Last Term at Malory Towers

  "Hie!" cried the policeman, "have these geese got numbers and lamps?"

  "I'll go and ask the farmer they belong to!" laughed Chinky. The geese rose up into the air and the wind they made with their big wings blew off the policeman's helmet.

  "I'll take your names, I'll take your names!" he yelled in a temper.

  He scribbled furiously in his notebook - and Mollie laughed so much that she nearly fell off her goose.

  "He doesn't know our names - and he's trying to write

  "Hie!" cried the policeman, "have these geese go: numbers and lamps?"

  with his rubber!" she giggled. "Oh dear! What a topsy¬turvy creature!"

  Peter was delighted to see Chinky and Mollie again. The two geese took them to the playroom door, cackled good-bye to Chinky, and flew off down to the farm.

  The wishing-chair stood in the corner. Its wings had disappeared. It looked very forlorn indeed. It knew it was in disgrace.

  Chinky turned it round the right way again. "We'll forgive you if you'll behave yourself next time!" he said.

  The chair creaked loudly. "It's sorry now!" grinned Chinky. "Come on - what about a game of ludo before vou have to go in?"

  VII

  THE CHAIR RUNS AWAY AGAIN

  ONE afternoon Mollie, Peter, and Chinky were in the playroom together, playing at Kings and Queens. They each took it in turn to be a King or a Queen, and they wore the red rug for a cloak, and a cardboard crown covered with gold paper. The wishing-chair was the throne.

  It was Peter's turn to be King. He put on the crown and wound the red rug round his shoulders for a cloak.

  He did feel grand. He sat down in the wishing-chair and arranged the cloak round him, so that it fell all round the chair and on to the floor too, just like a real king's cloak.

  Then Mollie and Chinky had to curtsy and bow to him, and ask for his commands. He could tell them to do anything he liked.

  "Your Majesty, what would you have me do today?" asked Mollie, curtsying low.

  "I would have you go and pick me six dandelions, six daisies, and six buttercups," said Peter, grandly, waving his hand. Mollie curtsyed again and walked out backwards, nearly falling over a stool as she did so.

  Then Chinky asked Peter what he was to do for him. "Your Majesty, what would you have me do?" he said, bowing low.

  "I would have you go to the cupboard and get me a green sweet out of the bottle there," said Peter commandingly. Chinky went to the cupboard. He couldn't see the bottle at first. He moved the tins about and hunted for it. He didn't see what was happening behind him!

  Peter didn't see either. But what was happening was that the wishing-chair was growing its wings - under the red rug that was all around its legs! Peter sat in the chair, waiting impatiently for his commands to be obeyed - and the chair flapped its red wings under the rug and wondered why it could not flap them as easily as usual!

  Mollie was in the garden gathering the flowers that Peter had ordered. Chinky was still hunting for the bottle of sweets. The wishing-chair flapped its wings harder than ever - it suddenly rose into the air, and flew swiftly out of the door before Peter could jump out, and before

  Chinky could catch hold of it. It was gone!

  "Hie, Mollie, Mollie!" yelled Chinky in alarm.

  "The wishing-chair's gone - and Peter's gone with it!"

  Mollie came tearing into the playroom. "I saw it!" she panted. "Oh, why didn't Peter or you see that its wings had grown? Now, it's gone off with Peter, and we don't know where!"

  "We didn't see its wings growing because the red rug hid its legs!" said Chinky. "It must have grown them under the rug and flown off before any of us guessed!"

  "Well, what shall we do?" asked Mollie. "What will happen to Peter?"

  "It depends where he's gone," said Chinky. "Did you see which way the chair went?"

  "Towards the west," said Mollie. "Peter was yelling and shouting like anything - but he couldn't stop the chair."

  "Well, we'd better go on a journey of our own," said Chinky. "I'll catch Farmer Straw's two geese again. They won't like it much - but it can't be helped. We must go after Peter and the chair somehow!"

  He ran off down to the farm. Presently Mollie heard the noise of flapping wings, and down from the sky came Chinky, riding on the back of one of the geese, and leading the other by a piece of thick string. The geese hissed angrily as they came to the ground.

