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    Wello's adventures by the sea.
    
                Chapter 1
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
      Alyce's eyes peeped open 
to bright morning sun shining 
through her bedroom window. 
Janet breathed softly in the bed at 
the far side of the room. Alyce 
tried to stay still but she was too 
excited, in moment she was up 
and bustling about getting her 
things, Janet stirred, 
"mmmmhm," then instantly sat 
up. "Have I slept in?" she 
squeaked, Alyce laughed and 
threw a bundle of clothes at her. 
"No, but first down gets to walk 
Wello."
      
       Wello was Alyce's faithful 
companion, a muscular golden 
fleeced mongrel of a dog. He 
hadn't been allowed up to the 
bedroom because he just 
wouldn't sleep on the floor. The 
single beds slept one person 
comfortably but one person and a 
dog meant sleepless nights, Wello 
was especially good at wriggling 
and pushing till he was almost 
under the covers.
      
      "I'll wake the boys" 
shouted Alyce as she left the 
room but there was no need as 
Wello had bounded up the stairs 
and was already whining at their 
closed door. "Do pipe down" 
shouted Brad. Jerry, the older and 
wiser of the twins rolled over and 
pulled the covers over his head. 
Jerry was precisely twenty 
minutes older than his twin but 
in his eyes it made a world of 
difference.
      
      The twins had come down 
for the weekend. Cousins of 
Alyce, their mother and father 
often busy at work, they were 
used to spending time at the 
cottage. This weekend promised 
to be special. Janet had arrived 
unexpectedly and they had not 
seen her since last Easter and 
there was some unfinished 
exploring to do.
      
      Alyce and her parents 
lived in an old but comfortable 
cottage overlooking the sea, the 
cottage sat at the apex of a large 
cove. South facing, the cove was 
often sunny, but the entrance to 
the sea was narrow and the cliff 
steep. A small sandy bay sat 
immediately below the cottage 
but soon gave way to rocky cliffs 
often covered by surging waves.
      
      A stone jetty had been 
built in the sheltered eastern side 
of the cove. The brunt of the 
winter waves fended off by the 
rocky cliffs on the west side. The 
narrow entrance to the cove 
amplified the waves but if you 
knew how to position your boat 
it made a safe harbor in even the 
roughest seas. Getting out was 
another matter and while Alyce 
had a sailing dinghy she was well 
aware of when it was safe to 
venture out the cove.
      
      The cove itself was too 
small to sail in but with the sun 
on the back of the cliff it was 
good for bathing and the children 
loved it. The cottage itself had a 
history. At the seaward side a tall 
iron pole had been set in the 
ground and supported a large 
fire basket; it looked hundreds of 
years old. The children knew that 
if you were at sea and could see 
the fire basket you were on the 
right track to reach safe harbor in 
the cove.
      
      Everyone was excited, an 
ebb tide was forecast for the 
weekend and they had wanted to 
explore the jetty for months. Janet 
had started the exploration last 
Easter by uncovering old 
documents at the local library. In 
the 1930's a historian had been 
researching 19th century 
smuggling and the cottage was 
mentioned.
      
      Downstairs the kitchen 
was warm and alive with the 
sound of breakfast. Wello woofed 
and sucked at the same time as 
Brad slipped a bacon slice under 
the table.  A stern look from 
Alyce's mum caught the guilty 
look from Wello, Brad looked 
away, but when the coast was 
clear Wello licked Brads fingers.
      
      In a moment Alyces mum 
said "I'm off to the grocers later, 
you children will have to amuse 
yourselves this morning," "No 
problem," said Jerry "We are 
planning a day at the cove." 
"Good" she said, "You can't get 
into much trouble down there."
      
      Alyce watched her mums 
car rumble down the rough track 
heading towards the village and 
further on, the town and grocers. 
"Quick" she shouted, "low tide is 
in an hour and we have got to get 
our things together and get down 
there."
      
