off, but the !ot 'ould suit his !ur!ose for the time
being.
5n trium!h, he (arried the re(e!ta(le ba(k to the
flo'er bed, filled it 'ith earth and stu(k the !lant firml$
into the soil.
"There $ou are, Darbi. )o' about that*" he said.
Darbishire shrugged. "5t's not 'hat 5'd (hoose to !ut
an$one in a good mood, but it'll ha%e to do for no'. 5 dare
sa$ 'e'll find a better !ot 'hen 'e get ba(k." )e glan(ed
at his 'at(h and his e$ebro's shot u! in sur!rise. ")e$, it's
nearl$ 9uarter to fi%e. #e should be ba(k at s(hool b$ no'.
6tart running, for goodness' sake, or 'e'll be late for tea."
Venables 'as 'aiting for Jennings and Darbishire
'hen the$ arri%ed ba(k at s(hool shortl$ before the tea&
bell.
"6light (hange of !lan. #e'll ha%e to fast&for'ard 0ld
6ir's flo'er&!ot," he greeted them as the t'o bo$s, breath&
less from running, !anted into the (ommon&room.
"#h$, 'hat's ha!!ened*"
"0ld #ilkie's got better. )e's (ome do'nstairs and
gone into the staff&room. 5 sa' him."
This 'as a serious setba(k. From the information the$
had gleaned from "atron, the$ had assumed that "r
#ilkins 'ould be (oming ba(k into s(hool on "onda$
22
morning, bursting 'ith rude health and all set to
sub@e(t Form Three to a mind&boggling maths test.
The$ had !i(tured the s(ene in their mind's e$e; the
entr$ of the hast$&tem!ered form master into the (lass&
room, s(o'ling 'ith disa!!ro%al. 3s he 'as about to
announ(e the dreaded maths test, his e$e 'ould alight u!on
a fragrant bloom blossoming in a !ot u!on his desk. +eside
the !lant 'ould be a tasteful greetings (ard signed b$ his
!u!ils 'el(oming him ba(k and 'ishing him a ha!!$
return to his duties.
3t this !oint Hstill in their mind's e$eI "r #ilkins'
stern e7!ression 'ould undergo a (hange. 6niffing the
fragrant bloom and s(anning the messages of good'ill, he
'ould realise that he had mis@udged these bo$s. The$ 'ere
not the laE$ la$abouts he had assumed them to be, but
eager s(holars seeking onl$ to sho' their de%otion to a
mu(h&lo%ed form master. 3t on(e his furro'ed bro's
'ould lose their fro'n and a smile of understanding 'ould
fli(ker at the (orners of his mouth.
"5 shall (an(el the maths test," he 'ould sa$ in kindl$
tones. The softening&u! of 0ld #ilkie 'ould be (om!lete.
That had been the o!timisti( s(enario of their imagin&
ation. +ut this ne' de%elo!ment had thro'n a s!anner into
the 'ell&oiled 'orks of the !lanners.
"#e (an't 'ait till "onda$ to gi%e it to him," Jennings
argued. "5t's got to be toda$, as soon as 'e see him, or the
'hole s(heme 'ill be a 'ashout. Dou (an't suddenl$ sa$
'#el(ome ba(k' 'hen he's been ba(k all o%er the
'eekend."
Just then, 3tkinson !oked his head round the door
'ith an u!&dated ne's&bulletin.
"0ld #ilkie's on tea dut$," he announ(ed. ""r 1arter
2,
said he's (oming in to take tea toda$ be(ause he missed
his dut$ 'hen he 'as ill."
+$ no', the bell for tea had gone. 5f "r #ilkins 'as to
be gi%en his !resentation !lant in the dining&hall, there
'asn't a moment to lose.
"#e'll take it into tea 'ith us and let him ha%e it right
a'a$," Jennings de(ided.
"+ut 'hat about his get&'ell (ard*" s9ua'ked
Darbishire, 'a%ing the en%elo!e aloft like a distress signal.
"#e'%e got to ha%e it signed b$ e%er$bod$ 'ith little
(heerful messages."
"No time for that no'." Jennings snat(hed the en%elo!e
from Darbishire, borro'ed a ball!oint !en from Venables
and 'rote on the front; *o .r /ilkins with $est wishes %rom
every$ody in 0orm *hree!
The rest of the s(hool had alread$ made their 'a$ into
the dining&hall and 'ere a'aiting the arri%al of the master on
dut$. 5n haste the !resentation !art$ hurried in behind them.
3 'orr$ing doubt (rossed Darbishire's mind as he stood
b$ his !la(e at the Form Three table. )e had been holding a
'hole fistful of greetings (ards 'hen Jennings had (ut short
his leisurel$ (hoi(e. 6o 'hi(h one had he a(tuall$ bought*
For the life of him he (ouldn't remember.
3 moment later "r #ilkins arri%ed to su!er%ise the
meal. #hen gra(e had been said and the bo$s 'ere seated,
Jennings rose and made his 'a$ to the to! table. =la(ing his
offerings of !lant and en%elo!e before the master, he said,
"These are for $ou, sir," and made his 'a$ ba(k to the Third
Form table.
"r #ilkins, though a kind&hearted man in man$ 'a$s,
(ould ne%er understand the 'a$ in 'hi(h bo$s' minds
2-
a!!eared to 'ork. The things bo$s said and the things
bo$s did seemed 'ildl$ idioti( to his 'a$ of thinking. )e
'as, moreo%er, sus!i(ious of their moti%es and 'as al'a$s
on the lookout for bo$s tr$ing to take ad%antage of him or
make him the butt of some !ra(ti(al @oke. "r #ilkins did not
like !ra(ti(al @okes. 3n$thing in the nature of a leg&!ull
aroused his instant 'rath.
)e ins!e(ted the gift that Jennings had !la(ed before
him and his bro's narro'ed in sus!i(ion. 5n an un'ashed
!ot 'ith a soiled and sti(k$ label marked 12So2*astee
=eanut +utter 'as a rhubarb !lant. "r #ilkins abominated
!eanut butter and (ouldn't abide rhubarb, e%en 'hen (ooked.
)e 'as baffled. #hat did it mean*
There 'as an en%elo!e beside the !ot; it 'as ins(ribed,
*o .r /ilkins with $est wishes %rom every$ody in 0orm
*hree! #aril$ he o!ened the en%elo!e and took out a (rudel$
(oloured !i(ture of a 'hite&'hiskered o(togenarian. The
message read, 'a&&y ()th Birthday, Grandad!
6o it was a leg&!ull8 3nd a most im!ertinent leg&!ull, at
that8 Ver$ 'ell, then8 )e 'ould sho' them that he 'as not
the sort of man to be trifled 'ith. This 'as a !ra(ti(al @oke
that 'ould ba(k&fire in the fa(es of the !er!etrators.
"r #ilkins thrust the offerings aside and said nothing,
during the meal or after'ards.
+ut on "onda$ 'hen he arri%ed in the (lassroom 'ith
the offensi%e (ard in his hand, his mood 'as not friendl$.
)e said, "5 had intended to & er & (elebrate m$ return
into s(hool b$ !ost!oning the maths test until later in the
term and de%oting this lesson to reading $ou a most
interesting and gri!!ing a((ount of a !olar e7!edition b$ a
famous e7!lorer. )o'e%er, it a!!ears that $ou (onsider m$
efforts to im!ro%e $our minds are 'orth no more than
2.
a sti(k of rhubarb in an e%il&smelling !ot of !eanut
butter, to sa$ nothing of this most insulting (ard 'ith a
derogator$ referen(e to m$ age. That being so, 5 shall (an(el
the !olar e7!edition and 'e shall ha%e the maths test instead.
Venables, gi%e out the 9uestion !a!ers."
6o mu(h for the !lan to soften u! 0ld #ilkie8 Jennings
sighed in sorro' as he ran his e$e o%er the brain&baffling
maths 9uestions. 5t 'asn't his fault; ho' (ould he ha%e been
e7!e(ted to kno' the differen(e bet'een a ,onnecticut -ing
lil$ and a s!rout of earl$ rhubarb*
3t the desk beside him, Darbishire fro'ned in des!air
at the mind&boggling !roblems. 2%en old 2instein 'ould
ha%e had a @ob to get the right ans'ers to this lot, he thought.
E = me

'asn't going to be mu(h hel! at a time like this8

24
$ha,ter 3
Badger4Snatcher5
2%er$one agreed that the !lan to (heer u! "r #ilkins'
return to s(hool had been a disaster. 3nd e%er$one agreed
'hose fault it 'as.
"Nobod$ e7(e!t a shrim!&'ilted (lod!oll like Jennings
'ould ha%e thought u! su(h a bat&'itted s(heme," Venables
grumbled as the (lass dis!ersed at the end of the maths test.
"Trust Jennings and Darbishire to make a dog's dinner of it."
"Dou said it 'as a good idea 'hen 5 suggested it," Jen&
nings defended himself. "3n$'a$, it's not m$ fault if "iss
Thor!e doesn't label her !lants !ro!erl$. )o' 'as 5 to kno'
it 'as rhubarb*"
"=it$ she didn't !ut (ustard on it," said "artin&Jones.
"That might ha%e gi%en $ou a (lue."
"Des, and 'hat about our (ontributions*" 9ueried
+rom'i(h. "0ld Darbi seems to fan($ himself as a big
s!ender, (hu(king all that mone$ a'a$ like that."
2:
Darbishire s(o'led and said, "5 didn't (hu(k it a'a$. 5
@ust forgot to !i(k u! the (hange. 5 'as flustered, $ou see,
tr$ing to (at(h u! 'ith Jennings and 5 didn't kno' 5'd got the
(ard 'ith the old geeEer on it."
<um belo' stoo!ed and !i(ked u! the greetings (ard,
torn in t'o and thro'n into the 'aste&!a!er basket b$ "r
#ilkins at the end of the lesson in a gesture of disgust. "Dou
(an see 0ld #ilkie's !oint, though," he argued. "#e kno'
he's !rett$ an(ient, but 5 doubt if he's an o(to & er & o(to &
'hat's the 'ord*"
"0(to!us*" suggested 3tkinson.
"0(togenarian," (orre(ted Venables 'ith a su!erior
smile.
The (ul!rits' re!utation remained at a lo' ebb, and da$s
later, 'hen the bo$s 'ere allo'ed out b$ themsel%es,
nobod$ sought out Jennings or Darbishire as (om!anions for
their (om!ulsor$ 6unda$ afternoon 'alk.
3!art from the lo'est form in the s(hool, 'ho 'ere
a((om!anied b$ a master, all bo$s in grou!s of t'o or three
or more 'ere re9uired ea(h 6unda$ to follo' the foot!ath
a(ross 3rro'smith's farm to the tra(ks leading u! to the
6outh Do'ns. )a%ing ambled around amongst the gorse
bushes for an hour or so the$ 'ould then retra(e their
footste!s and re!ort their safe return to s(hool to the master
on dut$. 5n the o!inion of the bo$s the (om!ulsor$ 'alk 'as
a some'hat boring form of e7er(ise and something to be
a%oided, if !ossible.
There 'as, indeed, a ruse for e%ading the offi(ial 'alk
b$ taking an illegal short (ut. The !lan 'as to set off do'n
the dri%e as far as the front gate. 3t this !arti(ular !oint the
s(heming 'alkers 'ere shielded from the dut$ master's line
of %ision b$ a tree. 6o, b$ (rou(hing do'n and
2?
turning shar! left the$ (ould follo' the line of the 'all
from the front gate round !ast the !la$ing field and sli! in
unobser%ed through the ba(k gate at the furthest end of the
s(hool grounds. )ere 'as a (o!!i(e of 'ood and marshland
'hi(h 'as out of bounds on 6unda$ afternoons. The$ (ould
then s!end an hour e7!loring old, disused badger setts or
(ounting frogs around the s9uel(h$ marsh beside the mudd$
!ond. #hen these o((u!ations !alled, the$ (ould al'a$s fall
ba(k on the time&honoured (ustom of stuffing handfuls of
grass do'n their (om!anions' ne(ks. 5t 'asn't !erha!s %er$
e7(iting but it held the thrill of breaking s(hool rules 'ith a
fair (han(e of not being (aught.
This !lan, ho'e%er, 'as ne%er follo'ed 'hen "r
1arter 'as on dut$. "r 1arter 'as a friendl$, !o!ular master
'ho, unlike his (olleague "r #ilkins, had a dee!
understanding of the 'a$ in 'hi(h $outhful minds a!!eared
to 'ork. )e 'as a man 'hom the bo$s (ould turn to 'ith
their troubles and (ould al'a$s be relied u!on to listen to
their !roblems 'ith a s$m!atheti( ear.
There 'as @ust one snag about "r 1arter in the o!inion
of the bo$s 'hom he taught; he kne' too mu(h. )o'e%er
(arefull$ a $outhful la'breaker sought to (o%er his tra(ks,
"r 1arter al'a$s found out in the end.
"5 don't mu(h feel like going for the 'alk," Jennings
said to Darbishire after 6unda$ lun(h. ")o' 'ould it be if
'e fo7ed round b$ the 'all and looked for frogs do'n b$
the !ond*"
"5t de!ends 'ho's on dut$," Darbishire demurred. "#e
(ouldn't risk it if it's "r 1arter's turn."
"5t isn't. "r )inde's on this afternoon."
"0h, that's not so bad, then," Darbishire agreed. For
2A
"r )inde, the musi( tea(her, 'as a tall, thin $oung
man, so laid&ba(k and dream$ in (hara(ter that he 'as
unlikel$ to noti(e if an$one 'as breaking the rules.
6o, their minds made u!, Jennings and Darbishire fol&
lo'ed the (ro'd of bo$s do'n the dri%e to the front gate,
da'dling behind the others to allo' the main stream of
'alkers to rea(h the foot!ath a(ross 3rro'smith's farm.
Then, 'ith a 9ui(k glan(e behind them to make sure
that "r )inde 'as not 'at(hing, the$ left the (o%er of the
sheltering tree and began their stealth$ @ourne$, follo'ing
the lo' 'all along the lane to the ba(k gate. This 'as a
distan(e of about t'o hundred $ards and an$one 'alking
u!right 'ould be an easil$ s!otted target for the dut$ master
on the higher le%el of the !la$ground. 5ndeed, the 'all 'as
onl$ 'aist&high for most of its length and at one s!ot the
stone'ork had (olla!sed and offered no shelter at all.
"Mee! lo' and kee! $our head do'n," Jennings urged.
"#e'll be safe enough if )inde sta$s !ut and doesn't go
'andering around."
The$ looked an ungainl$ !air of 6unda$ afternoon
!leasure&seekers as the$ hobbled along in a s9uatting !osture
'ith knees bent, shoulders hun(hed, and heads sunk on their
(hests in their efforts to kee! belo' the le%el of the 'all.
Nuite soon the$ rea(hed the s!ot 'here the 'all had
(olla!sed, lea%ing a ten&$ard ga! 'ith no (o%er for an$
(reature taller than a rabbit. )ere the$ sto!!ed, 'eighing u!
their (han(es.
"5'm going to make a dash for it," Jennings de(ided,
after a glan(e at the !la$ground sho'ed that "r )inde 'as
not looking in their dire(tion. 6o sa$ing, he (rossed

,C
the ga! 'ith a ho!. ski! and a @um! and then (rou(hed
do'n 'here the 'all (ould again offer him some !rote(tion.
)e looked ba(k and 'a%ed to Darbishire to follo' his
e7am!le.
+ut Darbishire 'as no athlete. <ather than attem!t to
(ross the ga! at a bound, he sank do'n and began (ra'ling
a(ross the o!en s!a(e on hands and knees 'ith his (hin t'o
in(hes from the ground. )e 'as dragging his feet and
half'a$ a(ross one of his shoes (ame off; he didn't dare to
kneel u!right to re!la(e it, but managed to rea(h it 'ith his
sto(kinged foot and drag it behind him in a series of little
!ushes and ki(ks.
5n this 'a$ he rea(hed the safet$ of the 'all on the
other side of the ga!, @ust as "iss Thor!e !edalled into %ie'
on her bi($(le, heading for 0aktree 1ottage.
6he 'as so unner%ed b$ the sight of the (ra'ling Darbi&
shire that she 'obbled unsteadil$ and had to dismount to
sa%e herself from falling.
"#hat on earth are $ou bo$s doing*" she demanded.
Jennings ga%e her a disarming smile. "#e're going for
our 6unda$ afternoon 'alk."
"#hat8 0n all fours*"
"#ell, not as a rule, of (ourse, but 'e 'anted to e7!lore
behind the !ond and it's out of bounds on 6unda$s."
"0h, 'ell8 5t's none of m$ business, 5 su!!ose."
6he mounted her bi($(le and rode a'a$, shaking her
head at the anti(s of the rising generation.
From the ga! in the 'all to the ba(k gate the going 'as
easier. Darbishire !ut on his shoe and, still (rou(hing but
safe from obser%ation, the$ rea(hed the rear entran(e to the
s(hool grounds. There 'as a (ar !arked nearb$, but the$ !aid
it no attention.
,1
For a 'hile the$ amused themsel%es !la$ing hide&and&
seek in and out of the bushes. #hen the$ gre' tired of this
the$ follo'ed a line of mole hills, ho!ing, unsu((essfull$, to
see a !ile of earth hea%ing u! abo%e ground le%el.
"5t's a !uEEling thing about moles," Darbishire said after
a 'hile. "The$ make all these mounds and $et, ho'e%er long
$ou look, $ou ne%er seem to see one of them (oming u!."
"That's be(ause $ou're 'at(hing," Jennings re!lied as he
e7amined a freshl$ turned !at(h of earth. "The moles kno'
$ou're there. The$ (an hear $ou mo%ing about so the$ sto!
digging. /et's kee! absolutel$ still and see if an$thing
ha!!ens."
#hat ha!!ened had nothing to do 'ith moles. 5nstead,
the$ heard the (run(hing of undergro'th and the figure of a
tall, elderl$ man !assed a(ross their line of %ision some
distan(e ahead. )e had !i(ked u! a dead bran(h and 'as
!oking the ground around his feet as he 'alked. The man
'as so engrossed in his !oking that he had neither seen nor
heard the bo$s behind him.
Jennings and Darbishire e7(hanged !uEEled glan(es.
"#ho's that*" Darbishire 9ueried.
"No idea. )e's nobod$ from s(hool. 5'%e ne%er seen him
before," Jennings re!lied. "3n$'a$, he's tres!assing; the
s(hool grounds are !ri%ate !ro!ert$."
"6o 'hat* )e's not doing an$ harm @ust 'andering
about."
""a$be not, but 'h$ is he !oking about 'ith that
bran(h*"
"/ooking for (onkers* =lanting a(orns* 6ear(hing for
buried treasure*" Darbishire haEarded.
Jennings 'his!ered, "Mee! 9uiet and kee! still."
,2
Together the$ knelt behind a thi(ket of brambles 'here
the$ (ould 'at(h the anti(s of the stranger unobser%ed. 5t
'as a good !la(e to hide; the little 'ood at the far end of the
!la$ing&field had al'a$s been kno'n as a harbour for man$
forms of 'ild&life.
3s 'ell as the !ond 'ith its tad!oles, frogs and moor&
hens there 'ere rabbit 'arrens, fo7&holes and badger setts,
some in (onstant use, others o((u!ied from time to time and
then deserted.
For some $ears no' there had been no sign of badger
a(ti%it$, though se%eral large holes in the sand$ soil sho'ed
'here setts had been o((u!ied in times !ast.
3s the bo$s 'at(hed, the elderl$ man (ould be seen
thrusting his makeshift !ole into a badger hole and then
mo%ing on to re!eat the a(tion at an ad@oining sett.
6uddenl$, Jennings gri!!ed Darbishire's arm and 'his&
!ered, "5'%e got it8 )e's a badger&snat(her."
Darbishire looked blank. "3 what!"
"6sh8 Mee! $our %oi(e do'n. )e's e7amining the holes
to see if there are an$ badgers do'n there."
"#h$*"
"To (at(h them, of (ourse & for badger&baiting."
3 gas! of outrage and disbelief (ame from Darbishire.
")e (an't do that8 5t's illegal."
"Des, of (ourse. 3nd terribl$ (ruel, but it goes on all the
same. The$ (at(h badgers and set dogs on to fight them."
"#hat are 'e going to do, then* )o' (an 'e sto!
him*"
Jennings fro'ned in silen(e for some moments as he
gra!!led 'ith the !roblem. Then, s!eaking in a 'his!er, he
said, "#ell, he's not going to (at(h an$ badgers @ust b$
!oking a sti(k do'n the holes. 5f he thinks that, he's
,,
(raE$. There aren't an$ badgers round here, an$'a$, so
5'd sa$ he's @ust looking around. 5f he thought that the sett
'as still being used he (ould (ome ba(k at night 'ith dogs
and nets and things."
5t 'as a relief to think that the threat to an$ badger's
safet$ 'as not a matter of urgen($. There 'as time to do
something & but 'hat*
Their first idea 'as to hurr$ ba(k to s(hool and ask one
of the masters to tele!hone the !oli(e. +ut on se(ond
thoughts the$ realised that, at this stage, there 'as little that
the !oli(e (ould do.
")e'd den$ it," Jennings !ointed out. ")e'd @ust sa$ he
'as strolling about and nobod$ (ould !ro%e he 'as
!ros!e(ting for badgers."
"The$ (ould gi%e him a 'arning. That'd !robabl$
frighten him off," Darbishire argued. "3fter all, he's
beha%ing sus!i(iousl$ on !ri%ate !ro!ert$."
This 'as (learl$ the (ase. The$ 'ould re!ort their sus&
!i(ions to the master on dut$ and urge him to take immediate
a(tion before the sus!e(t had left the s(ene of the (rime.
#ith this in mind the bo$s rose and began their stealth$
retreat to'ards the !la$ing&field and the s(hool buildings
be$ond. Mee!ing a 'ar$ e$e on the sus!e(t, some thirt$
$ards a'a$, the$ mo%ed as silentl$ as the$ (ould through the
bushes.
The$ had gone merel$ the length of a (ri(ket !it(h
'hen Darbishire (aught his foot in a bramble and fell to
earth 'ith a bum! that must ha%e been audible to the
sus!e(ted badger&snat(her.
The man looked round and (aught sight of the bo$s as
the$ %ainl$ tried to (on(eal themsel%es behind a bla(kberr$
bush.
,-
")i8 )ullo there8" the man (alled, 'a%ing his bran(h to
and fro like a metronome to attra(t their attention. "6to! a
minute8 5'd like a 'ord 'ith $ou, if 5 ma$."
,.
$ha,ter )
$-ose Secret
The stranger's summons halted the bo$s in their tra(ks,
and for a moment the$ stood still, un(ertain 'hat to do.
