5 JACK TELLS THE NEWS

CHAPTER FIVE JACK TELLS THE NEWS JACK CREPT carefully out of the laurel bush as soon as he felt sure that the others were safely out of the way. He dusted himself down and looked round. Nobody was in sight. He debated with himself what to do. Was it important enough to call a meeting of the Secret Seven? No– he would go and find Peter and tell him first. Peter could decide whether to have a meeting or not. On the way to Peter's house Jack met George. 'Hello!' said George. 'You look very solemn! What's up? Have you had a row at home or something?'

'No,' said Jack. 'But I've just found out that the Famous Five are in the middle of something. I heard Susie telling them, down in our summer-house. I was in the laurel bush outside.' 'Is it important?' asked George. 'I mean, your sister Susie's a bit of a nuisance, isn't she? You don't want to pay too much attention to her. She's conceited enough already.' 'Yes, I know,' said Jack. 'But she's clever, you know. And after all, we managed to get into quite a few adventures, didn't we? And there's really no reason why the Famous Five shouldn't, too, if they keep their eyes and ears open. Listen, and I'll tell you what I heard.' He told George, and George was most impressed. 'Tigger's Barn!' he said. 'Well, that would be a good meeting-place for crooks who wanted to meet without being seen. But how did Susie get hold of the names of the men? Oh Jack, it would be absolutely maddening if

the Famous Five hit on something important before we did!' 'That's what I think,' said Jack. 'Especially as Susie's the ringleader. She's always trying to boss me, and she would be worse than ever if her silly Society discovered some gang or plot. Let's find Peter, shall we? I was on the way to him when I met you.' 'I'll go with you, then,' said George. 'I'm sure Peter will think it's important. Come on!' So two solemn boys walked up the path to Peter's house, and went round the back to find him. He was chopping up firewood, one of his Saturday morning jobs. He was very pleased to see Jack and George. 'Oh, hallo,' he said, putting down his axe. 'Now I can knock off for a bit. Chopping wood is fine for about five minutes, but an awful bore after that. My mother doesn't like me to do it, because she thinks I'll chop my fingers off, but Dad's hard-hearted and makes me do

it each Saturday.' 'Peter,' said Jack, 'I've got some news.' 'Oh, what?' asked Peter. 'Tell me.' So Jack told him about how he had hidden in the laurel bush and overheard a meeting of the Famous Five. 'They've got a password, of course', he said, 'but I couldn't hear it.

However, they forgot to whisper once they had said the password, and I heard every word.' He told Peter what he had heard, but Peter didn't take it seriously. He was most annoying. He listened to the end, and then he threw back his head and laughed. 'Oh Jack! Surely you didn't fall for all that nonsense? Susie must have been pretending. I expect that's what they do at their silly meetings– pretend they are in the middle of an adventure, and kid themselves they're clever.' 'But it all sounded absolutely serious,' said Jack, beginning to feel annoyed. 'I mean, they had no idea I was listening, they all seemed quite serious. And Jeff was ready to go and investigate on Tuesday evening!' 'What, Jeff! Can you imagine that little coward going to look for a mouse, let alone Stumpy Dick and the other fellow, whatever his name is!' said Peter, laughing again. 'He'd

run a mile before he'd go to Tigger's Barn at night. That sister of yours was just making up a story, Jack, silly kid's stuff, like pretending to play at Red Indians or something, that's all.' 'Then you don't think it's worthwhile calling a meeting of the Secret Seven and asking some of us to go to Tigger's Barn on Tuesday night?' said Jack, in a hurt voice. 'No, I don't,' said Peter. 'I'm not so stupid as to believe in Susie's fairy-tales.' 'But suppose the Famous Five go, and discover something we ought to discover?' said George. 'Well, if Jack sees Susie and Jeff creeping off somewhere on Tuesday evening, he can follow them,' said Peter, still grinning. 'But they won't go! You'll see I'm right. It's all make- believe!' 'All right,' said Jack, getting up. 'If that's what you think there's no use in talking about it any longer. But you'll be sorry if you find