       The boys scrambled for 
the shed at the side of the cottage 
and pulled out spades and rope, 
Alyce ran to the cupboard under 
the stairs and grabbed the big 
torch. Janet went upstairs to pack 
the swimming gear and her first 
aid kit. She was set on being a 
nurse and always prepared for 
small emergencies. The boys had 
fallen on rocks before and been 
bandaged tight before they could 
blink an eye.
      
      The troupe assembled at 
the head of the stone steps 
leading down to the cove. The 
wind whipped in their faces 
though it was not cold. "Right" 
said Jerry smiling "lets get the 
treasure". "Dont be silly" said 
Alyce, "any treasures long gone, 
this is just an exploration,"
"woof" said Wello, happy to be 
out and about with all these fine 
children. He eyed the basket 
Alyce was carrying and hoped 
for something tasty later.
      
        With his tail wagging 
Wello bounded down the steep 
steps. "Slow down" shouted 
Janet, fearful of him falling. 
"Dont worry" said Alyce "hes 
like a mountain goat."
      
      Presently they were all 
standing on the sandy beach with 
Wello galloping up and down the 
waters edge woofing as the 
waves broke and rolled up the 
shore. The children were 
intrigued as they had never seen 
the tide so low. A few times per 
year the moon and sun combined 
their gravitational pull to suck 
the sea to an all time low. The 
tide in the cove was fully eight 
foot but today an extra four foot 
could be added to that.
      
      The children new this 
meant the cliff side edge of the 
jetty would be exposed. They 
knew there was something that 
looked like a tunnel entrance as 
they had often seen it underwater 
at low tide but today was one of 
the few days they could walk 
right up to it.
      
      They assembled on the 
jetty and the boys wasted no time 
clambering down and wading up 
to what looked like a tunnel 
entrance. "Bother," said Brad, 
"its blocked by a metal grill." 
Jerry advanced towards the grill 
and gave it a good pull, as the 
waves dipped he gasped. "Its 
not a grill," he said, "its a door, 
look there are hinges and a lock.   
Its in good condition too." Brad 
grabbed the door and pulled, the 
seaweed slipped off the bars 
revealing a dull coppery colored 
metal. The girls looked on 
fascinated, standing fully twelve 
feet above the boys.
      
      "What should we do?" 
shouted Janet, "Its pretty strong" 
said Jerry I dont think we can 
open it." Brad tried a lump of 
wood from the beach but it 
snapped easily in the door. Jerry 
had rubbed the weed off the lock 
and thought that finding the key 
was the only way in. But where 
could that be?
      
      Brad had waded back to 
the end of the jetty into slightly 
deeper water, he saw a large 
stone under the water which he 
stepped on and ventured further 
out. He stumbled and let out a 
cry as his toe hit something hard.
      
      "Ouch, what was that?" 
Grabbing his toe Brad shouted, 
"Throw me my mask and snorkel 
Alyce." Jerry waded over and 
they both put on their masks and 
bit on their snorkels. "One two 
three" said Jerry and they both 
ducked under the water together.
      
      "Please be careful!" 
shouted Janet but too late to be 
heard. The girls watched the boys 
swimming a few feet under the 
water homing in on the centre of 
the large stone Brad had tripped 
on. A few minutes later the boys 
surfaced gasping air and shouted 
to the girls, "nothing but an old 
mooring anchor though theres 
no buoy or chain." "Bah," said 
Alyce and Janet in unison.
      
      Alyce pulled the lunch 
basket to her side, Wello could 
hear a pin drop one hundred 
yards away and he gave up 
nosing seaweed and bounded 
across the sand to the jetty and 
planked himself forcefully at 
Alyces side. Oblivious, Alyce 
threw her arm round the dog and 
pulled a sandwich from the 
basket. "Lunch" said the twins 
clambering up the side of the 
jetty, Janet dispensed lemonade 
and presently they were all sat on 
the edge of the jetty enjoying the 
sun and sandwiches.
      
      Wello wuffed and groaned 
as each hesitated to munch their 
sandwich, scraps were thrown 
and licks dispensed until the 
basket was closed. Wello 
immediately headed off towards 
the beach in search of crabs.
      