6hould the$ make a dash for it or ans'er the man's greeting*
+ut there 'as no time to think out their ne7t mo%e, for
no' the man 'as making his 'a$ to'ards them and 'as
alread$ onl$ a fe' $ards from 'here the bo$s 'ere standing.
)e 'as a large, 'ell&built man in his si7ties 'ith gre$
hair and a bristl$ mousta(he. )e 'as (asuall$ dressed in
(orduro$ trousers and a rather shabb$ t'eed @a(ket 'ith
leather !at(hes on the elbo's.
)is %oi(e had sounded friendl$ and he 'as smiling as
he tram!ed through the rough grass to @oin them.
")ullo8" he said again. "Ni(e to find someone about."
Jennings' sus!i(ions 'ere !artl$ alla$ed b$ the friendl$
tone, but the ne7t moment the$ (ame flooding ba(k. The
,4
friendl$ tone (ould be a (onfiden(e tri(k; the stranger
'ould be bound to ado!t an air of inno(en(e, kno'ing that
his furti%e beha%iour had been obser%ed.
Jennings looked him in the e$e. "Dou're tres!assing.
This is !ri%ate !ro!ert$."
The man nodded affabl$. "That's right. /inbur$ 1ourt
6(hool, and 5 su!!ose $ou 'onder 'hat 5'm doing here."
"#e kno' 'hat $ou're doing. Dou're a badger&snat(her."
The man looked !uEEled. "3 wha%l"
"3 badger&snat(her. 3nd 'e're going to re!ort $ou to
the !oli(e."
The man's be'ilderment in(reased. "Do $ou mind
e7!laining*"
"#e sa' $ou !oking a sti(k do'n badger setts. #e
thought $ou might be going toK"
Jennings broke off, his 'ords dro'ned b$ a bello' of
laughter.
""e8 Tra!!ing badgers8 5n da$light*" The laughter
broke out again and the bo$s stood staring at the man in
doubtful un(ertaint$.
"=erha!s 5'd better introdu(e m$self," the man 'ent on
'hen his laughter had run its (ourse. ""$ name's
"a(Taggart, first name Tim, but $ou (an (all me "a(
&e%er$bod$ does. 3lthough 'hen 5 'as at s(hool here m$
friends (alled me 'Jumbo' be(ause the$ said m$ ears stu(k
out." )e !aused, a'are that the bo$s 'ere 'at(hing him
(losel$. "=ure slander, of (ourse; m$ ears didn+t sti(k out &
'ell, ma$be the$ did, but 5 re(kon 5'%e gro'n into them
sin(e then."
Jennings said, "Dou mean $ou're an 0ld +o$ of /inbur$
1ourt*"
,:
"That's right & about fift$ $ears ago. 1 ha%en't been
round this !art of the (ountr$ for $earsB but 5 ha!!ened to be
dri%ing !ast this afternoon on m$ 'a$ to Ment, and there 'as
the old 'ooded !at(h at the end of the !la$ing&field looking
@ust as it al'a$s used to." )e shook his head nostalgi(all$.
"5t brought ba(k an old memor$ that 5 ha%en't gi%en a
thought to for half a (entur$. 6o 5 thought 5'd go and ha%e a
look."
This sounded belie%able and Darbishire 'said, "+ut 'hat
'ere $ou doing !oking about 'ith that sti(k*"
"5 'as looking for buried treasure."
The bo$s e7(hanged glan(es. 0b%iousl$ the man 'as
@oking. Noting their !uEEled e7!ressions, Tim "a(Taggart
said, "5'll tell $ou about it, if $ou'%e got ten minutes to
s!are."
)e sat do'n on a tree stum! and brushed the sand$ soil
from his hands.
"5t ha!!ened 'hen 5 'as about $our age 2 ten or
ele%en," he began. "5 shared a desk 'ith a (ha! the same age
as me & a fello' (alled "erride'."
The name rang a bell in Darbishire's brain. "Not
General "erride'*" he 9ueried.
"#ell, he 'asn't a general then. Just an ink$&fingered
third&former. 5 ha%en't seen him sin(e 5 left s(hool, but 5
remember he 'as al'a$s sa$ing he 'anted to be a soldier.
Not a bit like me. 5'm a man of !ea(e." "a( !aused and
s(rat(hed his nose thoughtfull$. ")o' (ome $ou kno' old
"erride'* Does he (ome ba(k to %isit his old s(hool*"
"0h $es, he's a %er$ famous 0ld /inburian," Darbishire
re!lied. ")e (omes ba(k e%er$ $ear to gi%e the !riEes a'a$,
and he makes the same s!ee(h e%er$ time."
"6ounds like old "erride'. 3l'a$s talked a lot but it
,?
'asn't 'orth listening to, as a rule."
Jennings giggled, remembering, an o((urren(e of a !re&
%ious term. "#e lo(ked the >eneral in the librar$ on(e, b$
mistake," he said. "#e thought he 'as someone else."
"#h$* Did he look like someone else*"
"0h, no8 +ut 'e 'ere !la$ing a (hasing game 'ith
Venables and Tem!le andK"
"Ne%er mind about that no'," Darbishire broke in
im!atientl$. "5 'ant to hear about the buried treasure."
"3h, $es8 #ell, old "erride' & or !erha!s 5 should sa$
young "erride' & 'asn't a !arti(ular friend of mine, but as
'e 'ere the same age and in the same form 'e got thro'n
together 9uite a bit. 5 remember 'e (alled him '"ilde'' & a
!rett$ ob%ious ni(k&name, 5 su!!ose.
"3n$'a$, 'e'd been learning in (lass about some
ar(haeologists 'ho had unearthed the remains of some
6a7on %illage about a thousand $ears old. The$ didn't find
an$ treasure like (oins or !re(ious metals, but 'hat reall$
interested the ar(haeologists 'ere the e%er$da$ ob@e(ts like
tools and 'ea!ons and (ooking&!ots 'hi(h told them a lot
about 'hat life had been like for the !eo!le of the %illage."
"a( !aused and smiled as his mind tra%elled ba(k to
the (lassroom of fift$ $ears before 'here he had sat arguing
'ith $oung "erride' about 'hether the remains of a tenth&
(entur$ (ooking&!ot 'as a more 'orth'hile dis(o%er$ than a
bag of gold.
"3 fe' da$s later, "ilde' and 5 de(ided to bur$ our
o'n se(ret treasure (hest," "a( 'ent on. "6omething for
somebod$ to dis(o%er in a thousand $ears and find out 'hat
it had been like being at boarding&s(hool in the t'entieth
(entur$.
"#e found a large tin bo7 in the basement and started
,A
(olle(ting a hoard of %er$ ordinar$ things. Junk, mostl$
the bits and !ie(es 'e used e%er$ da$ 'hi(h 'ould tell their
o'n stor$."
"Didn't an$one else kno' 'hat $ou 'ere doing*"
Jennings asked.
"No, 'e ke!t it a (losel$ guarded se(ret, $oung "ilde'
and me. 5t took us some 'eeks to (olle(t all our treasure.
3nd then, one night after lights&out, 'e fo7ed out 'ith the
old tin bo7 and buried it do'n a deserted badger hole."
"a('s e$es s!arkled 'ith mis(hief as he re(alled the
s(ene in his mind. "The last thing 5 !o!!ed in @ust before 'e
s(re'ed the lid do'n 'as a (urrant bun that 5'd sa%ed from
tea. 0ur s(hool buns 'ere al'a$s a bit stale, and 5 remember
"erride' 'ondering 'hether it (ould !ossibl$ get an$ staler
in the ne7t thousand $ears."
"3 thousand $ears isn't u! $et," said Jennings. "0nl$
about fift$."
"Dou're right," "a( agreed, "and ma$be 5'm breaking
the se(ret !a(t in looking for our treasure; but, 'hen $ou're a
$oungster of ele%en, 'hat's the differen(e bet'een fift$
$ears and a thousand* The$ both seem so far ahead that $ou
hardl$ distinguish bet'een them."
"+ut 'here's the treasure*" Darbishire demanded.
"a( shrugged. "5 (an't find it."
"#h$ not* Don't $ou remember 'here $ou buried it*"
"No, not e7a(tl$. Not after all these $ears," "a( said,
shaking his head. "5t 'as all (lear enough at the time. 6o
man$ !a(es east of some oak tree and so man$ !a(es north
from some other tree. #e dre' a !lan, but that got lost a
long time ago. 2%er$thing's gro'n u! into a 'ilderness sin(e
then, and 5'%e onl$ a haE$ idea 'here to look." )e !ulled a
-C
fa(e and s!read out his hands. "5t's about some'here round
here, but don't ask me 'here."
There 'as a short silen(e. Then Jennings said, "#ere
$ou going to o!en it, if $ou'd found it*"
"5 don't kno'. =ossibl$. 5 hadn't reall$ thought about it.
Just 'anted to kno' if the old bo7 'as still there. 1uriosit$,
reall$."
"r "a(Taggart got to his feet. "#ell, 5'll be on m$ 'a$,
then. >lad to ha%e met $ou." )e nodded to the bo$s and
began making his 'a$ to'ards the lane 'here his (ar 'as
!arked. 3t the gate, he turned and (alled ba(k, "5f $ou (an
find the old trunk, good lu(k to $ou8 Dou'll find out 'hat it
'as like here fift$ $ears ago. =robabl$ not all that different
from 'hat it's like toda$."
"r "a(Taggart's (ar 'as barel$ out of sight before Jen&
nings and Darbishire took on the role of treasure&seekers.
"#e're bound to find it if 'e go o%er all this @ungl$&
!at(h, in(h b$ in(h," Jennings reasoned. "3nd then 'e'll
'rite and tell him 'here 'e found it."
")o' (an 'e 'rite and tell him* #e ne%er asked 'here
he li%es."
Jennings shrugged. "#e'll manage someho'. /et's find
the old tin bo7 first. 5t ma$ take us some time, 'hat 'ith all
this undergro'th and o%ergro'th. 3n$'a$, it's too late to
start no'."
)e glan(ed at his 'at(h. 5t 'as later than he'd thought.
"ost of the other bo$s 'ould alread$ ha%e got ba(k to
s(hool, so there 'as no time to return b$ the 'a$ the$ had
(ome. 5t 'ould be better to risk (arr$ing on a(ross the
!la$ing&fields and ho!e that their late return 'ould !ass
unnoti(ed.
This the$ didB una'are that their stealth$ a!!roa(h 'as
-1
obser%ed from the librar$ 'indo'. )o'e%er, "r )inde
marked them off on his list 'ithout (ommentB after 'hi(h
the$ made their 'a$ do'n to the tu(k&bo7 room in the
basement 'here there 'as a fair (han(e of being able to talk
'ithout being disturbed.
=er(hed on a tu(k&bo7, Jennings said, "5 %ote 'e form a
se(ret (lub &@ust $ou and me. #e 'on't let an$one kno' 'hat
'e're doing until 'e'%e found the & er & theK" )e broke off
and s(rat(hed his nose thoughtfull$. "#ell, $ou (an't reall$
(all it a !ro!er treasure (hest, (an $ou* Just someone's old
football boots and /atin te7t books and things. Not like
!ie(es of eight and !re(ious @e'els and stuff."
"3h, but it's real histor$, don't forget & a time&(a!sule
and that's e%en better," Darbishire argued. "+esides, !ie(es
of eight might not be so %aluable as the$ used to be."
3ieces o% eight? )e remembered the e7!ression (ro!&
!ing u! in 6te%enson's *reasure 4sland, but he'd ne%er
bothered to think ho' mu(h the old 6!anish (oin had been
'orth. 5n his mind's e$e he sa' himself asking the lad$ at
the /inbur$ 6tores (he(k&out ho' man$ bars of (ho(olate he
(ould bu$ for a !ie(e of eight. 3loud, he said, "3nd e%en if
the$ did a((e!t them, ho' 'ould $ou kno' if $ou 'ere
getting the right (hange*"
Jennings 'as unable to follo' his friend's mental g$m&
nasti(s. "#hat are $ou talking about* 2%en if who did a((e!t
what?" he demanded.
"5 'as @ust 'ondering 'hether the$'d take !ie(es of
eight at the %illage stores 'hen 'e 'ent in to bu$ s'eets."
"+ut there 'on't $e an$ !ie(es of eight, $ou (rumbling
(lod!oll," Jennings retorted. "5t's not that sort of treasure."
-2
"No, 5 kno', onl$ & 5 (ouldn't hel! thinkingK"
Darbishire broke off, tr$ing to 'ork out the %alue of a (hest
full of !irate gold measured against a time&(a!sule of
outgro'n football boots and out&of&date /atin books. +ut
there 'as no !oint in !ursuing this flight of fan($. "r
"a(Taggart had buried the 'rong sort of treasure. 2%en so,
the dis(o%er$ 'ould be 'ell 'orth&'hile and reall$ e7(iting.
"#ake u! and listen," Jennings said, s(attering his
friend's idle thoughts. "#e're 'asting time. First 'e'%e got to
!lan ho' to find the treasure & onl$ se(retl$, of (ourse. Then,
he$ !resto, 'e announ(e $e famous dis(o%er$. #e'll !ut it on
sho' and ha%e an e7hibition of /inbur$ 1ourt 6(hool in
olden times."
"Fift$ $ears isn't all that olden," Darbishire demurred.
"Not like a thousand."
"+ut 'e (an't 'ait a thousand, $ou (lod!oll. #e shan't
be here b$ then. 3nd neither 'ill the treasure; it'll ha%e
rotted a'a$ & !robabl$ has done alread$, if it 'asn't sealed
do'n !ro!erl$."
& <eall$, old Darbi (ould be as thi(k as t'o !lanks 'hen
he 'as in his da$&dreaming mood, Jennings refle(ted. )e
s'it(hed the dis(ussion ba(k to more !ra(ti(al details.
The setting u! of the se(ret (lub 'as their first ob@e(&
ti%e. There 'ould ha%e to be a (hairman HJ. 1. T. JenningsI
and a se(retar$ H1. 2. J. DarbishireI. The %oting for these
offi(ials resulted in a tie Hea(h (andidate ha%ing %oted for
himselfI but Jennings, ha%ing the more dominant !ersonalit$,
managed to s'ing the result in his o'n fa%our.
The se(retar$ sighed. "5t's al'a$s the sameB 5 al'a$s get
the dogsbod$ sort of @obs," he lamented.
"Nonsense8 The )on 6e( is terribl$ im!ortant," the
-,
(hairman (onsoled him. "2%er$thing's got to be 'ritten
do'n and re(orded. )a%e $ou got $our diar$ on $ou*"
Darbishire !rodu(ed the slim %olume from his !o(ket.
"0M. That'll do until $ou'%e got a !ro!er book to 'rite
do'n the dis(o%eries and things. Just !ut :. and 5! start
secret society %or the discovery o%2 ofK" Jennings !aused.
"+etter not sa$ 'hat it's for in 'riting in (ase the se(ret leaks
out."
The bell for tea 'as ringing as Darbishire made the
entr$ in his diar$ and the t'o bo$s abandoned their meeting
and headed for the dining&hall 'ith its usual 6unda$ tea&time
offering of oil$ !il(hards, beetroot and desi((ated lettu(e.
Venables, !a$ing a 9ui(k %isit to his tu(k&bo7 to fet(h a
!ot of his mother's home&made @am, found Darbishire's diar$
on the 'indo' sill.
Normall$, he 'ouldn't ha%e gi%en it a se(ond glan(e
but, 'ondering to 'hom it belonged, he o!ened it and
noti(ed the latest entr$.
")'m8 6e(ret so(iet$, eh*" he said to himself as he made
his 'a$ u! to the dining&hall. "#e'll soon see about that8"
--
$ha,ter 2
Bird o+ I--4O7en
5t 'as onl$ 6unda$s that the far end of the grounds 'as
out of bounds; and this 'as onl$ be(ause "r =emberton&
0akes, the headmaster, insisted on all bo$s e7er(ising their
legs Hand !ossibl$ admiring the s(ener$I b$ going for a 'alk
be$ond the (onfines of the s(hool !re(in(ts. 3t other times,
!ermission to e7!lore the (o!!i(e 'ould al'a$s be granted
b$ the dut$ master if some reason 'as !ut for'ard for the
%isit.
"5 %ote 'e get !ermish from "r 1arter to go do'n after
!re! one e%ening," Jennings suggested to Darbishire 'hen
tea 'as o%er. "That'll gi%e us an hour before the dorm bell.
3nd if he 'ants to kno' 'h$, 'e (an sa$ 'e 'ant to & erK"
)e sear(hed his mind for a !lausible reason. "#e (an sa$ 'e
'ant to (olle(t 'ild flo'ers and rare !lants and stuff."
")uh8 <are !lants8" Darbishire hooted in derision.
")ark 'ho's talking8 Dou don't e%en kno' a lil$ from a sti(k
of rhubarb."
-.

Jennings ignored the (riti(ism. "0M, then, ho' about
bird&'at(hing* #e (an sa$ 'e 'ant to start a se(ret so(iet$
to stud$ bird&life. That'll !ut e%er$bod$ off the s(ent."
"6ounds a bit feeble to me. )o' (an $ou ha%e se(ret
birds*"
"No, $ou (lod!oll, the birds aren't se(ret & the$'re @ust to
disguise 'hat 'e're really doing if !eo!le start asking
9uestions."
"Des, but 5 still don't seeK"
"0h, for goodness' sake, Darbi8 .Dou're as beetle&headed
as a (o(kroa(h8 Just !ut in $our diar$K" Jennings broke off
as a look of alarm !assed o%er Darbishire's features and he
began fe%erishl$ sear(hing through his !o(kets.
"0h m$ goodness8 Fossilised fish&hooks & it's not here."
"#hat isn't*"
""$ diar$. 5 had it before tea. 5 must ha%e left it in the
tu(k&bo7 room."
"#ell, don't @ust stand there making s!ee(hes," Jennings
ordered. ">o and get it before an$bod$ finds it."
+ut it 'as too late; the diar$ had gone and the dormi&
tor$ bell 'as ringing before Darbishire ga%e u! his sear(h.
The ne7t morning Venables !ran(ed u! to Darbishire on
the !la$ground during break. ")a%e $ou lost an$thing*" he
asked.
Darbishire's ho!es rose. "Des, m$ diar$. D'$ou kno'
'here it is*"
+$ 'a$ of re!l$ Venables !rodu(ed the slim booklet
from his !o(ket and dangled it before its o'ner.
"1oo, thanks. 5'%e been looking e%er$'here."
Darbishire held out his hand, but Venables ba(ked a'a$ out
-4
of arm's rea(h and said, "#hat's the re'ard*"
Darbishire (onsidered. "5'll gi%e $ou a bit of m$ fruit
(ake."
")o' big a bit*"
"#ell, sa$, three in(hes long and half an in(h thi(k."
The finder 'as not satisfied. "Dou (an forget $our stale
old fruit (ake," he said. "5f $ou 'ant $our diar$ ba(k $ou (an
tell me 'hat this se(ret so(iet$ of $ours is all about."
Darbishire 'as outraged. "Dou read m$ diar$* Dou'd no
right to do that8 Diaries are !ri%ate and (onfidential."
"Dou shouldn't ha%e left it about, then. 5 had to look
inside to see 'ho it belonged to."
6o mu(h 'as ob%ious8 "0M, then. Thanks %er$ mu(h,
but 5 'ant it ba(k, !lease."
"0n one (ondition," said Venables, 'a%ing the little
book in the air. "#hat does this se(ret so(iet$ do*"
"5 (an't tell $ou. 0nl$ members are allo'ed to kno'."
"1an 5 be a member, then* Dou 'on't get $our diar$
ba(k, other'ise."
Darbishire knitted his bro's in thought. 3s Jennings
had suggested, the$ (ould make kno'n their enthusiasm for
bird&'at(hing to hide their real ob@e(ti%e of finding the time&
(a!sule. 5ndeed, the more the$ s!read this idea, the better it
'ould ser%e their !ur!ose. There 'ould be no harm in
a((e!ting a member 'ho had a some'hat mistaken idea
about the aims of the (lub. No se(urit$ risk there, surel$8
"#ell, all right, then, but 5'll ha%e to tell Jennings, of
(ourse," Darbishire said as he !o(keted his lost !ro!ert$. "5'll
!ut $ou do'n as a member."
"Des, but 'hat's this so(iet$ %or?"
-:
")'m. /et's see no'," re!lied the se(retar$ in a tone of
im!ortan(e. "#ell, one of the things 'e do is se(ret bird&
'at(hing."
"Secret bird&'at(hing*" e(hoed the ne' member in
sur!rise. "#h$ does it ha%e to be se(ret*"
"+e(ause if 'e let too man$ blokes (ome 'ith us,
the$'d frighten all the birds a'a$."
This seemed to satisf$ Venables. 3t the ba(k of his
mind he thought that there might !erha!s be some ulterior
moti%e. 5f so, he'd !robabl$ find out in time.
Jennings 'as more than 'illing to a((e!t Venables as a
member 'hen Darbishire e7!lained the dilemma he had
fa(ed in getting his diar$ ba(k. "No !roblem," he said as the
t'o bo$s re%ie'ed the situation after morning s(hool. "6o
long as the$ think it's onl$ about bird&'at(hing, 'e (an let
an$bod$ @oin 'ho 'ants to. The more the merrier."
"+ut 'e don't kno' mu(h about bird&'at(hing," Dar&
bishire ans'ered. "6o ho' (an 'eK*"
"#e'll soon find out," Jennings assured him. "There's a
book about it in the librar$. 6o long as e%er$bod$ thinks
'e're e7!erts, 'e'll be all right."
6o, in order to (on(eal their real !ur!ose, the$ 'ent to
some trouble in making kno'n their sudden interest in this
ne'&found hobb$.
Jennings borro'ed an illustrated book about birds from
the s(hool librar$ and (arried it about 'ith him 'here%er he
'ent, thus a(9uiring something of a re!utation as an ardent
bird&'at(her. )e found the sub@e(t fas(inating and be(ame
so engrossed b$ 'hat he read that for some da$s he relegated
his 9uest for the time&(a!sule to the ba(k of his mind 'hile,
-?
in imagination, he !la$ed at being a fal(oner training a bird
of !re$.
)e s!ent morning break on #ednesda$ as a 'ould&be
fal(oner luring an imaginar$ ha'k b$ t'irling a !ie(e of
string round and round 'ith an old bedroom sli!!er tied on
as a bait.
"r 1arter (ame a(ross him on the !la$ground engaged
in his flight of fan($.
"#h$ are $ou 'earing a 'i(ket&kee!er's glo%e*" the
master 'anted to kno'.
