Cargo of Horses

Author: Monica Edwards

An adventure set on Romney Marsh with Tamzin and her friends, Rissa, Roger and Meryon. Tamzin is devistated when Jim the ferryman tells her that the ship she sees is illegally carrying horses over to France to sell as horsemeat. She rallies her friends to form a league to help them. However, being Tamzin, she also feels the need to help practically, and she drags the village fishermen into rescuing the horses by force. This calls for some rough adventures, including rescuing the Horse ship's boy, Jonah, from their cruel and evil clutches. Jonah, with a new name "Joseph" is adopted by the friendly Merrow farmers and this gives him renewed faith in human nature.

In the last attack on the horse ship, Rissa and Roger are both injured. While in hospital with her broken leg, Rissa's parents tell her that there is a society which does exactly what they're doing on a larger scale. Tamzin rushes to contact them and they find them willing to help. Meanwhile the horsemeat-men are looking for their lost ponies. Rissa, now staying with Tamzin sends the horsemeat-men in the wrong direction, but then has to telephone the farm where they have hidden the horses to warn them. In doing this she re-injures her leg. However, the book ends on the happy knowledge that the horses are safe, the horsemeat-men are arrested and their cruel trade finished. This is an excellent story which doesn't finish until the last page, and is full of twists and surprises. A great tale for all friends of Tamzin!