Chapter one

 

CHAPTER   ONE

 

The Secret Seven Meet

 

" where's my badge? Where's my badge? " said Janet. " I know I put it into this drawer." And out of the drawer came handkerchiefs, socks, and ribbons, flying in the air.

 

" Janet! " said Mummy, crossly. " Do look what you are doing—I only tidied that drawer this morning. What is it you want—your Secret Seven Badge? "

" Yes ! There's a meeting this morning, and I can't go without my badge," said Janet. " Peter wouldn't let me into the shed, I know he wouldn't. He's awfully strict about badges." And away went another shower of handkerchiefs into the air.

" Well, you certainly won't find it in the drawer now," said Mummy, and she bent and picked up a little round badge with the letters S.S. worked neatly on it. " You have thrown it out of the drawer with your hankies, silly ! "

" Oh give it to me, Mummy, give it to me ! " cried Janet. But Mummy wouldn't.

" No. You pick up all those things first and tidy them in the drawer," she said.

" But the Secret Seven meet in five minutes ! " cried Janet. " Peter's down in our shed already."

" Then you can be late," said Mummy, and walked out of the room with the little badge ! Janet groaned. She picked up everything and stuffed it back into the drawer as tidily as she could in a hurry. Then she tore downstairs.

 

" I've done it, Mummy—and I promise I'll do it better when the meeting is over."

Mummy laughed. She held out the little badge to Janet. " Here you are. You and your Secret Seven meetings! How you can bear to meet in that stuffy little shed this hot weather I don't know! Must you keep the door and the window shut all the time ? "

" We have to," said Janet, pinning on the badge proudly. " It's a very Secret Society, and we can't have anyone listening to our meetings. Not that much has happened lately. We really need something to liven us up—an adventure like the last one."

" Take the biscuit-tin down with you," said Mummy. " And you can have a bottle of orangeade. Here's Scamper come to find you!"

The lovely golden spaniel came trotting into the room. "Woof," he said to Janet. "Woof!"

" Yes, yes—I know I'm late," said Janet, giving him a pat. " I suppose Peter sent you to fetch me. Come along. Thanks for the biscuits and orangeade, Mummy."

She went down the garden-path, hugging the biscuit-tin and the bottle of orangeade. As she came near the shed, she heard voices. It sounded as if all the other six were there !

 

Janet banged on the door, and Scamper flung himself against it too.

" Password ! " yelled six voices.

" Adventure 1 " yelled back Janet, giving the password for that week. No one could go to a meeting without saying the password.

The door flew open, and Peter, Janet's brother, stood there, frowning. " Any need to yell out the password like that ? " he said.

" Sorry," said Janet. " You all yelled out at me, and I just yelled back. Anyway, there's no one to hear. Look, I've brought the biscuit-tin and some orangeade."

Peter looked to see if she had on her badge. He had seen his sister hunting madly for it ten minutes back, and he had made up his mind he wouldn't allow her hi if she hadn't found it. But there it was, pinned to her dress.

Janet went into the shed. Peter shut the door and bolted it. The window was shut too. The hot summer sun streamed in at the one window, and Janet blew out her cheeks.

" My goodness—it's boiling hot in here! Honestly, I shall melt."

" We're all melting," said Pam. " I think this is a silly place to have our weekly meetings when it's so hot. Why can't we have them

out in the woods somewhere, in the shade of a tree?"

" No," said Jack at once. " My sister Susie would always be hanging round—we wouldn't be a Secret Society any more."

" Well, couldn't we think of somewhere cool and hidden, where nobody would find us ? " said Colin. " For instance—I've got a hiding-place in my garden where nobody can find me at all, and it's as cool and as hidden as can be."

" Where is it ? " asked Jack.

"Up a tree," said Colin. "We've a big tree with some broad branches half-way up— and I've got a couple of cushions up there, and a box to keep things in. It's cool and breezy, and the branches swing about in the wind. And I've got a jolly good view all round too. I can always see if anyone is coming ! "

They all listened to this speech in silence. Then they looked at one another, their eyes shining.