Jennings ga%e him a disarming smile. 'Tm !retending
5'm a fal(oner, sir," he e7!lained. "5 hold m$ arm out like this
and the kestrel, or 'hate%er it is, (omes and !er(hes on it."
")'m8 5'm afraid $ou'd ha%e rather a @ob training a ha'k
to s'oo! do'n on an old bedroom sli!!er."
Jennings (onsidered this. "5t might think it 'as a rabbit,
sir; es!e(iall$ if it 'as a bit short&sighted."
"r 1arter thought this unlikel$. "1arr$ on !retending,"
he said. "Though 5 should !oint out that $ou're 'earing the
glo%e on the 'rong hand."
Jennings glan(ed do'n at his 'rist. "Does it matter,
sir*"
"=erha!s not. +ut fal(oners normall$ 'ear their gauntlet
on the left hand so that their right hand is free to tend to the
bird."
Jennings shrugged. "5 shouldn't think that matters. The
ha'k 'ould @ust think 5'm left&handed, 'ouldn't it, sir*"
"r 1arter let the matter dro!. Jennings' o!inions on i
short&sighted birds of !re$ and left&handed fal(oners 'ere
too fan(iful to !ursue.
-A
The master resumed his stroll round the !la$ground, but
after a fe' $ards he be(ame a'are that Jennings 'as
follo'ing at his heels. )e turned. "#hat is it* Dou 'ant
m$ %ie's on (onta(t lenses for m$o!i( !eregrine
fal(ons*"
The bo$ grinned. "That'd be going a bit o%er the to!,
'ouldn't it, sir8 #hat 5 'anted to ask $ou 'asK' )e broke
off, 'ondering ho' to !ut his re9uest into 'ords. )e and
Darbishire had not $et asked !ermission to s!end their free
time amongst the brambles and briars at the far end of the
grounds. This 'ould be a good moment to broa(h the matter.
"#ell, sir, Darbishire and 5 are %er$ keen on bird&
'at(hing and 'e 'ant !ermission to go do'n to the (o!!i(e
in our free time."
"+ird&'at(hing* 5s that 'hat $ou 'ere doing on 6unda$
'hen $ou 'ere su!!osed to be going for a 'alk*"
Jennings 'as taken aba(k. 6o "r 1arter must ha%e
s!otted them as the$ returned to the s(hool buildings8 3nd
he 'asn't e%en on dut$ at the time; it 'as amaEing ho' "r
1arter al'a$s kne' 'hat 'as going on8
"#ell, $es and no, sir," he said un(ertainl$. "#e
&Darbishire and 5 & @ust thought it 'ould be a good !la(e for
our bird&'at(hing (lub."
"3nd 'ho 'as the elderl$ gentleman $ou 'ere talking
to*"
6o "r 1arter kne' that, too8
Jennings made a 9ui(k de(ision. 5f the$ 'ere going to
de%ote their free time to finding the tin bo7, it 'ould be
better to let "r 1arter into their se(ret than for him to find
out b$ other means. )e took a dee! breath and 'ent on.
"#ell, sir, 'e'%e got a se(ret, but 5 'ouldn't mind $ou
kno'ing, so long as $ou don't s!read it."
.C
"5 should like to hear 'hat it is, first."
6o Jennings told him of their meeting 'ith Tim "a(&
Taggart, the 0ld /inburian, and ho' he and "erride'
had buried their treasure (hest fift$ $ears before. "3nd
Darbi and 5 are going to tr$ and find it," he 'ent on. "+ut
nobod$ else is allo'ed to kno' or it 'ill s!oil the sur!rise.
That's 'h$ 'e're !retending it's a bird&'at(hing (lub."
Jennings stood t'isting his fal(onr$ string round and
round his 'rist and looking u! at the master 'ith the eager
look of a !u!!$ begging for a bis(uit.
)e need not ha%e 'orried. "r 1arter 'as all in fa%our
of allo'ing the (ons!irators to bask in their hour of glor$
as the dis(o%erers of the treasure & if, indeed, the$ e%er did
find it8
The treasure&seekers had !lanned to begin their sear(h
of the (o!!i(e after games on Thursda$, but this had to be
!ost!oned o'ing to an en(ounter 'ith "r #ilkins earlier
in the da$.
Jennings ne%er did an$thing b$ hal%es. 6o, ha%ing
de(ided to boost his re!utation as an e7!ert on bird&
'at(hing, he 'ent to great lengths to foster the idea that all
forms of feathered 'ild&life 'ere, to him, a matter of great
(on(ern. 5n this, he 'as en(ouraged b$ Venables, still
ignorant of the real !ur!ose of the so(iet$ of 'hi(h he 'as
no' a member.
"#e ought to !ut food out for them," Venables told his
fello'&members 'hen the$ 'ere dis(ussing their !lans.
"Not @ust do'n at the (o!!i(e, but s!read it around e%er$&
'here to attra(t them."
Darbishire !ulled a fa(e. "The last time 'e tried feed&
ing the birds there 'as a ghastl$ hoo&hah," he obser%ed.O
O6ee S&eaking o% Jennings
.1
"3h, that 'as be(ause 'e !ut it all do'n on the !ath
and the )ead's %isitors got stu(k in it," Jennings reminded
him. "5f 'e'd had a !ro!er bird&table 'e'd ha%e been all
right."
"5 kno' 'here there's a bird&table," Venables (himed
in. "<umbelo' s!ent all last term's 'ood'ork lessons
making it and then he 'asn't allo'ed to take it home at the
end of term."
The ten&$ear&old <umbelo' had been %er$ u!set b$
this de(ision, ha%ing de%oted ten 'eeks to the (onstru(tion
of his bird&table. +ut "r =ullen, 'ho (ame o%er from
Dunhambur$ on(e a 'eek to tea(h 'ood'ork, had been so
(riti(al of this ill&sha!ed !ie(e of handi'ork that he had
(onsigned it to the rubbish hea!.
"Dou're no (raftsman," he had said to <umbelo',
e$eing the ill&fitting @oints and the badl$ angled s(re's.
"Dou don't kno' one end of a s(re'&dri%er from the other."
)o'e%er, the des!ised bird&table 'as dis(o%ered in a
(orner of the tool&shed and <umbelo', 'hen (onsulted,
'as delighted to think that his re@e(ted !ie(e of 'ood'ork
'as, after all, to be !ut to good use.
3fter breakfast on Thursda$ Darbishire (olle(ted a
!lateful of food s(ra!s from the kit(hen 'hile Venables and
Jennings (arried the bird&table on to the !la$ground and set
it do'n in sight of the 'indo's of 1lassroom Three.
Joining them on the !la$ground, Darbishire said,
")o!e this is enough. 5 read some'here that some birds
ha%e to eat one&third of their 'eight in food e%er$ da$, or
the$'ll star%e."
'Tem!le's like thatG." Jennings retorted. "Dou should
.2
@ust see him belting into his food at breakfast. 5 bet he'd
eat nearl$ a third of his 'eight if he got the (han(e."
5t 'as (lear to see 'h$ the 'ood'ork tea(her had been
so s(ornful of <umbelo''s (raftsmanshi!. The bird&table
'as a s!indl$ (ontra!tion, une%enl$ balan(ed on three legs
of slightl$ different lengths. #hen it 'as !ut do'n, one of
the legs dro!!ed off and had to be 'edged ba(k into !osition
'ith a for(eful ki(k.
"5t's a bit 'obbl$, but it'll ha%e to do," Jennings said as
Darbishire s!read the food s(ra!s on the table&to!. "The
birds 'on't mind so long as the$'%e got something to eat."
The bell rang for morning assembl$, and b$ the time the
bo$s rea(hed their (lassroom t'ent$ minutes later the birds'
breakfast 'as being en@o$ed b$ a flo(k of fledgling s!arro's
and a %aried assortment of (haffin(hes, blue&tits and
thrushes. 6ome of the s!arro's 'ere so tin$ that it seemed
likel$ that this 'as the first time that the$ had left the safet$
of their nests. 6e%eral 'ere too $oung to fl$ on to the bird&
table and stood around its base 'ith their beaks o!en,
'aiting to be fed.
From his desk b$ the 'indo' Jennings ke!t an e$e on
the (omings and goings of the flo(k all through "r 1arter's
2nglish lesson. 3nd 'hen "r #ilkins took o%er the (lass for
the ne7t lesson the master soon be(ame e7as!erated b$
Jennings' la(k of attention.
"6to! looking out of the 'indo', bo$8" "r #ilkins
ordered. T'o minutes later he re!eated the order, more
sternl$.
"Jennings8 #ake u!, bo$8 5f $ou (an't !a$ attention
'ithout staring into s!a(e $ou (an go and sit on the other
side of the room."
"0h, !lease, sir. 5 am !a$ing attention. 5'm 9uite all
.,
right sitting here, honestl$, sir."
The lesson (ontinued, and for some minutes Jennings
sat 'ith one e$e on "r #ilkins and the other e$e looking out
of the 'indo'. The strain on his e$e mus(les 'as (on&
siderable.
"oments later, disaster threatened. From the (orner of
his e$e Jennings sa' a mag!ie !er(hed on the bran(h of a
tree, @ust abo%e the bird&table.
"ag!ies 'ere !redators8 "ag!ies 'ould atta(k bab$
birds 'ithout a se(ond thought. These hel!less fledglings
'ere at the mer($ of the enem$ 'ho 'as, e%en no',
!re!aring to di%e do'n and (arr$ off an inno(ent %i(tim.
)e must do something; he must sa%e them at all (osts,
for the mag!ie 'as no' s!reading its 'ings, about to s'oo!.
)eedless of "r #ilkins' 'arning, Jennings stood u!,
flung 'ide the 'indo', (la!!ed his hands and shouted, ")e$
he$, he$8"
The effe(t 'as immediate. 3ll the birds fle' a'a$, .
in(luding the marauding mag!ie. 3t the same moment a gust
of 'ind stru(k the bird&table, 'hi(h (olla!sed into an untid$
hea! of 'ood'ork.
"r #ilkins 'as furious. "Jennings8" he shouted. "#hat
in the name of thunder d'$ou think $ou're doing*"
Jennings turned ba(k from the 'indo'. "6orr$, sir," he
a!ologised. "+ut 5 sa' a mag!ie."
"Saw a mag&ie! 5 don't (are if $ou sa' ten thousand
mag!ies. Dou'd no business to shout out of the 'indo'."
"No, sir, onl$ there 'ere these bab$ s!arro's in danger,
@ust standing there going chee&2chee& and 5 thoughtK"
">oing chee&2chee&6 5 don't (are if the$ 'ere trum!et&
ing like ele!hants. 5'm not ha%ing $ou disturbing m$ (lass."
"No, sir, onl$ the mag!ie 'ould ha%e killed one of
.-
them, if 5 hadn't s(ared them a'a$."
"That's no e7(use," "r #ilkins retorted. "Dou u!set m$
lesson 'ith some ridi(ulous nonsense about mag!ies going
chee&2chee&K"
"No, sir, it 'as the s!arro's going chee&2chee& 2 not
the mag!ie, and 5 thoughtK"
"Nuiet, bo$8" the master thundered. ">o and sit on the
other side of the room 'here $ou (an't see out of the
'indo'."
The lesson had been going 'ell until the interru!tion,
but no' Form Three's attention had gone and the (lass began
a dis(ussion in an undertone about 'hat had been ha!!ening
on the !la$ground.
"5t 'asn't Jennings' fault," Darbishire !rotested in a
%oi(eless 'his!er.
"Des it 'as," muttered Tem!le, an7ious to stir u! the
argument. "5f he hadn't !ut that food out, it 'ouldn't ha%e
ha!!ened."
"5t 'as the mag!ie's fault," Venables retorted from
behind the (o%er of his maths book. "Dou (an't reall$ blame
Jennings."
The subdued murmur gre' louder as more bo$s %oi(ed
their o!inions. Nobod$ 'as (on(entrating on the maths
!roblem that the master had e7!lained in su(h detail. The
murmur rose to a (hatter in all !arts of the room and "r
#ilkins thum!ed the master's desk in e7as!eration.
"6ilen(e8" he boomed at the to! of his !o'erful %oi(e.
"Silence!"
The noise died a'a$, and "r #ilkins stood glaring at
his inattenti%e (lass. The lesson that he had !re!ared 'ith
su(h (are 'as all but ruined.
#hen all 'as 9uiet "r #ilkins said, "5'%e ne%er in all
..
m$ life met su(h disgra(eful beha%iour. That being so"
&he !aused for em!hasis & "the 'hole (lass 'ill be in
detention this e%ening from the end of !re! until bedtime."
Form Three turned their heads in Jennings' dire(tion
and glo'ered at him. 5t 'as all his fault8
Jennings sighed and looked do'n at his desk&to!. 5t
'asn't so mu(h the detention that u!set him as the fa(t that
no' he 'ould ha%e to !ost!one his first (han(e to start
sear(hing for the buried time&(a!sule.
6till, he 'asn't going to 'orr$. 5t 'as earl$ da$s $et8
The to!i( of the marauding mag!ie (ro!!ed u! again at
the Form Three table during lun(h. Jennings 'as still being
held res!onsible for the im!ending detention and tried to
defend himself b$ blaming the bird of ill&omen for his
troubles.
"5t brought me bad lu(k," he de(lared. "5t's unlu(k$ to
see @ust one mag!ie b$ itself. The$ usuall$ go about in !airs.
The$'re su&&osed to."
"That's right," Darbishire (onfirmed, (oming to the aid
of his friend. "=eo!le sa$ that if $ou onl$ see one mag!ie
$ou ha%e to hold $our (ollar until $ou see an ambulan(e, or
$ou'll ha%e bad lu(k."
"/hich !eo!le sa$ that*" demanded +rom'i(h.
Darbishire shrugged. "5 don't kno'. /ots of !eo!le, 5
shouldn't 'onder. 5t's @ust something 5 heard."
"artin&Jones said s(ornfull$, "That's @ust a load of
su!erstitious (ods'allo!8 #h$ should $ou e7!e(t them to
fl$ about in !airs, @ust so that $ou (an be lu(k$* 3nd
an$'a$," he 'ent on, 'arming to his theme, "$ou might
ha%e to hold on to $our (ollar for months if there
'eren't man$ ambulan(es about 'here $ou li%ed."
.4
"ore su!erstitious folk&lore added to the (hatter a(ross
the table as other bo$s @oined in the argument about the
mag!ie's re!utation.
"Dou ha%e to s!it three times if $ou onl$ see one b$
itself," 3tkinson said. "5 tried it on(e, but it didn't seem to
'ork."
<umbelo' said, "Des, and ho' about m$ bird&table
(olla!sing like that8 5 bet it 'ouldn't ha%e ha!!ened if there
had been t'o of them together."
Jennings ke!t %er$ 9uiet for the rest of the meal. The
more his (lassmates 'ere 'illing to blame the mag!ie for
their misfortunes, the better it suited him.
.:
$ha,ter 6
$hange in the .eather
The first attem!t to find "r "a(Taggart's time&(a!sule
'as unsu((essful. Jennings and Darbishire had !lanned to go
do'n to the (o!!i(e after games on 6aturda$ afternoon.
"#e don't 'ant an$one else barging in," Jennings told
his friend as the$ (ame indoors after (ri(ket. "Just us t'o,
eh*"
"#ell, all right, then." Darbishire tugged at a tangled
knot in his shoe&la(es. "0nl$, $ou'%e s!ent the 'hole 'eek
telling e%er$bod$ it's all about bird&'at(hing, so 'hat does it
matter if some of them 'ant to (ome along*"
"3h, but bird&'at(hing's @ust our e7(use, don't forget.
5t'd mu(k things u! !ro!erl$ if an$bod$ sa' us s(rabbling
about in the bushes. Dou don't see man$ birds do'n badger&
holes, do $ou*"
"5 su!!ose not," Darbishire (on(eded. ""ind $ou, $ou
don't see man$ rare birds do'n at the (o!!i(e, an$'a$.
.?
#e're su!!osed to be looking for things like <ed&
+a(ked 6hrikes and >reat 1rested >rebes & not @ust 'eed$
s!arro's and stuff."
The$ made their 'a$ out through the side door, taking
(are to a%oid an$ of their (lassmates 'ho might be ho!ing to
@oin them. The 'a$ a(ross the !la$ground 'as (lear and the$
had rea(hed the (ri(ket s(oring&bo7 'hen a shout and
running footste!s behind them re%ealed Venab&les hurr$ing
to (at(h them u!.
"5 sa' $ou beetling off," he greeted them. ">oing bird&
'at(hing*"
"#ell & er & $es and no," Jennings re!lied. "#e're @ust
going to & sort of & ha%e a look round."
">oodo8 5'll (ome too."
"No, $ou (an't. #e don't 'ant an$one else."
"Dou (an't sto! me. 5'm a member of the (lub. 5 (an
(ome if 5 like." From his !o(ket Venables !rodu(ed a %er$
small teles(o!e. "5'%e brought this. Pseful for short&range
s!otting."
There 'as no %alid ans'er to this, so Venables @oined
them and the trio made their 'a$ do'n to the 'oodland.
Venables said, "0M. #hat do 'e do no'*" Jennings said,
"#ell & er & 'e (an sit do'n on this log and 'at(h out for
rare birds and things."
The$ sat do'n on the tree stum! and sta$ed silent for
almost t'o minutes 'hile Venables !olished his teles(o!e
and fo(used it on nearb$ tree&to!s. +ut if there 'ere an$ rare
birds about the$ failed to !ut in an a!!earan(e. 3ll the$ sa'
'as a bat(h of s!arro's, one thrush and a moorhen making
its 'a$ a(ross to the !ond.
The silen(e 'as broken b$ Darbishire, 'ho suddenl$
said, "6sh8 6sh8" 'hi(h seemed unne(essar$ as the$ 'ere
.A
alread$ sitting as 9uiet as mi(e.
"#h$ ssh*"
"5 almost sa' a 'ood!e(ker, @ust then."
"Almost sa'*" Venables 'as !uEEled. "Dou (an't almost
see things. 2ither $ou sa' a 'ood!e(ker or $ou didn't."
"5 mean 5 heard it. 5t 'ent &hut2&hut2&hut! 5'm sure it
'as a 'ood!e(ker unlessK" Darbishire !aused un(ertainl$.
"No, !erha!s it 'asn't. 5 think it ma$ ha%e been a motor&bike
going !ast in the lane."
Venables sighed and raised his e$es to the hea%ens.
"Don't $ou kno' the differen(e bet'een a 'ood!e(ker and a
motor&bike*"
"=erha!s it 'asn't a motor&bike, then. 5t (ould ha%e
been a (o' in the field o%er the hedge."
+$ this time Venables 'as fast losing !atien(e 'ith the
fello'&members of the (lub he had been so an7ious to @oin,
"Fine sort of so(iet$ this is," he said s(athingl$. "First,
there aren't an$ birds 'orth looking at, and no' $ou sa$ $ou
(an't tell the differen(e bet'een a (o' and a motor&bike."
"#ood!e(ker," (orre(ted Darbishire, 'ho liked to get
the details right.
+$ no', Jennings 'as gro'ing im!atient 'ith the 'a$
that things 'ere sha!ing. Pnless and until the$ (ould get rid
of Venables there 'as no (han(e of making a s$stemati(
sear(h on their o'n.
"#e'd better s!lit u!," he said, rising from the tree
stum!. )e !ointed to the left. "Dou go that 'a$, Venables,
and Darbi and 5 'ill go in different dire(tions, and 'e'll meet
u! later to re!ort 'hat 'e'%e seen."
Thus it 'as that Venables s!ent the ne7t half&hour
staring at an em!t$ thrush's nest and s'atting the gnats
4C
s'arming around his forehead. Jennings and Darbishire,
s(reened from their fello'&obser%er b$ bushes and brambles,
sear(hed the ground at their feet and !eered do'n rabbit&
holes and badger setts in other !arts of the (o!!i(e.
There 'as nothing to re!ort 'hen the master&on&dut$'s
'histle summoned them indoors at bed&time.
"Just one of those da$s 'hen there aren't man$ birds
about," Jennings said 'ith a shrug as the$ made their 'a$
ba(k a(ross the !la$ing&field. "Darbi and 5 ma$ ha%e another
shot in a fe' da$s, but $ou needn't (ome if $ou don't 'ant
to."
"0h, 5'll (ome," Venables assured him. "Dou (an't make
me a member of $our (lub and then get rid of me like that."
3 fe' da$s later Venables insisted on attending another
so&(alled bird&'at(hing %enture 'ith Jennings and Darbi&
shire. 3fter'ards, he had a 9uiet 'ord 'ith Tem!le in the
dormitor$ as the$ 'ere going to bed.
")e$, listen, there's something fish$ going on in this
so(iet$ that Jennings has started," he said.
"Fish$*" Tem!le raised his e$ebro's. "5 thought it 'as
birds the$ 'ere'keen on & not angling."
"No, 5 mean it's all %er$ sus!i(ious. 5 'ent do'n to the
(o!!i(e 'ith them this e%ening. 5 hid behind a bush and
'at(hed them through m$ teles(o!e. 3nd do $ou kno'
'hat*"
Tem!le (onfirmed that he didn't kno' 'hat.
"#ell, all this talk about bird&'at(hing is @ust a lot of
gobbled$gook. The$ don't kno' an$thing about it. Darbi
doesn't e%en kno' the differen(e bet'een a 'ood!e(ker and
a motor&bike."
41
"<eall$* #ell, 5 kno' he's a bit short&sighted. =erha!s
he hadn't (leaned his glasses."
"That's not the !oint." Venables looked round to make
sure that his sus!e(ts 'ere out of earshot. "The 'hole thing
is a !ut&u! @ob. 5nstead of looking for birds the$ 'ent round
!eering do'n rabbit&holes and s(uffling round the roots of
the bushes."
Tem!le fro'ned and said, ")'m8 5 see 'hat $ou mean &
distin(tl$ fish$. #e'd better kee! an e$e on them and see
'hat the$'re u! to."
There follo'ed a s!ell of 'et 'eather 'hi(h lasted & on
and off & for nearl$ a fortnight. 0n se%eral da$s (ri(ket 'as
abandoned o'ing to the sogg$ state of the !la$ing&field, and
the (o!!i(e 'as so 'et underfoot that the bo$s 'ere not
allo'ed to go do'n to the far end of the grounds.
The sear(h for the time&(a!sule had, therefore, to be
!ost!oned and Jennings and Darbishire turned their attention
to other matters. The most im!ortant of these 'as Form
Three's (ontribution to the Drama 2%ening to be held at the
end of the term.
Pnlike the annual s(hool !la$, 'hi(h 'as !rodu(ed b$
"r 1arter and attended b$ !arents and %isitors, the unoffi(ial
Drama 2%ening 'as organised b$ the bo$s themsel%es.
