Aunt Effie's Ark Read Online Free PDF

warm?” Marie asked. “Well, that’s where we found them. They’d drunk the last of the cocoa out of the bucket and were sitting in front of the stove pretending to read the blackboard.”
    â€œDid you wake Mr Jones?”
    â€œHe just muttered something about the Prime Minister and went back to sleep. We filled the stove with wood again so he’d keep warm. Halfway home, you know where the track goes under the black trees?” We all nodded. “Well,” said Marie, “that’s where the Urewera wolf was waiting. It was higher than Hubert. Its eyes glowed in the dark, and do you know what?”
    â€œWhat?” we shrilled.
    Marie dropped her voice. “You’ll never guess!”
    â€œWhat?” we shrieked.
    â€œIts face is tattooed!”
    We all burst out crying. “A Tattooed Wolf!” Aunt Effie had always told us they were the worst kind. “What did you do?” we screamed at Marie and Peter.
    â€œWe dropped the halberd and the blunderbuss.”
    â€œYou dropped the halberd and the blunderbuss!”
    â€œIt was the cleverest thing we could think to do. It saved our lives because, while the Tattooed Wolf bent down and scrabbled around trying to pick them up, Hubert galloped home,” said Peter. “Marie and I fell off as we got near the house. It’s very difficult stayingon a horse when you’re wearing armour.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter. You rescued the little ones!” we said. “And we’re all safe.”
    â€œYou think we’re safe?” screeched Daisy. “With a Tattooed Wolf outside armed with the halberd and the blunderbuss? A Tattooed Wolf that said The Name We Dare Not Say!”
    We looked at each other. We’d all been pretending we hadn’t heard it say that name.
    And just then a terrible voice whispered through the keyhole. “Open the door, Euphemia!”

Chapter Four
The Battle with the Tattooed Wolf
    Peter ticked off on his fingers. “Aunt Effie said to screw steel shutters over the doors and windows,” he whispered.
    â€œWe did that,” we whispered back.
    â€œCaulk the walls.”
    â€œWe did that.”
    â€œSchenam them with whale oil and shell lime.”
    â€œWe did that.”
    â€œTar them, felt them, sheathe them with totara.”
    â€œWe did that.”
    â€œThen caulk and tar the totara, just like our scow.”
    â€œWe did that!”
    Peter counted his fingers and nodded. “That’s the lot!” In a louder voice he said, “And if anyone tries to hack down the door with the halberd, or blow it down with the blunderbuss, he’d better watch out.”
    â€œOpen the door,” whispered the terrible voice through the keyhole, “or I’ll hack it down with the halberd!”
    â€œDown with the halberd,” Alwyn answered back.
    â€œDon’t say I didn’t warn you…” The voice was so cold, frost crystals formed around the keyhole.
    â€œDidn’t warn you,” Alwyn repeated.
    â€œDon’t you dare answer me back!” An icicle hung down from the keyhole.
    â€œAnswer me back!”
    â€œNobody gives cheek to the Tattooed Wolf!”
    â€œCheek to the Tattooed Wolf!”
    â€œAll right – take this!”
    â€œTake this!” echoed Alwyn, and there was a colossal clang on the door.
    â€œOw!” somebody screamed, and the halberd clattered on the steps outside.
    Alwyn called back, “Ow!” He winced and shook his hands above his head. “Like Mr Jones – with the strap!” he whispered. We spluttered and stuck our hands over our mouths. Lizzie snorted and laughed aloud.
    â€œDon’t you dare laugh at me!” bellowed the Tattooed Wolf.
    â€œLaugh at me!” said Alwyn. We rolled on our backs, kicked our feet in the air, and let our breath go in one enormous laugh. “I’ll show you!” the voice screamed.
    â€œI’ll show