" Marvellous idea ! " said Peter. " We'll do it ourselves ! A house up a tree where we could meet and nobody know! We'll do it!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER   TWO

 

A Wonderful Idea

 

the Secret Seven discussed the new idea thoroughly. They all thought it very good indeed. Colin felt very proud to think he had given them such a fine idea.

" If we could find a big enough tree, and flat enough branches, we could make a very fine meeting-place there," said Peter. " We could take up some boards and boxes and cushions—and make a little store-place for biscuits and drinks and books and things."

" It would be super," said Janet. " Nobody would ever guess we were there—and nobody could possibly hear what we say."

" Let's get out of this hot shed and go and find somewhere now," said Colin. " I know exactly what an ice-cream feels like when it begins to melt. As for poor old Scamper, he's panting as if he's run a race."

So he was. His pink tongue hung out, long and wavy, and he panted loudly. Peter got up.

 

 

" Come on, old boy. You can have a drink at the stream when we go past."

They took the biscuit-tin with them, but they all had a drink of the orangeade before they left. Scamper rushed on to the stream as soon as he knew they were going that way.

" Hi!—don't drink all the stream ! " called Peter. Scamper lapped and lapped. They went on their way and left him still lapping.

" We'll go to Windy Woods," said Colin. " There are some enormous trees there—easy to climb too."

They came to Windy Woods. It was cool and shady there. " Now let's look carefully and see if we can spot a good tree," said Jack. " Big enough to hold all the Secret Seven ! "

" What about Scamper? " said Janet, suddenly. " He can't climb a tree. He won't be able to come to the meetings."

" We could make him a sort of harness, and pull him up," said George.

" He'd hate that," said Peter. " Anyway, he's not really a member. He needn't come. Or he could sit at the bottom of the tree and guard us."

" Oh yes!   He could bark if anyone came

 

 

 

 

near," said Barbara. " He would be a fine gate-keeper."

" Tree-keeper!" said Pam. " Look—what about this tree ? It's enormous."

" No good," said Peter, looking up at the great beech. " No low-down branches to climb up on. We must have a tree that's easy to climb, or we'll spend all our time getting up and down."

They separated, and began to look for likely trees. There didn't seem so many after all. George found one that he thought was just right, but when he climbed up a little way he soon saw that it was impossible to have any kind of house up there.

"No good!" he called down. "The branches criss-cross too much and are far too thick."

Down he came, and then Jack shouted out. " Come here, all of you. What about this tree ? "

They ran up and looked at Jack's tree.

" Yes," said Colin, " that really does look a likely one. One low branch waist-high to climb on—places to put your feet up the trunk after that—another branch there to cling to— and what looks like a nice lot of flattish branches half-way up. I'll shin up and see."

 

 

 

 

 

"No, I'll go," said Jack. "I found it. You come after."

He stood on the low branch and then made his way up, putting his feet on to jutting-out pieces of the trunk that really seemed made for foot-holds! Boughs spread out in just the right places to hold on to—and then Jack came to the place where branches grew out level from the great trunk.

" It's fine ! " he called down. " There are about six branches here, all on the same level, more or less—and there's a hole in the trunk

 

 

 

too—it would make a fine cupboard. Come on up ! There's room for everyone I "

The others climbed up in excitement. Peter came last of all, in case the girls got stuck and wanted help. But it was such an easy tree to climb that nobody wanted any help at all.

" It's the biggest oak-tree in the wood, I should think," said Peter, when they were all sitting on the platform of branches. " What luck to have so many broad branches all about the same level. Where's the hole you told us about, Jack? "

 

" Here," said Jack, and moved away from the part of the trunk he was leaning against. The others saw a very large hole. Jack thrust his hand in and felt round it.

" It goes down about two feet," he said. " It would make a fine store-place for us—just what we want. Well—shall we make this our Secret Seven Tree—our new meeting-place ? "

" Oh yes," said everyone at once, and they began to talk about what they would do to make it a proper tree-house.

Peter took out a note-book. " Now," he said, "suggestions and ideas one at a time please. I'll write them all down."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER   THREE

 

The Big Tree

 

everyone was full of ideas. " We could bring some small boards to put across the branches and make a proper little platform," said Colin. " We've got some in our shed at home."

