Still William by Richmal Crompton Page A

there.
With chattering teeth Mr Bott threw a glance of pathetic despair around him. Then above the sound of the chattering of his teeth he heard a voice.
    ‘I’ve got your coat up here.’
    Mr Bott threw a startled glance up into the tree whence the voice came. From among the leaves a stern, freckled, snub-nosed, wild-haired face glared down at him.
    ‘I’ll give you your coat,’ said William, ‘ ’f you’ll promise to let Bob stay.’
    Mr Bott clasped his dripping head with a dripping hand.

    ‘Bob?’
    ‘Bob Andrews what you’re sending away for nothing.’
    Mr Bott tried to look dignified in spite of the chattering of his teeth and the water that poured from his hair down his face.
    ‘I have my reasons, child,’ he said, ‘of which you know nothing. Will you kindly give me back my coat? I’m afraid you are a very naughty, ill-behaved little boy to do a
thing like this and if you aren’t careful I’ll tell the police about it.’
    ‘I’ll give you your coat if you’ll promise not to send Bob away,’ said William again sternly.
    ‘I shall most certainly speak to your father and the police,’ said Mr Bott. ‘You’re a very impudent little boy! Give me my coat at once.’
    ‘I’ll give you your coat,’ said William again, ‘if you’ll promise not to send Bob away.’
    Mr Bott’s dignity began to melt away.
    ‘You young devil,’ he roared. ‘You—’
    He looked wildly around and his eyes fell upon something upon which William’s eye ought to have fallen before. William had for once overlooked something vital to his strategy. In the long
grass behind the tree lay a ladder that had been left there long ago by some gardener and forgotten. With a yell of triumph Mr Bott rushed to it.
    ‘Oh, crumbs!’ said William among the leafage.
    Mr Bott put the ladder against the tree trunk and began to swarm up it – large, dripping, chattering with rage and cold. William retreated along his branch, still clinging to the overcoat.
Mr Bott pursued furiously.
    ‘You young rogue – you young devil. I’ll teach you – I’ll—’
    The branch down which William was retreating pursued by Mr Bott was directly over the lake. William alone it could easily have supported, but it drew the line at Mr Bott. With a creaking and
crashing above which rose a yell of terror from Mr Bott, it fell into the water accompanied by its two occupants. The splash made by Mr Bott’s falling body at first obscured the landscape.
Before William could recover from the shock caused by Mr Bott’s splash and yell and his own unexpected descent, Mr Bott was upon him. Mr Bott was maddened by rage and fury, and wet and cold.
He ducked William and shook William and tore his wet overcoat from William. William butted Mr Bott in his largest and roundest part, then scrambled from the lake and fled dripping towards the gate.
Mr Bott at first pursued him, then realising that the path was taking him within sight of the high road, turned back, drew his soaked overcoat over his shoulders and fled chatteringly and
shiveringly towards his resplendent mansion.
    Two hours later, William met the other Outlaws by appointment in the old barn where all their meetings were held.
    ‘Well?’ said the other Outlaws eagerly.
    William, who was wearing his best suit, looked pale and chastened but none the less determined.
    ‘It didn’t quite come off,’ admitted William. ‘Something went wrong.’
    Their faces fell, but they did not question him.
    ‘Well, we’ve done all we can,’ said Ginger resignedly, ‘an’ we jus’ can’t help it.’
    ‘I’ve got another idea,’ said William grimly. ‘I’ve jolly well not finished yet.’
    They looked at him with awe and respect.
    ‘We’ll have another meeting in three days,’ said William with his stern frown, ‘an’ – an’ – well, you jus’ wait and see.’
    The next day was bright and sunny. Mr Bott almost enjoyed his morning exercises. He thought occasionally with indignation of