Hunk and Thud Read Free Page B

Lots of mining. Lots of gold!’
    â€˜You won’t get away with this!’ shouted Milo angrily. ‘Big Rock and Jack and Robin will come and rescue me!’
    â€˜That’s what I’m counting on,’ sneered Lord Veto. ‘When they do, they’ll be walking into a trap, and they’ll be joining you down the mine.’ Lord Veto turned to Warg. ‘Pay them, Warg. But just for the one. When you have the others safely in your mine, you’ll get the rest.’
    Lord Veto returned to the carriage and climbed inside, pulling the door shut. Warg counted out some coins to Govo, and then leapt up onto the driving seat of the carriage, flicked the reins, and the two yellow horses galloped off.
    Meanwhile, the goblins had pushed the chained and shackled Milo towards the nearest cave opening. Jack and the others watched as their friend disappeared into the mine.
    â€˜Okay,’ said Robin thoughtfully to Jack. ‘They’ve got Milo, and we’re outnumbered by about thirty to one. Any suggestions as to what we do next?’
    â€˜You put your hands up,’ said a menacing voice behind them.
    They turned, and saw a small masked figure had appeared silently, pointing a crossbow directly at them.

CHAPTER 6
    Big Rock let out a growl and made to move towards the masked figure, but Jack stopped him.
    â€˜You won’t be able to do anything against a crossbow,’ said Jack.
    â€˜Wise words,’ said the masked figure.
    â€˜Goblins!’ spat Robin. ‘You can’t trust them! They sneak up on you from behind.’
    â€˜I’m not a goblin,’ said the masked figure in an annoyed tone.
    â€˜Then why are you wearing a mask, and why are you pointing a crossbow at us?’ asked Jack.
    â€˜Because I don’t know who you are, and what your connection is to Govo. For all I know, you’re part of his gang.’
    â€˜Do we look like goblins?’ demanded Robin.
    â€˜Not all of Govo’s crooked associates are goblins,’ said the masked figure. ‘Like that aristocratic-looking coach that drove off just now, with an orc driving it.’
    â€˜That orc is called Warg,’ said Jack. ‘He works for the crook who was inside the coach, Lord Veto.’
    â€˜The sports owner? Wrestling Orcs? Gymnast Goblins?’
    â€˜That’s him,’ said Jack with a scowl. ‘And don’t be fooled by Lord Veto’s fancy ways. He’s as crooked as anyone you’ll ever meet. He’s just had our friend Milo captured by those goblins to work in their mine.’
    â€˜We’re going to rescue him,’ added Big Rock.
    â€˜Anyway,’ said Jack. ‘We’re giving you all this information, but for all we know you’re a masked bandit here to rob us, or take us prisoner for the goblins.’
    The masked figure lowered the crossbow, then reached up and removed the mask; they saw that they were looking at an elf.
    â€˜My name is Oddbit,’ said the elf. ‘I am a ranger with the Elf and Safety Police. Govo and his gang kidnap people and force them to work in their secret goldmine. We’ve been tracking the gang for some time, and we finally traced them here. Unfortunately, I was late joining the posse, and by the time I caught up, Govo and his gang had captured the rest of my fellow rangers. So I’ve been watching and waiting for a chance to get into the mine and rescue them.’
    â€˜Why didn’t you go and get some help?’ asked Jack.
    â€˜Because this mine’s nearly worked out, and I was worried they might move on to another mine somewhere else while I was off getting help, and I wouldn’t know where. Also, I’m out of messenger pigeons. Except for one.’
    â€˜You’ve got a messenger pigeon?’ said Jack excitedly. ‘We can send for help!’
    Oddbit shook his head.
    â€˜This one won’t be any use to us,’ he said. ‘My Chief had the messenger