" And rope to tie them on with," said Jack.

" Yes, and cushions to sit on," said Pam. " Only we'd have to stuff them in the hole in the tree whenever we left, in case it rained."

" Can't do that. The hole's not big enough," said Jack.

" Well, I could bring an old waterproof sheet—a rubber one—to cover up any of our things when we leave," said Barbara. " Then they would be quite all right."

" Good idea," said Peter, scribbling fast in his note-book. " Any more ideas ? "

" Stores for the cubby-hole in the tree," said Janet. " Unbreakable mugs and things like that. I'll bring those. Mummy always lets us have them when we want them, so long as we take them back sometime."

 

" This is fine," said Peter, scribbling quickly. " Boards to make a platform. You can bring those, Colin."

" Rope to tie them with," said Jack. " I'll bring that."

" Cushions for me," said Pam.

" Rubber sheet for me," said Barbara.

" Mugs for me," said Janet. " What about you, George ? "

" I'll bring some chocolate for the cubbyhole," said George. " We had a big parcel from a cousin in America today—heaps of chocolate in it. My mother said I could have half."

" Smashing ! " said Peter. " And I'll bring the drinks. Golly, we're going to have a glorious time. It will be a wonderful meeting-place. Don't you go and tell that awful sister of yours, Jack."

" As if I'd tell Susie!" said Jack, indignantly. " When shall we begin to make the tree-house ?"

" Why not tomorrow ? " said Peter. " Nobody is going away to the sea just yet. It shouldn't take us long to put everything together up here. This place is just made for a tree-house! "

A loud and mournful howl rose up from the

 

 

 

 

 

 

foot of the tree. Then there came a scrabbling noise.

" Oh—poor Scamper ! " said Janet. " He's been as good as anything waiting for us. I guess he wishes he could climb like our cat. He'd be up beside us in half a jiffy ! "

" We're coming, Scamper," called Peter. He took one last look round the tree. " It really couldn't be better," he said. "And there's only one more thing to hope for."

" What's that ? " asked Jack, beginning to climb down.

 

" Something for the Secret Seven to do" said Peter. " We haven't had any adventure or mystery or excitement for ages."

" I'm glad you said that," said Pam. " When you say things never happen—they always do 1 "

" I hope you're right," said Peter. He parted the leaves of the tree behind him. " What a long way we can see! " he said. " Right over the wood—and across to the hill. I can see the road winding up the hill too—and cars on it."

" Come on," called Jack, who was half-way down the tree now. " It's getting jolly late. I shall get into a row, I know I shall. My mother says our meetings always last an hour too long! "

" Well, this was a jolly good one anyhow," said Colin, slithering down much too fast. " Golly—now I've torn my shorts."

" I should think so—going down the tree as if it was a slippery-slip I " said Barbara.

Scamper gave them a tremendous welcome. He leapt on one after another as the Secret Seven jumped down to the ground, barking and licking with all his might. Peter laughed.

" Poor old Scamper—you won't like our new

 

 

 

 

 

meeting-place, will you? I say—look—what about giving Scamper that hole over there as a kind of kennel when we are up the tree ? "

He pointed to what looked almost like a small cave in a nearby tree. It was old and rotten, and a hole had appeared at the foot of its trunk. It would just about fit Scamper.

" We could put one of his rugs in there, and a bone, so that he would know it was his place," said Peter. " And we could say, ‘ On guard, Scamper!' to him, so that he would stay there till we came down."

" Oh yes—he would be our sentinel," said George. " He'd make an awfully good one. He would bark as soon as anyone came near."

They all felt happy now that they had made a good plan for Scamper. He wouldn't be able to come up the tree and join their meetings as he did in the shed—but at least he would be doing something for them and feeling important because he was on guard.

" Woof," said Scamper, exactly as if he understood every word, and agreed thoroughly. He wagged his tail and ran in front of them. He knew it was dinner-time, if they didn't!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER   FOUR

 

Making the Tree-House

 

 

the next day was really very exciting. If anyone had been in Windy Woods he or she would have been most astonished to see the file of children going down the path, each carrying some kind of load.

