She was – and she was very much annoyed to find that Jack seemed to have disappeared. Where was he? She could hear the sentries coming nearer and nearer, and the sound of their clump-clump-clumping annoyed her.
She flew up to a jutting-out stone in the wall, and when the two men marched just below her, she hooted long and loud.
‘HOOOOOO! HOOO-HOOO-HOOO!’
The sound of marching feet stopped abruptly. One of the men said something quickly to the other in a frightened voice.
Kiki yapped like a dog and then snarled. It sounded most extraordinary in that dark, echoing passage. The men looked all round. Where was the dog?
‘Mee-ow-ow-ow!’ wailed Kiki, like a hungry cat, and then went off into a cackle of laughter.
‘Wipe your feet, blow your nose, pop goes the weasel, pop-pop-pop!’
The men didn’t understand a word, of course, but that frightened them all the more. They clutched each other, feeling the hairs on their head beginning to prickle in fright.
Kiki coughed and cleared her throat in a remarkably human way. Why that should have put the two sentries into an absolute panic she couldn’t guess! But it certainly did, and, casting their rifles away, they fled down the passage at top speed, howling out something in their own language.
Jack had heard all this, for he had opened the hidden door a little, feeling anxious about Kiki. He listened to her performance with a grin. Good old Kiki! He called her softly and she flew down to his shoulder in delight.
Bill wondered what would be the best thing to do now. It would be dangerous to go back the way they had come, because the scared sentries would certainly arrive back with others to probe into the mystery of the hooting and barking and mewing and coughing!
‘I wonder if the passage behind this hidden door leads anywhere except to the room you put the Count in,’ said Bill to Ronnie.
‘We’ll go and ask him,’ said Ronnie, cheerfully. ‘I’ll poke this in his ribs and see if he’ll talk.’ ‘This’ was his revolver. Bill laughed.
‘You won’t need that. He’ll talk all right when he sees the King here. Your Majesty, perhaps you would like to deal with the Count, and command him to show us the way out?’
The King could talk perfect English. Like Gussy, he had been sent to England to be educated. He nodded, his eyes gleaming. It was obvious that he would certainly enjoy a few words with the Count!
They went to the cell-like room into which Ronnie had shoved the Count, locking him in, nicely tied up. Count Paritolen was on the floor, looking furious. When he saw the King he looked so thunderstruck that Bill laughed.
‘Undo his legs, Ronnie, but not his arms,’ said Bill. ‘He should stand up politely before the King.’
The Count’s legs were untied and he stood up, his face very pale indeed. The King began to address him in vigorous Tauri-Hessian. The Count wilted – his head hung forward – and finally he fell on his knees, a picture of misery and fright. The King touched him contemptuously with his foot, and said a few more words. The Count got up again, and said, ‘Ai! Ai! Ai!’ eagerly, which Jack knew to mean ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’
‘He’s going to show us the way out,’ said Bill. ‘Good thing too. I seem to hear a tremendous noise starting up somewhere in the distance. No doubt our friends the sentries have brought all their buddies along – and have discovered the unbolted door and the empty room. Tell the Count to get a move on, Ronnie.’
With his arms still tied behind him the Count stumbled out of the little bare room. He led them to a door opposite and kicked it open. A small stairway led downwards. ‘I’ll go first,’ said Ronnie, and nipped in front of the Count.
The steps led down to a little panelled room, rather like a small study. The Count said a few words, nodding his head at a panel. Ronnie stepped forward and slid the panel downwards. A hole just big enough for a man to squeeze through was now showing. Nothing could be seen the other side because something was hanging over it.
‘Tapestry hangings,’ said Bill, and knocked his hand against it. ‘Well, well – nice lot of hidey-holes and secrets you’ve got here, Count. Very nice indeed. What do we do next? Get behind this tapestry?’
‘He says it’s tapestry hanging in one of the bedrooms,’ said Ronnie. ‘If we make our way behind it a bit, we’ll come to an opening. Here goes!’
He went through the hole, and made his way behind endless tapestry that hung loose from ceiling to floor. At last he came to where, as the Count had said, there was an opening. It was where two different pieces of tapestry met. Ronnie poked his way between them and found himself in a bedroom. He saw beautiful furniture and carpets as he flashed his torch round. The room was quite empty.
