For Ruby
Contents
Title Page
Dedication
Map of Summertown
‘Meet the Hoozles!’
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Also in the series
Copyright
Willow hugged her Hoozle bear, Toby, as she followed Auntie Suzy and her brother, Freddie, on to Summertown Pier. ‘I wonder where we’re going,’ she whispered to him. ‘I’m so excited!’
There were lots of people on the pier, so Toby didn’t move and he didn’t speak.
As they walked, Willow looked through the cracks between the wooden slats of the pier to see the sea glinting below.
‘Wobbly’s excited, too!’ cried Freddie, waving his lion Hoozle. ‘He wants to know what’s happening.’
Auntie Suzy turned. The wind whipped her yellow curls around her face, making her laugh. ‘I told you; it’s a surprise,’ she said. ‘You’ve been so helpful in my toy shop this summer that I want to give you a reward.’
‘But why did you make us wear wellies?’ asked Willow, as they passed the Pier End Cafe. ‘It’s not raining.’
Freddie ran to the railing. ‘Look at that big boat!’
Willow went to see. The boat’s name was painted on the side in curly letters. ‘It’s called Sharkfin,’ she told Freddie. Then she noticed a sign fixed to the railings. It said:
Willow spun round. ‘Auntie Suzy, is that why you told us to wear wellies?’
‘Yes, it is,’ she replied with a big smile.
Freddie jumped up and down. ‘We’re going on a boat! We’re going on a boat!’ He ran to join the queue of people waiting to climb aboard. They were all putting on yellow lifejackets. Freddie, Willow and Auntie Suzy had to put one on, too.
‘I have something for Toby and Wobbly,’ said Auntie Suzy. She burrowed in her huge orange handbag and took out two tiny, bright yellow lifejackets. ‘Everyone who goes to sea should wear one,’ she said.
‘Especially Hoozles!’ Willow cried in delight. As she put Toby’s on she could see he was thrilled with his new jacket. ‘You look great,’ she whispered.
‘Thanks,’ he said in his quietest growly voice.
When it was Willow’s turn to board the boat, she climbed down the steps to a platform, then crossed the gangplank. A man held out his hand to help her and said, ‘Welcome aboard Sharkfin, young lady, and welcome to your Hoozle, too.’
Once she was safely across the gangplank, Willow turned to say thank you and giggled. The man had a Hoozle parrot stuck on his shoulder with a strip of Velcro tape.
‘I’m Captain Price,’ said the man, ‘and when I bought Sharkfin your Auntie Suzy gave me my very own Hoozle to wish me good luck. He’s called Mr Squawk.’
‘Hello, Mr Squawk.’ Willow held Toby’s paw and made him wave. She wasn’t too surprised when the parrot slowly winked, then wiggled just the very tip of his bright blue wing. After all, she knew the Hoozle secret – that they were all alive!
Freddie jumped aboard by himself. When Captain Price saw Wobbly he said, ‘Goodness! Two Hoozle passengers today.’ He hugged Auntie Suzy. ‘Welcome aboard, all of you!’
Auntie Suzy led the way to the front of the boat where a boy about Willow’s age was sitting on the deck tying a thick rope into a big knot. He wore a dark-blue- and white-striped T-shirt and had a red pirate sash tied round his waist. ‘Hi, Suzy,’ he said. Then he turned to Willow and Freddie. ‘I’m Ben. The captain is my uncle, and I help him with the boat trips.’
Willow noticed a blue and yellow toy dangling from Ben’s belt. ‘That’s a Hoozle!’ she said. ‘What’s his name?’
‘Spike,’ said Ben. ‘He’s a puffer fish Hoozle.’ He looked at Toby. ‘Nice bear.’
‘Thanks,’ said Willow.
‘And your lion’s really cool,’ Ben said to Freddie.
‘I know,’ said Freddie. Then he asked, ‘Why is Spike called a puffer fish?
‘Because when puffer fish are in danger,’ said Ben, ‘they can puff themselves up really big and scare away their enemies.’
Freddie laughed. ‘I could do that.’ He blew out his cheeks and showed Auntie Suzy how big and fearsome he was.
