12 The end of the adventure

CHAPTER TWELVE The end of the adventure SIX FIGURES went up the snowy lane– two boys in dark anoraks, two in curious white garments and caps, a dog in a draggled white coat, and a proud and beautiful horse. All the boys had gleaming white faces and looked extremely weird, but as they didn't meet anyone it didn't matter. Peter talked hard as he went, telling of all that had happened to him and Jack. Colin and George listened in astonishment, half-jealous that they, too, had not shared in the whole of the night's adventure. 'I'm going to put Kerry Blue into one of the stables at our farmhouse,' said Peter. 'He'll be all right now. What a shock for the men to

find him gone! And tomorrow we'll tell the police. Meet at half-past nine– and collect Pam and Barbara on the way, will you? This really has been a wonderful mystery, and I do think the Secret Seven have done well! Goodness, I'm tired. I shall be asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow!' They were all in bed and asleep in under half an hour. Janet was fast asleep when Peter got in. He had carefully stabled Kerry Blue who was now quite docile and friendly. In the morning, what an excitement! Peter told his father and mother what had happened and his father, in amazement, went to examine Kerry Blue.

'He's a very fine racehorse,' he said. 'And he's been dyed with some kind of brown stuff, as you can see. I expect those fellows meant to sell him and race him under another name. Well, you've stopped that, you and your Society, Peter!' 'What about getting on to the police now?' said the children's mother, anxiously. 'It does seem to me they ought to be after these men at once.' 'There's a meeting of the Secret Seven down in the shed at half-past nine,' said Peter. 'Perhaps the police could come to it.'

'Oh, no– I hardly think the police would want to sit on your flowerpots and boxes,' said Mummy. 'You must all meet in Daddy's study. That's the proper place.' So, at half-past nine, when the Seven were all waiting in great excitement, and Scamper was going quite mad, biting a corner of the rug, the bell rang, and in walked two big policemen. They looked most astonished to see so many children sitting round in a ring. 'Good morning,' said the Inspector. 'Er– what is all this about? You didn't say much on the phone, sir.' 'No. I wanted you to hear the story from the children,' said Peter's father. He unfolded the morning paper and laid it out flat on the table. The children crowded round. On the front page was a big photograph of a lovely horse. Underneath it were a few sentences in big black letters.

KERY BLUE STOLEN. FAMOUS RACEHORSE DISAPPEARS. NO SIGN OF HIS HIDING-PLACE. 'I expect you saw that this morning,' said Peter's father. 'Peter, tell him where Kerry Blue is.' 'In our stables!' said Peter, and thoroughly enjoyed the look of utter amazement that came over the faces of the two policemen. They got out notebooks. 'This is important, sir,' said the Inspector to Peter's father. 'Can you vouch for the fact that you've got the horse?' 'Oh, yes– there's no doubt about it,' said Peter's father. 'You can see him whenever you like. Peter, tell your story.' 'We're going to take it in turns to tell bits,' said Peter. He began. He told about how they had made snowmen in the field. Then Jack went on to tell how he had gone to look for his

Secret Seven badge in the field, and how he had seen the car and its trailer-van. 'Of course I know now it was a horse-box,' he said. 'But I didn't know then. I couldn't think what it was– it looked like a small removal van, or something. I couldn't see any proper windows either.' So the story went on– how they had interviewed the caretaker and what he had said– how they had tracked the car down to the field gate and up the lane again. Then how four boys had dressed up as snowmen with Scamper and gone to watch. Then came the exciting bit about Peter and Jack creeping into the house to find the