The Secret Mountain - - (читаем книги онлайн txt) 📗

The White Swallow took off first. Gracefully she rose into the air, circled round twice, and then made off over the mountains. Then the blue and silver plane rose up and she was off too.

Jack looked downwards. Already the Secret Mountain looked far off and small. He could just see the folk there running about like ants. How angry they must be because their prisoners had escaped in such an extraordinary way!

“Well, we’re off again,” said Jack to the girls. “And glad as I was to see the Secret Mountain, I am even gladder to leave it behind! Cheer up, Paul, don’t look so blue! We’re safe now, even though you nearly messed things up!”

Prince Paul was feeling very foolish. “Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t think. Anyway, thank goodness I’ve got the sun-clothes. Won’t the boys at school think I’m lucky! I shall dress up in them and show the Head.”

Everyone laughed. It was exciting to be in the plane again. Jack called to Ranni.

“Ranni! You haven’t told us your adventures yet. How did you escape from the Secret Mountain?”

“It was unexpectedly easy,” shouted back Ranni, who was sitting beside Pilescu. “No one suspected that Pilescu and I were anything but ordinary Mountain Folk when we went down the golden stairway with them. We went down and down for ages and at last came to a big cave where most of them seem to live.”

“Oh yes, Mafumu and I once saw that,” said Jack. “Go on, Ranni.”

“We didn’t like to go and sit in the cave in case somebody spoke to us and we couldn’t answer in their language,” said Ranni. “So we waited about in a passage until we saw a little party of the Mountain Folk going along with spears. We thought they must be going hunting so we joined them, walking behind them.”

“How exciting!” said Nora. “Didn’t they guess who you were?”

“Not once,” said Ranni. “We followed them down all kinds of dark passages until we came into the big hall-like place whose steps lead up to the rock-entrance. They worked a lever and the big door slid open. Then they set that great rock turning and sliding, and the way was open to us!”

“You were lucky,” said Jack. “I wish I had shared that adventure.”

“It wasn’t quite so good after that,” said Ranni. “We had to find our way back to the planes and we got completely lost up in the mountain-pass. We found our way at last by a great stroke of luck — and arrived at the planes, very tired indeed, but safe!”

“It didn’t take you long to get them going,” shouted Peggy. “Did you find it difficult to spot the Secret Mountain?”

“No. Very easy,” said Ranni. “It looks so yellow from the air — and besides, it’s the only one with a flat top.”

“I say! What’s the White Swallow doing?” cried Jack suddenly. “It’s going down! Is it going to land, Ranni?”

“It looks like it,” said Ranni. “I wonder what’s the matter! My word, I hope nothing has gone wrong. This plane is large but it won’t take everyone.”

The White Swallow flew lower still. Below was a fine flat stretch of grass, and the plane was making for that. It landed easily and came to a stop.

“We must land too, and see what’s up,” said Ranni, looking worried. So the blue and silver plane circled round too, and flew slowly towards the flat piece of grass. It let down its wheels and landed gently and smoothly, running along for a little way and then stopping.

Captain Arnold was already out of his plane and was helping little Mafumu down.

“What’s the matter? Anything wrong?” yelled Ranni, climbing from his cockpit. “Let me come and help!”

Goodbye To Mafumu — And Home At Last!

Captain Arnold looked round and shook his head. “No — there’s nothing wrong,” he said. “But we can’t take Mafumu to England with us! He would be miserable away from his own people. His own folk live near here — look, you can see the village over there — and I am taking him home.

“The children will want to say good-bye to him,” said Ranni at once. “Little Mafumu has been a good friend to us. We couldn’t have rescued you without his help. Hie, Jack — bring Paul and the girls to say good-bye to Mafumu. We’re leaving him here.”

Everyone climbed from the two aeroplanes. The children were sad to say good-bye to their small friend. They had grown very fond of cheeky Mafumu, and they did not want to leave him behind at all.

“Can’t we possibly take Mafumu home with us?” asked Paul. “Do let’s. He could live with us — and he could come to school with Mike and Jack and me!”

“Mafumu wouldn’t be happy,” said Ranni. “One day we will all pay a visit to him again, and see how he is getting on. I shouldn’t be surprised if some day he is made chief of his tribe — he is brave and intelligent, and has all the makings of a fine leader.”

“I hope that uncle of his won’t hit him too much,” said Jack. “Golly, look — all the people are running out from the village. Have they seen Mafumu, do you think?”

Sure enough, from the little native village nearby came many men, women and children. They had seen Mafumu, and although they had been unsure about the aeroplanes, they felt that the “big roaring birds” as they called them could not be very dangerous if Mafumu was in one of them!

Mafumu’s uncle was with the people. Jack wondered if he would take hold of the little boy and give him a shaking for having run away from him back to his friends. He glanced at Mafumu to see if he was afraid. But the boy held himself proudly. Was he not friends with these people? Had he not helped them? He felt a real king that day.

“Mafumu, take this for a parting present,” said Prince Paul, and he gave Mafumu his best pocket-knife, a marvellous thing with a bright gold handle. Mafumu was overjoyed. He had often seen Paul using it, and had not even dared to ask if he might borrow it. Now it was his own! Mafumu could hardly believe his good luck.

And then, of course, everyone wanted to give little Mafumu something. Nora gave him a bead necklace, and Peggy gave him her little silver brooch with P on. Mafumu pinned it onto his shorts!

“P doesn’t stand for Mafumu, but as he doesn’t know his letters it doesn’t matter,” said Peggy. “What are you giving Mafumu, Mike?”

Mike had three fine glass marbles which he always carried about with him in his pocket. He gave them to Mafumu, whose eyes grew wider and wider as these presents were given to him! His teeth flashed white as he grinned round at everyone.

Jack gave him a pencil. It was a silver one, whose point went up or down when the bottom end was screwed round. Mafumu thought this was very clever and he was overjoyed to have the wonderful pencil for his own. He threw his arms round Jack and gave him a big hug.

“Shut up, Mafumu,” said Jack uncomfortably, for the others were giggling. But Mafumu hadn’t finished he hugged Jack again and again, so tightly that Jack nearly fell over.

“Shut up, Mafumu,” said Jack again. Mafumu at last let go. His eyes swimming in tears, for it nearly broke his little heart to part from Jack. He had nothing of his own to give Jack — except his very precious necklace of crocodile teeth! He took it off, muttered a few words over it, and then pressed it into Jack’s hand.

“No, Mafumu,” said Jack. “No. I know quite well that you think these crocodile teeth are your special good luck charm and keep you from danger. I don’t want them.”

But Mafumu would not take no for an answer, and in the end Jack put the crocodile necklace into his pocket, feeling a funny lump in his throat. Dear old Mafumu — it wasn’t easy to part from him.

Ranni gave the boy a little mirror for himself. Pilescu gave him a notebook to scribble in with his new pencil. Captain Arnold gave him an odd pair of sunglasses, which were in a locker at the back of the White Swallow. These nearly sent Mafumu mad with joy. He at once put them on, and looked so peculiar that everyone shrieked with laughter.