"5'm all in fa%our of letting them sho' 'hat the$ (an do
'ithout adult hel!," the headmaster 'ould sa$ 'hen making
the arrangements for the summer term. "5 agree that the
standard of a(ting ma$ la(k !olish, but that is neither here
nor there. 5t's the effort and initiati%e that the$ !ut into it that
matters."
The headmaster 'as (ertainl$ right about the la(k of
42
!olish. There 'ould be a fe' !romising !erforman(es,
and these 'ould be ba(ked u! b$ a (ast of bo$s 'ith limited
a(ting abilit$ 'ho had been !ersuaded or badgered into
taking !art to make u! the numbers re9uired.
Not that an$bod$ minded8 #ith no outsiders !resent the
bo$s 'ould be entertaining their o'n friends and (lassmates
and (ould afford to a(t their !arts as the$ felt in(lined.
Psing a 'ell&kno'n !oem or legend as the outline of
their !la$, a grou! of %olunteers from ea(h (lass 'ould a(t
out the stor$ in their o'n 'ords. The$ 'ould im!ro%ise the
dialogue as the$ rehearsed and alter the !lot to suit their o'n
!ur!oses.
The fi%e&strong drama grou! re!resenting Form Three
(onsisted of Venables, Tem!le, 3tkinson, Jennings and
Darbishire, and 'hile the rain !oured do'n on the !la$ing&
field the$ foregathered in the (ommon&room to !lan their
!rodu(tion.
The$ sat 'ith furro'ed bro's and blank minds for
some minutes. Then Tem!le said, ")o' 'ould it be if 'e
a(ted *he 3ied 3i&er o% 'amelin, using dinosaurs instead of
rats*"
"6ounds a bit feeble to me," Venables said.
"5 don't see 'h$ not," Tem!le 'ent on. "#e (ould sa$
that )amelin had been in%aded b$ a huge tribe of
t$rannosauruses instead of rats. #e (ould make the dino&
saurs out of (ardboard bo7es and somebod$ (ould be the
=ied =i!er 'ho'd (ome along andK"
"+ags 1 be the =i!er," Darbishire (himed in. "5 (ould
use m$ re(order. 5'%e got u! to 27er(ise Fi%e, so 5 (ould !la$
K"

4,
")uh8 5 ne%er heard su(h a bat&'itted idea8" Venables
'as s(athing in his (ondemnation. "5 (an @ust see a bun(h of
dinosaurs dan(ing along behind old Darbi !la$ing '>od 6a%e
the Nueen' or something 'eed$ on his tinn$ old re(order."
Darbishire 'as nettled b$ this harsh @udgement of his
!la$ing. )e had !i(tured himself leading the fas(inated
monsters off stage to the strains of ')a!!$ +irthda$ To Dou'.
"3nd an$'a$, it 'ouldn't 'ork," Venables 'ent on.
"Dinosaurs died out si7t$&fi%e million $ears ago. There
'eren't an$ &eo&le about in those da$s, let alone !i!ers."
3nd 3tkinson said, "3nd 5'll tell $ou another thing.
6ome of those dinosaurs 'ere a hundred feet long, so $ou'd
need an a'ful lot of (ardboard bo7es."
The theme of the =ied =i!er 'as dro!!ed and there 'as
silen(e for a 'hile as the$ sear(hed their minds for other
ideas.
Jennings' thoughts ho%ered around a book he had bor&
ro'ed from "artin&Jones for bed&time reading. 5t 'as an
im!robable stor$ !a(ked 'ith a(tion, and (on(erned a grou!
of bo$s 'ho (arried out amaEing feats of bra%er$ and daring.
The$ rode !onies 'ith the skill of "iddle&#est (o'bo$sB
the$ handled sailing dinghies in rough seas as (a!abl$ as a
life&boat (re'B their holida$s 'ere s!ent in e7!loring se(ret
!assages, finding stolen @e'els and unmasking enem$ s!ies
ahead of the !oli(e. 5ndeed, it a!!eared that the s(hemes of
international (rooks and gangsters had no (han(e of su((ess
on(e these intre!id $oungsters got on their tra(k.
5t 'as, of (ourse, 9uite unbelie%able & e%en Jennings
admitted that. +ut it ga%e him the germ of an idea.
4-
+reaking the silen(e, he said, "5 kno' 'hat8 #e 'on't
do a !oem. #e'll make u! our o'n !la$ about some blokes
'ho are being (hased b$ a gang of (rooks and the$ hide in a
se(ret !assage and find some stolen !lans." )e sto!!ed,
a'are of the dis!araging looks and groans of derision from
his fello'&a(tors.
Venables said, "6ounds a bit feeble. Not 'hat $ou'd (all
an original !lot."
"#ell, neither is the 3ied 3i&er original," Jennings
argued. "5t all de!ends on the 'a$ $ou do it." )e !aused for
thought. "#e (ould make u! a stor$ about a mad s(ientist
'ho's in%ented something, su(h as & er, 'ell, some in%ention,
and these (rooks steal the !lans and there's a fight and the
good gu$s 'in and & er & 'ell, that's about all, reall$."
5t didn't sound %er$ (on%in(ing and it 'asn't %er$ (lear,
but as none of them (ould think of an$thing else, the$ agreed
to gi%e the matter some thought.
During the ne7t fe' da$s the !lot 'as sket(hed out, in
outline though not in detail. Venables and Tem!le 'ere (ast
as the %illains, 3tkinson and Jennings as the heroes and
Darbishire as the mad s(ientist, distraught at the theft of his
se(ret !lans.
"#h$ does Darbi ha%e to be (raE$*" 3tkinson
demanded at their first rehearsal. ")e is, of (ourse, reall$ &
e%er$one kno's thatB but 'hat's it got to do 'ith the stor$*"
"5t makes it more e7(iting," Jennings e7!lained. ")e
goes about ho'ling 'ith mania(al laughter and 'ailing like
a banshee. 3lthough a(tuall$ he isn't reall$ mad at all & @ust
!retending to !ut the (rooks off the s(ent."
Darbishire 'as !leased 'ith his !art and determined
4.
to make the most of it. )e !ra(tised his 'ild, mania(al
laughter in out&of&s(hool hours for the rest of the 'eek.
The$ held a fe' more rehearsals after e%ening !re!. 3s
there 'as no 'ritten dialogue the (ast made u! their lines as
the$ 'ent along, 'hi(h meant that the !lot ke!t (hanging
dire(tion. There 'ere fre9uent long !auses 'hen nobod$
(ould think of an$thing to sa$, but the$ made u! for the la(k
of s!ee(h b$ im!ro%ising more %iolent a(tion.
0n Frida$, 'ith the 'eather still too 'et for (ri(ket, the
'hole s(hool 'as (oo!ed u! indoors during the games
!eriod. Venables and Tem!le !ra(tised their des!erate fight
'ith Jennings and 3tkinson; make&shift re%ol%ers barked,
imaginar$ ma(hine&guns s!luttered. The noise 'as
(onsiderable.
"r #ilkins, marking books in the staff&room, 'as e7as&
!erated b$ the (lamour outside in the (orridor. )e left his
marking to in%estigate but, b$ no', most of the a(tors had
left the s(ene and onl$ Darbishire remained. "r #ilkins
(ame a(ross him all b$ himself on the stair(ase, !ra(tising
his !ersonal sound&effe(ts.
"Darbishire8" he (alled shar!l$.
The 'ild, mania(al laughter stalled in mid&burst.
"6ir*"
"#hat are $ou making that horrible noise for*"
"5'm a mad s(ientist, sir," the a(tor e7!lained. "Not
reall$ mad & @ust !retending, to fool the baddies."
"r #ilkins, 'ho kne' nothing of the dramati( master&
!ie(e in rehearsal, 'as baffled. "+ut, $ou sill$ little bo$, $ou
(an't go round the building shouting $our head off like a
lunati(. Dou must be out of $our mind8"
"Des, sir, 5'm su&&osed to be out of m$ mind & that's
'hat e%er$bod$ thinks, but it (omes out all right in the end."
44
This made no sense to "r #ilkins. "#ell, 'hate%er
$ou're !la$ing at, go and do it 'here 5 (an't hear $ou. 5'%e
had enough of $our nonsense for one afternoon."
"Des, sir."
Darbishire made his 'a$ do'n the stairs, his mind still
d'elling on the (hara(ter he 'as !ortra$ing. <ea(hing the
bottom stair, he had an idea 'hi(h he thought might add a
little !olish to his !erforman(e. )e turned and sa' "r
#ilkins still standing at the stair&head. )e 'ould ask his
ad%i(e.
"6ir8 =lease, sir," he (alled.
"#hat is it now, Darbishire*"
"#ell, sir, 'ould it be all right if 5 gnashed m$ teeth
'hen 5 laugh* 0r 'ould that be going o%er the to!*"
"r #ilkins ga%e u!. For the hundredth time he asked
himself 'h$ gro'ing bo$s insisted on beha%ing in a 'a$
that 'as utterl$ 'ithout reason to a gro'n&u! of his 'a$ of
thinking. )e sighed in baffled 'onder. The things bo$s
said...8 The things bo$s did...8
No doubt the$'d gro' u! to be normal (itiEens in the
(ourse of time. +ut mean'hile ...8
6haking his head sadl$, he 'ent ba(k to the staff&room
to mark Form Three's maths books.
4:
$ha,ter /
1-an o+ $a7,aign
Then the 'eather took a turn for the better. The !la$ing&
field dried out, (ri(ket started u! again and the (o!!i(e 'as
no longer out of bounds.
1learl$, it 'as time to ha%e another look for the old tin
bo7.
"#e don't 'ant Venables (oming 'ith us. #e'%e got to
gi%e him the sli! or 'e shan't ha%e a (han(e of sear(hing
!ro!erl$," Jennings told Darbishire after lun(h on Tuesda$.
")o' 'ould it be if 5 'ent b$ m$self 'hile $ou ke!t him
talking, or !la$ing !ing&!ong or something until 5 got ba(k.
3t least 'e'd kno' 'here he 'as."
Darbishire shook his head. "#ouldn't 'ork. 5 'ouldn't
be able to think of enough things to talk about, and he'd beat
me at !ing&!ong in thirt$ se(onds flat and then he'd be raring
to go and @oin $ou."
+ut Fate 'as on their side in the form of a detention
meted out to 2nables b$ "r #ilkins during afternoon

4?
s(hoolB for this meant that he 'ould ha%e to sta$ in after
e%ening !re! and (o!$ out a badl$ 'ritten geogra!h$ essa$
'hi(h the master had refused to a((e!t.
"+ad lu(k8" Jennings (onsoled him at the end of the
lesson. )e did his best to sound s$m!atheti( 'hile
restraining the satisfa(tion he felt at this fortunate turn of
e%ents. "<otten 0ld #ilkie, kee!ing $ou in like that8 Dou
'on't be able to (ome to the (o!!i(e 'ith us after !re!."
"5'll (ome as soon as 5'%e finished it. 5t ma$ not take all
that long."
"0h, don't hurr$," Darbishire !leaded in alarm. "5f $ou
rush it, 0ld 6ir 'ill make $ou do it again."
6afe in the kno'ledge that their fello'&member 'as
(onfined to his (lassroom, Jennings and Darbishire hurried
do'n to the (o!!i(e after !re! to (arr$ on their interru!ted
sear(h.
+ut, again, the$ had no lu(k and after some minutes of
fruitless !oking about, Jennings said, "D'$ou think old "r
"a( & 'hat's&his&name* & 'as !ulling our legs* D'$ou think
he really buried that tin bo7, or 'as he @ust ha%ing us on*"
The$ thought about this; and de(ided that "r "a(Tag&
gart's stor$ 'as almost (ertainl$ true. For he had been
sear(hing the bushes before he kne' that he 'as being
'at(hed. )e 'ould hardl$ ha%e gone to su(h trouble unless
he had reall$ been looking for something. 5t 'ouldn't ha%e
made sense8
Finall$, Darbishire said, "5 re(kon 'e're 'asting our
time, s(rabbling around like this. #hat 'e need is a metal&
dete(tor & a thing like a >eiger&(ounter." )e !i(ked u! a
sti(k to demonstrate. "Dou 'alk u! and do'n like this, and if
it goes o%er an$ metal it goes $lee&2$lee&!"
4A
Jennings ga%e him a 'ithering look. "5 kno' all that,
$ou (rumbling ruin; every$ody kno's that. The !oint is 'e
ha%en't got a metal&dete(tor."
"5 kno'. 5 'as @ust 'ishing 'e (ould get one,
some'here."
")uh8 Fat (han(e8 Dou might as 'ell sa$ let's get a bull&
doEer or a me(hani(al digger. 5 (an @ust imagine 'hat the
)ead 'ould sa$ if he sa' a massi%e great earth&mo%ing
ma(hine trundling u! the dri%e andK" )e broke off as a
half&remembered thought stirred in his brain. ")e$, 'ait a
moment, though8 5 kno' 'ho's got one."
"#hat & a bull&doEer*"
"No, $ou (lod!oll. 3 metal&dete(tor."
"#ho*"
"+rom'i(h's dad. +romo 'as talking about it one da$
last term. )e said he and his dad used to go metal&dete(ting
in the holida$s."
The$ sta$ed silent for some moments as the$ (on&
sidered 'hether this lead 'as 'orth in%estigating. Then
Darbishire said, "3h, but 'ould he lend it* #ould he e%en
ask his dad* Dou kno' 'hat old +romo's like."
+rom'i(h 'as normall$ a friendl$ enough (lassmate,
but he 'as a bit of a lone 'olf, !referring to go his o'n 'a$
rather than @oin in the a(ti%ities of his (olleagues in Form
Three. )e 'as sometimes diffi(ult to get on 'ith 'hen the
mood took him.
3nd there 'ere further !roblems. 5f the$ !ersuaded him
to a!!roa(h his father Hand this 'as doubtfulIB and if his
father agreed to bring the dete(tor on his ne7t %isit Hand this
'as more doubtfulIB 'ould "r +rom'i(h allo' them to use
the ma(hine b$ themsel%es and sho' them ho' to 'ork it*
3ssuming all this, +rom'i(h 'ould
:C
demand to kno' the reason for the loan and the$ 'ould
ha%e to let him into their se(ret.
"#e needn't tell him e%er$thing," said Darbishire. "#e
(ould @ust sa$ 'e 'ant to borro' it for our (lub."
Jennings tut&tutted in re!roa(h. "Dou're (raE$8 )o'
(ould 'e sa$ 'e need a metal&dete(tor to go bird&'at(hing*
)onestl$, Darbi, $ou need $our head e7amined."
"6orr$, Jen, 5 didn't think."
Des!ite the odds against it, the$ de(ided to a!!roa(h
+rom'i(h and seek his (o&o!eration 'ithout going into
details about their intentions.
Jennings said, "#e 'on't ask him outright, all at on(e.
#e'll @ust be friendl$ to him for a fe' da$s to & sort of
&soften him u! a bit."
Darbishire giggled. "6often him u!8 >i%e him a sti(k of
rhubarb, like 0ld #ilkie8"
"Don't be funn$," Jennings said as the$ made their 'a$
ba(k to the !la$ground. "Dou kno' 'hat 5 mean."
The !lan to soften u! +rom'i(h soon got under 'a$. 3t
breakfast ne7t morning Jennings ga%e him one of his
sausages as a good'ill gift and Darbishire let him s(ra!e out
the remains of his nearl$&em!t$ !ot of home&made
marmalade. +efore "r )inde's art lesson Jennings made a
!oint of shar!ening +rom'i(h's !en(ils for him and at bed&
time Darbishire %er$ kindl$ retrie%ed the (a! of his
tooth!aste tube 'hi(h had fallen do'n a ga! bet'een the
floorboards. 6imilar a(ts of friendshi! o((urred during the
ne7t fe' da$s.
+rom'i(h 'as taken aba(k b$ all this de%otion to his
'elfare. To begin 'ith he 'as sus!i(ious and on his guard
:1
against some leg&!ull or ruse to get the better of him.
+ut as the fa%ours (ontinued his doubts faded, his mood
brightened and he began to re%ise his o!inion of these
friendl$ (lassmates. )e had al'a$s looked u!on Jennings
and Darbishire as a (ou!le of harmless (lod!olls and he sa'
no reason to alter his o!inion. +ut if the$ 'ere 'illing to be
%riendly (lod!olls, so mu(h the better. 5n return, his mood
be(ame (heerful and he began doing them fa%ours in return.
+$ the follo'ing #ednesda$ Jennings had de(ided that
the softening&u! !ro(ess 'as going so 'ell that the$ might
no' broa(h the 9uestion of borro'ing the mu(h&needed
e9ui!ment.
#ho should ask him* The$ tossed u! for it and Darbi&
shire Hha%ing lost the tossI 'as de!uted to do the asking.
During morning break Darbishire sought out +rom'i(h
on the !la$ground. )e offered him a ginger bis(uit and said,
"5 sa$, +romo, $our dad's got a metal&dete(tor, hasn't he*"
+rom'i(h nodded. "That's right. #h$*"
"5 @ust thought it might be rather good fun if he brought
it along 'ith him ne7t time he (omes to see $ou."
"Des, good idea. #e (ould tr$ it out on the (ri(ket&fieldB
might find some old (oins, if 'e're lu(k$. "$ dad found a
horse&shoe last summer."
"D'$ou think he'd let us use it b$ oursel%es*"
"5 should think so," +rom'i(h re!lied. "5t's 9uite eas$
'hen $ou get the hang of it. 5'll ask him 'hen 5 'rite home
on 6unda$."
Darbishire 'as delighted 'ith the ease 'ith 'hi(h his
re9uest had been granted. 3nd +rom'i(h hadn't e%en asked
'hat he 'anted the dete(tor for8
:2
5t'd be all !lain sailing no'8 No need to <QR naahhllng
about in the bushes an$ longer. Just 'ait for "i )iom 'i(h's
%isit and all 'ould be 'ell.
Darbishire hurried off to find Jennings and tell him the
good ne's. Neither of them (ould ha%e foreseen that the
brilliant !lan 'ould be in ruins before the end of the da$.
:,
$ha,ter 8
The Runner
The Junior )ouse 2nd S5 (ri(ket mat(h of Drake versus
<aleigh 'as held that afternoon. #hereas the 6enior )ouse
teams maintained a good standard of !la$, the same (ouldn't
al'a$s be said for the nine&, ten& and ele%en&$ear&olds 'ho
made u! the @unior sides.
6(oring 'as lo'. 5f one of the teams (ould s(ra!e u!
si7t$ runs bet'een them, this 'as (onsidered a fairl$ good
effort. 3!art from a fe' !romising !la$ers Hnotabl$ Venables
of <aleigh and Jennings of DrakeI fe' of the other batsmen
e%er rea(hed double figures. 2ight or nine runs or so 'ere as
man$ as a tail&end batsman (ould e7!e(t to s(ore. 5ndeed,
an$thing higher than a 'du(k' 'as something to be !roud of.
Darbishire and +rom'i(h 'ere both in Drake )ouse,
though the$ 'ere not often (alled u!on to !la$ for the @unior
team. Neither of them (ould be relied u!on to bat, bo'l,
(at(h or e%en see the ball (oming until it 'as too late.

:-
The differen(e bet'een these t'o tail&end !la$ers 'as
that 'hereas Darbishire disliked !la$ing (ri(ket and mae
no se(ret of the fa(t, +rom'i(h 'as an enthusiast.
5n his da$&dreams, +rom'i(h imagined himself
s(oring a (entur$ against the 3ustralians at /ords or
bo'ling out the #est 5ndians for a !altr$ totalB in his
imagination he 'as al'a$s '"an of the "at(h'. )is
!ersonal hero on 'hom he set his sights 'as the (a!tain of
the "iddlese7 1ount$ Team H+rom'i(h li%ed in
"iddlese7I. That morning he had read in the ne's!a!er
that his fa%ourite !la$er's usual fielding !osition 'as
ba(k'ard short leg. )e de(ided forth'ith to ado!t this
!osition as his o'n s!e(ialit$; if ba(k'ard short leg 'as
good enough for the (a!tain of "iddlese7 it must be the
right !la(e for Da%id Jonathan +rom'i(h.
"5 al'a$s field ba(k'ard short leg," he announ(ed to
the eight&$ear&olds +inns and +lot'ell, the $oungest bo$s
in the s(hool & and +inns and +lot'ell, taking him at his
'ord, 'ere suitabl$ im!ressed.
Venables H<aleighI and Jennings HDrakeI 'ere the
(a!tains of the Junior )ouse 2nd S5 teams. Darbishire,
'ho 'ould ha%e mu(h !referred to be s(orer, and
+rom'i(h 'ere in(luded in the side to make u! the
numbers as se%eral more reliable !la$ers 'ere 'off&games'
o'ing to sore throats and heada(hes.
Venables 'on the toss and de(ided that <aleigh 'ould
bat first. #hile he arranged the batting order, Jennings led
his team out to the !it(h and ga%e them their fielding
!ositions.
+rom'i(h ho%ered round his (a!tain sa$ing,
"Jennings, Jennings, (an 5 be ba(k'ard short leg* 5 al'a$s
:.
!la$ ba(k'ard short legB it's m$ fa%ourite !la(eB 5'm
9uite good at ba(k'ard short leg, honestl$8"
"0M," Jennings agreed, kno'ing that it didn't matter
mu(h 'here +rom'i(h fielded; he 'as !rett$ ho!eless
'here%er he 'as !ut.
"r 1arter (ame on to the field to get the mat(h started
before going off to su!er%ise other games on different !arts
of the field. )e a!!ointed um!ires from the batting side and
looked round to see that the fielders 'ere in !osition. )e
noti(ed +rom'i(h 'andering round in %ague (ir(les at the
bo'ling end.
"#here are $ou fielding, +rom'i(h*" he asked.
"+a(k'ard short leg, sir."
"<ight, then. >o and get into $our !la(e. #e're read$ to
start."
"Des, sir." +rom'i(h took a fe' ste!s in the 'rong
dire(tion, turned round and looked hel!lessl$ at "r 1arter.
"6ir, !lease, sir, (an $ou hel! me, !lease*"
"#hat is it, +rom'i(h*"
"#ell, sir, 'here is ba(k'ard short leg*"
Thanks to a good (a!tain's innings b$ Venables "$owled
Jennings, 7# the <aleigh s(ore had rea(hed si7t$&one runs
for eight 'i(kets 'hen the first misha! o((urred.
+rom'i(h had fielded in his usual st$le and missed
onl$ t'o (at(hes H'hereas Darbishire had missed threeI.
3tkinson 'as bo'ling to Thom!son, a ginger&haired third&
former, and had sent do'n a long&ho! on the leg side. The
batsman !la$ed a good stroke and sent the ball skimming
a'a$ to ba(k'ard short leg 'here it stru(k +rom'i(h a
!ainful blo' on the ankle.
