Follow the adventures of Mike, Peggy, Nora, Jack and their friend Prince Paul as they discover mysterious goings on in one of Blyton's most exciting and adventurous stories.
The first chapter opens with the children at an aerodrome saying goobye to Captain and Mrs Arnold as the "most famous pilots in the world" take off in their small but powerful aeroplane, the White Swallow, on their planned trip to Africa, where it's said they will probably "break another record" in aviation history. Then, a page or so later, the boys and girls are back at their respective schools following the progress of the flight in the newspapers. But one day the headlines reveal something shocking: NO NEWS OF THE ARNOLDS, they announce. STRANGE SILENCE. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE WHITE SWALLOW? Worry and tension set in, and half-term comes with no sign of the pilots.
The children are to stay at their parents' flat in London for a few days, with Dimmy coming to join them from Spiggy Holes, and Prince Paul due to arrive after tea. Dimmy tries to reassure the children that everything is being done to find the Arnolds, and takes them to the cinema where, for a little while at least, they forget their worries. Then Prince Paul arrives, and he's full of excitement. He's been given an aeroplane as a birthday present! And, because Paul is so young, naturally his father has sent him a fine pilot too. Still recovering from their surprise, the children barely have time to comment on what a lucky so-and-so the Prince is when, from outside, a voice yells, "Paper! Evening paper! Lost aeroplane found! White Swallow found!" Eagerly the children rush downstairs to read the news, and they find, to their horror.
About The Author
Enid Blyton is one of the most-loved authors in children's publishing. With over 700 titles published, Enid Blyton's stories remain timeless classics, adored throughout the world. As a young woman Enid was faced with many choices: her father had planned a career in music for her, while she felt drawn to writing. In the end, she became a teacher. In 1922, a collection of poems by Enid was published, it was her first step towards her dream of becoming an author. Aged 27, Enid married Hugh Pollock and moved to London. Enid had two children with Hugh, and soon after wrote her first novel, The Adventures of the Wishing-Chair. Enid divorced Hugh after almost 20 years of marriage, and married Kenneth Waters in 1943. Throughout the 40s and 50s, Enid wrote books at a colossal pace: adventure stories, mysteries, magical stories, farming stories, stories for younger children, best-selling series like The Famous Five and Noddy. Enid fell ill with Alzheimer's disease and she died in 1963. Her spirit lives on in her books and she is remembered as one of the most-loved and celebrated children's authors.
