FullReads

This was twelve hours after Ginger, Terry, and Max had lain tearfully down in the damp hay by the warehouse in Bermondsey.

The management of the Picardie had excitedly telephoned to Bessie that Ginger had returned; that he knew the whereabouts of the two kings. They brought him in, like a prisoner, and Bessie dragged him to Queen Sidonie.

In Sidonie’s bedroom, with its tall bed, scarlet-draped and surmounted by a vast golden crown, its purple carpet and a vista of little tables, deep chairs, vast dressing gowns and long mirrors, Sidonie sat up in bed, looking scraggly and care-channeled, smoking a cigarette nervously, while Bessie, in her foamy dressing gown, paced wildly. And to this dreadful audience Ginger told his story.

“It isn’t my fault, Your Majesty. ‘Is Majesty and Master Tait, they wanted me to go along. They said they were just going for a stroll. They said it would be fun to dress up in old clothes. I don’t know what they did with me uniform and their clothes, but we changed in an alley off Greek Street, Soho. Then we went to play on ‘Ampstead ‘Eath. Then they wanted to go into the country and we walked west—”

Now the warehouse where, so far as Ginger knew, Max and Terry were still sleeping, was southeast.

“—walked west, far into the country. Oh, we walked far into the night, we did, and I think we came almost to ‘Arrow on the ‘Ill, and we slept under a ‘edge. And when I woke this morning, they were gone. So I ‘opped a lorry and came right in to tell you, ma’am. Swelp me, it was none of my doing! And I ‘eard ’em say something last night about going to Scotland, so if you searches all the roads north and west—”

Already Sidonie was shrieking for Elopatak; already she was telephoning to Scotland Yard.

“And of course the ‘otel never give me my place again, Your Majesty, but oh, please, could you persuade the police not to arrest me?”

“Certainly. They shan’t arrest you,” glowed Sidonie. “Of course, if young gentlemen like His Majesty and Master Terry told you to accompany them, there was nothing else to do but recognize your place and obey them. I quite understand, and I’m thankful for your being so brave as to come to us. I don’t suppose the hotel will want you, after this, but we might need you. You go up to Terry’s room and stay till we call you. I’ll see the police. ”

“That’s the idea,” said Bessie amiably, and to Ginger, “Skip … Sidonie! Breakfast! Quick! We’ll start for Harrow. ”

“Right you are! We’ll have the little fiends—the darlings!—in two hours. Oh, I’m so relieved!” said Sidonie of Tzetokoskavar to her friend Bessie of Mechanicville.

Terry woke only enough to know that he was awake, that he was miserable, that he was rather wet and extremely cold. He opened his eyes stupidly, amazed to find himself curled in filthy hay, between two boxes, looking out on a foggy welter of freight cars.

He wanted his warm bed, and cocoa coming, and his mother’s voice. He had a feeling of loss and disaster—no excitement that he was free of photographers and press agents and about to become a rollicking pirate.

There was something comfortable about life, however, and he awoke enough to sit up and discover that it was the muzzle of Josephus, tucked in beside his knee. Josephus roused to lick his hand and to whine hungrily.

“Poor pup! I’ll get you something,” asserted Terry. Then his sympathy for Josephus widened enough to take in Max, curled with both hands beneath one cheek, hayseed spotting his filthy clothes. “Poor kid!” muttered Terry, and a horrible doubt crept into him.

Were they really going to enjoy being pirates?

He realized that Ginger was not there and that a note, scratched in pencil on a muddy sheet of wrapping paper, had been thrust through Josephus’ collar. Terry anxiously snatched it out, to read:

Dear Friends Yr. Majesty & Terry:

I haven’t been any help to you I am awful sorry Im just in the way I made believe I didn’t care the way my Uncle acted but he was turble and I think the best thing I can do for you is to go away am going back to hotel and hope can do this for you, will tell them you are going different way from way you are going so through then off the sent they will not know you are going the way you are going I appresheate your taking me along hope have not been too disrespektfull when you get to be pirates maybe you will give me a chance to come join you am sure you will sune be Orficers. Must close now yrs respectfly Ginger PS I lied about my Uncle he wasn’t never no pirate, sodger ettc.