 

They had all met at Peter's house with their goods. Janet, his sister, had mugs and plates and spoons. Colin had a set of boards, which Jack had to help him with. Jack had coiled yards and yards of rope round his waist and looked really most peculiar.

Barbara was carrying a big rubber sheet

 

carefully folded, and she was helping Pam with a set of old cushions.

" They're a bit dirty and flattened out," said Pam, " but I didn't think that would matter. I got them out of the garden-shed—

they've been there ages. I could only find six, so we'll have to get another somewhere."

Janet ran to get one from her garden-shed, where the Secret Seven usually held their meetings. That made seven cushions, one for everyone.

George had the chocolate—and also a fine big tin of mixed biscuits. ' Mother gave me them," he said. " She says your mother keeps supplying our Society with food, and it's her turn now."

" Jolly fine," said Peter, with much approval. " What a smashing tin I " He had taken some money from his money-box and had bought a bottle of lemonade and one of

 

orangeade, and he also had two bottles full of water to use with the drinks.

Even Scamper had to carry something 1 He had one of his little rugs rolled up tightly and tied with string. He was carrying it in his mouth, feeling most important. He loved it when the children really let him take part in everything they were doing.

" Wooooooof-woof," he said, with his mouth full of rug.

" He says he likes to be carrying something like everyone else," said Janet. " That's right, isn't it, Scamper ? "

Scamper wagged his tail, and almost dropped his rug in his longing to bark properly. " Ooooof," he said.

The Seven set off down the path, came to Windy Woods, and made their way to their tree. " We ought to carve S.S. on the trunk, for Secret Seven," said Pam.

" Well, we can't," said Peter. " My father says that scribbling on walls and pavements and carving on trees is only done by idiots. And if anyone in the Secret Seven wants to be an idiot he can jolly well get out."

" I only said we ought to carve S.S.," said

 

 

Pam, quite hurt. " I didn't mean that we should. You know I'm not an idiot."

" Yes. I do know," said Peter. " I was only just telling you what my father said. Let's make Scamper his little sentry-box place before we go up the tree."

It was fun showing Scamper his " sentry-box." He pushed into it, sniffed all round, and then sat down at the entrance, his mouth open as if he were smiling.

"He's pleased. He's smiling," said Janet. " Come out, Scamper, and we'll put your rug in. Then you'll know this is your own place— your sentry-box. And you're the sentinel on guard. on guard, Scamper. You know what that means, don't you? "

" Woof," said Scamper, and looked suddenly serious. He ran out.

Peter stuffed his rug into the hole. Then he dropped a bone there for Scamper—and then he put an old cap of his in the hole too.

" On guard, Scamper," he said, pointing. " On guard, old fellow. Very important. Guard my cap for me till I come back. On guard! "

Scamper went back into the hole, sniffed solemnly at the cap, then at the bone. He

 

turned round and sat himself upright at the entrance to the hole again, looking important. Nothing would now make him leave his " sentry-box " until Peter told him he might. He was a very, very good guard when he knew he had to be.

" Now we can get on with our own job without old Scamper leaping round us and

 

 

barking and getting in the way all the time," «aid Peter. " Let's tie the boards and the rubber sheet to the ropes—then one of us can go up the tree with the rope-end, and pull the whole lot up at once."

This seemed a very good idea, but wasn't. Peter didn't tie the ropes securely enough round the boards—and as Jack was hauling the package up the tree, a rope slipped—and down came all the boards and the rubber sheet, bumping and slipping against the tree !

One board hit Colin on the shoulder, and the rubber sheet unfolded and fell neatly over Pam's head. The others squealed with laughter as Pam yelled and struck out, wondering what had happened to her.

" Oh dear—sorry ! " said Peter, pulling the sheet off poor Pam. " We'll tie the things more firmly this time."

" You let me tie them," said Colin, rubbing Ms shoulder. " I'm not going to have a shower of heavy boards fall on me again ! "

" This is fun," said George. " This is really fun! I bet nobody ever had such fun making a tree-house before!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER   FIVE

 

Great Fun

 

all the Seven really enjoyed themselves making the tree-house. It took them the whole of the morning. Placing the boards and roping them firmly in place wasn't quite as easy as they had thought it would be.

