Swallows and Amazons Page #4

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is drop them in the lake.

But I haven't.

- Oh, that was the last one, was it?

Well, you did enough damage with it.

I've never had any fireworks.

At least not since last November.

Now, look here, that won't do.

And I've never been near your boat.

Well, never as near as this.

Then who did set fire to her?

Clear off.

I've nothing more to say to you.

But I came to tell you.

Clear off.

I don't like talking to liars.

- And don't let me see you here again!

[Orchestral music]

Why do you wave

your legs in the air, Titty?

I'm trying to be a cormorant

but it's quite difficult.

Look, there's John.

- Did you see the parrot?

- Did you capture the houseboat?

What did he say

when you gave him the message?

I didn't give him the message.

He wouldn't let me.

Did you declare war on him?

[John:
]

No.

He called me a liar.

[Parrot squawks]

[Parrot squawks]

You can't get a fairer wind than this.

Can we attack, then?

In naval warfare

two things are important,

to know exactly

what you want to do

and to do it in the manner

your enemy will least expect.

Amazons, beware.

It's a fair wind for the Swallows.

All we have to do when they do come

is to keep out of sight.

And when they do come

we'll slip away quietly,

go to the island

and when they return

we'll take Swallow.

How do we manage all that?

Ah.

[Titty:
]

Take care, John.

[Seagulls cawing]

[John:
]

A fine place for a lookout.

Let me out some more rope.

Tie the lantern on as I said

and then we'll hoist it up.

I still don't see

how we surprise them.

Well, with this wind

they expect us to attack them

and do it early enough

to get back here in daylight.

[Susan:
] Yes, of course.

[John:
] But we don't.

Not until dark,

when they think we've given up.

They don't know about our lights.

Then, we sail up their river,

find the boathouse,

and pinch their boat.

Then we sail both boats back here.

But what happens

if they attack us first?

We'll watch and wait for them

on the lake all day.

Except me.

I'll be staying here.

Are you sure you can manage

all on your own, Titty?

Of course.

I'd love to stay here.

[John:
]

You light the lighthouse lantern

and hoist it up

as soon as it starts to get dark.

The candles in the small lanterns

won't last long

so don't light them

till you're sure we're coming.

We'll give you an owl call

to let you know it's us and not the enemy.

Aye aye, sir.

What do I do

when I've left you on the island?

It's obvious.

You sail on to the next bay

while I wait for Swallow,

capture her

and then come and join you.

But I want to be there

when you capture Swallow.

You can't be in two places at once.

lt is the most exciting part.

What are you wearing?

You said

put two of everything on.

[Susan:
] I said bring,

not put on two of everything.

Pretend you're going to the North Pole.

[Roger:
] All aboard.

- Don't forget about the lights, Titty.

Aye aye, sir. Oh, oughtn't I to have

the telescope for keeping watch?

- Yes, I think you ought.

- Thank you.

Swallows forever!

[Roger:
]

Good luck, Titty.

[Orchestral music]

"25 years ago this day

I, Robinson Crusoe, was wrecked

on this desolate place."

[Bell rings]

[Wind howling]

[Banging and crashing]

[Birds cawing]

What a good place for a camp.

I'll build my hut here

with branches and moss.

Can't be two tents

for one shipwrecked mariner.

Better not.

I'll leave it for Man Friday,

when I find him.

Still a very Susan-ish tent.

[Animal growling]

[Animal growling]

[Animal growling]

I'll have to sleep up a tree

for fear of ravenous beasts.

I'm not afraid

of ravenous beasts anyway.

Time for a feast.

[John:
]

Well, they can't have gone by.

Come on, sun.

Hurry up, sink.

I hope Titty's all right.

Man Friday!

[John:
]

Well, here goes.

[Susan:
]

They must have had supper ages ago.

[John:
]

I wonder what they're up to.

[Roger:
]

It's going to be quite dark soon.

[Sizzling]

I expect they've gone

to meet the Blackett children.

I'd heard you'd met them.

Man Friday oughtn't to know

anything about them.

Very well.

I won't.

What are you doing all by yourself?

Well, properly

I'm in charge of the camp

but while they're away it doesn't matter

if I'm Robinson Crusoe instead.

Man Friday,

would you mind telling me

some of your life

before you came to this island?

I was caught

by some very savage,

savages.

- They put me in a huge stew pot

and chanted strange songs.

Then what?

They lit a fire under the stew pot

and began to dance all round me.

What did you do?

I waited, till no one was looking,

then I jumped out of the stew pot,

and escaped.

Were you scalded badly?

Badly, but I buttered

the places that hurt most.

[Gasps]

What happens if they don't come?

They're bound to.

We just wait and watch.

[John:
]

Now for the enemy stronghold.

Quiet, everyone.

Are you sure

you'll be all right by yourself?

They'll be back soon.

Well, I hope so.

It'll be dark fairly soon.

Wouldn't you like to come back with me,

just for tonight?

We can leave a note for John.

I'd rather stay, thank you.

All right.

Goodbye, Robinson Crusoe.

Goodbye, Man Friday.

[Orchestral music]

Duffer.

That's for looking too hard.

Try the other eye.

[John:
]

We're in the river.

[Susan:
]

Any sign of the enemy's boathouse?

[Roger:
]

No, Mr Mate.

[John:
] Shh.

They mustn't hear us coming.

[Peggy:
quacks]

[Susan:
]

What's that?

[John:
]

A duck.

Stow it, you goat.

Don't overdo it.

There it is!

There it is!

[Susan voiceless]

(Shh. Be quiet.)

"To the Swallows.

Ha ha.

The Amazon pirates.

Quite simple.

They've hidden her up the river.

It's an old pirate trick.

Shouldn't we be getting back, John?

[Roger:
] No.

Let's go up the river.

Please, John.

[John:
]

lt wouldn't take long.

We know they haven't put to sea.

We have been watching all day.

Wildcat Island

and the Amazons forever!

We've done them fairly brown.

[John:
] This must be the place

they call the lagoon.

It's just the place

for them to hide their ship.

Susan, you take the oars now.

I'll keep a lookout.

I wish it wasn't so dark, though.

[Susan:
]

Something's pulling at my oars.

[John:
]

It's all right, it's only water lilies.

[Susan:
]

lt clings onto them like octopuses.

[Roger:
]

Perhaps they were octopuses.

Titty read out of a book how they put their

arms out and grab people out of boats.

[John:
] Nonsense Roger,

they're only flowers.

[Roger:
] I, I, I wouldn't mind

even if they were octopuses.

Look.

Uncle Jim must be back.

[John:
] It's easier if you slope the oars

down and forwards.

That way they don't go

deep in the water and get stuck.

[Susan:
]

I can't move the tiller.

[John:
] lt, it's all stuck up with lily stalks

between the rudder and the boat.

They won't budge.

[Susan:
] Careful.

[John:
]

Try now.

[Roger:
]

There isn't any light at all.

[Susan:
]

We'll never find the Amazon now.

[John:
] If we wait until morning

we might find her.

[Susan:
]

And what about Titty

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