      Janet was pensive, "How 
about digging under the door she 
said?" Brad climbed down and 
waded to the door with a spade. 
But as soon as he dug in to the 
sand he was met with the clang 
of steel against rock." No," he 
said, "it goes all the way down to 
the rock floor, the tide seems to 
wash it clear all the time."
      
      Alyce frowned, "Why is 
that mooring so close to the jetty? 
You couldnt tie a boat to it; its 
too close to the stern." "Your 
right!" exclaimed Jerry, "why is it 
so close to the jetty?" "Come on 
Brad lets have a proper look 
before the tide comes in."
      
      They pulled on their 
masks and dipped under the 
surface again. They had been 
practicing at their local pool. 
After a minute or two the boys 
surfaced and ducked down 
again. Then there was a frenzy of 
bubbles and water as both 
surfaced holding aloft a large 
bronze ring.
      
      "Its the key." shouted 
Brad," coughing as he swam, "we 
just had to unscrew the ring." 
Sure enough in his hand was a 
large bronze ring and attached to 
that a large key.
      
      "Try it, try it" shouted 
Alyce and Janet in unison. The 
boys waded up to the door, the 
tide had turned and already the 
water was a foot higher than 
before, almost up to the lock. 
Brad fumbled with the key, Jerry 
helped wipe the weed away and 
soon the key was in the lock. 
"Turn it." shouted Alyce unable 
to contain her excitement. "Just a 
minute" said Jerry, "its tight." 
Both boys grabbed the ring and 
turned it hard to the left. With a 
slight ping the key snapped left 
and the door suddenly felt free.
      
      "Were in!" Exclaimed Brad 
and he pushed hard against the 
door swinging it back against the 
cliff wall with a clang. "Wow" 
said Janet, "Look inside; tell me 
whats in there?" Brad waded out 
of sight, in a moment he 
reappeared and shouted, 
"Brilliant, its a large cave, we 
should explore!"   "The tide is 
coming in we will need to do that 
later." said Jerry.   "No, its all 
right." said Brad. "Theres plenty 
of room above the high water 
mark, we will be ok even if the 
tide comes in.   It goes right into 
the cliff!"
      
      Jerry thought for a 
moment then said, "I suppose if 
we get trapped inside we can just 
wait for the tide, we will still be 
out and back up to the cottage for 
tea."
      
      "Ye ha!" Said Alyce and 
both she and Janet started down 
the side of the jetty.   In a moment 
they were all clambering up the 
far side of the hidden cave where 
to their delight they found a set 
of stone steps had been carved in 
the rock.   Water surged and 
splashed and echoed throughout 
the cave.
      
      Soon they were at a flat 
area well above the high tide 
mark. They turned and looked 
back towards the door; sunlight 
reflected of the white sandy floor 
and lit the limestone roof of the 
cave.  Clear emerald water 
surged in and out of the entrance.
      
      "We had better shut the 
door in case anyone starts to 
worry that we are trapped." Said 
Jerry. "Yes, shut the door," said 
Alyce. Brad waded back to the 
door and hauled it shut. It 
refused to stay closed so he 
locked it shut with the key. 
      
      Janet was looking worried, 
"What about Wello? I dont want 
him drowning trying to rescue us 
from the cave." Alyce smiled. 
"Dont worry" and she whistled, 
presently Wello barked loudly in 
response, Alyce shouted, "Go see 
Granny Watson." Wello wuffed 
and set off up the stone steps.
      
       Granny Watson was 
special, she stayed in a cottage 
just down the road and in Wellos 
eyes treated dogs and children 
just exactly the same. He new 
there would be one treat or other 
when he got there, grandmothers 
were special.
      
      The children turned and 
looked into the back of the cave. 
There was an old wooden boat. It 
was a funny shape, long and flat 
like a little barge. "Ill bet that 
was used to float treasure in to 
the cave," said Brad. "More like 
rum and tobacco," said Jerry. 
They ventured further in.
      