  "They are most annoyed about it," said Chinky to Mollie. "They only came when I promised them that I wouldn't let Farmer Straw take them to market next week,"

  "Ss-ss-ss-ss!" hissed the big geese, and one tried to

  peck at Mollie's fat legs. Chinky smacked it.

  "Behave yourself!" he said. "If you peck Mollie I'll change your beak into a trumpet, and then you'll only be able to toot, not cackle or hiss!"

  Mollie laughed. "You do say some funny things, Chinky," she said. She got on to the goose's back. Up in the air it went, flapping its enormous white wings.

  "We'll go to the cloud castle first of all," said Chinky. "The fairies there may have seen Peter going by and can tell us where they think the chair might have been going."

  at Mollie V fat legs. Clunky smacked it.

  So they flew to an enormous white cloud that towered up into the sky. As they drew near it Mollie could see that it had turrets, and was really a cloud castle. She thought it was the loveliest thing she had ever seen.

  There wTas a great gateway in the cloud castle. The geese flew through it and landed in a misty courtyard. Mollie was just going to get off when Chinky shouted to her.

  "Don't get off, Mollie - you haven't got cloud-shoes on and you'd fall right through to the earth below!"

  Mollie stayed on her goose. Small fairies dressed in all the colours of the rainbow came running into the courtyard, chattering in delight to see Mollie and Chinky. They wore cloud-shoes, rather like big flat snow- shoes, and with these they were able to step safely on the cloud that made their castle.

  "Come in and have some lemonade!" cried the little folk. But Chinky shook his head.

  "We are looking for a boy in a flying chair," he said. "Have you see him?"

  "Yes!" cried the fairies, crowding round the geese, who cackled and hissed at them. "He passed about fifteen minutes ago. The chair had red wings and was flying strongly towards the west. Hurry and you may catch it up!"

  "Thank you!" cried Chinky. He shook the string reins of his goose, and he and Mollie flew up into the air once more, and went steadily westwards.

  "There is a gnome who lives in a tall tower some miles westwards," said Chinky. "It is so tall that it sticks out above the clouds. We will make for there, and see if he has seen anything of Peter and the wishing-chair."

  The geese flew on, cackling to one another. They were still in a bad temper. Chinky kept a look out for the tall tower - but Mollie saw it first. It looked very strange. It was sticking right through a big black cloud, and, as it was made of bright silver, it shone brilliantly.

  There was a small window at the top. It was open. The geese flew down to the window-sill and Chinky stuck his head inside.

  "Hie, gnome of the tower! Are you in?"

  "Yes!" yelled a voice. "If that is the baker leave me a brown loaf, please."

  "It isn't the baker!" shouted Chinky. "Come on up here!"

  "Well, if it's the butcher, leave me a pound of sausages!" yelled the voice.

  his silver tower icith a big check duster.

  "It isn't the butcher!" shouted back Chinky, getting cross. "And it isn't the milkman or the grocer or the newspaper boy or the fishmonger either!"

  "And it isn't the postman!" cried Mollie. "It's Chinky and Mollie!"

  The gnome was surprised. He climbed up the many steps of his tower till he came to the top. Then he put his head out of the window and gaped in amazement to see Mollie and Chinky on their two geese.

  "Hallo!" he said. "Where do yon come from?"

  "Never mind that," said Chinky. "We've
come to ask you if you've seen a boy on a flying chair."

  "Yes," said the gnome at once. "He passed about twenty minutes ago. I thought he was a king or something because he wore a golden crown. He was going towards the land of the Scally-Wags."

  "Oh my!" said Chinky in dismay. "Are you sure?"

  "Of course I am," said the gnome, nodding his big head. "I thought he was the baker coming at first."

  "You think everyone's the baker!" said Chinky, and he jerked the reins of his goose. "Come on, goose! To the land of the Scally-Wags."

  The geese flew off. The gnome climbed out on the window-sill and began to polish his silver tower with a big check duster.

  "Does he keep that tower polished himself?" said Mollie in surprise. "Goodness, it must keep him busy all the week!"

  "It does," said Chinky, grinning. "Because as soon as he's done it all and reached the top, the bottom is dirty again and he has to begin all over again!"

  "Chinky, you didn't sound very pleased when you knew that Peter and the chair had gone to the Land of the Scally-Wags," said Mollie. "Why weren't you?"

