Five Go Down to the Sea Read Online Free PDF Page B

Penruthlan, looking pleased. „It would be a bit of help today. But the boys needn"t help."
    „I like that!" said George, indignantly. „How unfair! Why shouldn"t they, just because they"re boys?"
    „Don"t fly off the handle, George," grinned Dick. „We"re going to help, don"t worry. We like podding peas too! You"re not going to have all the treats!"
    Dick had a very neat way of turning the tables on George when he saw her flying into a tantrum. She smiled unwil ingly. She was always jealous of the boys because she so badly wanted to be one herself, and wasn"t! She hitched up her shorts, and went to get a pan of peas to shell.
    Soon the noise of the popping of pads was to be heard, a very pleasant noise, Anne thought. The four of them sat on the big kitchen step, out in the sun, with Timmy sitting beside them, watching with interest. He didn"t stay with them long though.
    Up came his four friends, the little Scottie trotting valiantly behind, trying to keep up with the longer legs of the others. „Woof!" said the biggest collie. Timmy wagged his tail politely, but didn"t stir.
    „Woof!" said the col ie again, and pranced around invitingly.
    „Timmy! He says “Wil you come and play?” " said George. „Aren"t you going? You aren"t the least help with shelling peas, and you keep breathing down my neck."
    Timmy gave George a flying lick and leapt off the step joyful y. He pounced on the Scottie, rolled him over, and then took on all three collies at once. They were big, strong dogs, but no match for Timmy!
    „Look at him," said George, proudly. „He can manage the whole lot single-handed."
    „Single-footed!" said Dick. „He"s faster than even that biggest col ie and stronger than the whole lot. Good old Tim. He"s come in jol y useful in some of our adventures!"
    „I"ve no doubt he wil again," said Julian. „I"d rather have one Timmy than two police-dogs."
    „I should think his ears are burning, the way we"re talking about him!" said Anne. „Oh, sorry, Dick, that pod popped unexpectedly!"

    „That"s the second lot of peas you"ve shot all over me," said Dick, scrabbling inside his shirt.
    „I must just find one that went down my neck, or I shall be fidgeting al through church."
    „You always do," said Anne. „Look - isn"t that Yan?"
    It was! He came sidling up, looking as dirty as ever, and gave them a quick smile that once more entirely changed his sul en little face. He held out his hand, palm upwards, and said something.
    „What"s he saying?" said Dick. „Oh, he"s asking for a sweet."
    „Don"t give him one," said Julian, quickly. „Don"t turn him into a little beggar. Make him work for a sweet this time. Yan, if you want a sweet, you can help pod these peas."
    Mrs Penruthlan appeared at once. „But see he washes those filthy hands first," she commanded, and disappeared again. Yan looked at his hands, then put them under his arm-pits.
    „Go and wash them," said Julian. But Yan shook his head, and sat down a little way away from them.
    „Al right. Don"t wash your hands. Don"t shell the peas. Don"t have a sweet," said George.
    Yan scowled at George. He didn"t seem to like her any more than she liked him. He waited til someone split a pod, and a few peas shot out on to the ground instead of into the dish. Then he darted at them, picked them up and ate them. He was as quick as a cat.
    „My Grandad says come see him," announced Yan. „I take you."
    „Right," said Julian. „We"ll come this afternoon. We"ll get Mrs Penruthlan to pack us up a basket, and we"ll have tea in the hil s. You can share it if you wash your hands and face."
    „I shouldn"t think he"s ever washed himself in his life," said George. „Oh, here"s Timmy come back. I wil not have him fawn round that dirty little boy. Here, Timmy!"
    But Timmy darted to Yan with the greatest delight and pawed at him to come and have a game. They began to roll over and over like two puppies.
    „If you"re going to church, you"d better get ready," said