      Soon they came upon a set 
of steps which climbed upwards 
in a spiral. "Come on," said Alyce 
"we might as well explore now 
we are in."  She set off up the 
steps and disappeared out of 
sight round the spiral stair. 
"Hang on," Janet shouted, "we 
dont want to get lost in here." 
She bent down and picked up a 
sharp stone and carved an arrow 
on the wall pointing back to the 
door. "Ill do that every hundred 
yards or so then we shall know 
the way back."
      
      They set off after Alyce. It 
became gloomy after they 
rounded the first corner and by 
the time they rounded the second 
it was getting pretty dark.  "Hey, 
bring the torch back Alyce, we 
cant see."  They stood still and 
presently they could see the light 
of the torch bouncing off the 
white limestone roof of the 
passage.   As Alyce came into 
view they all stared in 
amazement as thousands of 
glittering crystals lit up the 
ceiling.
      
      "Its like that all the way 
up, now come on we havent got 
all day." They all set off up the 
spiral stair, it was quite light as 
the torch light bounced off the 
ceilings and walls. After a bit the 
stair straightened out and after a 
lengthy climb they came upon a 
landing.  At the end of the 
landing another spiral stair 
started upwards. But to their 
delight they found a large 
wooden door with huge bronze 
hinges and straps set into the 
wall.
      
      "Wow, bring the torch 
over Alyce," said Jerry as he bent 
to examine the door. The door 
was covered in dust and old 
cobwebs. There was no handle 
but Jerry wiped away the 
cobwebs where the handle 
should have been and gasped as 
he uncovered two keyholes one 
on top of the other.
      
      Just then the air around 
them started to move and a cool 
draught blew up the passage 
then it became still and a moment 
later the draught came back 
down the passage blowing their 
hair. Janet shivered "Ow, whats 
that?" and a low whistle echoed 
down the passageway. "Creepy." 
said Alyce and they all moved 
closer together.
      
      Jerry had been frowning 
and looking back down the 
passage. Then he laughed, "I 
know what it is, the tide has 
covered the tunnel entrance and 
the water surging in and out is 
pushing the air, just like the 
blowhole at Jackson cove." 
"Course it is." Said Brad and 
everyone looked relieved. 
      
      Jerry turned his attention 
back to the door. "The keyholes 
are just the same as the one on 
the grill, we should try the key." 
Jerry turned to Brad and said 
"Pass me the key."  "No fear, I 
carried it up the stairs, Ill try the 
key." So Brad moved forward 
and they all crowded round to 
watch. Brad pushed the big key 
into the top lock and turned it left 
with a heave. It spun all the way 
round and nothing happened.
      
       "Bother, Ill try the next 
one." Brad pulled the key from 
the lock, as he did so something 
whirred in the lock. "Something 
happened there Jerry." "Yes I 
heard it I suppose we should try 
the other lock." Brad pushed the 
key into the bottom lock and 
turned it hard left again. This 
time there was a sharp metallic 
ping and the key stopped dead in 
the lock. Whatever Brad tried to 
do was to no avail the key had 
been trapped in the lock. 
      
      Giving up he said "We are 
in trouble now." The girls looked 
on with dismay. "We should 
never have locked the entrance 
grill." "Too late to worry now," 
said Alyce, "these steps have to 
lead somewhere we shall just 
have to get out at the top."
      
      Wello padded into Granny 
Wallaces garden.   Granny 
Wallace spied him from the 
kitchen and let out a shriek, "Just 
look at you! Weed and sand from 
head to foot, where have you 
been?" She pulled a large towel 
from the cupboard and started 
rubbing Wello down. "This is no 
good, its a bath for you mboy." 
And she dragged a large tin bath 
from behind the greenhouse. 
Wello woofed with delight, 
pampering! The children were 
often too busy but Granny 
Wallace just loved to make a fuss 
of him. He leapt into the bath and 
sat down tail wagging.
      
      When the bath was done 
and the rough toweling finished 
Wello relaxed on the lawn licking 
and gnawing a large 
marrowbone that had been 
produced from the kitchen, 
mmmm, grannys really are 
wonderful he thought. Te and 
Ze, Granny's cats, lifted their 
heads over the garden wall. 
Wello had heard their approach 
and growled long and slow. He 
didnt stop licking or gnawing for 
a moment but they got the 
message.
      
