Barney the Baby Hedgehog Read Online Free Page B

goodies, plus two strong torches with new batteries and a pair of thick gloves just in case.
    “Here comes Annie now,” Heidi said, looking through the window. “Your dad is going to drive you over to High Trees.” Giving Eva a quick hug, she saw her on her way. “I’ve put a pet carrier and a tin of cat food in the back of the van,” she reminded her. “And remember – don’t handle any hedgehogs without gloves – those prickles are sharp!”
    “Bye, Mum!” Eva called. “Bye, Mickey!” she yelled as the donkey brayed from his stable. “Bye, Karl!” She waved at her brother sitting by his bedroom window. “Take care of Barney for me. Tell him I’ll see him tomorrow!”

     
    “I hope you don’t mind – we’ve made a den in the barn,” Eva told Mrs Ingleby, who was just back from her early eveningchurch service. Eva’s dad had already gone into the house to chat with Tom.
    As soon as Annie and Eva had arrived at the farm, they’d started shifting bales of straw to build a shelter from the wind that blew through the open-sided barn. Then they’d laid out the pet carrier and cat food, plus their sleeping bags and other belongings.

    Mrs Ingleby smiled. “I hope you’ll be nice and cosy in there. If you need anything, just knock at our door.”
    Eva thanked her then went with Annie to check out the view from their den.
    “We can see the whole farmyard from here,” Annie confirmed. “And a bit of the lane, plus that jumble of stones and the cement mixer over there…”
    “That’s where the Inglebys are building a new house for Adam.” Eva climbed to the top of the stack to look round the back of the barn. “Just trees, fields and hedges,” she reported, sliding back down. “Hey, this is exciting, isn’t it?”
    Annie nodded. “Better than camping.”
    “Better than anything!” Eva insisted, nestling into the straw den. And the best thing of all was that they were out to rescue more baby hedgehogs!

    “What was that noise?” Annie gasped.
    It was eleven o’clock and the farmyard was pitch black.
    “An owl,” Eva told her. “Nothing to worry about.”
    Annie sat huddled in her sleeping bag. “What was that?” she asked again.
    “What? Where?”
    “Down there – something moved!”
    “Probably a mouse.”
    “Or a rat!” Annie sounded scared. Sleeping out was turning into a nightmare of eerie hoots, beating wings, soft shuffles and quick scurries.
    “I’m sure it’s not!” Eva insisted, though her own nerves were a bit on edge. It was so dark! Clouds hid the moon. The world lay in deep shadow.
    “We haven’t even seen a sign of any hedgehogs,” Annie complained. “And we’ve been here for hours!”
    “Wait a bit longer. The lights in the house have only just gone off. Now’s the time when everything comes out of hiding.”
    “Such as?” Annie asked, her voice quavering.
    “Such as badgers,” Eva replied. “And foxes. Owls. Bats. Hedgehogs.” She shone her torch out across the farmyard and spotted Missie disappearing through the cat flap into the farmhouse. Then she saw another creature – something the size of a big dog, with a long nose and bushy tail. “Fox!” she whispered, aiming the torch.
    The fox turned to stare up into the beam of light. His yellow eyes flashed.
    “Spooky!” Annie whispered. 

    The fox flicked the white tip of his tail and loped off down the lane, out of sight.
    Just then Eva spotted something else that deserved a closer look – small movements in the Inglebys’ flower border, and when she listened closely, the high, piping sound of animals in distress. “Annie, listen – this could be it!”
    Annie flicked on her own torch. Two beams raked the flower bed. The high cries came to a sudden stop.
    “I’m going to take a closer look,” Eva decided, getting up and creeping forwards.
    Annie didn’t want to be left alone. “Wait, I’m coming too!” she hissed.
    Soon the two girls stood at the barn entrance, deciding on their