Page 73 - Book 8 Matty Hedgehog and the Paper Chase

Matty Hedgehog and the Paper Chase 71
‘Time for bed, girls,’ shouted Adeline in a high pitched voice. The birds settled onto their perch and waited for Adeline to fall asleep.
When the moon disappeared in a cloud, Phoebe jumped up on to the fence and dropped down beside the pen. She listened for a while. The chicken coop was quiet, and Phoebe started to fiddle with the latch on the pen door. As she felt the latch move, she reached up and scratched on the roof. Inside, Minnie eased herself from the perch.
She nudged the others to get up whilst keeping a close eye on Adeline, listening as she carried on snoring. One by one, the chickens slipped out to the pen. Slowly, Phoebe inserted her claws under the latch and lifted it. Minnie pushed the door wide open.
‘Go down the path and wait!’ whispered the cat. When the last bird had left, she pushed the door back and lowered the latch.
‘Follow me and don’t make a sound,’ she murmured as she led the chickens across the wildlife garden.
Cyril Rat was shivering at the garden gate. ‘Thanks, Phoebe. We appreciate your help.’
Cyril led the birds across the meadow and chatted all the way. ‘Freedom!’ declared Minnie as she strutted through the long moist grass.
Fred Rabbit, the barge owner, was expecting his passengers and welcomed them on board. ‘Are we really going home?’ one of the chickens asked.
‘You most certainly are,’ he replied. ‘There’s plenty of