11 TALKING AND PLANNING

CHAPTER ELEVEN TALKING AND PLANNING JEFF COULDN'T remember anything more at all. He began to look worried when the Seven pressed him. He went rather white, and Peter noticed it. 'All right. No more questions,' he said. 'We will discuss all this, and have a few biscuits to help us, and a drink of something. Like a biscuit, Jeff?' Although it was only about an hour since he had eaten a huge meal, Jeff was quite ready to eat again. So was the kitten! It nibbled a biscuit that Janet held out to it, and was quite

playful. 'It's feeling better,' said Jeff. 'Listen! Is that your dog barking?' It was. Scamper barked a few little barks at first, and then burst into loud and angry ones. Peter peered down the tree. Jeff clutched Colin, looking frightened. 'Don't give me away if it's me they're after!' he said. 'Please, please don't!' Two men were below the tree, walking past. Peter made Jeff look down. He shrank back at once, looking so scared that Peter knew immediately that the men were Mr Tizer and Jeff's uncle. They were looking for him still, and were under the very tree that poor Jeff was in! They didn't know that, of course. Scamper was taking all their attention. He capered round the men, pretending to snap and snarl. He didn't like them at all. 'Brute of a dog!' said one of the men, and

picked up a dead branch. He flung it at Scamper. Peter went red with rage. It didn't hit Scamper, but it sent him quite mad! He flew at the two men, and they took to their heels at once! Scamper chased them about a quarter of a mile through the woods, and then came back, panting, very pleased with himself. 'Good dog!' called down Peter, and Scamper wagged his tail at once. 'On guard again, Scamper, on guard!' Scamper went to his tree and sat down. No dog could have looked more pleased or important. The Secret Seven sat back with a sigh of relief. Poor Jeff was white and trembling, and the kitten had gone into hiding under his torn coat. 'Cheer up, Jeff,' said Peter. 'Scamper has chased them away. I wonder how they guessed you were here.' 'I think it's because of the kitten,' said Jeff.

'They've only got to ask if anyone has seen a boy with a kitten. Several people in the wood have seen me about, foresters and walkers and such. Mr Tizer and my uncle will get me in the end.' 'No, they won't,' said Peter. 'I must say I didn't like the look of them. Now– what are we going to do about this?' The Seven talked and talked. MKX. Who or what was that? Emma Lane. How could they possibly find out where she lived? The red pillow. Impossible clue! The 25th. That was a definite date, but what was going to happen on it, and where? The grating. Where was that– and why was someone going to watch through it? 'I don't think even that famous detective Sherlock Holmes could have made head or tail of this,' said Peter, at last. 'It doesn't seem any use to discuss it at all.' 'No. But it's fun and very exciting,' said

Pam. 'I think we ought to tell someone. What about your parents, Peter?' 'Yes. We'd better tell them,' said Peter, not wanting to in the least. 'If we could find out something ourselves, we would have a shot at it. But I don't see how we can. Except that we could find out if there is an Emma Lane. That might lead us somewhere.' 'How could we?' asked Barbara. 'Ask at the post office,' said George, feeling rather bright. 'They know where everyone lives.' 'Yes. Good idea,' said Peter. 'You and Jack can ask on the way home. And if it leads to nothing we'll tell my father and mother.' 'I don't want you to,' said Jeff. 'I'll get into trouble if the police go into this.' 'Sorry, Jeff,' said Peter. 'But this affair has got to be sorted out. It's a pity it's beyond the power of the Secret Seven. We've never had a failure yet! Still– this really is too difficult for

anything!' 'We'd better go,' said George. 'I keep getting into rows for being late. I bet you others do too.' 'Yes, we do!' said Janet. 'And you and Jack are going to call at the post office, aren't you? We really must go.' 'When will you be back here again?' asked Jeff anxiously. 'This afternoon probably. Or after tea,' said Peter. 'We'll decide as we go home. We'll bring you some more food. Anyway, you can eat the rest of the biscuits and the chocolate. That will keep you going. Now don't look so scared. You'll be quite all right! No one can possibly guess you are up here.' Jeff looked very doubtful. He watched the Seven climb down one by one. He heard Scamper's excited welcome. The kitten shrank back in fright against him when she heard the loud barks.