Free The Case of the Racehorse Ringer by Anthony Read Page B

the horse to the inspector.”
    The others all stared at Wiggins as they realized what he was saying.
    “How d’you think you’re gonna do that, then?” Sam asked at last.
    “Simple,” Wiggins replied. “We take him out of the stables tonight, while everybody’s asleep.”
    “You mean
steal
him?” Sam looked aghast. “You’re gonna steal a racehorse?”
    “Not steal him. Rescue him,” corrected Wiggins.
    “D’you really
want
to go to prison?”
    “We ain’t the ones what’ll be goin’ to prison,” said Sparrow. “It’s the major and Hogg and Fred what’ll get locked up, when the coppers find out what they’ve been up to.”
    The three Boys and Sam had to wait until everyone in the stables was in bed. By the time the last light had gone out it felt like the middle of the night, but they dared not move until they were sure everybody was asleep. Eventually they crept towards the yard. Clouds were floating in front of the moon, so it was not as bright as it had been the night before, but there was still enough light for them to see where they were going. Sam carried his bull’s-eye lantern with the front closed.
    “What are you going to do about that dog?” Sam whispered nervously. “If it starts barking…”
    “It won’t,” Sparrow told him. “Just leave the dog to me. I’ll go first.”
    He moved towards the gate and called very quietly, “Satan! Satan!”
    “Satan? What you on about?” hissed Gertie.
    “Shh! It’s the dog’s name. Here, boy. It’s me, Sparrow.”
    The dog ambled towards him, wagging its tail. Sparrow patted it gently on the head.
    “There. It’s OK, boy. These are my friends.” Satan growled. “Friends … friends, Satan. OK?”
    He beckoned to the others. Wiggins and Gertie slipped in through the gate after him, but Sam held back.
    “You can stay here,” Wiggins told him. “On guard. Keep cave for us in case anybody comes. OK? Just give me your lantern.”
    Sam nodded gratefully and handed over his bull’s-eye lantern, then watched as the three Boys tiptoed across the yard. Sparrow opened the door to Blackie’s loose box and stroked the horse’s neck as he had been taught, whispering calmly to reassure it.
    “You quite sure you got the right hoss, Sparrow?” Wiggins asked.
    “Yes. This is Silver Star all right.”
    “Ain’t he just beautiful?” Gertie cooed.
    “Come on,” Wiggins urged. “We ain’t got time to stand about admiring him.”
    “He’s got his head collar on already,” Sparrow said, “so all we need is the reins to lead him by… Should be hangin’ up over here. Just shine the light.”
    Wiggins opened the lantern and shone it on the wall. The reins were hanging by the door. Sparrow took them and clipped them onto the horse.
    “That’s it,” he said. “Let’s go.”
    “Go where?” a new voice demanded. It was Maisie, standing in the doorway. She was wearing a dressing gown over her nightdress. And she was holding a shotgun.
    “Who are you and what d’you think you’re doing?” she asked. “Why are you trying to steal Blackie?”
    “We ain’t stealin’ him,” Sparrow answered, his heart thumping. “We’re savin’ him.”
    “
Sparrow?
Is that you? Who are these people?”
    “They’re my friends,” said Sparrow.
    Maisie stared at the Boys. She pointed at Gertie accusingly. “I’ve seen you before,” she said.
    “You might have,” Gertie retorted. “Me and my da have been campin’ in the woods up there.”
    “Now I know who you are. Your da … er, your father murdered Tommie!”
    “No, he never,” declared Gertie with a sniff. “He’s innocent.”
    “And we’re gonna prove it,” Sparrow said. “That’s what we’re doin’ here.”
    “You can tell that to the police,” Maisie replied sternly. “After you’ve explained yourselves to my father.”
    The Boys’ hearts sank. It seemed that their plan was doomed. When an owl hooted somewhere in the darkness, it sounded as though it was laughing at