sounded! He gave a piercing whistle and Loony responded at once. He arrived like a cannon-ball at Snubby’s heels, and the two disappeared indoors just as Great-uncle Robert opened the front gate. Diana smoothed back her hair and went to welcome him too.
“So nice to be here at last, my dear Susan,” said the old fellow. “Such a peaceful place—far from thieves, and wars and spies!”
Mrs. Lynton felt astonished. “Oh, we’re peaceful enough here, out in the country,” she said. “Come along up to your room. You will like a wash, I expect.”
“Thank you, my dear, thank you,” said Uncle Robert, and followed his niece up the stairs. She took him to the guest-room and put his bag down for him.
“Very nice room,” said Uncle Robert. “Very nice view too. Beautiful. Ah—who’s this?”
It was Loony. He came nosing into the bedroom, having smelt somebody new. He stood at the door, wagging his black stump of a tail, his long ears drooping like a judge’s wig at each side of his head. Uncle Robert looked at him.
“Most peculiar,” he said. “There was a dog in the train, in my carriage, exactly like that!’
“Oh, well—black cockers are very much alike,” said Mrs. Lynton. “Now you wash, Uncle Robert, and then come down to lunch. You must be hungry.”
She went to a cupboard on the landing to put some things away. Snubby was whistling in Roger’s room, brushing his wiry hair and making it stand up straighter than ever. He suddenly missed Loony.
“Hey, Loony! Where have you got to?” he said. He went to find him. Ah, there he was, standing in the doorway of the room next but one. He went to get him. Somebody came walking out at the same moment, stepping carefully over Loony, who didn’t attempt to move out of the way. He never did if people were stupid enough to walk round or over him.
Snubby stopped in the utmost amazement when he saw Great-uncle Robert. He stared as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.
Great-uncle Robert stared too.
“Incredible!” he muttered, taking a step backwards and nearly falling over Loony. “You again! What are you doing here?”
“I’m staying with my cousins,” said Snubby, horrified to see that the old man in the train had suddenly become Great-uncle Robert. Gosh, this was frightful. That awful story he had told him—about the gang called Green Hands! Suppose he told Aunt Susan about it, what in the world would she say? She wouldn’t understand at all. She would be furious!
“So you ran away here,” began Uncle Robert. “Do your cousins know why?”
“Sh!” said Snubby desperately. “Don’t say a word to anyone. Remember the Green Hands! They’ll get you too if you split.”
“Split?” repeated Uncle Robert faintly, not understanding the word.
“Blab. Spill the beans. Give the game away,” said Snubby urgently. “Don’t say a word. Just remember the Green Hands!”
The gong in the hall suddenly sounded for lunch, and both Uncle Robert and Snubby jumped violently.
“Sh!” said Snubby again, and looked all round him as if he were being hunted.
“I’ll remember the Green Hands,” said Uncle Robert in a stronger voice. “But be careful, my boy, do be careful.”
He went downstairs, wiping his broad forehead with his silk handkerchief. He had escaped from one house where thieves made their way through locked doors—only to come to another place where there was a boy hunted by the Green Hands. Where should he go next? Incredible, quite incredible.
Up on the landing, half-hidden by the open cupboard door, was a most astonished Mrs. Lynton. She had overheard the extraordinary conversation and couldn’t understand a word of it. What was all this talk of Green Hands and all the shushings and warnings she had heard? She was filled with amazement.
“What’s Snubby up to now? And how does he know Uncle Robert? And what is this talk of Green Hands?” she thought, shutting the cupboard door impatiently. An agonised yowl made her jump. She opened the door hurriedly and Sardine jumped out.
“Silly cat! Why put your tail in the door when you know I’m going to shut it?” said Mrs. Lynton. “You’re always doing things like that. There now, I’m sorry I hurt your tail. And just look out for Loony, because I don’t want you streaking across the dining-table as soon as you see him!”
Loony was downstairs with the others. He had attached himself to Great-uncle Robert, much to Diana’s surprise. He was sniffing round his feet and pawing at his legs in a most friendly manner.
“He’s acting just as if he’s met you before,” said Diana.
“Er—is he?” said Uncle Robert, not knowing quite what to say. “Snubby—call him off, will you? I don’t particularly want his fleas, you know.”
“How do you know he’s got fleas?” asked Roger, surprised. “Has he, Snubby?”
It looked as if the conversation was now going to be awkward. Snubby pulled Loony away and shoved him firmly under the table.
“Of course he hasn’t got fleas,” he said. “You’d jolly well know if he had. Why, a chap at school had a dog that had about three hun . . .”
Mrs. Lynton came in, still looking puzzled. “What are you talking about?” she asked, sitting down at the head of the table.
Nobody told her. She didn’t encourage subjects of that sort at meal-times. Uncle Robert took his place gingerly, looking under the table to see exactly where Loony was.
“What’s that noise?” inquired Mrs. Lynton, hearing a thump-thump-thump on the floor under the table.
“Oh, just Loony scratching himself,” said Diana.
“Oh dear, Snubby—and I hope you haven’t brought Loony here with... ” began Mrs. Lynton.
“No Aunt Susan, I haven’t,” said Snubby hurriedly. “I say—is that chops—and chip potatoes—and ONIONS! Golly, how smashing!”
The subject was safely changed. Mrs. Lynton served the meal, still wondering about such curious things as Green Hands. She glanced at Uncle Robert. He seemed such a nice, harmless old fellow. What did he mean, whispering about running away and Green Hands up on the landing with Snubby?
It was really most extraordinary!
CHAPTER 4
GREAT-UNCLE TELLS HIS STORY
After the meal Snubby escaped into the garden with Roger and Diana, Loony at their heels. They all went into the little summer-house, which faced south and was very warm in the April sun.
“Gosh! It’s as hot as summer,” said Roger. “I’ll really have to take off my coat. I say—Great-uncle is rather an old stick, isn’t he? We’ll have to mind our manners a bit now, or he’ll get going on the ‘good old days when children knew their manners, and were seen and not heard,’ and all the rest of it.”