The fielder $elled in !ain and (olla!sed on the ground
(lut(hing his in@ured limb. 0ther fielders hel!ed him u!, but
:4
he 'as unable to 'alk unaided and 'as assisted, ho!!ing,
ba(k to the bank b$ the s(oring&bo7 'here he sat rubbing his
ankle. +a(k'ard short leg 'asn't su(h a good !la(e as he'd
thought. <eall$ dangerous, an$'a$8
6hortl$ after'ards the <aleigh innings (ame to an end
for a total of si7t$&three runs.
"Terribl$ sorr$, +romo," Thom!son said to his in@ured
o!!onent. "3tki sent do'n su(h an eas$ one that 5 (ouldn't
hel! s'i!ing it. Didn't mean to hit $ou, though."
"That's 0M," +rom'i(h re!lied 'ith a slightl$ mart$red
smile. "5t doesn't hurt so mu(h no'." )e stood u! and
lim!ed a fe' !a(es. "0' 5 (an 'alk on it, but 5 (ouldn't
!ossibl$ run. Too !ainful."
"+ad lu(k8 That means $ou 'on't be able to bat, 5
su!!ose."
+rom'i(h thought about this. )e had been ho!ing to
s(ore some runs & sa$, about fi%e or si7 'ith lu(kB an$'a$, to
break his "du(k". 0n the rare o((asions 'hen he had been
!i(ked for the @unior team his highest s(ore had been three.
Toda$ 'as his big (han(e to sho' 'hat he (ould do.
"5 shall bat all right," he de(lared. "5'm not going to
miss m$ innings. 5'll get someone to run for me."
"5'll be $our runner," Darbishire offered, sealing the
bonds of friendshi! still further.
"0M, then, Darbi."
+inns and +lot'ell, 'ho had (ome to 'at(h the mat(h,
e7(hanged !uEEled looks. "#hat's a runner*" demanded
+inns; it 'as a term he had not (ome a(ross in the Form 0ne
beginners' (ri(ket set 'here he and +lot'ell !la$ed.
+rom'i(h said, "Tut8 Don't the$ tea(h $ou anything
about (ri(ket in Form 0ne*" )e 'ent on to e7!lain. "5t's like
this; 'hen 5'm fa(ing the bo'ling, m$ runner, i.e. Darbishire,
::
stands b$ the s9uare leg um!ire, and 'hene%er 5 make a
good shot and 'e (an s(ore, 5 stand still and Darbishire runs
do'n the !it(h instead of me."
+inns still looked !uEEled. "Des, but 'hat ha!!ens
'hen the other (ha!'s fa(ing the bo'ling*"
+rom'i(h sighed and s!oke in the !atient tones of one
ha%ing to e7!lain sim!le fa(ts to half&'itted @uniors. "5t's
ob%ious, isn't it* #hen the other (ha!'s fa(ing, 5 kee! out of
the 'a$ and m$ runner stands in m$ !la(e and runs for me."
The t'o $oungest bo$s nodded their understanding and
s9uatted do'n on the bank to 'at(h their elders !erform.
There 'as not mu(h to (hoose bet'een the t'o sides.
2a(h had three or four !romising !la$ers, a (ou!le of
"ho!efuls" and a rag&tag of unskillful tail&enders.
"artin&Jones and =ettigre', a da$ bo$, o!ened the
innings for Drake, but the !artnershi! broke u! in the se(ond
o%er 'hen =ettigre' 'as (aught at the 'i(ket. Jennings
'ent in first 'i(ket do'n and doggedl$ held his o'n against
some fairl$ stiff bo'ling from Tem!le and Venables. )e
gathered runs steadil$ 'ith moderate hel! from some of his
team and no hel! at all from others. Darbishire (ame and
'ent Hthe s(ore book read 5ar$ishire $owled *em&le )#, but
a stand bet'een <umbelo' and his (a!tain $ielded some
mu(h&needed runs and the s(ore slo'l$ mounted until it
rea(hed fift$&nine for eight 'i(kets 'ith Jennings still at the
(rease.
"#o'8 Fi%e more for %i(tor$," (ro'ed +lot'ell from
his !er(h on the bank. "5f old Jennings kee!s going, Drake's
bound to 'in."
"Don't be so sure," said +inns, a <aleigh su!!orter.
"Dou'%e onl$ got t'o 'i(kets to go."
:?
+rom'i(h, the number ele%en batsman, had bu(kled on
his !ads. )is ankle had sto!!ed hurting, though he 'alked
'ith a slight lim!. )e thought it sho'ed that he 'as !utting
a bra%e fa(e on his in@uries.
Darbishire, (arr$ing a bat, (ame u! and @oined him.
"Dou're in ne7t, +romo."
"Des, 5 kno'. 5'm all read$."
"Dou'll be 0M. Just stand there and hit out. Dou (an
lea%e all the running to me."
0n the first ball of the ne7t o%er Jennings 'as out
"$owled 8ena$les #, the s(ore ha%ing (re!t u! to si7t$&t'o.
The last batsman lim!ed to'ards the !it(h, his runner at his
side.
T'o runs to make and fi%e balls remaining of the o%er8
Vi(tor$ or defeat8 5t all de!ended on him, Da%id Jonathan
+rom'i(h8
)e must !la$ himself in (arefull$, taking no risks, he
told himself as the bo'ler started his run. #ith this in mind
he blo(ked the first four balls !atting them gentl$ ba(k to the
bo'ler.
6tanding beside the s9uare leg um!ire, Darbishire
rela7ed. #ith old +romo stone&'alling like that, it didn't
look as if he 'ould be (alled u!on to do mu(h running. 3
dragonfl$ 'as s'oo!ing and s'er%ing abo%e his head. 5t
'as a beautiful dragonfl$ ... Darbishire 'at(hed it... 5n his
imagination, @ust for a moment, he sa' himself as =rofessor
Darbishire the 'orld&famous e7!ert on /e!i&do!tera
sear(hing for rare butterflies in the rain forests of 6outh
3meri(a. Thus it 'as that his (on(entration 'andered a little
as +rom'i(h fa(ed the last ball of the o%er.
5t 'as an eas$ one & a gift, e%en to a tail&end batsman.
Thro'ing (aution to the 'inds, +rom'i(h stru(k out as hard
:A
as he (ould and the ball s'e!t a'a$ be$ond (o%er !oint.
The$ (ould run a single easil$ & !erha!s t'o, if the fielder
fumbled it.
"Des8 1ome on8" he shouted. 5nstin(ti%el$ he made as if
to hobble for'ard and 'as restrained b$ the !ain in his
ankle. )is batting !artner had alread$ started u! the !it(h
and 'as fast a!!roa(hing.
+rom'i(h (ast a 9ui(k glan(e&to his left. )orrified, he
sa' that Darbishire had not started to run and 'as staring
dreamil$ into s!a(e.
"Darbishire8" he $elled. "Darbishirer8"
3nd from the bank b$ the s(oring&bo7 the rest of the
Drake team e(hoed his frenEied shout. "Darbishire8 <un u!,
$ou idiot8 <un u!8"
The runner (ame to 'ith a @erk. "0h8 #o'8 Fossilised
fish&hooks8 6orr$8"
>al%anised into a(ti%it$, he began running do'n the
'i(ket as fast as he (ould go. +ut the 'asted se(onds s!elt
disaster. The fielder sto!!ed the ball smartl$ and returned it
to the bo'ler 'ho 'hi!!ed off the bails 'hile Darbishire
'as still t'o $ards a'a$ from the (rease.
Bromwich 2 run out ) !!! <aleigh had 'on the mat(h8
+rom'i(h, still at his (rease, almost 'e!t 'ith frus&
tration and rage. )e stood beating the air 'ith his bat and
'ould ha%e stam!ed his foot had it not been so !ainful.
Darbishire, bo'ed do'n 'ith guilt and remorse, (ame
to'ards him.
"Terribl$ sorr$, +romo. Terribl$ sorr$8"
"Sorry! Dou're sorr$8" +rom'i(h s!luttered 'ith fur$.
"Fat lot of good that is, sa$ing sorry! Dou ran me out on
!ur!ose. Dou meant to."
?C
"No, 5 didn't & honestl$. 5 ran as fast as 5 (ould, but 5
(ouldn't 9uite make it."
"1ouldn't 9uite6" +rom'i(h (ould hardl$ (ontain him&
self. "#h$ didn't $ou run 'hen 5 (alled*"
"5 'as @ust a bit late starting. There 'as this dragonfl$,
$ou see, and itK"
"Don't make e7(uses. 5t 'as sabotage, that's 'hat8
Deliberate sabotage."
"No, honestl$K"
"0h $es it 'as. Dou offered to be m$ runner s!e(iall$ to
get me run out."
"0f course 5 didn't. #hat ha!!ened 'asK"
+rom'i(h refused to listen. "Dou're a rotten, trea(her&
ous traitor, Darbishire8" he stormed. )is tone 'as under&
standabl$ bitter. "5'%e finished 'ith $ou, DarbishireB and 'ith
Jennings, too. 5'm not being friendl$ 'ith $ou t'o an$
more8"
)e strode ba(k to the s(oring&bo7B his lim! had
disa!!eared. "3nd 'hat's more," he shouted ba(k to
Darbishire, "$ou (an forget about m$ father bringing the
metal&dete(tor. 5'm @oll$ 'ell not going to ask him. Not for a
million !ounds, 5 'ouldn't8"

?1
$ha,ter (
%ide4and4Seek
Needless to sa$, Darbishire 'as not !o!ular 'ith his
teammates for the rest of the da$. Drake had lost the mat(h
and it 'as all his fault. 2%en Jennings 'as (riti(al of his
friend's !atheti( !erforman(e.
+rom'i(h, in !arti(ular, (ontinued to storm and rage. "5
'as mad to let Darbishire be m$ runner," he s9ua'ked to a
grou! of @uniors in the (hanging&room after the game. ")e
doesn't kno' anything about (ri(ket. )e doesn't kno' one
end of a bat from the other; he doesn't kno' the differen(e
bet'een a googl$ and a $orker."
"3nd do you kno' the differen(e*" 3tkinson asked.
+rom'i(h looked dis(on(erted. )e hadn't e7!e(ted to
be tested. "#ell & er & a googl$ is & er &. #ell, 5 do kno'
reall$. 0nl$ 5 (an't 9uite remember, @ust for the moment.
3n$'a$, Darbishire doesn't kno' either."
?2
"Des 5 do," (ame from behind a (lothes&ra(k 'here
Darbishire had been tr$ing to (on(eal himself from the rest
of his team. "3 googl$ is an 'off&break' 'hen the bo'ler
makes $ou think he's bo'ling a 'leg&break', and a $orker is
'hen the ball !it(hes right underneath $our bat."
The team e7(hanged sur!rised glan(es. "a$be Darbi&
shire 'as ho!eless at (ri(ket, but in theor$, at an$ rate, he
kne' the ans'ers.
3s the da$s !assed, the arguments about the )ouse
mat(h faded as other matters arose to (laim the bo$s'
attention.
=re!arations for the Drama 2%ening 'ent ahead 'ith
%ar$ing degrees of su((ess, but Form Three's (ontribution
gre' more (haoti( 'ith ea(h rehearsal.
#ithout a 'ritten s(ri!t, the !lot ke!t (hanging as none
of the (ast (ould !ro!erl$ remember 'hat the$ had said and
done the time before. The %illains be(ame "e7i(an bandits
at one rehearsal and 5talian bank robbers at the ne7t. The role
of the mad s(ientist 'as (hanged to that of a m$sterious
alien from 0uter 6!a(e, (hiefl$ be(ause the other a(tors
(ouldn't !ut u! 'ith Darbishire's 'ild mania(al laughter and
teeth&gnashing at (lose range.
The !ro!erties, also, (aused trouble. Tem!le !rodu(ed a
false beard 'hi(h he had bought at a @oke sho!. The elasti(
band 'hi(h held it in !la(e 'as too tight 'hen stret(hed
o%er his s(al!, and 'hene%er he o!ened his mouth 'ide the
beard shot u! from his (hin to his forehead 'here it @utted
out like a !air of fantasti( e$ebro's.
"#e (an't go on like this," Jennings (om!lained after a
fe' da$s of disastrous rehearsals. "5 %ote 'e s(ra! this !la$
and do something else."
"6u(h as what?" Venables demanded.
?,
Jennings shrugged. "5 don't kno'. /ea%e it to me. 5'll
think of something."
+$ no', Jennings and Darbishire 'ere beginning to
des!air of e%er finding "r "a(Taggart's tin time&(a!sule.
"#e'll ha%e one more bash this e%ening," he told Dar&
bishire 'hen onl$ a fortnight remained until the end of term.
"5f 'e don't find it this time, 'e'll (all the 'hole thing off."
"0M," his friend agreed. "5 ha!!en to kno' that Vena&
bles has signed u! for the @unior tennis (ham!ionshi! this
e%ening, so that'll kee! him out of the 'a$."
The (oast 'as (lear 'hen the t'o bo$s set off for their
last e7!loration of the (o!!i(e. The onl$ @uniors the$ sa'
'ere +inns and +lot'ell sitting on the bank b$ the !a%ilion,
'here +lot'ell 'as tea(hing +inns a tri(k he had @ust
learned.
"5f Venables (omes this 'a$, don't tell him $ou'%e seen
us."
"<ighto," said +lot'ell. "D'$ou 'ant to hear about our
ne' se(ret tri(k*"
"Not reall$," Jennings said. "5'm bus$."
"#ell, 5'll sho' $ou an$'a$. 5t 'on't take a minute. 5
re(kon it'll be(ome the latest (raEe."
+lot'ell !i(ked a 'ide leaf of (oarse grass from the
bank. )olding it u!right bet'een his thumbs he !ut it to his
li!s and ble'. 5t emitted a sound like a badl$ blo'n bugle.
")o' about that, then* +et $ou (an't do it."
"Ver$ (le%er8 +rilliant8" Jennings said in the tones of an
adult humouring a small (hildB and the$ hurried on and
rea(hed the (o!!i(e 'ithout further dela$.
"ean'hile, Venables had rounded u! Tem!le and
3tkinson and 'as e7!laining a !lan he had in mind.
?-
"5f 'e go do'n to the (o!!i(e no' 'e'll (at(h them at
it," he e7!lained. "The$ think 5'm !la$ing tennis, but 5 said
that @ust to fool them. 5'%e (rossed m$ name off the list."
3tkinson said, "#hat are 'e su!!osed to do 'hen 'e
get there*"
"#e'll (ree! u! 9uietl$ so the$ don't hear us (oming.
#e'll 'at(h and see 'hat the$'re doing; and then 'e'll
!oun(e. The$'ll ha%e to admit 'hat the$'re u! to if 'e (at(h
them red&handed, 'on't the$*"
Tem!le said, "0M, let's go. #hat are 'e 'aiting for*"
The$ set off a(ross the (ri(ket&field in silen(e so as not
to betra$ their a!!roa(h. The onl$ sound 'as the faint
!lo!!ing of their trainers on the turf and & !assing the
s(oring&bo7 & a noise like the first e7!losi%e hiss of a fiEE$&
drinks (ontainer 'here +inns 'as still tr$ing to master the
art of blo'ing through his thumbs on a blade of (ou(h grass.
The$ 'ere less than a hundred $ards a'a$ 'hen
Jennings s!otted them.
")e$, Darbi8 Venables and (o.8 )eading this 'a$," he
(roaked in a %oi(eless 'his!er. ")ide some'here, 9ui(k8"
6o sa$ing, he fled to the far end of the (o!!i(e and looked
round for suitable shelter.
Near at hand 'as the entran(e to a disused badger sett
'hi(h slo!ed do'n for a fe' feet and (ame to a sto! on 'hat
looked like a !latform of hard&!a(ked earth. 5t 'as a !la(e
'here, in da$s gone b$, a badger emerging from its lair
might ha%e !aused to sniff the night air before making its
'a$ into the o!en.
Jennings (ould see no further than the !latform, for
there the shaft bran(hed out side'a$s into a tunnel running
dee!er into the ground.
?.
Just the @ob, he thought. 5t 'as onl$ about four feet dee!
so it 'ouldn't (on(eal him (om!letel$, but at least it 'ould
be better than sta$ing out in the o!en. The hole at the to!
'as 'ide enough for him to s9ueeEe through, so he slithered
gentl$ do'n until his feet found a foothold on the !latform
of hard soil. The to! of his head 'as a fe' in(hes abo%e
ground le%el, but if he (rou(hed a little he re(koned that he
'ouldn't be seen unless his !ursuers (ame reall$ (lose; and,
in an$ (ase, there 'as a bush nearb$ 'hi(h !artl$ s(reened
the entran(e to the sett. )e 'ould sta$ there, (rou(hing, until
Venables and his allies had gi%en u! the sear(h and gone
ba(k indoors. Pnless, of (ourse, the$ found Darbishire, in
'hi(h (ase the game 'ould be u!.
+ut Darbishire had found himself a hiding&!la(e and
'as l$ing on his stoma(h in a thi(ket of long grass and s(rub
at the other end of the (o!!i(e. 3n inse(t Ha beetle, !erha!s*I
'as (ra'ling along on the ba(k of his ne(k, but 'ith his
!ursuers so (lose at hand he dared not risk mo%ing to fli(k it
a'a$.
The three sear(hers a!!roa(hed 'ith stealth$ tread and
sto!!ed at the edge of the (o!!i(e to !lan their ne7t mo%e.
"#hat do 'e do no'*" 3tkinson 9ueried in a 'his!er.
"#e'll s!lit u!," Venables de(ided. "#e'll all go to
different !la(es and sta$ mouse&9uiet till 'e see them. Then
'e'll @um! out and (at(h them red&handed."
Tem!le looked about him at the tangle of brambles and
bran(hes and said, "No sign of them around these !arts."
"The$'re !robabl$ o%er the other side b$ the !ond, or
some'here. The$'ll sho' u! & bound to. The$ 'on't kno'
'e're l$ing in 'ait for them."
5n silen(e and mo%ing 'ith e7treme (aution, Venables,
Tem!le and 3tkinson (hose different %antage !oints
?4
'here the$ (ould kee! 'at(h on the stri! of grass
'here, sooner or later, their 9uarr$ 'ould be sure to emerge.
The$ (rou(hed do'n, e7!e(tant and eager.
Venables, in !arti(ular, 'as an7ious to sol%e the
m$ster$ of the furti%e %isits to the (o!!i(e. )e had been
sus!i(ious e%er sin(e he had found Darbishire's diar$ 'ith its
!uEEling referen(e to this so&(alled se(ret (lub. +ird&
'at(hing & huh! #hate%er the$ 'ere u! to, it (ertainl$ 'asn't
bird&'at(hing. 6oon he 'ould kno' the ans'er. )e knelt
do'n behind a tangle of bla(kberr$ bushes, read$ to s!ring
into a(tion.
The (o!!i(e 'as silent. Fi%e bo$s (rou(hed in fi%e
different !la(es, 'aiting for something to ha!!en. 5t 'as
!artl$ an ad%enture and !artl$ a game & a game of all hide
and no seek.
Time !assed ... Nothing ha!!ened ... The situation 'as
be(oming tedious.
Then, Darbishire's beetle, ha%ing ins!e(ted its %i(tim's
ne(k, de(ided to e7!lore a little further. 5t started to (ra'l
do'n the inside of his (ollar. 3nd Darbishire, unable to !ut
u! 'ith an$ more ti(kling, fli(ked it a'a$ 'ith a 9ui(k @erk
of his hand.
Tem!le, hiding some $ards a'a$, sa' a mo%ement be&
hind a tusso(k of grass and a hand e7!osed to %ie' for the
s!a(e of t'o se(onds. )e lea!t to his feet shouting, "There's
one of them8 0%er there b$ that bush."
Venables and 3tkinson left their hiding !la(es and
rushed to @oin the hunt. "oments later, Darbishire's (o%er
'as brushed aside and he 'as hauled to his feet b$ his
(a!tors.
Venables said, "1ome on, Darbi8 0ut 'ith it8 #hat's the
game*"
?:
The (a!ti%e, looking flustered, said, ">ame* 0h, 5 see.
Des, 'e 'ere all !la$ing hide&and&seek, 'eren't 'e*"
"No, 'e @oll$ 'ell 'eren't. #e'%e (aught $ou in the a(t
of & of & 'ell, 'hate%er it is $ou're u! to. 3nd 'here's
Jennings*"
Darbishire shrugged. "5 don't kno'. )e's about
some'here."
Jennings, (rou(hing in his badger's sett, heard the (om&
motion. 6o the$'d (aught Darbishire8 5n that (ase he might as
'ell gi%e himself u! and let them into the se(ret.
)e tried to 'riggle his 'a$ u! the slo!e but his efforts
merel$ dislodged !at(hes of loose earth 'hi(h (as(aded
do'n on to his shoulders. )e tried again but (ould get no
foot&hold and ke!t sli!!ing ba(k to 'here he started. 5t 'as
then he realised that he (ouldn't get out unaided.
")e$8" he shouted. ")el!8 5t's me & Jennings. 5'm o%er
here."
>uided b$ the shouts, the other bo$s s(am!ered a(ross
the 'aste ground until the$ sa' the to! of Jennings' head
sti(king u! abo%e the ground.
"#hat's going on* #hat are $ou doing do'n there*"
Tem!le demanded.
"Tr$ing to get out. 5 get a sho'er of earth 'hen 5 tr$ to
(limb u!. Dou'll ha%e to hel! me."
The$ knelt do'n around the entran(e and grabbed hold
of the (a!ti%e's outstret(hed arms. +ut e%en as the$ began to
lift him he suddenl$ shouted, ")e$, 'hoa8 6to!8"
The$ let go of his arms. "#hat's u!* 3re 'e hurting
$ou*"
"#ait a se(. 5 think 5'%e found something." Jennings
s(uffed the earth beneath him 'ith the toe of his shoe.
??
There 'as something under his foot & a hard, smooth
surfa(e. )e s(ra!ed a'a$ more of the soil and tra(ed the
outline of the ob@e(t 'ith his foot. )e ga%e a s9ua'k of
e7(itement. )e 'as standing on the to! of a metal bo7. )e
(rou(hed lo'er and felt 'ith his hand bet'een his feet. +ut
the bo7 'as embedded in soil and there 'as no 'a$ of
raising it in his !resent (ram!ed !osition.
)e glan(ed u! at the !uEEled fa(es !eering do'n at
him.
"0M, !ull me u!," he (alled, rea(hing u! again 'ith
both arms. ">et me out of here and 5'll tell $ou all about it."
Jennings emerged from his hole in the ground !lastered
from head to toe in the sand$ sub&soil of the sett. For some
moments he sat regaining his breath 'hile his res(uers stood
round him !l$ing him 'ith 9uestions.