Just then, Captain Price called, ‘All aboard and ready to go, young Ben. Cast off!’
Ben scrambled over some seats to where a rope tied Sharkfin to the pier.
‘Ready Captain!’ he yelled.
Captain Price hauled the gangplank on board, and Ben untied the rope and pulled it on to the deck. Once the engine was running, he untied the other rope and they were away.
‘We’re off, Toby,’ Willow whispered to her Hoozle. Nobody heard her, because of the engine noise.
Toby squeezed her thumb. ‘I’ve never been to sea before,’ he growled softly.
‘Don’t worry,’ she replied. ‘You’ll be safe.’
Ben came over and began sorting out a pile of ropes.
‘Can I help?’ Willow asked.
‘Better not,’ said Ben. ‘I’ve sailed a lot, so I know what I’m doing.’
‘I bet I could learn to do anything you can do,’ said Willow. ‘You’d only need to show me once.’
‘OK,’ said Ben. ‘I’ll teach you to tie some sailors’ knots.’
He showed her how to tie an anchor bend knot. ‘This is for fixing a rope to an anchor,’ he explained.
When Willow had had a few goes, Ben said, ‘That’s not bad.’
She grinned. ‘I think I’m pretty good. Let’s have a knot-tying race.’
Ben shrugged and said, ‘Okay. Ready, steady … go!’
Willow’s fingers flew! Her knot was done and pulled tight, a split second before Ben finished.
‘Wow!’ he said. ‘You’re right. You are pretty good. But I still know more knots than you.’
Willow was about to say she could easily learn any knot Ben knew, when Captain Price called the passengers to gather round.
‘Go and listen,’ said Ben. ‘I’ve heard the story before.’
‘What story?’ asked Willow.
Ben leaned forward. ‘The story,’ he hissed, ‘of the ghost of Six-Fingered Jim!’
Willow shivered with excitement. ‘Ooooh!’
Willow wedged herself and Toby between Freddie and Auntie Suzy.
‘Are you ready for the tale of the ghost of Six-Fingered Jim?’ asked Captain Price.
‘Yes!’ the passengers yelled.
The Captain began. ‘Six-Fingered Jim was a wicked pirate! In days gone by, he hid from the King’s navy in Summertown Cove.’
Willow held tight to Toby. A real pirate? In Summertown Cove?
Captain Price told how Six-Fingered Jim captured a great ship, full of gold coins and jewels and all sorts of treasures. ‘He sailed away in his pirate ship, Peg Leg’s Revenge, and the King’s sailors hunted him for months. They chased him across the seven seas. Then one day, Six-Fingered Jim anchored the Peg Leg’s Revenge …’ The captain looked around, shading his eyes, ‘… on this very spot.’
Willow felt Toby grip her thumb. Freddie clung to Wobbly.
The captain continued, ‘It was Six-Fingered Jim’s birthday, and he threw a party. Those pirates ate, and they drank, and they danced the sailor’s hornpipe, and they sang sea songs until they were so tired that they fell asleep on deck.’
‘Then what happened?’ asked a wide-eyed boy.
‘The King’s sailors found them,’ said Captain Price. ‘There was a terrible fight, with guns and cannon and cutlasses! A few pirates escaped, and some were locked up in prison. But Six-Fingered Jim was never seen again. W
ell, not in the flesh …’
A man asked, ‘What do you mean, not in the flesh?’
‘The treasure was never found,’ said Captain Price. ‘They say that Six-Fingered Jim hid it in a cavern deep in the caves of Summertown Cove – a cavern that’s shaped like the mouth of a tiger!’
‘Treasure,’ Willow whispered to Toby. ‘I’d like to find that!’
Captain Price spoke again. ‘Ay, the treasure might be there, but so is something else.’
‘What?’ everyone cried.
Captain Price leaned forward and said in a low voice, ‘The ghost of Six-Fingered Jim!’
Willow felt Toby shiver. She stroked his soft blue head.
‘His ghost haunts that cavern,’ said the captain, ‘and it guards the treasure.’ He held up a warning hand. ‘Beware. They say that anyone who seeks the treasure just … disappears! Never, ever to be seen again. It’s the curse of Six-Fingered Jim!’