The boards kept slipping about, and had a most annoying habit of falling down the tree and having to be fetched up again. Every time one fell, Scamper barked to tell them.

" He probably thinks we don't notice when a board falls down," said Janet, with a giggle. " Oh dear—whose turn is it to climb down after that one? "

" It seems to me that it's a question of too many cooks spoiling the broth," said Jack. " With all of us sitting about on the branches that we want to put the boards on it's really awfully difficult. You girls get down to lower branches. Go on. Four of us up here are enough to rope down the boards."

The girls  climbed  down  a little,  putting

 

 

themselves the other side of the tree for safety. " Blow ! There goes one of the cushions ! " said Pam. " Well, it can wait. There'll be another board falling down in a minute, and whoever gets that can get the cushion too."

The boys had a fine old time putting the boards in place, and roping them firmly to make a kind of platform. At last they had done the job really well.

" Quite safe now," said Jack, testing the platform by walking over it slowly. " Nobody is going to slip down between two boards, and

 

no board is going to get out of place. We've done a jolly good job."

The girls came up and admired the platform. The cushion was rescued from the ground below, and soon the wooden platform looked quite cosy, set out with seven rather dirty, flat cushions.

The mugs, plates, drinks, biscuit-tin and packets of chocolate were put into the convenient cubby-hole. The rubber sheet was neatly tied to a branch ready to be spread over the cushions and platform when the Seven left.

" There ! " said Peter, pleased. " Our new headquarters—Meeting-Place of the Secret Seven Society. Sentinel on guard down below. Everything ready to tackle our next adventure —if only it comes ! "

" I don't mind if it doesn't," said Pam. " This is enough adventure for me. Fancy having a tree-house like this ! Ah—here comes the wind!"

A gust blew strongly, and the big tree rocked. The platform rocked too.

" Lovely ! " said Janet, as she felt the platform moving. " I feel as if I'm on a ship now— that swaying feeling is just like being in a boat."

" It's half past twelve," said Peter.    " Let's

 

 

have a biscuit and a drink, and go home. We can come back this afternoon. We'll bring books and a game and enjoy ourselves."

" It's funny how grown-ups don't like us to eat just before we have a meal, in case we can't eat our dinner or tea afterwards," said Janet, nibbling a biscuit. " I could eat six of these super biscuits and still feel hungry for my lunch."

" Well, one is all you're going to have," said Peter, potting the lid on hastily. " If we eat six at a time there soon won't be any left. A big tin like this ought to last us for ages!1"

In the afternoon they all went back to the tree-house. Scamper took his place down below as sentinel again. He seemed quite to understand, and wagged his tail cheerily as one by one the Secret Seven went up the tree.

The wind was stronger hi the afternoon, and it was very pleasant to feel the platform rocking. " I quite expect to hear a splash of water," said Janet. " It's so like a boat. I love it ! "

They sat or lay about on the platform on their cushions, reading or talking, nibbling at some of George's chocolate. It was nice to hear the wind rustling the leaves round them, and to fed the breeze in their hair.

 

And then suddenly Scamper began barking

down below. " Wuff-wuff, woof, woof, woof ! Wuff-wuff-woof-woof-WooF! "

" What's up with Scamper ? " said Peter, and he peered cautiously down the tree. He heard a voice.

" Now then—what's up with you I Don't you come near me or my kitten \ "

" It's a boy," whispered Peter to the others. " A dirty-looking boy. He*s got a kitten cuddled into his neck. Scamper's leaping round him like anything."

" He won't hurt him," whispered back George. " I expect he's stopping him from climbing this tree! He may have thought the boy wanted to. Where's the kitten? Move over and let me see."

Peter wouldn't move over, so George gave him a shove. Peter clutched at one of the ropes that held a board, and his board tipped up. He almost shot headlong down the tree, but just stopped himself in time by clutching at a branch.

Pam squealed in fright. Peter gave her a sharp nudge. " Quiet! " he hissed. " Do you want our hiding-place discovered on the very first day?"