)e didn't ans'er the 9uestions. 5nstead, he told them
about Tim "a(Taggart and his time&(a!sule, 'ith Darbishire
(hi!!ing in from time to time to (onfirm the details. "3nd
5'm !rett$ sure 'e kno' 'here the bo7 is no'," he finished
u!. "3ll 'e'%e got to do is to dig it out."
There 'as a short silen(e. Then Venables said, "6o
mu(h for $e baffling m$ster$8 3ll that flannel about bird&
'at(hing and tr$ing to gi%e me the sli!. 5 said 5'd dis(o%er
$our se(ret. 5 told $ou8"
3nd 3tkinson said, "Des, but it's reall$ e7(iting. #hen
'e tell e%er$one about the famous treasure (hestK"
"No, no, no," Jennings broke in urgentl$. "#e mustn't
tell an$one & not $et. 5t's got to be a se(ret until the end of
term. *hat+s the time to s!ring the great sur!rise."
The$ 'ere all s'orn to se(re($. "0M, then," Tem!le
said. "Just us fi%e, eh* Nobod$ else allo'ed to kno'."
?A
"There's one other !erson 'ho kno's alread$ & "r
1arter," Jennings told them. ")e & sort of & found out 'e
'ere looking for it. #e'll ha%e to tell him 'e'%e found it."
"$ou'%e found it," Tem!le said, doubtfull$. "5t could be
@ust a bit of rust$ old iron or something. +it of a dam! s9uib
if that's all it is, and 'e shan't kno' for (ertain till it's been
dug u!."
"3nd ho' are 'e going to do that*" 3tkinson looked
do'n at the sett. "This hole's too dee! and too narro' @ust to
!ull it straight out."
3tkinson had (ertainl$ raised a !oint. 5n the narro'
shaft 'here Jennings had been standing, the ob@e(t & 'hat&
e%er it 'as & had been underneath his feet. There 'as no
s!a(e to bend do'n or mo%e about. No 'a$, 'ithout digging
side'a$s, to get underneath it to raise it u!.
The$ 'ere still dis(ussing the !roblem 'hen the dut$&
master's 'histle sounded, summoning the bo$s indoors.
The$ made their 'a$ ba(k in a mood of su!!ressed
e7(itement. 0n the 'a$ the$ o%ertook +inns and +lot'ell
still blo'ing through blades of grass held bet'een their
thumbs.
")e$, d'$ou 'ant to hear our musi(al grass&blo'ing*"
+inns (alled out as the grou! trotted !ast. "5t's reall$ great.
6ounds like a rust$ trombone 'ith a sore throat."
"5t's not eas$, either," +lot'ell added. "Dou need a
s!e(ial se(ret kna(k. /ike to ha%e a go*"
"No, thanks," Jennings ans'ered. "#e'%e got our o'n
se(ret." 3nd to Darbishire, trotting alongside, he added,
"3nd our se(ret is a @oll$ sight better than making blo'$
noises 'ith 'eed$ bits of grass."
"r 1arter 'as 'aiting at the side door, (hi%%$ing the
late&
AC
(omers in. )is e$ebro's rose at the sight of Jennings
streaked 'ith dirt from to! to toe.
"#hat on earth ha%e $ou been doing, bo$* Dou look as
though $ou'%e been ferreting do'n a rabbit&hole."
Jennings grinned. "That's @ust about right, sir. 27(e!t
that it 'asn't a rabbit's; more like an old badger's."
The fi%e bo$s gathered round the dut$&master as Jen&
nings told him about the re(ent de%elo!ments. )e s!oke in a
hushed %oi(e to a%oid being o%erheard b$ the tail&end of
stragglers making their 'a$ indoors.
"+ut 'e (an't get it out 'ithout a s!ade or something,"
the bo$ 'ent on. "5t's too far do'n to rea(h from the to! and
'hen $ou're in the hole $ou (an't get it u! be(ause $ou're
standing on it."
"r 1arter 'as keenl$ interested. "#ell done," he said.
"#e'll ha%e a look at it tomorro' and see 'hat's to be done."
"Tomorro'8" Jennings looked disa!!ointed. "1an't 'e
go no'*"
"No, of (ourse $ou (an't. The dormitor$ bell's gone, and
seeing the state $ou're in $ou'll ha%e to ha%e a sho'er before
$ou go to bed."
The bo$s bottled u! their e7(itement and made their
'a$ indoors. 5n the door'a$ Jennings turned and said, "+ut,
sir, do $ou think it 'ill be safe lea%ing it there all night*"
"6afe*" "r 1arter laughed, "$ou'%e found 'hat $ou
ho&e $ou'%e found, it's been safe enough for the last fift$
$ears. 5 don't think it'll (ome to mu(h harm if it sta$s there
one night longer."
A1
$ha,ter '9
The %o-e in the Ground
"r 1arter 'as a man of his 'ord. +efore breakfast ne7t
morning he took Jennings and Darbishire to the (o!!i(e to
ins!e(t the disused badger sett. )e (arried a long&handled
rake 'ith 'hi(h to s(ra!e the la$er of earth on to! of the
metal ob@e(t and feel round the edges to find out its siEe and
sha!e.
"Dou're !robabl$ right about $our dis(o%er$," he told
the bo$s. "5t's going to need a bit of digging, though. No
time to get it out before breakfast."
Jennings and Darbishire (ould hardl$ (ontain their
e7(itement during the meal & an e7(itement shared 'ith their
fello'&treasure&seekers. +ut the$ had to remain !atient, for
there 'as 3ssembl$ and morning s(hool to be endured
before the$ (ould ho!e for ne's of an$ de%elo!ments.
"r 1arter had a free !eriod that morning. )a%ing
sur%e$ed the ground before breakfast,
A2
he returned to the site 'ith a s!ade. #ith him (ame
"r <obinson, the (aretaker, armed 'ith a !i(ka7e, s!ade,
garden fork and bu(ket. "r 1arter outlined the se(ret
nature of their !ro@e(t, but "r <obinson 'as no se(urit$
risk. )e grinned and said, "5 'on't tell an$one. Tut8 The
things these bo$s get u! to8 6eems the$ 'ere @ust as bad
fift$ $ears ago as the$ are no'."
The first thing to do 'as to 'iden the hole. #ith !i(k&
a7e and fork the t'o men dug do'n the side of the sett,
baling out the earth into the bu(ket and !iling it u! at
ground le%el.
5t 'as at about this time that little "iss Thor!e of
0aktree 1ottage set out 'ith her dog, Jason, for his
morning 'alk. )er route led them along the lane skirting
the far end of the s(hool grounds. 0n rea(hing the gate she
let Jason off the lead for a s(am!er in the (o!!i(e, for she
'as a friendl$ neighbour 'ell&kno'n to the staff, and the
headmaster had long sin(e agreed to let Jason stret(h his
legs in the @ungl$ undergro'th 'here he (ould do no harm.
Jason's usual !rogramme 'as to run amok in the (o!&
!i(e for ten minutes or so, sniffing do'n rabbit&holes,
s(uffling at mole hills, (hi%%$ing moorhens, barking at
'ood !igeons and rolling in the grass 'hile "iss Thor!e
'aited for him at the gate into the lane.
Toda$, ho'e%er. Jason failed to return after his
(ustomar$ ten minutes of e7!loration. "iss Thor!e (alled
se%eral times, 'aited and (alled againB but still there 'as
no sign of the dog.
Then an e7(ited $el!ing on one side of the (o!!i(e
(aught her ear; Jason 'as on the tra(k of something & a
A,
rabbit, !erha!s. "iss Thor!e, a keen guardian of 'ild&
life, had no fears for the rabbit's safet$. Jason 'as too slo'
and too (lums$ to do an$thing more than !ut a rabbit to
flight; he had ne%er been kno'n to (at(h an$thing mo%ing
faster than his tooth&!un(tured rubber ball.
"iss Thor!e 'as tired of 'aiting. 6he let herself in
through the gate and headed to'ards the e7(ited $el!ing.
6he soon found Jason barking at a (lod of earth; there 'as
no sign of an$ (reature he might ha%e been (hasing.
")eel, Jason, heel8" she ordered and !ut him ba(k on
his lead.
<etra(ing her !ath to'ards the bottom gate, she heard
%oi(es a'a$ to her right. 3 fe' !a(es further on she sa' t'o
figures armed 'ith s!ade and !i(ka7e at 'ork on a badger
sett.
"iss Thor!e 'as horrified. <egardless of her o'n
safet$ Hfor Jason 'ouldn't ha%e been mu(h hel! if %iolen(e
'as threatenedI, she strode for'ard, her e$es ablaEe 'ith
indignation.
"#hat are $ou doing*" she stormed. "6to! it8 6to! it at
on(e8"
The men had been 'orking 'ith their ba(ks to'ards
her. The$ turned round.
">ood morning, "iss Thor!e," said "r 1arter.
"0h8 >ood gra(ious8 "r 1arter8 #hat on earthK8 5
didn't kno' it 'as $ou." "iss Thor!e 'as flustered and
(onsiderabl$ non!lussed. "+ut 'hate%er are $ou doing*
6urel$ $ou kno' it's against the la' to dig out badgers*"
"Des, of (ourse," "r 1arter agreed. )e 'as, as it ha!&
!ened, keenl$ interested in badgers and had sometimes s!ent
a 'hole night in other !arts of the (ountr$ kee!ing 'at(h on
the (omings and goings of a badger (ommunit$.
A-
+ut not at /inbur$, for there 'ere no badgers to 'at(h.
"5t's a disused sett," he e7!lained. "There ha%en't been
an$ badgers in the s(hool grounds for $ears."
6he (ontinued to look !uEEled. "+ut reall$, "r 1arter, 5
don't understand. 5f there are no badgers 'hat are $ou
digging for*"
"3 treasure (hest," he said 'ith a smile. "3t least, that's
'hat the bo$s are ho!ing to find."
"Treasure8" she e(hoed, agog 'ith baffled 'onder.
"#ell, nothing rare, of (ourse. No <oman (oins or
an$thing like that. Just a fe' mementoes of s(hoolda$s
!ast."
"5 see," said "iss Thor!e, though she didn't see at all.
"r 1arter said, "5t's a se(ret at the moment; 5'll tell $ou
more about it 'hen the bo$s ha%e had their innings."
"iss Thor!e shrugged and said, "5 must be !atient,
then. Thank $ou for telling me." 6he turned to go. but Jason
had seen the hole in the ground and 'as eager to take !art in
the digging. )e strained for'ard, nearl$ !ulling "iss Thor!e
off her feet, until 'ith an e7tra&strong tug she @erked his
front legs off the ground so that he stood on his hind legs,
beating the air 'ith his fore!a's as though 'a%ing a
des!erate fare'ell. )is ear&fla!s stu(k out side'a$s like tin$
'ings.
"1ome along, Jason8 )eel, bo$, heel8" she (ommanded.
Jason 'as disa!!ointed. 5t had looked an e7(iting soft
of hole. #ith droo!ing tail he follo'ed his mistress as the$
resumed their interru!ted 'alk.
5n about half an hour of hard digging "essrs 1arter and
<obinson had 'idened the hole to a de!th of nearl$ four
feet. Then "r 1arter mo!!ed his bro' and said, "5'll ha%e
A.
to go no'. 5'm tea(hing after break. )o' bus$ are $ou
this morning*"
"0h, 5 (an sta$ a 'hile longer," the (aretaker re!lied,
resting on his s!ade. ""$ other @obs (an 'ait till 5'%e dug
do'n a bit further."
"<ight8 +ut lea%e the bo7 'here it is; the bo$s 'ill do
the last la!. #e don't 'ant to s!oil their moment of trium!h."
3nd so it 'as that instead of games that afternoon
Jennings and his grou! 'ent do'n to the sett 'ith "r 1arter.
#hile the rest of the s(hool 'ere getting read$ for (ri(ket
the$ sta$ed out of the 'a$ in the librar$; and 'hen the (oast
'as (lear the$ sli!!ed into the (hanging&room and !ut on
their s'imming trunks. The sight of the earth&streaked
Jennings the !re%ious e%ening had !rom!ted "r 1arter to
take no (han(es about ruining their da$ (lothes.
The bo$s 'ere on their 'a$ out 'hen the$ met "r
#ilkins (oming do'n the stairs. )e looked at them in
sho(ked sur!rise.
"#hat in the name of thunder are $ou doing in $our
s'imming trunks*" he demanded. "Dou're su!!osed to be
outside on the games field."
"Des, 'e kno', sir, butK" &
"Dou kno' !erfe(tl$ 'ell that $ou don't go to the !ool
until after (ri(ket."
"#ell, $es, 'e kno', sir, butK" Jennings faltered. 5t
'as too soon to let "r #ilkins into their se(ret. )e 'ould
kno' all about it 'hen the time (ame8 "#e @ust thought that
if 'e got read$ in good time 'e 'ouldn't be late for
s'imming."
"r #ilkins stared at the 9uintet 'ith gro'ing
A4
be'ilderment. "Dou must be off $our heads, the lot of
$ou," he boomed. "There's a (ou!le of hours before $ou go
s'imming. >o ba(k and (hange for (ri(ket at on(e."
"0h, but, sir, "r 1arter told us to (hange no'."
""r ,arter told $ou* <idi(ulous8 "r 1arter 'ould
ne%er ha%e told $ou to do that."
"Des, 5 did, #ilkins," said a %oi(e behind him, and,
turning, he sa' his (olleague a!!roa(hing along the (orridor.
"5t's all right, #ilkins. "$ orders. #e're going on a little
e7!edition."
"27!edition* 5n the s'imming !ool*"
"No, no. +elo' ground le%el, so the$'ll !robabl$ get a
bit dirt$. 5'll tell $ou about it later."
6o sa$ing, "r 1arter led his little flo(k out through the
side door, lea%ing his (olleague e%en more !er!le7ed than
before. #hat on earth 'as 1arter u! to* he 'ondered. 5t 'as
most unusual for bo$s to be allo'ed to miss games.
"r #ilkins ga%e it u! and strode off to the Form 0ne
(ri(ket !it(h to tea(h +inns and +lot'ell the !ro!er 'a$ to
hold a bat.
"essrs 1arter and <obinson had made a good @ob of the
digging. #hen the bo$s arri%ed 'ith "r 1arter the$ found
the slo!ing shaft 'ide enough for a slim figure to slide in
easil$ 'ith room enough to stand beside the target of their
sear(h.
+ut the target 'as not in %ie'. 3(ting on "r 1arter's
suggestion, the (aretaker had left the last la$er of soil for the
bo$s to (lear a'a$ b$ themsel%es.
"#o'8 Fossilised fish&hooks8 5 bet it's do'n there,"
Jennings (ro'ed e7(itedl$. "1an 5 go do'n and see*"
"#ell, of (ourse," "r 1arter said. "Dou don't imagine
A:
that "r <obinson and 5 s!ent the morning digging a
hole for our o'n !leasure, do $ou* >o and ha%e a look."
Jennings slid into the shaft. #ith his hands he s(oo!ed
aside the last la$er of earth.
3nd there 'as the bo7; it 'as rust$, it 'as dented@ but it
'as a metal bo7, right enough. The bo$ lifted it u!. 5t 'as
not %er$ hea%$ and he had no trouble in raising it shoulder
high and !assing it out to the eager hands stret(hing do'n
from abo%e to re(ei%e it.
Jennings (lambered out and the$ all gathered round,
!eering at their find 'ith keen interest.
5t 'as a sturd$, oblong, metal re(e!ta(le, t'o feet long,
a foot 'ide and a foot dee!. The$ (ould onl$ guess 'hat its
original !ur!ose had been & !ossibl$ a (ontainer for legal
do(uments or re(ords 'hi(h the $oung "a(Taggart and
"erride' had (ome a(ross in the luggage (u!board in the
basement 'here the bo$s' trunks 'ere stored in term time. 5t
'as en(rusted 'ith a thin la$er of rust; here and there
!at(hes of the %arnished surfa(e sho'ed through, though
most of the original !aint'ork had %anished.
Jennings 'i!ed a'a$ a film of rust from the lid. 5n the
(entre he (ould @ust make out some badl$ sha!ed letters
s(rat(hed on the metal 'ith a nail or some other !ointed
instrument.
"5t looks like T" and ""," he said, s(re'ing u! his
e$es to de(i!her the faint initials.
"#hat's that mean*" Tem!le asked.
"Tim "a(Taggart and "el%ille "erride', 5 su!!ose."
Jennings !eered again at the faint initials. "+it of a bot(hed
@ob, though. =robabl$ s(rat(hed it themsel%es 'ith a
!enknife."
A?
")o' are 'e going to o!en it*" asked 3tkinson.
Venables said, "6houldn't be diffi(ult. The hinges are
broken so 'e (ould !rise the lid off 'ith a s(re'dri%er or
something."
"Des, 'hen the time (omes, but not $et," Jennings said
firml$. "Not till the last night of term."
Jennings and Darbishire (arried the bo7 to the !otting&
shed and hid it in a far (orner behind a sta(k of seed bo7es.
"r 1arter had alread$ gone off to the (ri(ket&field and the
bo$s made their 'a$ ba(k to s(hool, read$ for s'imming.
3fter tea, "r 1arter said to Jennings, "Dou'd better
'rite to "r "a(Taggart and tell him $ou'%e found his
bo7."
"Des, 5 'ould, sir, onl$ 'e don't kno' 'here he li%es."
"5 (an !robabl$ hel! $ou there," the master re!lied.
"5'll look u! the s(hool re(ords. 5f he @oined the 0ld
/inburians' 6o(iet$ 'hen he left here, the$ should be able
to tra(e him."
"Des, but it's so long ago. )e ma$ ha%e mo%ed house
lots of times in fift$ $ears."
"True8 3n$'a$, 5'll see 'hat 5 (an do. Dou go and get
that letter 'ritten."
The letter 'ould ha%e been 'ritten more 9ui(kl$ if
Darbishire hadn't been breathing do'n the 'riter's ne(k
and making unhel!ful (omments as Jennings got to 'ork.
5t started off;
Dear "r "a(Taggart
#e think $ou 'ill be sur!rised to kno' that the tin
bo7 $ou buried 'ith >eneral "erride' has been found as 5
think $ou 'ill be sur!rised to kno'
AA
"Dou (an't sa$ that," Darbishire (riti(ised. ")e didn+t
bur$ >eneral "erride'. )e's still ali%e."
"5t doesn't mean he buried him, $ou (lueless (lod!oll."
"#ell, that's 'hat $ou'%e said. Dou'll ha%e to alter it."
Jennings sighed. "0h, all right, then. 5'll (hange it to
that you and General .erridew $uried!" ,
"Dou (an't sa$ that, either, be(ause he wasn+t a general
'hen the$ buried it," the (riti( (om!lained. "Dou'll ha%e to
sa$, that you and a $oy called .erridew who was a
general later on when he grew u& $uried it!"
"0h, for goodness' sake8" The 'riter 'as fast losing
!atien(e 'ith his (riti(.
"3nd besides that $ou'%e said, /e think you will $e
sur&rised to know t'i(e o%er in one senten(e. #hat $ou
should sa$ isK"
Jennings thre' do'n his !en. "3ll right, then8 :ou
'rite it if $ou're so (le%er."
+ut Darbishire de(lined the in%itation and at last the
letter 'as 'ritten and sho'n to "r 1arter for his a!!ro%al.
"Did $ou find his address*" Jennings asked.
"0h, $es8 5 !honed the se(retar$ of the old /inburians'
6o(iet$. "r "a(Taggart is a life member; a (o!$ of the
s(hool magaEine is sent to him e%er$ $ear, so 'ith lu(k
$our letter should rea(h him at his !resent address."
"Thank $ou, sir. Thank $ou %er$ mu(h."
The$ left the letter for "r 1arter to des!at(h. 3lso
en(losed in the en%elo!e 'as an in%itation from the head&
master for "r "a(Taggart to !a$ another %isit to his old
s(hool. 5t 'as thought that he might like to be amongst
those !resent 'hen his (a!sule 'as finall$ o!ened.
3lthough the items for the forth(oming Drama
2%ening
1CC
'ere (hosen and !rodu(ed b$ the bo$s themsel%es, "r
1arter 'as interested to kno' 'hat !rogress 'as being
made. )e rounded u! most of the bo$s taking !art and (alled
a meeting in the librar$ after lun(h on Thursda$.
Form Four 'ere !rodu(ing their o'n %ersion of the
fen(e&!ainting s(ene from *he Adventures o% *om Sawyer b$
"ark T'ain. 3!art from the fa(t that the$ still needed to find
t'el%e !aint brushes and t'el%e bu(kets of 'hite'ash, the
item seemed to be going smoothl$.
"r 1arter turned to the offering b$ the $oungest bo$s in
the s(hool.
+inns said, "#e're going to do ;o$in 'ood and his
.erry .en! 5'm <obin )ood and +lot'ell is m$ "err$
"en."
"+lot'ell and 'ho else*" "r 1arter en9uired.
"No one else, reall$. #e had about ten others to begin
'ith, but the$ all dro!!ed out & e7(e!t 1ameron, onl$
he,doesn't like a(ting, so he's going to be our stage manager."
"5 see. 6o it's reall$ <obin )ood and his "err$ .an"
"0h, 5'm a lot more than his merr$ man," +lot'ell
(himed in. "5'm all the other !arts, too. 5 (ome on 'ith a dog
(hain round m$ ne(k to sho' 5'm the 6heriff of Nottingham.
3nd then 5 go off and (ome on 'earing
Tem!le's beard that he's going to lend me so 5 (an be
#ill 6(arlett. Then 5 go off and (ome ba(k 'ith a fr$ing
!an be(ause 5'm Friar Tu(k, as 'ell."
"r 1arter looked !uEEled. "#h$ the fr$ing !an*"
"That's 'hat a friar uses, sir. )e does the fr$ing." =atientl$,
"r 1arter e7!lained. "3 friar isn't a (ook, +lot'ell. )e's a
monk."
"Des, 5 kno', sir. 3nd 5'm going to 'ear a long bro'n
1C1
dressing&go'n as a & er & 'hat d'$ou (all those things
that monks 'ear*"
"r 1arter said, "5t's (alled a habit."
5t 'as +lot'ell's turn to look !uEEled. "3 habit* /ike
biting $our nails*"
"No. no8 3 monk's habit isK" "r 1arter broke off.
These e7!lanations 'ere 'asting time and leading no'here.
"5'll see $ou after'ards and e7!lain." )e turned to Jennings.
"3nd ho' about Form Three's (ontribution*"
"#e'%e got it all 'orked out, sir, and 'e'%e been
rehearsing," Jennings told him. )e 'a%ed a hand to'ards the
bo$s taking !art in the other !rodu(tions. "5 (an't sa$ an$
more at the moment be(ause it's a se(ret. +ut don't 'orr$, sir.