The others came out into the room too, having made their way behind the tapestry. Jack sneezed because it was full of dust. Kiki promptly sneezed too, much to the Count’s amazement. He had not met Kiki before!
‘Now where?’ said Ronnie, digging his revolver into the Count’s ribs quite suddenly. The man gave a startled jump and almost fell over in fright.
‘I hardly think that poke in the ribs was necessary,’ said Bill, with a grin.
‘No, not necessary – but awfully good for a nasty little double-crosser like him!’ said Ronnie. ‘People who threaten others with this, that and the other when they are in power deserve a bit of a fright from my gun. Now then, Count – the quickest and best way out, please!’
This last was said in Tauri-Hessian and the Count replied at once, his words tumbling over one another in his desire to please this fierce Englishman.
‘It’s easy now,’ said Ronnie. ‘We apparently go down the back stairs into the deserted kitchen quarters, and just let ourselves out of the back door. Nothing could be simpler!’
So down the back stairs they went, and into a vast kitchen. Three cats were there, their eyes gleaming in the light of Bill’s torch. Kiki yapped like a small dog, and the cats fled into corners at once.
‘Kiki!’ said Jack, with a laugh. ‘You’re irrepressible!’
Kiki tried to repeat the word and couldn’t. Bill was now unlocking the great back door. They all went out into a big yard. Then down to the castle gate, a massive wrought iron affair, whose keys hung most conveniently at the side. Bill unlocked the gate and out they went, finding themselves in the main street of Borken.
‘Now – where is the place we left the van?’ wondered Bill. ‘Jack, could you take Ronnie to it? Ronnie, we’ll wait here for you.’
Jack sped off with Ronnie. He had been in the town several times and knew the way. He and Ronnie were soon in the field where they had left the van, and Ronnie started it up at once.
It was not long before the van drew up beside the other three in the dark highway. They got in. Bill was behind with the Count and Jack. The King went in front with Ronnie. It was queer to sit in the back, with all kinds of goods rattling on the shelves. The Count, however, took no notice. He was feeling extremely gloomy.
‘I say – where are we going? This isn’t the way back to the circus camp,’ said Jack, suddenly.
‘No, I know,’ said Bill. ‘I’m afraid we must go straight to the capital town of Tauri-Hessia, Jack – the King needs to be there at the earliest possible moment. Things are in a great turmoil, you see – nobody knows what is going to happen – no King – no Prince – the Count apparently trying to take things over – the Prime Minister a weak tool . . .’
‘Yes, I see,’ said Jack. ‘But as soon as the King appears, everything will be all right, won’t it?’
‘It will certainly be all right after he has appeared to his people and spoken to them,’ said Bill. ‘He will have quite a lot of interesting things to tell them! I think, too, it is essential that Gussy should appear also – so that the people will be sure that he and his uncle are on good terms, and back each other up.’
‘Oh, Gussy will love that!’ said Jack. ‘Do we go back to get him?’
‘We do,’ said Bill. ‘And we also get the others. I’m sure the King
will want to see Gussy’s fellow prisoners. He has a lot to hear about, you know.’
The King certainly wanted to meet all the others when he heard the amazing story that Bill had to tell him. It was all told when they reached the Palace. Then, after a delighted and amazed welcome from a few servants on duty, the King retired to a little room with Bill, Ronnie and Jack. The Count was sent off in disgrace with four soldiers in front of him and four behind!
‘Left, right, left, right!’ shouted Kiki after him. ‘God save the King!’
It was still dark, for the sun was not due to rise for another hour. Jack suddenly yawned. He really couldn’t help it.
‘You’d better have a snooze,’ said Bill. ‘The King is sending his State Car to fetch the others first thing in the morning. He will lend you some of Gussy’s clothes, he says, if you want to look decent. The others are being sent clothes too, especially, of course, Gussy He couldn’t possibly appear in his girls’ things!’
‘This is going to be fun from now on,’ said Jack, trying to keep awake. ‘Oh, gosh, I’m sleepy. What are you going to do, Bill? Have a sleep, too?’
‘No. I’m going to get in touch with your aunt by radio,’ said Bill, ‘and tell her you’re all safe. I’ll get her to fly out tomorrow, and we’ll all be together again!’
Jack fell on to a sofa, feeling that he couldn’t keep awake one moment longer. ‘Good old Bill,’ he said.
‘Everything comes right when you’re here. Good morning – I mean good night!’
And in half a second more he was fast asleep. What a night he had had!
30
‘God save the King!’
Jack awoke to find a pretty Tauri-Hessian maid bringing him a most magnificent breakfast. Somebody had undressed him, put silk pyjamas on him and popped him into a luxurious bed. He was amazed.
‘To think they did all that and I never woke up!’ he thought. ‘I must have been tired! Gosh – what a breakfast! Kiki, look here – the biggest, juiciest grapefruit I ever did see in my life – and two halves, not one. You can have one for yourself if you don’t make too much mess.’
Kiki approved of the grapefruit. She settled down to it, and for once in a way didn’t say a word. Jack ate every scrap of the generous breakfast, and then lay back, thinking over the happenings of the night before.
‘I bet the Count isn’t eating a breakfast like this,’ he told Kiki. ‘What do you think?’
‘The doctor’s got a cold, fetch the King,’ said Kiki, looking to see if Jack had left any of his grapefruit. ‘One, two, how-do-you-do?’
‘Buckle my shoe, you mean,’ said Jack. ‘I say – look! Do you suppose those princely clothes are for me to put on, Kiki, old bird? Goodness, the Tauri-Hessians won’t know if I’m the Prince, or Gussy.’
Bill came in, looking much smartened up. ‘Oh, you’re awake at last,’ he said. ‘My word, you don’t mean to say you ate all that breakfast!’
‘Kiki helped me,’ said Jack, with a grin. ‘Have the others been sent for yet, Bill?’
‘Yes. I’d like to see their faces when the King’s State Car rolls up, complete with clothes for them all,’ said Bill. ‘The King’s a great sport. He’s asked Pedro, Toni, Bingo and old Ma too – and sent clothes for them all!’
‘Goodness!’ said Jack. ‘Old Ma! She’ll have the time of her life. But if it hadn’t been for her looking after Gussy he’d certainly have been caught. I say – this is going to be quite a party, isn’t it?’
‘Oh, quite,’ said Bill. ‘And your aunt is arriving today too!’
‘It’s just like a pantomime ending!’ said Jack, delighted. ‘Everyone on the stage at the end!’
‘You’d better get up,’ said Bill. ‘The King is making his speech to the people at twelve o’clock, and it’s now eleven. After that there is to be a really splendid luncheon laid on – and you’ll be sorry you ate so much breakfast, I can tell you!’
Jack leapt out of bed. ‘Is it really eleven o’clock? Gosh, I’ll never be ready. I don’t know how to put all these clothes on – buckles – sashes – ruffles – good gracious, is it royal dress?’
‘No. Ordinary Tauri-Hessian festival wear,’ said Bill. ‘I don’t feel able to cope with it myself, nor does Ronnie. We feel a bit more at ease in our own things, but you and the others will look fine.’
Jack was ready at a quarter to twelve. He looked at himself in the glass. ‘Gracious – I’m like a theatrical prince. I really must have my photograph taken to show the boys at school – they’ll be amazed!’
There came the sound of cheering in the street below. Jack opened his window and looked out. A very grand State Car was being driven slowly up the street, followed by yet another. The people were cheering each one as it went by.
Jack nearly fell out of the window, and Kiki gave a loud screech. ‘Look, Kiki – do you see who’s in the first car?’ cried Jack. ‘Lucy-Ann, Philip, Gussy and Dinah! Did you ever see anyone looking so grand? And look in the second car – Pedro – Ma – Toni and Bingo! They look as fine as if they were just going to perform in the circus ring!’
So they did. Ma, especially, looked magnificent, and she had a sudden unexpected dignity that made Pedro look at her with surprise and great pride. His mother! Old Ma, riding in a State Car, wearing silk clothes right down to her skin! Pedro couldn’t believe it.
He looked very grand himself, and enjoyed it. He knew that nothing like this would ever happen to him again in his life and he meant to enjoy every moment of it.
Toni and Bingo looked grand but subdued. They were not in the least nervous when they went into the circus ring – but they couldn’t help feeling nervous now – all this cheering and shouting when they weren’t even performing!
The cars turned in at the gates, and Jack leaned out of the window and yelled, quite forgetting that he was in a King’s palace.
‘Lucy-Ann! I’m up here!’
Kiki squawked too. ‘Hip-hip-hip-hip-hurrah! Send for the doctor!’
Twelve o’clock came. The King went out on the balcony of his palace to show himself to his people and to make a speech to explain all that had happened. There was dead silence as the loud-speakers relayed the simple, vigorous speech.
Bill thought that Tauri-Hessia had a very fine King. He was glad that the Count had not dethroned him and put Gussy up as King himself. Gussy was just a timid little boy at present – but perhaps, when he had learnt all that his good school had to teach him, at lessons and at games, he would make as fine a King as his uncle.
Gussy had a tremendous reception when his uncle called him to his side, and presented him to the people. After all the scares of the last few days, they needed to see not only the King but the little Prince too.
Gussy looked every inch a Prince, as he saluted stiffly, and then bowed in every direction. He wore magnificent clothes, and his cloak blew out in the wind, showing its scarlet lining. Jack grinned as he thought how Gussy had looked when he had seen him last – dressed as a girl, with his long hair tied up in bows. Poor Gussy! Nobody must ever learn of that, or he would be teased about it for the rest of his life – and Gussy did not like teasing.
The next thing was the luncheon. The children had all been put at a table together, with Gussy and Pedro as well. Ma, Toni and Bingo were at a side table too, very conscious of their fine clothes. They used fine manners to match, and ate everything with knives, forks or spoons, instead of using only their fingers half the time as they usually did.
The six children talked eagerly together, exchanging news. ‘Fank is up and about again,’ said Philip. ‘Thank goodness he is, or I couldn’t have come. Hallo, Snoozy, do you want to join us at last? He’s seen those almonds, Dinah – do look at him, holding one and nibbling it!’
‘I don’t like him on the table,’ said Dinah, but she was much too happy to make a fuss. She told Jack of the excitement when the message came that they were all to dress in State clothes and be driven to the Palace. ‘We just couldn’t believe it!’ she said.
‘Tell us again about last night, Jack, and how you rescued the King and caught the Count.’
Gussy was tremendously excited. His eyes sparkled, and he talked nineteen to the dozen. He felt in his element now – he was a Prince, the heir to the throne, Prince Aloysius Gramondie – not a timid little boy with a lot of long hair!
‘Here’s Aunt Allie!’ cried Lucy-Ann, suddenly. She threw down her table-napkin and flew across the luncheon room, thinking of nothing but welcoming the person she loved so much. ‘Aunt Allie! You’ve come!’
Mrs Cunningham was being ushered into the great room by two servants, who called out her name. Bill went to her at once, and Dinah, Philip and Jack joined Lucy-Ann in her rush across the room. This was all that was needed to make things perfect!
Bill’s eyes were shining as he took his wife to introduce her to the King. A place had been left for her on his other side, for her aeroplane had been expected for the last half hour. She was quite bewildered by everything, for she knew only half the story, of course.
Gussy waited till the others had made enough fuss of her and then went up himself. She held out her hand to him, and he bowed over it, and kissed it politely, just as his uncle had done. Somehow it seemed right in Tauri-Hessia – quite a natural thing to do, and none of the children even thought of laughing.
After the grand lunch the children went to see over the Palace. ‘My word – you’re lucky to be able to spend the rest of your hols here, Gussy,’ said Jack. ‘It’s a wonderful place. Not that I’d like to live here, of course – but to stay for a few weeks as you’ll be able to do – you’re jolly lucky!’
‘We shall miss you, Gussy,’ said Lucy-Ann. ‘I suppose we’ll be leaving tomorrow, or sometime soon. I’m quite sorry this adventure is over.’
‘But it isn’t,’ said Gussy, his face beaming all over. ‘It isn’t! I have asked my uncle to let me have you here as my guests. You will stay? Or do you not like me well enough? You have so often tizzed me – like when my finger blidded.’