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FROM SAFE FOR LIFE A light moment during a desperate run for freedom Thin shafts of light striking through the evergreens woke the Happy Days troupe early on the morning after their escape from Great Park. Arriving at Deep Wood long before dawn, they had found it to be everything that Bandmaster and Celia had promised. The surrounding trees grew close together and offered ideal shelter from the weather and, most importantly, from searchers. After a brief look round, they had found a suitable clearing and settled down for the remainder of the night while Tiger and Tabby stood watch. Now, at sunrise, Clumsy and Ranga set about reviving the fire they had lit the night before. Soon everyone was gathered round it, yawning and stretching. ‘Shouldn’t Dennis be here by now?’ asked Charlie. ‘How will he ever find us?’ Dancing Dog had never been in a wood before and it seemed an easy place in which to get lost. Clumsy looked up from attending the fire and folded his hands to his mouth. ‘Cuckoo! Cuckoo!’ His call echoed among the trees. ‘Our secret signal,’ he explained. Dennis had taught him how to imitate the bird and he was pleased with his mastery of the skill. * Tiger padded through the undergrowth, his large paws making scarcely a sound. Apart from the odd fleeting woodland creature, he had seen nothing unusual on his rounds. Above him, the dawn chorus was well underway. He stopped and sniffed. What was that tantalising smell floating in the air? ‘That’s sausages!’ he growled, and his stomach rumbled. Again, the scrumptious, superb, splendiferous scent drifted past his quivering nostrils. Sausages in the woods? It was almost too good to be true. Raising his sharp nose, he tracked the teasing aroma until he found himself staring at a towering plateful of plump, totally lip-smacking bangers sitting nicely raw and unattended. He peered around. There seemed to be no one in charge of this tempting feast. ‘Breakfast, here I come,’ he murmured, and opened wide his jaws. ‘Say “cheese”!’ Tiger dropped his mouthful in surprise. Flash! He blinked. ‘Say “cheese” again!’ Flash! As his eyes recovered, he saw a Brownie kneeling at the flap of an old khaki tent, pitched under a nearby tree. ‘Miss Armitage!’ the girl called back through the tent flap. ‘Come and see! There’s a big stripy tiger out here!’ ‘Oh, Katie! Not another of your tales,’ came a sleepy voice. Tiger daren’’t wait to hear any more. One powerful leap and he disappeared into the surrounding brush. ‘There truly is a tiger outside,’ the young girl persisted. ‘He’s eating the sausages I put out as bait.’ ‘Sausages? Bait?’ Miss Armitage poked her head out of the tent. ‘Really, Katie. It’s just a pussycat. Look.’ Sure enough, a fine ginger tabby sat by the plate of sausages washing its face with a paw. ‘But I took a picture of the tiger!’ Katie protested. Red Tabby sniffed briefly at the food and wandered off. ‘I’ll take charge of that camera if you don’t mind,’ said Miss Armitage. By now, several other heads were poking out of the tent flap. ‘All of you, back in your sleeping bags,’ she went on. ‘Just wait ’til Brown Owl hears of this.’ FOR MORE OF DYLAN AND RED TABBY’S ADVENTURES SIMPLY FIND AND OPEN ANOTHER TREASURE CHEST! |
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