5t'll be all right on the night."
3nd 'ith that s(ant$ !ie(e of information the rest of the
s(hool Ha!art from "r 1arterI had to be (ontent for the time
being.
1C2
$ha,ter ''
O-d Boys: Reunion
/ieutenant&>eneral 6ir "el%ille "erride' 'as
sur!rised to re(ei%e a letter from "r =emberton&0akes,
headmaster of /inbur$ 1ourt, in%iting him to s!end an
e%ening at his old s(hool on the follo'ing #ednesda$.
The >eneral 'as a tall, elderl$ man 'ith a large 'hite
mousta(he and bush$ e$ebro's. )is tem!er 'as a little
un(ertain and he 'as often (riti(al about 'hat he (onsidered
to be the free&and&eas$ life&st$le of the rising generation
'hen (om!ared 'ith the stri(t dis(i!line 'hi(h he had had
to !ut u! 'ith half a (entur$ before.
3s a distinguished 0ld /inburian he 'as fre9uentl$
'el(omed as an honoured guest on =riEe Da$ or some other
im!ortant fun(tionB and he 'as usuall$ !leased to a((e!t the
in%itation.
)o'e%er, this letter 'as une7!e(ted. 5t 'as not =riEe
Da$ or 6!orts Da$ or the annual s(hool !la$. "r =emberton&
0akes had gi%en no hint of 'hat sort of fun(tion 'as
1C,
being held, merel$ suggesting that 6ir "el%ille might
(are to (ome to a "gathering" of some sort on the last
e%ening of term.
The >eneral thought that he 'ould like to go. )e had
no other engagements on that da$ and the %isit might 'ell
gi%e him the (han(e, on(e again, to air his %ie's on the
la7it$ of the $outh of toda$.
"r Tim "a(Taggart also re(ei%ed an in%itation from
the headmaster. Pntil Jennings' letter had arri%ed, he had not
gi%en another thought to his meeting 'ith the t'o bo$s and
telling them about his time&(a!sule. 5t had been to him of
onl$ !assing interest, a mere 'him that had @ogged his
memor$ 'hen, b$ (han(e, he had ha!!ened to be !assing b$
his old s(hool.
6o the$'d found the tin bo78 >ood lu(k to them8 5t didn't
matter mu(h to him 'hether the$'d found it or not. )e
guessed that the headmaster's letter must ha%e something to
do 'ith it.
)e'd en@o$ 'andering round /inbur$ 1ourt again, he
thought. 5t 'as a long time sin(e he'd set foot inside the
building. )e de(ided to go.
There is a feeling of e7(itement and e7!e(tation in the
air on the last e%ening of term. 6(hool'ork is finished, rules
are rela7ed and e%er$one & staff and bo$s alike & are looking
for'ard to the 'eeks of holida$ 'hi(h lie ahead.
2%er$one 'as bus$ doing something<! "atron 'as
(he(king the bo$s' !a(kingB the (aretaker 'as !iling u! tu(k&
bo7es in the basementB "r )inde 'as !la$ing @aEE on the
3ssembl$ )all !iano to a grou! of fifth&formers 'ho had
gathered round to listenB last&minute !re!arations 'ere going
on in the g$mnasium 'here the Drama 2%ening 'as due to
start in an hour's time.
1C-
"r #ilkins 'as al'a$s in a @o%ial mood on the last
night of term. )e had (losed his mark book, 'ritten his
re!orts and 'as strolling amiabl$ round the building, sto!&
!ing to listen to the terrible @okes and ridi(ulous riddles
'hi(h the bo$s insisted on telling him. )e laughed heartil$
at the so&(alled 'it and humour as it 'as e7!e(ted of him,
e%en though he had heard all the gags and the funn$ stories
man$ times before.
#hen "r "a(Taggart arri%ed at the s(hool there 'as so
mu(h noise and bustle going on 'ithin the building that
nobod$ e%en heard the ring at the front door. 6o he let
himself in and s!ent a fe' minutes 'andering about
obser%ing the man$ (hanges that had taken !la(e sin(e his
last %isit. 2%er$thing looked a lot smaller than it had done
'hen he 'as a bo$.
)e 'as tr$ing to remember his 'a$ to the headmaster's
stud$ 'hen a fair&haired bo$ in glasses and (arr$ing a
fishing&rod (ame rushing along the !assage and skidded to a
halt at the sight of the %isitor.
"0h, hullo, sir8 Do $ou remember me*" he said.
Tim "a(Taggart shook his head. "5'm afraid not. )a%e
'e met before*"
"0h, $es. "$ name's Darbishire. 5t 'as Jennings and 5
'ho found $our bo7."
"3h, $es, of (ourse, 5 remember no'. 1le%er of $ou to
find it."
"Des & er & 'ell. 6hall 5 tell the )ead $ou're here* Dou
(ould 'ait in the & er &. #ell, follo' me, !lease, and 5'll sho'
$ou."
6o sa$ing, Darbishire led the 'a$ to the librar$, o!ened

1C.
the door 'ith a flourish, be(koned his guest to enter and
then s(uttled a'a$ along the (orridor.
There 'as another guest alread$ 'aiting in the librar$ &
a tall, elderl$ man 'ith a large 'hite mousta(he and bush$
e$ebro's. The t'o men nodded to ea(h other and said,
">ood e%ening."
3fter that the (on%ersation flagged, for neither of them
felt in(lined to indulge in !olite (hit&(hat 'ith a total
stranger. 0ne of them said, "<ne 'eather for the time of
$ear," and the other re!lied, "Des, indeed," after 'hi(h one
of them ran his e$e along the bookshel%es and the other
looked out of the 'indo'.
The silen(e 'as broken b$ the headmaster 'ho (ame
into the librar$ a fe' minutes later.
"6orr$ to kee! $ou 'aiting," said "r =emberton&0akes,
"but as old friends 5 dare sa$ $ou found !lent$ of things to
talk about."
The t'o guests looked at ea(h other, but there 'as no
glimmer of re(ognition in their e$es.
"0h8 6o $ou don't remember," said the headmaster.
"=erha!s 5 had better re&introdu(e $ou; "r Timoth$ "a(&
Taggart & /ieutenant&>eneral 6ir "el%ille "erride'."
For the s!a(e of three se(onds the guests (ontinued
their blank stare. Then their e$es lit u! and both men s!oke
at on(e.
"Jumbo8" (ried >eneral "erride'.
""ilde'8" (ried "r "a(Taggart.
The$ ad%an(ed to the middle of the room and greeted
ea(h other 'ith %igorous handshakes.
"#ell, 'ell, 'ell8" beamed the >eneral. "Doung Jumbo8
Ne%er thought to see $ou again after all these $ears."
1C4
"5t's been a long time," "Doung Jumbo" agreed. "Dou
(ouldn't e7!e(t me to re(ognise $ou & big mousta(he and all
that. Dou'%e (hanged a lot, "ilde', sin(e $ou 'ere an ink$&
fingered third&former."
"3h, those 'ere the da$s," the >eneral murmured nos&
talgi(all$. )e turned to the headmaster. "#e had to 'ork
hard 'hen 'e 'ere $oung. None of this musi( and drama
and all that stuff $ou gi%e them no'ada$s. 5n our time it 'as
all maths and /atin as far as 5 re(all."
"r =emberton&0akes 'as about to (omment, but the
>eneral ga%e him no (han(e.
""ind $ou, 5 'as rather good at those sub@e(ts," the 0ld
+o$ 'ent on. "1ame to! of the form, 5 belie%e."
"5'm afraid 5 'Rs al'a$s some'here near the bottom,"
"r "a(Taggart said 'ith an a!ologeti( grin. "#e (ertainl$
'eren't model !u!ils, though. #e ga%e some of the masters a
terrible time tr$ing to kee! us in order."
"6o 'e did," the >eneral (onfirmed. )a!!$ memories
(ame flooding ba(k as %isions of his misdeeds floated into
his mind. "There 'as one old (ha! 'ho took us for maths.
<emember old #igg$*"
"5ndeed 5 do,' his old (olleague agreed. "3 !om!ous old
bore, 5 seem to remember."
"#e (alled him #igg$ be(ause & " the >eneral 'agged
a large forefinger at his host to make 9uite sure that he
'ould understand the !oint of this in%enti%e ni(k&name
&"be(ause he 'ore a 'ig."
"Nuite," said the headmaster !olitel$, 'ondering ho' to
stem the flo' of the >eneral's ane(dotes, 'hi(h he kne'
from !ast e7!erien(e (ould go on for a long time. "5 think,
!erha!s, 'e had betterK"
"#ell, one da$ in the (lassroom someone thre' a
1C:
(halk$ bla(kboard duster and it (aught old #igg$ on
the to! & ha8 ha8 ha8"
3t this !oint the 0ld +o$ 'as o%er(ome 'ith mirth. )is
e$es streamed, his shoulders shook and the !oint of the stor$
'as lost in the 'heeEing and gas!ing brought on b$ so mu(h
hilarit$.
Just then, "r 1arter (ame in and signalled to the head&
master that their !resen(e 'as re9uested in the g$mnasium
as the Drama 2%ening 'as read$ to start. +ut the >eneral
had re(o%ered his breath and 'as all read$ to relate another
ane(dote of his $outh.
"3nd 5'll tell $ou another thing," he 'as sa$ing as "r
=emberton&0akes edged him gingerl$ to'ards the door. )e
sa' "r 1arter standing in the door'a$ and buttonholed him
as a likel$ listener.
"Dou'll ne%er belie%e this, 1arter, but Doung Jumbo here
and 5 on(e stuffed an old tin 'ith rubbish & (an't remember
'hat 'e !ut in it & but an$'a$ 'e filled it u! and stuffed it
do'n a fo7 hole."
6ir "el%ille laughed heartil$. "Don't ask me 'h$8 )ad
an idea someone might dig it u! in a thousand $ears.
5n(redible, eh*"
"r 1arter ke!t a straight fa(e. "Nuite in(redible8" he
agreed solemnl$. "#hoe%er 'ould ha%e thought it8"
The g$mnasium 'as set u! for the Drama 2%ening.
There 'as a ro' of (hairs for the adults on one side b$ the
'all&bars and the rest of the s(hool sat on the floor or
!er(hed on the %aulting&horse or an$ other !ie(e of
e9ui!ment that !ro%ided a good %ie'.
The stage 'as a rostrum running the 'idth of the g$m&
nasium and e9ui!!ed 'ith (urtains 'hi(h, 'hen (losed,

1C?
ne%er 9uite met in the middle. The$ did, ho'e%er,
!ro%ide suitable (o%er for the (ram!ed s!a(e in the 'ings
'here the a(tors a'aited their (ues.
3s 'ell as the staff and the t'o 0ld /inburians, "iss
Thor!e 'as also a member of the audien(e. 6he had been
in%ited at "r 1arter's re9uest to satisf$ her (uriosit$ about
the badger sett, and 'as sho'n to a seat ne7t to "r #ilkins.
">ood e%ening," she greeted him in a bird&like trill.
"5'm so glad to see $ou're better."
"+etter*" "r #ilkins didn't understand.
"Dou 'ere not 'ell some 'eeks ago," she e7!lained.
"The bo$s 'anted to gi%e $ou a !ot !lant to (heer $ou u!, so
5 let them ha%e a ,onnecticut -ing lil$ from m$ garden.
The$ (hose it themsel%es."
"/il$*" "r #ilkins blinked. Then he remembered the
offensi%e sti(k of rhubarb in the re!ulsi%e !eanut&butter !ot.
6o that+s 'here the 'ret(hed thing had (ome from8 "2r &
'ell," he said un(ertainl$.
"5 do ho!e $ou liked it," she !ersisted.
"0h, oh, $es, indeed, "iss Thor!e," he said !olitel$.
#ith a slight gul!, he added, "5t 'as a delightful sur!rise. 6o
kind of $ou8"
+a(k&stage and in the tu(k&bo7 room 'here the a(tors
'ere (hanging there 'as flurr$, e7(itement, ner%ous tension
and sheer !ani( as the time for "(urtain u!" dre' near. +o$s
mouthed their o!ening lines silentl$, sear(hed franti(all$ for
missing !ro!s, ga!ed in disma$ at (ostumes 'hi(h (ame
a!art at the seams 'ithout 'arning.
3 detailed re%ie' of the e%ening's !rogramme is not
!ossible in these !ages and readers 'anting to kno' more
should (onsult the summer number of the /inbur$ 1ourt
6(hool magaEine.
1CA
)o'e%er, t'o or three items are 'orth$ of s!e(ial
mention. For e7am!le. Form Four's e7tra(t from *he
Adventures o% *om Sawyer 'as 'ell re(ei%ed b$ the audi&
en(e. The (ast had managed to find a fe' Hbut not enoughI
!aint brushes and had to eke out the su!!l$ 'ith three hair&
brushes and a tooth&brush in order to !aint the fen(e. The$
'ere not allo'ed to use 'hite'ash in the g$mnasium but
realisti(all$ mimed the a!!li(ation of !aint from an em!t$
bu(ket, set (entre stage.
Form 0ne's (ontribution of ;o$in 'ood and his .erry
.en Hor .an# 'ent 'ell. +inns looked e%er$ in(h a hero in
his <obin )ood (ostume of /in(oln >reen !$@ama @a(ket,
'ith a feather in his hat. )e had a bo' and an em!t$ 9ui%er
Hfor arro's 'ere forbidden indoorsI and took aim at
imaginar$ targets abo%e the heads of the audien(e, 'hile
(arr$ing on a li%el$ dialogue 'ith his fello'&outla', #ill
6(arlett H<. >. +lot'ellI, s!orting a beard borro'ed from
Tem!le. #ill 6(arlett then made a brief e7it into the 'ings
'hile <obin )ood sang a ballad about (ountr$ life in the
thirteenth (entur$.
3'aiting his return to the stage, +lot'ell made a (om&
!laint to his stage&manager.
"This beard's (hoking me," he told 1ameron. "5t ti(kles
and 5 (an hardl$ breathe." )e tugged it off o%er his head and
thre' it aside. "=he'8 That's better8 5 (an (hange into m$
Friar Tu(k 'hat's&it&thing no', (an't 5*"
"No, $ou (an't," 1ameron reminded him. "#ill 6(arlett
goes on again in a minute."
"2h* #o'8 6o he does8 5'd forgotten."
0n stage, <obin )ood had rea(hed the last %erse of his
ballad.
"<ight8 6tand b$ for $our entran(e," 1ameron ordered.
11C
"=ut $our beard on, 9ui(k8"
+lot'ell glan(ed round; his @a' dro!!ed and his e$e
goggled. )is beard had %anished.
""$ beard8" he (ried in horror. "#here is it* Nui(k,
find it8"
"6sh8 Mee! $our %oi(e do'n," hissed 1ameron.
"The$'ll hear $ou in the audien(e." "+ut m$ beard & it's
gone8" "#here did $ou !ut it*"
"5 don't kno'. 5 @ust took it off. 5 didn't !ut it an$'here."
"Dou're on in half a ti(k. +inns has nearl$ finished."
=ani(&stri(ken, the$ looked round the small s!a(e in the
'ings 'here the$ 'ere standing. The floor 'as bare; there
'as no furniture; the beard must be there. +ut it 'asn't8
"0h, fish&hooks, this is frightful8" s9ua'ked +lot'ell.
"#hat am 5 going to do*"
"Dou'll ha%e to go on 'ithout it." "+ut 5 (an't. The$'%e
all seen me 'earing it." 1ameron shrugged. "1an't be
hel!ed. The$'ll think $ou'%e gone off to ha%e a sha%e."
"Des, but & butK" +lot'ell fla!!ed his hands in a
gesture of des!air. "5t's all %er$ 'ell for you to sa$ that. :ou
ha%en't got to go on. #hat about me* 2%er$bod$ 'ill laugh."
There 'as no time for dis(ussion. +inns had finished
his song and the audien(e 'ere a!!lauding.
">o on8" 1ameron (ommanded in a %oi(eless 'his!er.
"5 (an't."
"Dou'll ha%e to. 5'll go on looking. 5f 5 find it 5'll get it
ba(k to $ou." ")o'*"
"5 don't kno'. >et on the stage, 9ui(k."
6o sa$ing, the stage&manager ga%e the relu(tant a(tor a
!ush ... #ill 6(arlett, (lean&sha%en and !ro!elled from
behind, made a dramati( entran(e.
111
Fe' of the audien(e seemed to noti(e the transform&
ation from bush$ beard to soft, !ink (heeksB or if the$
noti(ed the$ ke!t 9uiet about it. The !la$ (ontinued.
3lmost immediatel$, 1ameron found the beard, 'hi(h
had dro!!ed do'n behind the radiator 'hen +lot'ell had
(arelessl$ tossed it aside. 5t 'as lodged half'a$ do'n
bet'een the 'all and the radiator !anelsB and though
1ameron (ould see it he (ouldn't rea(h it 'ithout some sort
of im!lement to !oke it out from its resting&!la(e.
1ameron rushed off to the (hanging&room 'here the
ne7t (ast to !erform 'ere a'aiting their turn.
"Nui(k, 9ui(k8 "ind out of the 'a$8" he (ried. "5 must
find something. +lot'ell's beard is stu(k behind the
radiator."
"#o'8 Fossilised fish&hooks8 )as he still got it on*"
#ithout sto!!ing to re!l$, 1ameron seiEed a (ri(ket
stum! l$ing in the (orner and rushed ba(k to the 'ings,
lea%ing the 'aiting a(tors 'ondering 'hether +lot'ell 'as
still atta(hed to the radiator; and, if so, 'h$ he didn't take his
beard off or 'ren(h himself free.
0n stage things 'ere going 9uite smoothl$. <obin )ood
and #ill 6(arlett 'ere hat(hing a !lan to kidna! the 6heriff
of Nottingham. Then, from the 'ings at one side of the
stage, a (ri(ket stum! 'as thrust gentl$ into %ie', held b$ an
unseen hand behind the (urtain. The stum! 'as about t'o
feet abo%e stage le%el and on the !oint 'as a beard dangling
from a !ie(e of elasti(.
The audien(e 'as entran(ed b$ this s(eni( effe(t, but
+lot'ell (ouldn't see his %ital !ro!ert$ as it 'as behind
him; until, b$ (han(e, he took a ste! ba(k'ards.
112
"0'8" he (ried as the !oint of the stum! @abbed him in
the leg. The beard dro!!ed off and the stum! 'as 'ithdra'n
from %ie'.
+lot'ell !i(ked u! his beard, stret(hed the elasti( ba(k
o%er his head and bo'ed to the audien(e. The$ ga%e him a
round of a!!lause.
3nd there 'as further a!!lause at the end 'hen <obin
)ood HN. +innsI, #ill 6(arlett, Friar Tu(k and others H<. >.
+lot'ellI took their bo'.
11,
$ha,ter '0
$urtain Do;n
The last item on the !rogramme 'as announ(ed as
*reasure *rove! Fi%e bo$s 'ere in the !ro(ess of setting u!
(am! 'ith !ro!erties borro'ed from the 6(outs' e9ui!ment
in the atti(.
Venables and 3tkinson entered 'ith a small tent, 'hi(h
the$ unfolded but 'isel$ did not attem!t to ere(t on the
smooth shin$ boards of the rostrum.
Jennings (ame on 'ith an armful of fire'ood and set
about building a (am! fire. )e 'as assisted b$ Tem!le
(arr$ing an assortment of (ooking&!ots and fi%e stale buns,
sal%aged from the s(hool kit(hen the !re%ious 'eek. )a%ing
been manhandled dail$ during rehearsals, the buns 'ere !ast
their best, but the a(tors seemed 'illing to risk indigestion
for the sake of their art.
The (on%ersation 'as not e7a(tl$ s!arkling, but it
ser%ed to let the audien(e kno' 'hat 'as su!!osed to be
ha!!ening.

11-
Then Darbishire (ame on 'ith a fishing&rod and the
ne7t ste! 'as to (on%in(e the audien(e that the (hosen
(am!&site 'as (lose to a ri%er bank.
The dialogue ran Hroughl$I like this;
D3<+56)5<2;
#ould $ou like me to (at(h a salmon for su!!er* 5t'd go
do'n 'ell 'ith our buns.
V2N2<3+/26;Des, 0M. >ood idea8 #h$ not*
J2NN5N>6; "3ointing o%% stage, le%t!# That looks a good
!la(e for fishing.
T2"=/25 bet there's millions of them o%er there.
",rosses le%t and surveys river, o%%!# Des, $ou (an see them
darting about. #hat do $ou think, 3tki*
3TM5N60N ; "At a loss %or words!# <hubarb, rhubarb,
rhubarb.
D3<+56)5<2 s9uats on a cam& stool and casts line into
the wings! "3<T5N&J0N26 "o%% and invisi$le# secures hook to
%astening on metal $o=!
V2N3+26 5 bet $ou 'on't (at(h an$thing.
D3<+56)5<2 ;)e$, 5'%e got something. =robabl$ an
old boot.
T2"=/2; No, it's a & 5 don't kno' 'hat. 1ome and hel!
me land it.
Boys hel& to haul in the ca&sule!
11.
J2NN5N>6; #o'8 Fossilised fish&hooks, 'hat a (at(h8
V2N3+/26 ; =etrified !aint&!ots8
T2"=/2; #hat on earth is it*
3TM5N60N; "Still at a loss!# <hubarb, rhubarb,
rhubarb.
D3<+56)5<2; 5 kne' it 'asn't an old boot.
JE>>4>GS kneels and e=amines $o=!
There are some initials s(rat(hed on the lid. 5 (an @ust
make them out. ";ises and turns to audience!# 5f there's
an$one here 'hose initials are ". ". or T. "., 'ill the$
kindl$ (ome u! on the stage and (laim their !ro!ert$.
>eneral "erride' 'as bored and had been gentl$
doEing for most of the !erforman(e. #hen, at inter%als, he
'as a'ake he regretted that he had agreed to (ome to this
!atheti(, @u%enile entertainment. The$ hadn't had a(ti%ities
like this in his $oung da$s & and a good @ob too8 #hat these
$oungsters needed 'as more maths and /atin and less of this
!ran(ing&about nonsense that the$ 'ent in for no'ada$s.
Jennings' announ(ement from the stage 'as "r 1arter's
(ue. )e !olitel$ nudged the distinguished guest and said,
"The$'re asking for $ou, >eneral. The$'ll be %er$ glad if
$ou'll go on to the stage."
The 0ld /inburian 'oke from his snooEe and (ame to
'ith a start. "2h, 'hat's that* #hat are $ou talking about*"
"The$'%e tra(ed $ou b$ $our initials. The$'%e found
$our bo7."