      "Now where can those 
children be Wello?" mused 
granny from her deckchair on the 
lawn. She and Wello were 
enjoying the last of the afternoon 
sun. Down in the cave the 
children were less comfortable. 
They had left the landing and 
had been climbing stairs for what 
seemed ages. The torch was 
getting dim.
      
      "We must get to the top 
soon." said Alyce, "There cant be 
any more stairs than the cliff 
path."  They came to another 
landing but this ended in a rock 
wall. The children  peered at all 
the walls but there seemed no 
way out. "Lets sit down for a 
minute." Said Jerry. They all sat. 
The torch grew even dimmer. 
Alyce pointed it up at the ceiling 
so it would reflect all round the 
landing.  Brad glanced up and 
exclaimed! "Look, theres a stone 
slab in the ceiling." Sure enough 
when they looked closely they 
could see a square stone slab, but 
it was high above their heads.
      
      "Pyramid" said Jerry, and 
he and Brad stood side by side. 
"Up you go Alyce." Alyce was 
the taller of the two girls. Janet 
held her legs as she climbed onto 
the boys shoulders. With a heave 
she pushed the slab up and slid it 
over, everyone was covered in 
sand falling from above.
      
      They looked up, Alyce 
balancing on the boys shoulders. 
It looked dark and forbidding. 
"Nothing for it." Said Alyce we 
have to keep going, push me up." 
The boys pushed her feet and in 
moments she was up and looking 
down on them. "Throw the 
rope."  They did and one by one 
with a bit of a struggle they were 
soon all sitting on the edge of the 
hole where the slab had been.
      
      Jerry pulled up the rope, 
he had tied the end to their bags. 
He searched for the torch and 
pushed the switch. "Gosh!" 
exclaimed everyone at the same 
time. They were in a rock walled 
room around which rows and 
rows of wine bottles were 
arranged in big stacks.
      
      Alyce stepped over to the 
wine racks and looked at the 
bottles. "These are new!" she 
said, then in a moment, "I know 
where we are, were in Dads 
wine cellar." Everyone felt 
relieved. "Were home then." 
Said Brad. "Not quite," said 
Alyce, "its a secret place and I 
dont know how to get into it from 
the cottage."
      
      A noise from above caught 
their attention and a light 
suddenly appeared at the head of 
more stone steps at the end of the 
room. "Whats going on down 
there?" Came Uncle Johns stern 
voice. "Nothing dad we have just 
been exploring and youll never 
believe what we have found." 
Alyce shouted. "Well come up 
from there this instant and be 
careful not to break any bottles."
      
       They mounted the steps 
and climbed to the top, the walls 
were black and sooty, and at the 
very top a black wall faced them. 
"How do we get out?" said 
Alyce. "Step left, step forward 
and step right." Said her dad. She 
did this though it looked like she 
was going to step into a sooty 
black wall. To her amazement 
when she stepped right she 
found herself walking into the 
big stone fireplace in the kitchen 
of her cottage.
      
       Her dad was sitting at the 
kitchen table and said "How did 
you find your way in there?" "Its 
a bit of a long story," and it was 
her dads turn to look amazed as 
the other children, slightly 
bewildered, stumbled from the 
fireplace.
      
      "You had best sit down 
and tell me then, Ill make some 
tea." The tea was soon on the 
table and the story unfolded to a 
raised eyebrow or two. "Quite an 
adventure for one day." Said her 
father, "What mischief are you 
going to be up to tomorrow?"
      
       The children pondered, 
but Brad had his eye on the big 
stone lintel above the fireplace. 
He motioned with his head to his 
brother, both looked at the lintel.   
Brad opened his mouth to speak 
but only said "Ow!" as Jerry 
kicked him under the table. The 
girls turned to look at what the 
boys had seen. Alyce gasped, of 
course she should have 
remembered. Above the fireplace 
set into the stone lintel was a 
large bronze ring. "Tomorrow." 
Said Jerry, "Tomorrow." Said 
Alyce.






