Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton Page B

anyone guessing we are
friends of his," said Jo suddenly. "Listen."
He stood and thought for a moment. Then he raised his voice and sang a little
song:
"Two boys in the high-road, Two girls in the street, Two friends feeling
sorry. Tweet-tweet-tweet-tweet-tweet!"
Everyone roared with laughter. "It's very clever, Jo," said Dick. "Two
boys-Saucepan will know that's you and me-two girls-that's Bessie and Fanny-two
friends, Silky and Moon-Face! Saucepan will know we're all here!"
A frightful noise came from the fort-a clanging and a banging, a clanking and
crashing. Everyone listened.
     
   
"That's old Saucepan dancing round madly to let us know he heard and understood,"
said Jo. "Now the thing is-how are we going to rescue him?"
They walked down the street, talking, trying to think of some good way to save
poor Saucepan. They came to a clothes shop. In it were dolls' clothes of all sorts.
In the window was a set of sailor's clothes, too. Jo stared at them.
     
   
"Now, I wonder," he said. "I just wonder if they've got any soldier's
clothes. Moon-Face, lend me your big purse if it's got any money in."
Moon-Face put his large purse into Jo's hand. Jo disappeared into the shop. He
came out with three sets of bright red soldier's uniforms, with big, black, furry
bearskins for hats.
     
   
"Come on," he said in excitement. "Come somewhere that we shan't
be seen."
They all hurried down the street and came to a field where some toy cows stood
grazing.
     
   
They climbed over the gate and went behind the hedge. "Dick, see if this
uniform will fit you," said Jo. "I'll put this one on."
"But Jo-Jo-what are you going to do?" asked Bessie in surprise.
     
   
"I should have thought you could have guessed," said Jo, putting on
the uniform quickly. "We're going to see if we can march into the fort and
get old Saucepan out! I should think they will let down the drawbridge for us
if we are dressed like soldiers."
"Is this third suit for me?" asked Moon-Face, excitedly.
     
   
"No, Moon-Face," said Jo. "I didn't think you'd look a bit like
a soldier, even if you were dressed like one. You must stay outside and look after
the girls. This third suit is for old Saucepan. The soldiers wouldn't let us take
him out of the fort all hung round with kettles and saucepans! They would know
it was the prisoner and would stop him. He'll have to take off his kettles and
things and dress in this. Then, maybe we can rescue him quite easily."
"Jo, you are really very, very clever," said Silky.
Jo felt very pleased. He buckled his belt, and put on his black bearskin. My word,
he did look grand! So did Dick.
     
   
"Now we're ready," said Jo. "Moon-Face, if by any chance Dick and
I are caught, you must take the girls safely back to the Tree. See?"
"I see," said Moon-Face. "Good luck, boys!"
Everyone went out of the field and walked back to the fort. When they got near
it, Dick and Jo began to march very well, indeed. Left, right, left, right, left,
right!
They came to the fort. "Soldier, let down the drawbridge!" yelled Jo,
in his loudest and most commanding voice. The sentinel peered over the wall of
the fort. When he saw two such smart soldiers, he saluted at once, and set to
work to let down the drawbridge. Crash! It fell flat to the ground, and Dick and
Jo walked over it into the fort.
     
   
Creak, creeeee-eak! The drawbridge was drawn up again. Jo and Dick marched right
into the fort. Soldiers saluted at once.
     
   
"I wish to talk to the prisoner here," said Jo.
     
   
"Yes, captain," said a wooden soldier, saluting. He took a key from
his belt and gave it to Jo. "First door on the right, sir," he said.
"Be careful. He may be fierce."
"Thanks, my man," said Jo, and marched to the first door on the right.
He unlocked it and he and Dick went in and shut the door. Saucepan was there!
When he saw the two soldiers, he fell on his knees.
     
   
"Set me free, set me free!" he begged.