  "Well, the Scally-Wags are horrid people," said Chinky. "You see, to that land go all the had folk of Fairyland, Goblin-Land, Brownie-Town, Pixie-Land, Gnome-Country, and the rest. They call themselves Scally-Wags, and they are just as horrid as they sound. If Peter goes there he will be treated like a Scally-Wag, and expected to steal and tell fibs and behave very badly. And if he doesn't, they will say he is a spy and lock him up."

  "Oh, Chinky, I do think that's horrid," said Mollie in dismay. "Peter will hate being in a land like that."

  "Well, don't worry, I dare say we shall be able to rescue him all right," said Chinky - though really he had no idea at all how to save Peter. Chinky himself had never been to the Land of Scally-Wags before!

  The geese cackled and hissed. They were getting tired. Chinky hoped they would be able to go on flying till they reached Scally-Wag Land. Mollie leaned over and looked down.

  "Look, Chinky." she said. "Is that Scally-Wag Land? Do you see those houses down there - and that funny railway line - and that river with those ships on?"

  "Yes," said Chinky, "that must be Scally-Wag Land. Down, geese, and land there!"

  The geese flew downwards. They landed by the river, and as soon as Chinky and Mollie had jumped off, the two geese paddled into the water and began to swim. Chinky tied their strings to a post, for he was afraid they might fly off.

  A Scallv-Wag ran up to him.

  "Where do you come from?" he asked. "Are vou

  Off went the two, running at top speed, with the angry Scally-Wag after them.

  messengers from anywhere?"

  "No," said Chinky. "We've come to look for some one who came to this land by mistake. We want to take him back."

  "No one leaves this land once they are here," said the Scally-Wag. "I believe you are spies!"

  "Indeed we are not!" said Mollie. The Scally-Wag drew a whistle from his belt and blew on it loudly. Chinky looked alarmed. He caught hold of Mollie's hand.

  "Run!" he said. "If they think we are spies they will lock us up!"

  Off went the two, running at top speed, with the angry Scally-Wag after them. They didn't know where they were going! They only knew that they must run and run and run!

  46

  THE LAND OF SCALLY-WAGS

  MOLLIE and Chinky ran down the river-path, the Scally-Wag shouting after them.

  "Spies!" he called. "Stop them! Spies!" Chinky dragged Mollie on and on. They were both good runners. Another Scally-Wag, hearing the first one shouting, tried to stop Chinky - but the pixie gave him a fierce push and he toppled into the river, splash! How he spluttered and shouted! That gave Chinky an idea.

  He squeezed through a hedge and pulled Mollie after him. Then he lay in wait for the shouting Scally-Wag. As soon as he was through the hedge Chinky gave him a push too - and into the river he went, head-first, squealing like a rabbit! Mollie couldn't help laughing, for he seemed all arms and legs. The water wasn't deep, so he couldn't drown - but dear me, how he yelled!

  "Come on, Mollie," said Chinky. "We seem to be behaving just as badly as Scally-Wags, pushing people into the river like this!"

  They ran on. They seemed to run for miles. They asked every Scally-Wag they met if he had seen a little bov in that land, but nobody had. They all shook their heads and said the same thing.

  "There is no little boy in this land."

  "Well, it's really very peculiar," said Chinky to Mollie. "He must be .v»/»t'where here!"

  "I say, Chinky, I'm getting so hungry," said Mollie. "Aren't you?"

  "Yes, very," said Chinky. "Let's knock at this cottage door and see if they will give us something to eat."

  So he knocked - rat-a-tat-tat. The door opened and a sharp-eyed little goblin looked out.

  "What do you want?" he asked.

  "We are hungry," said Mollie. "Could you give us anything to eat?"

  "Look!" said the goblin, pointing down the lane to where a baker's cart was standing, full of loaves. "Go and take one of the baker's loaves. He's gossiping somewhere. He won't miss one!"

  "But we can't do that!" said Mollie in horror. "That's stealing!"

  "Don't be silly," said the goblin, looking at her out of his small, sharp eyes. "You don't mind stealing, do you? I've never met a Scally-Wag who minded stealing yet! Ill steal a loaf for you if you are afraid of being caught!"

  He set off towards the cart, keeping close by the hedge so that he wouldn't be seen. Mollie and Chinky stared at one another in dismay.