The boy on the ground below looked round,

 

 

 

startled by Pam's squeal. He couldn't think where it had come from. Then he looked up the tree.

" I say ! " he called. " Anyone up there ? Who is it?"

Nobody said a word. Pam held her breath until she thought she would burst. Peter glared at her.

" Is anyone up there ? " shouted the boy. " I'm coming up to see."

Peter gave a low groan. Just what he had been afraid of!

But Scamper had other ideas.    What!    Let

 

 

a strange boy climb up the tree he was guarding ! What nonsense!

Scamper leapt at the boy, growling. He didn't mean to bite him or even to snap—but the boy didn't know that. He had just put up an arm to get hold of the lowest branch of the tree. He put it down in a hurry and faced Scamper.

" What's the matter ? What are you so excited about? Get down. If you're after my kitten you can think again. Get down, I say!"

But not until the boy had walked right

 

 

away from the tree did Scamper stop leaping and barking. As soon as he saw that the stranger no longer meant to climb, Scamper became his own friendly self again. He placed himself between the tree and the boy and wagged his tail.

" I don't know why you won't let me climb that tree, but if you don't want me to, I won't," the Seven heard the boy say. " I can always come back when you're not here if I want to, anyway ! I'm going now. You've frightened my poor little kitten nearly to death ! "

The Seven heard the crackling of twigs and pine-needles as the boy walked away. Scamper gave one bark of warning, and then went back to his " sentry-box ", very pleased with himself indeed. Aha! He was a fine sentinel. No one could climb that tree unless he let them.

The Seven said nothing until there was no further sound from down below. Pam spoke first. She looked as if she was going to cry.

" I'm sorry, I'm sorry ! Don't scold me ! I thought you were going to fall down the tree, Peter, and I couldn't help squealing."

" Well, next time you squeal you'll be turned out of the Secret Society," said Peter.

 

" Giving away our marvellous tree-house the very first day we make it. Just like a girl! "

That made Janet and Barbara cross. " We didn't squeal," said Janet. " We never made a sound. Pam's always squealing. She does at school."

Pam went very red. " I promise I won't do it again," she said, in a small voice. " Anyway—the boy's gone, so no harm's done."

" Thanks to Scamper," said Peter, still annoyed. " And how do you know the boy won't come back when we're gone ? "

" He won't remember the tree," said Pam. " Don't make such a fuss, Peter. I feel bad enough about it anyway."

" Have some more chocolate," said George, anxious to change the subject. He didn't want anyone to remind him that it was because of his violent shove Peter had nearly fallen down the tree, and so made Pam squeal.

" Thanks," said Peter, and took some chocolate. So did everyone, and immediately felt better. They nibbled and talked about how marvellous Scamper was as a guard.

" I bet he's gone back to his sentry-box and is sitting up there as alert as can be," said Jack. " I wish I had a dog like him. He's a wonder."

 

 

" I don't think ~that boy will come back," said Colin, after a time. "I think he was probably just having a walk through the woods—with his kitten ! Funny thing to take a kitten about when you go for a walk."

"Let's have a game of cards," said Pam.

“I've brought some. And what about a drink ? I'm awfully thirsty.'

It really was fun up in the tree-house. They drank orangeade, crunched up a chocolate

 

biscuit each and played a rather tiresome game of cards. The wind would keep flipping the cards off the platform and blowing them down the tree.

" I feel that dominoes would be better," said George at last. " At least they wouldn't blow off so easily. Dash—there goes one of my cards again. I'll bring some dominoes tomorrow."

At five o'clock it was time to go home. They put the cushions in a neat pile and tied the rubber sheet over them. They put everything else away into the tree-hole. A small grey squirrel suddenly ran up a bough and looked at them in amazement.

"Hallo!" said Peter. "How are you? And how's your family? Don't you dare to rob our cubby-hole!"

The squirrel chattered a little, and then disappeared with a beautiful bound. Everyone laughed, and Scamper heard them from his post down below. He barked.

“All right, Scamper ! We're coming ! " called Peter. " And we'll bring you a chocolate biscuit for being such a good guard. Here we come