Willow felt uneasy. Toby leaned against her shoulder and whispered, ‘It’s only a story, Willow. Don’t be frightened. I’m here.’
She hugged him, and noticed that she wasn’t the only one who found the story of Six-Fingered Jim creepy. Several of the children looked a bit scared.
Captain Price laughed. ‘Never fear. We’re only going to explore the beautiful caves you can see in the cliff ahead, so you’re in no danger.’
Willow was relieved that none of the caves looked anything like the mouth of a tiger. She went to see if Ben knew any more about the pirate treasure and found him sitting behind a chest of tools. As she drew near, she heard him talking to someone.
‘Why can’t we have a swim?’ a small voice pleaded. ‘I promise I’ll stay out of sight.’
Ben’s voice said, ‘If we swim now, I could lose you. Be patient and wait till later.’
‘I’m always patient,’ said the voice. ‘Good old patient Spike, that’s me.’
Spike? Willow’s heart leapt. She peeked over the chest.
It was Spike! Ben was talking to his Hoozle! So he knew the secret, too.
Ben looked up. ‘Oh, I wasn’t … I didn’t … I mean, I …’
Willow grinned. ‘It’s OK,’ she said. ‘I know about Hoozles.’
Ben was so relieved, he flopped back against the side of the boat. Spike flapped his tail and said, ‘Hello, matey,’ to Toby. Willow giggled when Toby put out his hand and tried to shake Spike’s fin.
‘Hoozles are just the best toys ever, aren’t they?’ said Ben.
Willow looked fondly at Toby. ‘Absolutely the best. Well, almost all of them.’ She told Ben about Croc, the naughty orange crocodile Hoozle, who once tried to steal Toby’s pocket heart.
Ben frowned. ‘He’d better not try to steal Spike’s. Look.’ He showed Willow the baby shark’s tooth in Spike’s pocket. Like all pocket hearts, it was a symbol of the special bond owners shared with their Hoozles. ‘I really love Spike,’ he said. ‘I’ve had him for two years.’
‘I’ve had Toby much longer than that,’ said Willow. ‘Ever since I was a baby.’
‘How long have you known the Hoozle secret?’ asked Ben.
‘Ever since we came to stay with Auntie Suzy for the summer.’
‘I’ve known about it longer than that,’ said Ben. ‘I found out Spike was alive the day after I got him, when I dropped him overboard into the sea. He swam back to me. I was so surprised I nearly fell overboard myself!’
Willow laughed.
Then Ben said, ‘We’re even. You’ve had Toby the longest, and I’ve known the Hoozle secret the longest!’
Toby and Spike had gone off together and settled in the centre of a red and white lifebelt. They lay on their backs giggling at the antics of the greedy gulls that swooped above the boat, hoping for someone to throw them a titbit.
Ben showed Willow different sorts of sea birds. Soon they were close enough to Summertown Cove to see puffins sitting on a grassy ledge halfway up the cliff. Ben pointed out one bobbing on the water nearby.
‘It’s funny-looking, with that big orange beak,’ Willow said, ‘I–’
There was a loud juddering sound. Sharkfin’s engine coughed twice, then stopped.
‘What’s happened?’ cried a young woman with long hair.
Everyone spoke at once.
‘We’ve broken down.’
‘But why?’
‘I know what it is!’ the long-haired woman said in a trembly voice.
Willow gulped. She knew what the woman was going to say.
‘It’s the ghost of Six-Fingered Jim!’
‘Nothing to worry about,’ said Captain Price. ‘Little problem with the engine. Soon have it fixed. Ben!’ he called. ‘I need a hand.’
Ben was already on his way.
‘I hope the captain can mend the boat,’ said Toby. ‘Otherwise we might have to stay here for ever, and there’s nothing for you and Freddie and Suzy to eat.’
Willow laughed. ‘Even if he couldn’t mend it, someone would come and help.’
She’d barely finished speaking when, with a cough, a hiccup and a splutter, the engine started.
The passengers cheered.
