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A long time ago, in a distant land lived a little girl called June, and a little boy called Pete, they were very helpful children and very good to their mum and dad, nothing was to much trouble for them if they could help anyone they would, the only thing that worried their parents was the fact that they would go exploring.

One morning they got up early, had breakfast and packed some things to take with them, "where are you going?" mother said.

"Exploring." replied Pete,

"Oh not again said mother,"

"We will be alright and we promise not to get dirty like last time." Pete replied.

"Alright but do be careful." said mother.

June and Pete checked they had everything. A torch, rope, penknife and sandwiches. Making sure everything was alright they set off. Deep into the woods they went, and then they saw, what appeared to be a cave, you could just make out the entrance behind the thick bushes. "Should we go in June?" said Pete.

"Yes said June but don't go to fast, wait for me wont you."

"Of course I will," he replied "come on." Soon they had to switch on the torch as it got very dark in the cave, "I'm frightened" June said.

"You will be alright," muttered Pete, "I can see a light it must be a way out, come on."

When they came out of the cave they blinked their eyes, as it was bright sunlight, and everything looked different, all the people wore bright clothes and seem to be happy, June and Pete had never seen so many people before, the houses were all brightly painted and had lovely gardens with lots of flowers, suddenly everybody started running into their houses, shouting, "Hurry they're coming and a man with a white beard said to June and Pete, "quick come inside don't let them catch

you." ;

"Who?" they asked.

"Who?" said the old man.

"Why, the caver," she said, "quick inside and I will tell you about them."

Once inside he sat them down with a warm drink and while they ate the sandwiches they had brought ,and drank the old man said "the cavers are cave people and they work for the witch, they come and take you away to the mountains to dig for gold and silver, you have to sleep on the floor, and you only get bread and water, they never let you go they have taken lots of children, and we have never seen them since, they are hid deep in the mountains."

"Why don't you tell the police, they said.

"Who" he asked."

"The police," June said.

"Who are they?" the old man asked.

"Well they help you if you are in trouble and try to protect you from bad people.

"Oh we have no police, or anyone like that here in happy land he replied, and June and Pete realized they had somehow come to a strange land, "it must be the cave said Pete, I hope we will be able to get back home again, if we go back the way we came we should be alright."

"But now we must try to help the people of happy land and save the children,"

"But how" asked June, "if we don't know where they are, we will try and follow them when they leave," he said, "and we can leave clues so we don't get lost."

"You will have to be very careful," the old man said "when the cavers come the witch stands on the mountain top and looks down, she might see you if you try to follow, then you would be captured as well, and never be able to go home."

"We will have to plan how to do it said Pete, but let's be quiet until they have gone.

"Why don't they come into the houses and get the children?" June asked, "instead of catching them outside, the story goes that at one time the cave people were a happy and carefree people and lived happily with the people from the valley, but when the evil witch came, everything changed, she has a hold over them, and makes them do things they would not normally do they have never even tried to come into the house, they may stand outside and shout but mainly they catch the children when they are out playing, so we try to warn the people when the cavers are coming, so the children can run indoors to safety. Have you ever wondered what would happen if one of the cavers came inside?" said Pete, "we have ask ourselves why they don't come in said the old man, but we have never tried to get one in." Just then voices could be heard outside, shouting "stand still," "come here," but the children kept running till they were safe indoors, what's that?" Pete said, a shrill whistle could be heard echoing across the valley, "that's the witch the old man said, she uses the whistle to call the cavers back if they have no new children." Looking through a crack in the door they saw the cavers leaving valley, making their way up the mountain path, "will they be back today?" asked June.

"No, no more today the old man said we don't know when they will be back, but we must always be on guard, you never when they will come."

"Then we must make plans," said June, I think if we could capture one he may tell us where the children are."

"Good idea" said Pete, "but how?

"Well the cavers are only as tall as us," June said.

"Yes they don't grow big, that's because they have always lived in the caves," the old man stated."

"Do you have anyone in the village who could make a cage?" Pete asked"

"Yes, Mar Sims the blacksmith would be able to do that he is very clever, but you would have to tell him what sort of cage you need."

"Could we go and see him now?" June asked.

"Yes, I don't see why not, the cavers wont be back tonight so off they in search of Mar Sims, we should…"