Read Online Elspeth Hart and the Perilous Voyage by Sarah Forbes - Free Book Online
Authors: Sarah Forbes
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moustache in a thoughtful way. “I recall seeing that very story in the paper just before we sailed. Couple of dastardly dinner ladies…”
“Yes,” Cassie said eagerly. “Exactly! They were in Grimguts high-security prison and they escaped the day before the ship sailed!”
“Hmm,” Lord Spewitt looked at the newspaper. “Yes, they are a nasty-looking pair. Are you quite sure they’re on the ship?”
“They are, honest!” Cassie hopped from one foot to the other impatiently. “Ask these ladies – they’re the real hair and beauty staff!” She pulled Poppy and Pippy towards the captain.
Captain Steel looked at Poppy and Pippy. “Is this true?” she asked them. “You’ve been locked up by two women who took your place on the ship?”
“Yes, it is true!” cried Poppy. “We were tied up and thrown in a horrid storeroom by a tall thin woman and a short round woman!”
“And they smelled absolutely vile,” said Pippy. Her eyes filled with tears.
“They practically starved us to death!” added Poppy.
Cassie glanced at Captain Steel. “See? It’s true. Please come with me right now. Let’s find them and you’ll see.”
20
Miss Crabb and Gladys Goulashâs Wigs
âNO!â Rory cried as Miss Crabb dangled Elspeth over the edge of the ship. He rushed towards her, but Miss Crabb gave him a vicious kick to the shins and he hopped back in pain.
Elspeth flailed her arms, scrabbling for something to grab on to, but Miss Crabb was holding her too far out. Elspeth hadnever been so frightened in her life. She was sure she could see a shark circling in the water below.
âGIVE ME MY RECIPE!â Miss Crabb hollered again.
Just as Elspeth was about to give up and tell her where the recipe was, Gladys Goulash hissed, âOi! Someoneâs coming!â
In one swift movement Miss Crabb dragged Elspeth back over the railing and plonked her down on the deck.
âGah! Get over there,â Miss Crabb said, shoving Elspeth and Rory behind a huge lifeboat.
Elspeth gasped for breath, taking in big lungfuls of air. Rory flung an arm around her and they cowered behind the lifeboat.
The door to the deck burst open and Cassie and Captain Steel rushed out, followed by Poppy and Pippy, Cassieâs mum and dad, Lord and Lady Spewitt, a confused Tinkiewinks, Petunia and Albert Galoshes-Gallop, Baron Van Der Blink, Jimmy McScoff and a whole load of other passengers.
âThere they are!â Cassie shouted, pointing at Miss Crabb and Gladys Goulash.
Miss Crabb grabbed Gladys Goulash and tried to hide behind her. But it didnât work, because Miss Crabb was so much taller than Gladys Goulash.
âWe can see you,â Captain Steel said firmly. âCome out from behind your friend.â
Elspeth and Rory slipped further back into the shadow of the lifeboat as more passengers pushed their way up on deck.
âCome out RIGHT NOW!â Captain Steel shouted.
âWhat? Why? I ainât done nothing!â shrieked Miss Crabb.
The captain gestured to Jimmy McScoff, who stepped forward and yanked Miss Crabb out from behind Gladys Goulash.
âWell,â said Captain Steel. âThese ladies certainly look rather like theescaped criminals on the front page of the newspaper ⦠although they do have different hair.â
There was a dreadful pause.
Elspeth peeked out from behind the lifeboat and caught Cassieâs eye in the crowd. She pointed to her own hair, then pulled a piece of it upwards, hoping Cassie would get the message.
Pull off their wigs! she thought, wishing she could send the idea right into Cassieâs head.
It worked. Cassieâs eyes widened as she realized what Elspeth was suggesting, and she pushed her way to the front of the crowd.
âDo you recognize them NOW?â asked Cassie. She jumped up, pulling off Miss Crabbâs wig with one hand and Gladys Goulashâs wig with the other.
Miss Crabb screeched and tried to bite Cassie and
“Yes,” Cassie said eagerly. “Exactly! They were in Grimguts high-security prison and they escaped the day before the ship sailed!”
“Hmm,” Lord Spewitt looked at the newspaper. “Yes, they are a nasty-looking pair. Are you quite sure they’re on the ship?”
“They are, honest!” Cassie hopped from one foot to the other impatiently. “Ask these ladies – they’re the real hair and beauty staff!” She pulled Poppy and Pippy towards the captain.
Captain Steel looked at Poppy and Pippy. “Is this true?” she asked them. “You’ve been locked up by two women who took your place on the ship?”
“Yes, it is true!” cried Poppy. “We were tied up and thrown in a horrid storeroom by a tall thin woman and a short round woman!”
“And they smelled absolutely vile,” said Pippy. Her eyes filled with tears.
“They practically starved us to death!” added Poppy.
Cassie glanced at Captain Steel. “See? It’s true. Please come with me right now. Let’s find them and you’ll see.”
20
Miss Crabb and Gladys Goulashâs Wigs
âNO!â Rory cried as Miss Crabb dangled Elspeth over the edge of the ship. He rushed towards her, but Miss Crabb gave him a vicious kick to the shins and he hopped back in pain.
Elspeth flailed her arms, scrabbling for something to grab on to, but Miss Crabb was holding her too far out. Elspeth hadnever been so frightened in her life. She was sure she could see a shark circling in the water below.
âGIVE ME MY RECIPE!â Miss Crabb hollered again.
Just as Elspeth was about to give up and tell her where the recipe was, Gladys Goulash hissed, âOi! Someoneâs coming!â
In one swift movement Miss Crabb dragged Elspeth back over the railing and plonked her down on the deck.
âGah! Get over there,â Miss Crabb said, shoving Elspeth and Rory behind a huge lifeboat.
Elspeth gasped for breath, taking in big lungfuls of air. Rory flung an arm around her and they cowered behind the lifeboat.
The door to the deck burst open and Cassie and Captain Steel rushed out, followed by Poppy and Pippy, Cassieâs mum and dad, Lord and Lady Spewitt, a confused Tinkiewinks, Petunia and Albert Galoshes-Gallop, Baron Van Der Blink, Jimmy McScoff and a whole load of other passengers.
âThere they are!â Cassie shouted, pointing at Miss Crabb and Gladys Goulash.
Miss Crabb grabbed Gladys Goulash and tried to hide behind her. But it didnât work, because Miss Crabb was so much taller than Gladys Goulash.
âWe can see you,â Captain Steel said firmly. âCome out from behind your friend.â
Elspeth and Rory slipped further back into the shadow of the lifeboat as more passengers pushed their way up on deck.
âCome out RIGHT NOW!â Captain Steel shouted.
âWhat? Why? I ainât done nothing!â shrieked Miss Crabb.
The captain gestured to Jimmy McScoff, who stepped forward and yanked Miss Crabb out from behind Gladys Goulash.
âWell,â said Captain Steel. âThese ladies certainly look rather like theescaped criminals on the front page of the newspaper ⦠although they do have different hair.â
There was a dreadful pause.
Elspeth peeked out from behind the lifeboat and caught Cassieâs eye in the crowd. She pointed to her own hair, then pulled a piece of it upwards, hoping Cassie would get the message.
Pull off their wigs! she thought, wishing she could send the idea right into Cassieâs head.
It worked. Cassieâs eyes widened as she realized what Elspeth was suggesting, and she pushed her way to the front of the crowd.
âDo you recognize them NOW?â asked Cassie. She jumped up, pulling off Miss Crabbâs wig with one hand and Gladys Goulashâs wig with the other.
Miss Crabb screeched and tried to bite Cassie and
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