Captain Price appeared, shaking his head and wiping his hands on an oily rag. There was a long shiny brown ribbon of seaweed draped over his arm. ‘Most strange,’ he said to Auntie Suzy. ‘This seaweed was caught in the engine. Now how could it possibly get in there? I’ve had it caught round the propeller before, but never inside the engine.’ He shrugged and flung the seaweed overboard. Then he took the wheel. ‘Right, me hearties, next stop Summertown Cove and the amazing caves!’
Five minutes later, the boat slowed and stopped near the beach. Captain Price threw the anchor overboard, then pulled the rope in until the boat was steady.
‘Did anyone forget their wellies and torches?’ asked the captain.
‘No!’ yelled the passengers.
Torches! Willow and Freddie looked anxiously at Auntie Suzy, but she smiled and said, ‘I’ve got one.’
Willow wondered how they were going to get to shore, but Captain Price showed them that Sharkfin was moored against a shelf of rock that was just below the surface of the water. He slid the gangplank over the side. ‘Walk down that and wade to the beach,’ he said.
Freddie splashed ashore first and began jumping in rock pools.
Ben and Willow went together and waited by the cave entrance as everyone gathered round.
Willow cuddled Toby tightly as she peered inside. She could just imagine Six-Fingered Jim dragging his treasure chest into the gloomy caves. ‘I wish I could find the treasure,’ she told Ben, ‘but, suppose I did, and then I disappeared because of the curse and was never, ever seen again?’
Ben looked at her for a few moments before speaking. ‘I think I know where the treasure’s hidden.’
Willow’s heart leapt, but then she thought, He’s making it up. He couldn’t possibly know. ‘Prove it,’ she said.
‘Okay,’ said Ben. ‘I will.’ He tapped Captain Price on the shoulder. ‘Uncle, can I take Willow to see my favourite part of the caves, instead of coming on the tour?’
The captain looked at Auntie Suzy.
‘If it’s safe, Ben,’ said Auntie Suzy.
‘I’ve been there loads of times,’ he said.
The captain looked at his watch. ‘You have an hour. Only go to the caves you’ve explored before, and meet us right here. Got your torch?’
‘Yes,’ said Ben.
‘Remember,’ said Auntie Suzy. ‘One hour.’
‘I’ve got my watch,’ said Willow, holding out her wrist. ‘It has a little light in it, so I can tell the time in the dark.’ She pressed a button. ‘See?’
‘Off you go, then,’ said Auntie Suzy, ‘and look after those Hoozles.’
‘We will!’
Ben led the way, shining his torch on the damp rock.
Willow was excited, but she also felt a little bit scared. Suppose they got lost? Suppose the torch battery ran out? Suppose … She sudde
nly realised Toby was poking her with his paw.
‘Willow, you’re squeezing me too hard,’ he said.
‘Sorry, Toby,’ she said, giving him a quick kiss. ‘I’m a bit nervous. But don’t tell Ben that,’ she added quickly. ‘If he’s brave enough to wander off through dark caves and passages, then so am I!’
‘Wow!’ Willow completely forgot her nerves as Ben led her into a vast cavern. He flashed the torch around slowly. Pointed rocks stood like upside-down ice cream cones. Some were tiny, and some were three times her height.
‘Stalagmites!’ said Willow.
‘And stalactites,’ said Ben, shining the light upwards. Hanging from the roof was a forest of rocks, glistening wetly, like icicles. ‘Watch where you step,’ he went on. ‘There are little pools all over the place, and some of them are deep.’
‘Can I walk?’ Toby asked.
Willow put him down. ‘Stay near the torch light.’
‘This way,’ Ben called.
Willow followed the pool of torch light through a twisting rock passage and came out into an even bigger cavern. There was a wide, flat open space in the middle with a rock like a long bench. She stood on it to look around. The light from the torch bounced back from rock pools and wet walls, making it easy to see all around.
‘Hey!’ Ben shouted suddenly, making Willow jump. His voice went, ‘Hey … ey … ey … ey … ey … ey!’
Toby tried to scramble up beside Willow. She lifted him on to the flat rock, and he clutched her leg.
Treasure Island Trouble Page 1