Nobby's Daring

The two outside - George and Georgina - received Nobby and Charlie who had been posing as trying to "shoot a rope into the castle" Errol Flynn version of Robin Hood. Nobby was glad to see them, but the others told him they needed to get caught to do a diversion for the ones getting in. George and Georgina stand back.

When Nobby and Charlie are caught - it doesn't take too long, the two groups of five meet before the front porch.

The ten men stand menacing around Nobby and Charlie.

"What do you think you are doing?"

Charlie and Nobby didn't answer.

"We have some more men inside if someone else is trying to be funny."

A rustle which was very weak gave Charlie and Nobby some hope, they were "trying to be funny" ... but Nobby kicked a stone on the ground to hide that rustle, and the men did not notice. They were very well built.

Keeping their attention could prove to be painful. Even so ... Nobby kicked a stone again.

"Hey, stop that - we pay the people who rake the gravel path, don't destroy their work!"

He knew this would hurt, but he disobeyed.

"OK, you are asking for it ..."

The man punched a hard fist with a long windup into his stomach.

He heard Georgina shout "brutes!" and thought "no ..."

Soon Georgina Kirrin and George White were caught too.

Nobby was waiting still held in the arms of two men.

"So, you kind of betrayed your friend?"

Nobby didn't answer. He got a punch into his face with the notice:

"We don't like traitors ... we may use them, we don't like them."

He glimpsed over to Georgina who smiled very furtively, but triumphantly. Police were coming.