114
"+o7* #hi(h bo7* #hat bo7* 5 ha%en't lost a bo7."
"#ake u!, "ilde'," said Tim "a(Taggart, leaning
a(ross "r 1arter. "5t's the bo7 'e buried. Dou 'ere telling us
about it in the librar$. 5t's turned u! in the bo$s' !la$."
The >eneral stared at his old (lass&mate in be'ilder&
ment. #hat on earth 'as Doung Jumbo talking about* "#hat
d'$ou mean, it's turned u! in a !la$*"
"Dou ha%en't been !a$ing attention. The$'%e @ust fished
it out of the ri%er."
6ir "el%ille's mind 'as boggling. "The ri%er8 5m!oss&
ible8 #e stuffed it do'n a fo7&hole."
Tim "a(Taggart shrugged. "3h, 'ell, that 'as the bo$s'
idea. #hat $ou might (all dramati( li(en(e."
>eneral "erride''s mind (ontinued to boggle. )ad
e%er$bod$ gone mad* he 'ondered. )o'e%er, he allo'ed
himself to be hel!ed to his feet and follo'ed his fello'&guest
on to the stage.
Jennings set the time&(a!sule do'n at Tim "a(Tag&
gart's feet and handed him a !air of !liers. The lid (ame off
9uite easil$ Hthanks to "r 1arter 'ho had done some
!reliminar$ 'ork on it in the !otting&shedI and "r "a(&
Taggart took out the first e7hibit, fro'ned at it, and held it
out for Jennings' ins!e(tion. "5 bet $ou ha%en't seen one of
these before," he said.
Jennings looked at the flims$, buff&(oloured (o%ers of a
little book issued b$ the "inistr$ of Food. "No, 5 ha%en't,"
he re!lied.
"5t's a <ation +ook," Tim "a(Taggart e7!lained. "Dou
(ouldn't @ust bu$ an$ food $ou liked in our da$. Dou had to
make do 'ith $our ration."
"6o 'e did8" boomed the >eneral. )is mind had
sto!!ed boggling and he no' seemed keenl$ interested in
11:
'hat the (a!sule 'ould re%eal. "Those terrible da$s of
s'eets on the ration8 T'o toffees & or 'hate%er it 'as &to last
$ou a month. )o' 'e suffered8 "ind $ou," he 'ent on,
turning to the audien(e, "5 ne%er tou(h the stuff
no', but bulls&e$es 'ere like gold dust 'hen 5 'as a
lad. 3nd as for the s(hool meals 'e had thenK8" )e sighed
and shook his head. "#e !ra(ti(all$ star%ed8"
The 'ild e7aggeration 'as gleefull$ 'el(omed b$ the
bo$s in the audien(e. 6(hool food & ho'e%er a!!etising &'as
al'a$s a sub@e(t for (om!laint.
Ne7t to (ome out of the bo7 'ere items 'hi(h the bo$s
(ould identif$ but 'hi(h 'ere no longer in use & a (ollar
stud, a s(rat(hed Dink$ to$, an enamel ink'ell, a rust$
!a(ket of used needles for !la$ing gramo!hone re(ords, bits
and !ie(es from a home&made 'ireless set. The e7hibits
'ere handed to the bo$s on stage and then !assed round the
audien(e. There 'as Form Three's time&table and Dormitor$
Four's bath list of fift$ $ears ago. #hen the s(hool
!hotogra!h 'as brought to light, 6ir "el%ille studied it
(losel$. )e laughed and @abbed a forefinger at a slim figure
in the front ro'.
"There $ou are & it's $ou," he said to his fello'&guest.
"No 'onder 'e (alled $ou 'Jumbo'. Dou'%e got ears like
aero!lane 'ings in this !i(ture."
Tim "a(Taggart smiled and looked at the !hotogra!h.
"Dou forgot to brush $our hair that da$, "ilde'. 6till, it's
ni(e to see $ou 'ashed $our knees for the o((asion."
+$ no' the >eneral 'as en@o$ing himself )is air of
disa!!ro%al had gone and he 'as (hu(kling to himself and
re%elling in the dis(o%er$ of things he had (om!letel$
forgotten.
11?
2%en 'hen the term's mark list re%ealed that Hdes!ite
his !roud boastI he had (ome bottom of the (lass in maths,
'hereas T. "a(Taggart had (ome some'here near the to! &
e%en then, he dismissed the matter 'ith a 'r$ smile and
made no (omment.
0n stage and in the audien(e the bo$s 'ere drinking in
e%er$ 'ord. 5t 'as seldom that the$ had the (han(e of
listening to gro'n&u!s s!arring 'ith ea(h other in this good&
humoured 'a$.
"ore ob@e(ts 'ere unearthed & a farthing, a (ata!ult,
Jumbo's old football boots & but there 'as no sign of the
s(hool bun, 'hi(h had long sin(e mouldered to dust.
Near the bottom of the (a!sule 'as a must$ and barel$
legible %olume marked =PN56)"2NT +00M. Tim "a(Taggart
!i(ked his 'a$ through the !ages and read out sele(ted
entries...
"a$ 2,rd & .erridew 2 0ne hour's detention for
fighting in the (orridor.
June 12th & .erridew &1CC lines for im!ertinen(e to a
master.
June 2Cth & .erridew 2 6ent out of lun(h for talking
'ith mouth full.
The reader looked u! and grinned. "5 remember that
o((asion, >eneral. Dou had to lea%e $our sausage and mash
behind, so 5 finished it u! for $ou."
"Did $ou, indeed*" For a moment the >eneral looked
ruffled and it seemed that his @o(ular mood might be s'e!t
a'a$ b$ this !ubli( !ro(lamation of his misdeeds. )e
snorted and ble' through his mousta(heB but se(onds later
11A
he re(o%ered his (om!osure. )e shrugged his shoulders and
laughed.
"0h, 'ell8" he said. "+o$s 'ill be bo$s, eh* 5 dare sa$
'e 'ere no 'orse than these $oungsters are toda$."
6oon the tin bo7 'as em!t$B the !erforman(e 'as o%er;
the (ast took their bo'. 3nd for the final (urtain&(all the
a(tors 'ere @oined b$ t'o 0ld /inburians 'hose last
a!!earan(e on the little stage in the g$m 'as all of fift$
$ears ago... The audien(e ga%e them a thunderous round of
a!!lause.
3s the bo$s of Dormitor$ Four got read$ for bed that
e%ening the to!i( of the Drama 2%ening 'as still u!!ermost
in their minds.
"#ent 'ell, didn't it*" 3tkinson said for the hundredth
time. "+ut 'hat 5 don't understand is ho' those t'o 0ld
+o$s @ust ha!!ened to be there at the right time. 5t (ouldn't
ha%e been @ust a (oin(iden(e."
"The$ didn't @ust ha&&en to be there," said Jennings.
""r 1arter had something to do 'ith it, on the 9uiet. )e &
sort of & dro!!ed a fe' hints." )e ki(ked off his shoes and
skated to the 'ash&basins to (lean his teeth. "5t 'as all due to
him, reall$. 5t 'ouldn't ha%e 'orked 'ithout "r 1arter."
The Drama 2%ening had (ertainl$ been a trium!h and
the ne7t !oint to be settled 'as 'hat the$ should do 'ith the
time&(a!sule.
"#e (an't @ust lea%e the 'hole bo7 of tri(ks l$ing
around, @ust an$'here," Darbishire said as he sat u! in bed
!ra(tising (lo%e hit(hes 'ith his dressing&go'n (ord.
"2s!e(iall$ after all the trouble 'e 'ent to in finding it."
"5 %ote 'e @ust sho%e e%er$thing ba(k in the bo7 and
bung it do'n the hole again," Tem!le suggested.
12C
Venables 'as outraged. "#e (an't do that8 "ost of the
blokes ha%en't had a !ro!er (han(e to look at it $et."
Darbishire agreed. "3fter all, it is our treasure&tro%e
&e%en though it isn't 'orth mu(h to an$bod$ outside the
s(hool. #e shall ha%e to look after it !ro!erl$."
"5 kno' 'hat," said Jennings. "#e (ould make it into
an e7hibition & $ou kno', in glass (ases like a museum &onl$
'e ha%en't got an$ glass (ases."
The$ 'ere still dis(ussing the matter 'hen "r 1arter
and "r #ilkins strolled round the dormitories together, as
the$ often did on ihe last night of term. The masters
a!!ro%ed of setting u! an e7hibition. ">ood idea8 5t'll be
something to kee! $ou out of mis(hief 'hen $ou (ome ba(k
ne7t term," said "r #ilkins.
Jennings' mind 'as alread$ lea!ing ahead.
"3nd 'hen 'e'%e set it u! and e%er$bod$'s seen it, ho'
about making our o'n time&(a!sule," he suggested. "#e'll
get another bo7 and fill it u! 'ith things like & er & 'ellK"
)e !aused, fro'ning in thought. The$ 'ould need
something original, not @ust an u!&to&date re!li(a of the 0ld
/inburians' treasure tro%e & that 'ould be too eas$8 )e
turned to "r #ilkins.
"6ir, !lease, sir, ha%e $ou got an$ !ri(eless !ossessions
$ou'd like us to bur$ for $ou, sir* 6omething $ou 'on't be
needing for the ne7t fift$ $ears, or e%en longer*"
"r #ilkins laughed. "5 think 5'll kee! all m$ !os&
sessions under lo(k and ke$ in future," he said. "5 don't 'ant
to go sear(hing the s(hool for m$ dri%ing li(en(e or m$
referee's 'histle, onl$ to find that $ou bo$s ha%e stuffed
them do'n a badger sett."
The masters said goodnight and 'ent off to %isit other
dormitories, lea%ing the bo$s still dis(ussing their !lans.
121
Darbishire settled do'n in bed. 5n his mind's e$e he
(ould see the ne' treasure tro%e in a shin$ ne' tin bo7 'ith
a label on the lid sa$ing, >ot to $e o&ened %or %i%ty years! 3h,
but the$ 'ould ha%e to lea%e some (lues some'here, or ho'
'ould an$one kno' it had been buried*
)e tried to imagine himself and Jennings meeting again
in fift$ $ears to dig it u!, but it 'as diffi(ult, almost
im!ossible, to guess 'hat the$ 'ould look like so far into
the future.
The 9uestion of 'hat to !ut in the bo7 'as still being
debated some 'hile after the masters had gone. +ut nobod$,
on the s!ur of the moinent, (ould think of an$ 'orth'hile or
original ideas that 'ere not immediatel$ %etoed b$
somebod$ else.
Jennings said, "/et's sto! arguing. #e'%e got the 'hole
of the summer holida$s to think 'hat to !ut in it. 5 %ote 'e
all make a list of ten interesting things to be dis(o%ered
'hen 'e're about as old as >eneral "erride' and "r
"a(Taggart."
This 'as agreed. 3s the$ settled do'n to slee!,
Jennings turned to Darbishire in the ne7t bed and said, "Dou
kno', Darbi, no' 'e'%e got something to look for'ard to, it
'on't be so bad (oming ba(k ne7t term, after all."
+ut Darbishire 'as alread$ aslee!.
Anthony Buckeridge
122
2C @uin 1A12
/ondres
<o$aume&Pni
DT(Us 2? @uin 2CC-
/angue d'T(riture 3nglais
>enres /ittTrature !our la @eunesse
Vu%res !rin(i!ales
+ennett

3nthon$ "al(olm +u(keridge H1A12 & 2CC-I est un T(ri%ain anglais !our la @eunesse,
(onnu !our sa sTrie +ennett HJennings, en %oI et <e7 "illigan.
6ommaire


Biogra,hie
+u(keridge est nT le 2C @uin 1A12 W /ondres mais, W la suite de la mort de son !Ure
durant la =remiUre >uerre mondiale, il emmTnage a%e( sa mUre W <oss&on&#$e !our %i%re
a%e( ses grands&!arents. 3!rUs la fin de la guerre, ils re%iennent W /ondres oX le @eune
+u(keridge %a dT%elo!!er un goYt !our le thTZtre et l'T(riture. Pne bourse d'un fonds !our les
or!helins des em!lo$Ts de ban9ue !ermet W sa mUre de l'en%o$er au 6eaford 1ollege boarding
s(hool dans le 6usse7. 6on e7!Trien(e d'T(olier d'alors sera largement rTin%estie dans ses
futurs rT(its.
3!rUs la mort du grand&!Ure de +u(keridge, la famille dTmTnage W #el'$n >arden
1it$ oX sa mUre tra%aillait W la !romotion de la nou%elle uto!ie banlieusarde au!rUs des
/ondoniens. 2n 1A,C +u(keridge (ommen(e W tra%ailler W la ban9ue de son !Ure, mais il s'en
lasse %ite. 5l se lan(e alors dans le mTtier d'a(teur, (om!renant une a!!arition non (rTditTe
dans le film de 1A,1 d'3nthon$ 3s9uith, Tell 2ngland.
3!rUs son !remier mariage a%e( 6$l%ia +ro'n, il s'ins(rit W Pni%ersit$ 1ollege
/ondon oX il s'engage dans des grou!es s'ins(ri%ant dans les mou%an(es so(ialiste et !a(ifiste
Hde%enant !lus tard un membre a(tif du 1ND & 1am!aign for Nu(lear DisarmamentI mais il
n'obtient !as de di!l[mes, T(houant en /atin. 3%e( une @eune famille W entretenir, +u(keridge
12,
se retrou%e W enseigner dans le 6uffolk et le Northam!tonshire (e 9ui lui a!!orte une
ins!iration su!!lTmentaire !our ses futurs ou%rages. =endant la 6e(onde guerre mondiale,
+u(keridge est a!!elT (omme !om!ier, et T(rit !lusieurs !iU(es de thTZtre a%ant de re%enir au
mTtier d'enseignant W <amsgate.
5l a%ait alors (outume de ra(onter W ses TlU%es des histoires W !ro!os d'un (ertain
Jennings imaginaire Htoutefois ins!irT !ar le !ersonnage de son (amarade de (lasse Diarmid
JenningsI, un TlU%e interne au (ollUge de /inbur$ 1ourt =re!arator$ 6(hool, dont le dire(teur
Ttait ". =emberton&0akes.
3!rUs la 6e(onde >uerre mondiale, +u(keridge T(rit une sTrie de !iU(es de thTZtre
radio!honi9ues !our l'Tmission de la ++1',1hildren's )our faisant la (hroni9ue des e7!loits
de Jennings et de son (amarade !lus sTrieu7, Darbishire H"ortimer dans la %ersion fran\aiseI B
le !remier T!isode, Jennings /earns the <o!es, est !our la !remiUre fois diffusT le 14 o(tobre
1A-?.
2n 1A.C, le !remier roman d'une sTrie de !lus de %ingt, Jennings goes to 6(hool,
H+ennett au (ollUgeI !ara]t. 1es rT(its font une utilisation trUs libre du @argon in%entif d'T(olier
de +u(keridge. 1es li%res, aussi (onnus 9ue la sTrie de Frank <i(hards, +ill$ +unter W leur
T!o9ue, seront traduits en un grand nombre de langues.
2n 1A42, +u(keridge ren(ontre sa se(onde T!ouse, 2ileen 6elb$, 9u'il re(onna]t (omme
le %Tritable amour de sa %ie. 5ls s'installent !rUs de /e'es oX +u(keridge (ontinue d'T(rire et
tient Tgalement 9uel9ues r[les Hnon (hantantI au Festi%al d'art l$ri9ue de >l$ndebourne.
+u(keridge (ontribue de maniUre im!ortante W l'humour britanni9ue d'a!rUs&guerre, un
fait re(onnu notamment !ar le (omTdien6te!hen Fr$. 6on sens de la rT!li9ue (omi9ue et de
l'eu!hTmisme dTle(table a TtT ra!!ro(hT du st$le de =. >. #odehouse,+en )e(ht et +en
Tra%ers.
+u(keridge a T(rit une autobiogra!hie, #hile 5 <emember H56+N C&A.21-?2&1&?I. 5l a
TtT rT(om!ensT !ar l'0rdre de l'2m!ire +ritanni9ue en 2CC,.
+u(keridge est mort le 2? @uin 2CC- W A2 ans, atteint de!uis !lusieurs annTes de la
maladie de =arkinson. 5l laisse sa se(onde femme 2ileen et trois enfants, dont deu7 de son
!remier mariage.
"es ada,tations de ses <u=res
/es histoires d'T(oliers anglais de (lasse mo$enne Ttaient !arti(uliUrement !o!ulaires
en Nor%Uge oX !lusieurs T!isodes furent filmTs. Toutefois, les li%res et les films nor%Tgiens
Ttaient (om!lUtement rTT(rits dans un dT(or nor%Tgien et a%e( des noms nor%Tgiens, (e 9ui
fait 9ue Jennings est un nom (om!lUtement in(onnu en Nor%Uge. /a !lu!art des Nor%Tgiens
12-
(onnaissent bien en re%an(he 6tom!a, 9ui est le !atron$me de Jennings dans les li%res
nor%Tgiens & et sou%ent sont (on%ain(us 9ue les li%res Ttaient T(rits W l'origine en nor%Tgien.
2n Fran(e, Jennings est de%enu +ennett, lors de son ada!tation !our la +ibliothU9ue
%erte !ar 0li%ier 6T(han, le dire(teur de la (olle(tion d'alors, mais le dT(or est demeurT
anglais.
"es ro7ans > Bennett ?
+ennett au (ollUge & HJennings >oes to 6(hool & Jennings %a W l'T(oleI, H1A.CI
/'3gen(e +ennett ^ 1ie & HJennings Follo's a 1lue & Jennings suit une !isteI, H1A.1I
+ennett et sa (abane & HJennings' /ittle )ut & /a !etite hutte de JenningsI, H1A.1I
+ennett et "ortimer & HJennings and Darbishire & Jennings et DarbishireI, H1A.2I
+ennett et la roue folle & HJennings' Diar$ & /e @ournal de JenningsI, H1A.,I
+ennett et le gTnTral & H3((ording to Jennings & 6elon JenningsI, H1A.-I
+ennett entre en s(Une & H0ur Friend Jennings & Notre ami JenningsI, H1A..I
Pn ban !our +ennett & HThanks to Jennings & >rZ(e W JenningsI, H1A.:I
+ennett et ses grenouilles & HTake Jennings, for 5nstan(e & =reneE Jennings, !ar e7em!leI
H1A.?I
+ennett et son !iano & HJennings, as Psual & Jennings, (omme d'habitudeI, H1A.AI
+ennett dans le bain & HThe Trouble #ith Jennings & /e !roblUme a%e( JenningsI, H1A4CI
+ennett !rend le train & HJust /ike Jennings & e7a(tement (omme JenningsI, H1A41I
+ennett et la (artomani(ienne & H/ea%e it to Jennings & laisseE faire JenningsI, H1A4,I
+ennett fait son numTro & HJennings, 0f 1ourse8 & Jennings, bien sYr 8I, H1A4-I
+ennett fonde un (lub & H2s!e(iall$ Jennings8 & Tout !arti(uliUrement Jennings 8I, H1A4.I
+ennett et le !igeon %o$ageur HJennings 3bounding & Jennings en fait beau(ou!I, H1A4:I
H<Tim!rimT !lus tard sous le titre @ennings Pnlimited !our T%iter la (onfusion a%e( la !iU(e de
thTZtre de 6amuels Fren(h du m_me titre.
+ennett (ham!ion & HJennings in =arti(ular & Jennings en dTtailsI,H1A4?I
Faites (onfian(e W +ennett 8 & HTrust Jennings8I, H1A4AI
+ennett se met en boule & HThe Jennings <e!ort & le ra!!ort JenningsI, H1A:CI
+ennett dans la (a%erne & HT$!i(all$ Jennings8 & T$!i9uement Jennings 8I, H1A:1I
+ennett n'en rate !as une & H6!eaking of Jennings8 & 2n !arlant de Jennings 8I, H1A:,I
+ennett en %a(an(es & HJennings at /arge & Jennings !rend le largeI, H1A::I
Jennings 3gain & 2n(ore Jennings 8 H1AA1I & inTdit en fran\ais.
That's Jennings & `a ('est Jennings 8 H1AA-I & inTdit en fran\ais.
12.
Traduction ou Ada,tation5
Les romans en franais ne sont pas des traductions intgrales mais des
adaptations par lcrivain Olivier Schan. Ainsi, quelques aspects de l' "ducation
anglaise" tels que les chtiments corporels, la pri!re " la chapelle ou le dtail des
matches de cric#et, n'apparaissent pas dans la traduction franaise.
Les premiers volumes ont t condenss pour tenir dans le format impos par
la $i%lioth!que verte. Les fins sont donc souvent tronques de mani!re " ce que
l'histoire se termine sur une pointe comique
&
.
Les prnoms des personnages ont eu' aussi t remplacs par d'autres, moins
inha%ituels pour les lecteurs franais ( )ennings et *ar%ishire sont devenus $ennett
et +ortimer. Leurs e'pressions favorites et images ont t traduites en franais par
le parler ,eune des annes &-./01/, et les fulminations du 2rofesseur 3il#inson,
dignes du 4apitaine 5addoc#, ont t remplaces par de proches quivalents.
La pratique de l'adaptation tait courante avant les annes &--/ ou 6/// 7 elle
est parfois plus pousse dans certains pa8s ( ainsi, en 9orv!ge, nos collgiens anglais
devenaient norvgiens7 la campagne anglaise, un pa8sage nordique. Au ::;
e
si!cle,
les traducteurs sacrifient parfois " l'e'c!s inverse ( la traduction est e'agrment
fid!le, au point de n'avoir aucune saveur pour le lecteur franais.
I--ustrations
)ean <eschofs#8 a t l'illustrateur des titres parus dans la collection ;dal0
$i%lioth!que que lon peut considrer comme le meilleur dessinateur, = lofficiel = et
le plus reprsentatif de la srie. Les illustrations franaises, dans la $i%lioth!que
verte, en particulier celles de *aniel $illon >asse? mdiocres@ , reprsentent souvent
124
les hros en ,eunes adolescents, alors que les dessins originau' de *ouglas +a8s
prAtaient " $ennett, +ortimer et leurs camarades des traits plus enfantins
6
.
/es Tditions modernes H+ibliothU9ue rose et /i%re de =o(heI ont TtT rT&illustrTes dans
un st$le diffTrent !ar Hentre autresI =eters Da$, "i(hel +a(kUs, Fran\ois =la(e, Vi(tor de /a
Fuente, Fran\oise =i(hardet "arie "allard, dessins 9ui nont au(un lien a%e( lessen(e m_me
de la sTrie. Fort heureusement la sa%eur du te7te et son originalitT ont TtT !rTser%Tes.
12: