‘There’s a flat space over there. Look! Look!’ screamed Dinah to the plane, as if she really thought it could hear her. ‘Come down there! Oh, don’t pass it!’
The plane swooped down still lower and came round again. It seemed to see the flat place that Dinah had yelled about, and it came down neatly, as slowly as it could. Its wheels touched the ground, and for one awful moment it looked as if the rough ground was going to tip the plane over on its nose. But it righted itself and came to a stop.
Dinah looked at the others with flushed cheeks. ‘There you are! It saw my hanky – and it heard my yell!’
The others were staring in delight at the plane. ‘It can’t be friends of Mr Eppy’s!’ cried Philip. ‘It must be someone sent to look for us. Come on!’
Their feet flew along over the rough paths. They saw two men getting out of the plane. They waved to the children and went to meet them.
Lucy-Ann’s sharp eyes recognized them first. ‘It’s TIM!’ she squealed. ‘Tim, Bill’s friend. And isn’t that Andros the boatman with him?’
She was right. It was Tim, and beside him was a rather shamefaced Andros. Tim hailed them.
‘Hello, hello! Where’s Bill? Are you all safe? Andros here came to me with such a wild story I had to come along and investigate!’
‘Yes, Bill’s all right!’ cried Jack, and he pumped Tim’s arm up and down in sheer delight at seeing him. ‘I say, it’s good to see you. Did Andros really come and tell you about us?’
‘He told me a most extraordinary tale,’ said Tim. ‘He apparently chewed it over for a day or so, and then decided he’d better tell someone. When he saw me down at the quayside, trying to spot you all, he recognized me and came up. He said that he took you to Thamis and dropped you there. Then he fell asleep waiting for you.’
‘That’s right,’ said Jack.
‘And then someone came and woke him up in a hurry, and told him he’d no right to be there, and threatened him with prison,’ said Tim. ‘Andros replied that he’d left a party there, a man and four children, a parrot and a monkey – and this fellow raved at him, said it was his own island, and if Andros didn’t clear out then and there he’d have him arrested straight away.’
‘Mr Eppy in a rage, evidently,’ said Jack.
‘Andros then pointed out that he hadn’t been paid and this fellow poured money into his hands and then pointed a revolver at him. So Andros fled, comforting himself by thinking that as the fellow had a boat somewhere he could at least bring you all off in his own good time. That right, Andros?’
‘I do not understand all, Mister, sir,’ said Andros. ‘Bad man here. Very bad. Andros very sorry, Mister, sir.’
‘Well, now you tell your tale,’ said Tim to Jack. So between them the children poured out their story – and it was such an astonishing one that Tim listened open-mouthed. Good gracious – what a tale! He had never heard anything like it in his life.
He soon grasped everything, and grinned to think of old Bill standing patiently by the broken column, waiting for Mr Eppy or his men to come out and be dealt with.
‘I wouldn’t mind dealing with them myself,’ said the young man cheerfully. ‘Biff, thud, ker-plonk – very nice too!’
‘Oh, Tim – you do make me laugh!’ said Lucy-Ann with a giggle. ‘I wonder if Bill has been doing any biffing.’
‘Well, if he has, I hope it’s Mr Eppy that’s getting the biffs, to say nothing of the ker-plonks,’ said Tim, grinning. ‘Well, now – what’s our plan to be?’
‘We’ve got to find the other creek and the boats,’ said Jack. ‘That’s the first thing to do. Then we’ve got to get the two men out of the way – the ones who are with the boats. Then somehow we’ve got to get the boats going and sail off safely without being wrecked on the rocks.’
‘Well, Andros will know where the creek is – in fact, I know myself,’ said Tim. ‘I saw it from the plane – and saw the boats there too. And Andros and I will see to the two men all right.’
‘No. We know a better way than that to get them out of the way,’ said Philip, and he told Tim his plan to send Lucian to them with a fake message. Tim nodded.
‘Yes, that’s better, really. Saves a lot of rough stuff. Not that I mind that, but I’m not sure about our friend here. He’s not made of such stern stuff as he might be.’
‘I think we’d better get back and see Bill before we do anything,’ said Jack. ‘And anyway, we don’t want to get the two boatmen out of the way yet, and turn them on to old Bill. That wouldn’t be a very good plan. Come on – let’s get back to Bill.’
So off they all went, Kiki chattering merrily, knowing that the children were now feeling very much more cheerful. ‘Mistersir,’ she said to Andros. ‘Mistersir, mister!’
They got back to the temple courtyard, and Bill stared in surprise to see Tim. ‘Hello!’ he said. ‘Well, well, well – so it was your plane I saw coming over the island. I couldn’t see it come down from here, but I hoped it had. Bit of luck you meeting with the children. I suppose they’ve told you all the news.’
‘Yes, rather,’ grinned Tim. ‘Pretty adventurous lot, aren’t you? Any trouble with the chappies down the column?’
‘Just a biff or two a little while ago,’ said Bill. ‘Not on Mr Eppy’s head, unfortunately – one of the other fellows, I fear. I haven’t heard so much as the flick of an eyelid since.’
The sound of a bell came echoing up the ruined street. ‘Dong-dong-dong!’
‘Pussy’s down the well!’ screeched Kiki, suddenly remembering ding-dong-bell. ‘Who put her in, who put her in?’
‘What on earth’s that bell?’ asked Tim, startled. ‘Are we late for school or what?’
‘Don’t be silly!’ said Lucy-Ann, laughing. ‘That’s our food. It comes every day regularly at this time. And I’m jolly glad – I’m still hungry after our poor breakfast.’
Tim was amazed to see the imp of a boy coming along with the panniered donkey. Bill did not leave his post by the column, but handed out money to Jack to pay for the food. The boy emptied the panniers, winked at Tim and spat once more at Micky. The monkey immediately spat back, and his aim was a lot better than the boy’s. ‘Pah!’ said the little imp in disgust.
‘Pah!’ echoed Kiki. ‘Pooh! Dong-dong-dong, pop goes the pah!’
The boy gave her a look of amazement and climbed on his donkey’s back. He sent a stream of comments at Kiki, who copied him at once, ending with one of her pistol shots. The donkey reared in fright, and then galloped off with the boy at top speed.
‘You’ll be the death of me one day, Kiki,’ said Bill, weak with laughing. ‘Now then – hand out the food, Jack – and I suppose we’d better throw a bit down the column, or our friends below will starve to death!’
Fortunately the boy had brought a great deal of food, so there was plenty for everyone. Bill yelled down the column in a stentorian voice:
‘If you want food, there’s some coming. But don’t try any funny tricks, or you won’t get any more!’
Somebody evidently came up to get the bread, cheese and meat that Bill threw down. He also threw some fruit, feeling that the men must be as thirsty as he was. There was no word of thanks from anyone in the column, and no sound after the food had been taken.
‘Wonder if they found the treasure,’ said Jack, munching hard. ‘Wish I’d seen it! I bet I shan’t now – and if I don’t, it’ll be the disappointment of my life!’
28
Escape!
Plans were made while they ate. ‘Tim, I want you to take the two girls off in your plane,’ said Bill. ‘I don’t want anyone exposed to danger here one moment longer than necessary. Andros, once we have got rid of the two men down in the boats, you are to take charge of the better boat of the two, and go off with the rest of us.’
‘What, Bill? Do you mean to say we’re going to leave a boat for those scoundrels to escape in?’ cried Jack indignantly.
‘No. I’m going to ask Andros if he will kindly remove some small thing from the en
gine of the other boat so that it won’t start up when the men want it to,’ said Bill with a laugh. ‘I think it would be a very good thing to leave them here, prisoners, till we report them, and find out whether Mr Eppy has bought the island or not. If he has, he’s in a strong position of course, and nothing we say will be listened to with much attention.’
‘He’s always buying and selling islands,’ put in Lucian. ‘I expect he has bought this all right. He’s well known for that.’
‘You may be right,’ said Bill. ‘Do you want to come with us, Lucian, or stay and welcome your uncle out of the column?’
There was no doubt about what Lucian wanted to do. He was going with Bill and the others!
They all felt a lot better after the meal. Tim set off for the plane with the two girls, who hugged Bill before they went and begged him to keep himself safe.
‘I shan’t set off in the plane till I hear your motor boat starting up and going off,’ said Tim. ‘Goodbye for the present. Come on, girls. What people are going to say when I land with you at the airport I cannot imagine. You’re too dirty for anything – regular little grubs!’
Andros, Lucian, Jack and Philip set off for the boats. It was decided that only Lucian should go right up to the boats and give the false message. He was to say that the men were wanted up in the temple courtyard, and give them directions as to how to get there. As soon as Bill spotted them coming he was to leave the broken column where he was on guard, and go to the boats, keeping himself out of sight of the two men.
‘Then we’ll be into one of the boats in a jiffy, and off and away!’ said Jack joyfully. ‘That will show Mr Eppy!’
Andros led the way. He knew the other creek well, though he did not consider it as good as the one he had landed in. When they got near to the boats, Lucian went on alone, while the others hid themselves behind bushes.
Lucian was nervous but tried not to show it. He went up to the boats and shouted loudly. ‘Ahoy there – where are you?’
The two men appeared. Lucian began to say something loudly in Greek, and the two men nodded. They leapt from the boat to the beach, and made their way up the shore. Lucian was telling them where to go, pointing this way and that.
‘Well, I hope he’s telling them correctly,’ thought Jack, remembering how hopeless Lucian had been at trying to find the way to the boats that morning. ‘Let’s hope he has been more careful at marking the way this time.’
The men soon disappeared. Andros raced to the boats. He chose the smaller one of the two as being the better. He went to the other boat and tinkered with the engine. He withdrew something from it and threw it into the other boat, where it fell with a thud.
He grinned at the boys. ‘That boat no good now,’ he said. ‘Engine dead. We get in here quick.’
They all got in. Andros tinkered about with the engine there too. It started up quickly and he stopped it at once.
The boys wondered how old Bill was getting on. Had he spotted the two boatmen? Was he even now coming down to the boat, keeping himself unseen? They hoped so.
Suddenly they heard shouts, and they all sat up straight in their boat. What was that?
Bill was tearing down to the shore at top speed. Behind him were the two men, also running at top speed. Andros acted quickly. He started up the engine at once, and called to the boys to give a hand to Bill when he came.
Red in the face and panting hard, Bill raced up to the boat. Willing hands dragged him in, and almost as he touched the deck of the boat it was off and away, its engine making a terrific noise in the calm of the little creek.
The two men leapt into the other boat at once, shouting angrily. Andros gave a malicious grin. Bill saw it and knew what it meant. The other boat was useless!
No amount of trying would make the second boat start up. Its engine was dead. The two men realised that Andros must have tampered with it, and they stood up, shaking their fists and shouting unintelligibly. Jack and Philip enjoyed it all thoroughly, but poor Lucian was as white as a sheet.
‘Well – we’re off,’ said Bill, getting his breath again. ‘Gosh, I had a narrow escape. I was watching for the men, but they came on me unawares. They must have guessed there was some trickery about, because they suddenly made a bee-line for me and gave me a jolly hard run. I was glad I’d got all directions from Andros as to where the creek was. I nearly missed my way as it was.’
‘Any sound from Eppy and Co.?’ asked Jack. Bill shook his head.
‘No, but they’ll have heard the shouts and I expect they’ll be out of the column by now and having a good snoop round. They’ll join up with the other two men and then Mr Eppy will have a few choice things to say to the two men who left the boats, and so gave us the means of escape. I expect he is thinking of quite a lot of things to say to Lucian too, for giving them that fake message.’
Lucian gave a feeble smile. He was still very white. ‘I shall get a fearful beating,’ he said.
‘You won’t,’ said Bill. ‘I’ll see to that. I’ll give your uncle something to think about, when I get back to the airport island. He’s going to find himself in hot water very, very soon. I don’t care whether he’s bought the island or not. He’s a rogue.’
The sound of an aeroplane’s engine attracted their attention. ‘It’s Tim’s plane!’ cried Jack, and he stood up in the motor-boat and waved. ‘Ahoy there, Tim!’
The plane swooped down low, and Kiki gave a squawk of terror. Micky hid his head under Philip’s arm. The boys cheered and yelled. ‘Good-bye, good luck, Tim! Hello there, girls.’
At about six o’clock in the evening the motor-boat arrived at the airport island. The first thing they saw was the Viking Star in the harbour, still lying silent. The second thing they saw was Tim on the quayside – and the girls with him! They had landed a long time ago, had had a good meal, and then had come down to the quay to wait for the others.
‘I’ve been to the police,’ said Tim. ‘Told the chief you had something to report and would he please not go home till he’d seen you. He’s all hot and bothered – it isn’t often anything happens here!’
Bill laughed. ‘Well, I expect the report will really have to go to the mainland to be dealt with – but as Andros comes from here, and Mr Eppy hired his boats from here, and presumably saw lawyers here if he bought the island, it’s best to see the chief of police of this island.’
The chief was a small bird-like man with an intelligent face, and quick, darting eyes. He spoke English very well. He was very thrilled to think there might be some important news for him.
He listened intently to Bill’s remarkable story, asking a few questions now and again. The children added little bits. When the inspector heard of the treasure he almost fell off his chair.
‘We must find out if this man Eppy did buy the island,’ he said. ‘I know him. He is always buying islands and selling them. I do not like him. He is crazy.’
A good deal of telephoning then went on, with a few ‘Hallos’ from a rather bored Kiki, and some ‘Mistersirs’ and ‘One, two, three, pops!’
At last the little man turned to Bill, his face beaming. ‘Paul Eppy did try to buy the island. But it is not for sale. It is not his – it belongs to our government.’
‘Good!’ said all the children together.
‘What a nerve Mr Eppy has!’ said Dinah.
‘I hope he will not get away with any of that unique treasure,’ said the inspector. ‘He is not an honest man.’
‘He can’t,’ said Jack, with a grin. ‘Andros tampered with the only motor boat there – he can’t use it. He’s a prisoner there, and so are all the rest of them.’
‘Good. I think that is very good,’ beamed the birdlike man. He turned to Bill. ‘If you will be kind enough to put in a report, sir – a detailed one – for me to forward to the mainland – I would be very much obliged. The children should read it, and sign it. And Andros here should sign the part of it that refers to his doings in the matter.’
‘Right,’ sa
id Bill, and got up to go. ‘Well, that’s that. I’ve had some thrilling adventures with these four – but this beats the lot. I only wish we could have a bit of that treasure!’
‘Sir, you shall,’ said the inspector earnestly. ‘I will see to it personally. My government will be very honoured to allow you to choose what you want from it.’
‘A carved dagger for me!’ said Philip, at once. ‘Gosh, what would the chaps at school say!’
‘Come along,’ said Bill. ‘We’ll go on board the Viking Star, and take Tim to dinner there with us. I want a good bath, a good shave, a good meal and a good sleep in a comfortable bed.’
And off they all went on board the Viking Star, happy and excited, talking nineteen to the dozen!
29
Happy ending after all!
In the night the Viking Star sailed once more. Bill did not hear the engines starting up, nor did any of the five children. Kiki woke up, poked her head out from under her wing and then put it back again.
It was astonishing to find themselves at sea again. They were making for Italy. ‘Oh dear – we’ve left the treasure island far behind,’ said Lucy-Ann mournfully.
‘Don’t be a humbug,’ said Jack. ‘You know you’re jolly glad you escaped from it.’
‘Yes, I know that,’ said Lucy-Ann. ‘But I just hate leaving all that treasure.’
‘I never even saw it,’ Jack reminded her. ‘I feel I’ve been done out of something – all because that idiot of a Kiki took it into her head to fly off my shoulder just as we were going to look for the treasure. Nitwit!’
‘Nit-wit,’ echoed Kiki pleasantly. ‘Tit-bit!’ She flew down and looked at a plate of grapes.
‘No, you don’t,’ said Jack, and removed it from her. ‘No titbits for a nitwit – and anyway, you’ve helped yourself to about two hundred grapes already. You’re a greedy pig, Kiki.’
‘I suppose the rest of this cruise will be as dull as ditchwater,’ said Philip. He glanced at the little carved ship on the dressing table of his cabin. ‘Golly – weren’t we thrilled when we found the treasure map inside! Bill says we’ve got to give that up to the Greek museum, but we can keep the re-drawn map, the one we used – if we can get it back from Mr Eppy!’