Mystery of Tally-Ho Cottage by Enid Blyton

more sighs, each one less enormous than the last. By now Fatty would be well on the way home. Had Goon recognized him? Ern was afraid that he had. He sat up again and peered out.
    Ah - there were Goon and the other constable walking side by side, arguing. Then Goon stood and began to swing his great arms to and fro across his chest.
    ‘He’s cold,’ said Ern to himself. ‘Serve him right! I hope he freezes! I hope he’s got to stay and watch Tally-Ho House all night long. Grrrrr!’
    It was a most blood-curdling growl that Ern gave, and he even scared himself. He realized that his hands and feet were remarkably cold, and he thought longingly of his warm bed.
    ‘I can’t do anything more tonight,’ he thought, beginning to climb down the tree, with the rug and blanket draped round his neck. ‘I’ll go back to the house.’
    He climbed right down and went to the cottage. To his horror the kitchen door was now locked! He shook it quietly, filled with dismay. Who had locked it? He supposed that his uncle must have awakened at some noise - and have got up to investigate, and found the door unlocked. Blow, blow, blow!
    ‘Well - I’m not going to knock at the door and give everybody a fright,’ thought Ern. ‘I’ll just go back to the tree now, and explain tomorrow morning that I thought I’d like a night-out up there, and that’s where I was. They’ll think I’m potty, but I can’t help that!’
    Ern debated with himself. He would have liked another blanket. He remembered that there were piles of old newspapers in his Uncle Woosh’s shed. He had heard that newspaper was a very, very warm covering, so he decided to take a few dozen papers up the tree with him.
    Armed with these, he went back to the treehouse.
    It really seemed very cosy and comfortable after the cold air down in the yard. Ern spread out the newspaper and made himself a kind of bed. Then he wrapped a few papers round him, pulled the blanket and the rug over him, and put his head on the cushion. He had to lie curled up, because the treehouse was really very small. On the other hand Ern was not really very big!
    He began to get warm. He felt quite comfortable. He yawned a huge yawn. At the same moment an owl passed by the tree and hooted.
    ‘Hoo! Hoo-hoo-hoo-HOO!’
    Ern was up like a shot. Was that old Fatty back again? He peered out of the tree but could see nothing - not even a sign of Goon and his companion. The gardens lay bathed in the brilliant moonlight, undisturbed and peaceful. The owl flew by again, and this time Ern saw it.
    ‘Hoo!’ began the owl, ‘hoo, hoo…’
    Ern put his hands to his mouth in the proper position for hooting, and joined in loudly. ‘Hoo-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!’
    The owl gave a frightened ‘tvit’ and swerved off at once. Ern watched it go. ‘Now don’t you come hooting round me again!’ he said. I’ve had enough of you tonight!’
    And once more Ern cuddled down in his newspapers and blankets and shut his eyes! This time he fell fast asleep, and slept for about two hours.
    Then a noise awakened him. At first he couldn’t think where he was. He sat up in a fright. Then he saw the moonlight outside the tree and remembered. What had awakened him?
    He heard a noise. It was a quiet, humming kind of noise, some way away. Was it an aeroplane? Perhaps. Was it a car far away on a road? Yes - it sounded more like that.
    Ern lay down again. He shut his eyes. Then he heard another noise and sat up.
    Splash! Splash-splash! Ern looked out of the tree again. Was somebody swimming in the river at this time of night? No - not on a frosty night in January! Still - there was that soft splash-splash again! Ern strained his eyes over towards the river.
    He saw something white sailing on it - two white things - and one or two shadowy ones behind. He laughed.
    ‘It’s the swans - and their babies! I’m daft! Imagining all kinds of things when it’s only a couple of swans and their family. Well, fancy them keeping awake all night! I thought they put their heads under