  "Chinky, what horrible people live in this land," said Mollie. "Stop him! We can't let him steal like that. I would never eat any bread that had been stolen."

  "Let's warn the baker," said Chinky. But before they could find him, the goblin had sneaked up to the little cart and had grabbed a new loaf. Then back he scurried to Mollie and Chinky and gave them the loaf, grinning all over his face.

  "I'm sorry, but we couldn't have it," said Chinky. "Stealing is wrong."

  "Not in Scally-Wag Land," said the goblin, his cunning eyes twinkling.

  "It's wrong a/nwhere," said Mollie firmly. "Come on, Chinky. We'll put this loaf back into the cart."

  They set off to the cart - but do you know, just as they were putting the loaf back, that horrid little goblin began to shout for all he was worth. "Baker, Baker! Thieves are at your cart! Look out!"

  The baker came hurrying out. He caught hold of Chinky and began to shake him. "You bad Scally-Wag!" he cried.

  "I'm not a Scally-Wag! I was just putting back a loaf that the goblm stole!" cried Chinky.

  "You are a fibber!" said the baker, and he shook Chinky again until his teeth rattled. Mollie ran 10 the rescue. She tried to catch hold of the baker's arm - but he pushed her and sent her flying. She caught at the little cart to try and save herself - and it went over! All the loaves rolled out into the road.

  The baker gave a loud yell and ran to his cart. The watching goblin shrieked with delight. Mollie and Chinky ran off as fast as they could, crying, "We're so sorry! But it was your own fault for not believing us!"

  They ran until they came to a field of buttercups. They squeezed through a gap in the hedge, and sat down to get their breath.

  "I'm thirsty as well as hungry now," said Mollie. "Where can we get a drink? If we went and asked for a drink of water surely no Scally-Wag would want to steal that for us! Look, there's a cottage over there, Chinky. Let's go and ask."

  They went to the cottage, hot and thirsty and tired. A brownie woman came to the door. She was a cross- looking creature.

  "I thought you were the milkman," she said.

  "No, he's just down the road there," said Chinky, pointing. "Please, Mam, may we have a drink of water."

  "I'll get you a drink of milk!" said the woman, and to Chinky's surprise she darted down the road to the milkman's little hand-cart, and turned on the tap of the churn. The milk ran out of the tap on to the road.


  "Come on!" said the woman. "Drink this!"

  "But we can't do that!" cried Mollie in surprise and disgust. "That's stealing. Oh, do turn off the tap. The milk is all going to waste!"

  The milkman could be heard coming down some one's path, whistling. The woman ran back to her house.

  leaving the tap turned on. The milkman heard his milk running to waste and ran to turn off the tap, shouting angrily, "Who did this? Wait till I catch them!"

  "They did it, those children did it! I saw them!" cried the brownie woman from her door. The milkman saw Chinky and Mollie standing nearby and made a dart at them. But this time they got away before they were caught. They ran down the lane and darted inside a little dark shed to hide.

  "It's too bad," said Mollie. "These Scally-Wags keep doing horrid things and blaming them on to us. I do hate them!"

  "Sh!" said Chinky. "There's the milkman coming after us. Cover yourself in this old sack, Mollie, and I'll do the same."

  They lay down in a corner, covered with the sacks. The milkman looked into the shed and ran on. Mollie sat up. She looked at Chinky and laughed.

  "You do look dirty and hot and untidy," she said.

  "So do you," said Chinky. "In fact, we look like proper little Scally-Wags. They all look dirty and untidy too! Now, where shall we go next! If only we could find Peter!"

  They went out of the shed. The hot sun shone down on them. They felt thirstier than ever. They saw a little stream running nearby, looking cool and clear.

  "What about getting a drink from that?" said Mollie.

  "Well, I don't like drinking from streams," Chinky said. "But really, I'm dreadfully thirsty! Let's try it. Bui don't drink too much, Mollie."

  The two of them knelt down by the stream, took water into their cupped hands and drank. Ooooh! It was so cold and delicious. Just as they finished, and were feeling much better, they heard a voice behind them.

  "That will be twopence each, please. You have drunk from my stream."

  They turned and saw a wizard behind them, in a tall, pointed hat, and cloak embroidered with stars.