Blyton, Enid - Adventure 1 - The Island of Adventure
Chapter 1
THE BEGINNING OF THINGS

It was really most extraordinary.
There was Philip Mannering, doing his best to puzzle out algebra problems, lying full-length under a tree with nobody near him at all and yet he could hear a voice speaking to him most distinctly.
you shut the door, idiot? said the voice, in a most impatient tone. And how many times have I told you to wipe your feet?
Philip sat up straight and took a good look round for the third time but the hillside stretched above and below him, completely empty of any boy, girl, man or woman.
It's so silly, said Philip to himself. Because there is no door to shut, and no mat to wipe my feet on. Whoever is speaking must be perfectly mad. Anyway, I don't like it. A voice without a body is too queer for anything.
A small brown nose poked up out of Philip's jersey collar. It belonged to a little brown mouse, one of the boy's many pets. Philip put up a gentle hand and rubbed the tiny creature's head. Its nose twitched in delight.
Shut the door, idiot! roared the voice from nowhere. And don't sniff. Where's your handkerchief?
This was too much for Philip. He roared back.
Shut up! I'm not sniffing. Who are you, anyway?
There was no answer. Philip felt very puzzled. It was uncanny and peculiar. Where did that extraordinary voice with its rude commands come from, on this bright, sunny but completely empty hillside? He shouted again.
I'm working. If you want to talk, come out and show yourself.
All right, Uncle, said the voice, speaking unexpectedly in a very different tone, apologetic and quiet.
Gosh! said Philip. I can't stand this. I'll have to solve the mystery. If I can find out where the voice comes from, I may find its owner. He shouted again. Where are you? Come out and let me see you.
If I've told you once I've told you a dozen times not to whistle, answered the voice fiercely. Philip was silent with astonishment. He hadn't been whistling. Evidently the owner of the voice must be completely mad. Philip suddenly felt that he didn't want to meet this strange person. He would rather go home without seeing him.
He looked carefully round. He had no idea at all where the voice came from, but he rather thought it must be somewhere to the left of him. All right, he would go quietly down the hill to the right, keeping to the trees if he could, so that they might hide him a little.
He picked up his books, put his pencil into his pocket and stood up cautiously. He almost jumped out of his skin as the voice broke out into cackles of laughter. Philip forgot to be cautious and darted down the hillside to the shelter of a clump of trees. The laughter stopped suddenly.
Philip stood under a big tree and listened. His heart beat fast. He wished he was back at the house with the others. Then, just above his head, the voice spoke again.
How many times have I told you to wipe your feet?
Then there came a most unearthly screech that made poor Philip drop his books in terror. He looked up into the tree nearby, and saw a beautiful parrot, scarlet and grey, with a big crest on its head that it worked up and down. It gazed at Philip with bright black eyes, its head on one side, its curved beak making a grating noise.
Philip stared at the parrot and the parrot stared back. Then the bird lifted up a clawed foot and scratched its head very thoughtfully, still raising and lowering its crest. Then it spoke.
Don't sniff, it said, in a conversational tone. Can't you shut the door, idiot? Where are your manners?
Golly! said Philip, in amazement. So it was you talking and shouting and laughing! Well you gave me an awful fright.
The parrot gave a most realistic sneeze. Where's your handkerchief? it said.
Philip laughed. You really are a most extraordinary bird, he said. The cleverest I ever saw. Where have you escaped from?
Wipe your feet, answered the parrot sternly. Philip laughed again. Then he heard the sound of a boy's voice, calling loudly from the bottom of the hill.
Kiki, Kiki, Kiki! Where have you got to?
The parrot spread out its wings, gave a hideous screech, and sailed away down the hillside towards a house set at the foot. Philip watched it go.
That was a boy calling it, he thought. And he was in the garden of Hillfoot House, where I'm staying. I wonder if he's come there to be crammed too. I jolly well hope he has. It would be fine to have a parrot like that living with us. It's dull enough having to do lessons in the hols a parrot would liven things up a bit.
Philip had had scarlet fever the term before, and measles immediately afterwards, so that he had missed most of his school-work. His headmaster had written to his uncle and aunt suggesting that he should go and stay at the home of one of the teachers for a few weeks, to make up a little of what he had missed. And, much to Philip's disgust, his uncle had at once agreed so there was Philip, in the summer holidays, having to work at algebra and geography and history, instead of having a fine time with his sister Dinah at his home, Craggy-Tops, by the sea.
He liked the master, Mr. Roy, but he was bored with the two other boys there, who, also owing to illness, were being crammed or coached by Mr. Roy. One was much older than Philip, and the other was a poor whining creature who was simply terrified of the various insects and animals that Philip always seemed to be collecting or rescuing. The boy was intensely fond of all creatures and had an amazing knack of making them trust him.
Now he hurried down the hillside, eager to see if another pupil had joined the little holiday collection of boys to be coached. If the new boy owned the parrot, he would be somebody interesting more interesting than that big lout of a Sam, and better fun than poor whining Oliver.
He opened the garden gate and then stared in surprise. A girl was in the garden, not a very big girl perhaps about eleven. She had red hair, rather curly, and green eyes, a fair skin and hundreds of freckles. She stared at Philip.
Hallo, said Philip, rather liking the look of the girl, who was dressed in shorts and a jersey. Have you come here?
Looks like it, said the girl, with a grin. But I haven't come to work. Only to be with Jack.
Who's Jack? asked Philip.
My brother, said the girl. He's got to be coached. You should have seen his report last term. He was bottom in everything. He's very clever really, but he just doesn't bother. He says he's going to be an ornithologist, so what's the good of learning dates and capes and poems and things?
What's an an whatever it was you said? said Philip, wondering how anyone could possibly have so many freckles on her nose as this girl had.
Ornithologist? Oh, it's someone who loves and studies birds, said the girl. Didn't you know that? Jack's mad on birds.
He ought to come and live where I live then, said Philip at once. I live on a very wild, lonely part of the sea-coast, and there are heaps of rare sea-birds there. I like birds too, but I don't know much about them. I say does that parrot belong to Jack?
Yes, said the girl. He's had her for four years. Her name is Kiki.
Did he teach it to say all those things? said Philip, thinking that though Jack might be bottom in all school subjects he would certainly get top marks for teaching parrots to talk!
Oh no, said the girl, smiling, so that her green eyes twinkled and crinkled. Kiki just picked up those sayings of hers picked them up from our old uncle, who is the crossest old man in the world, I should think. Our mother and father are dead, so Uncle Geoffrey has us in the hols, and doesn't he just hate it! His housekeeper hates us too, so we don't have much of a time, but so long as I have Jack, and so long as Jack has his beloved birds, we are happy enough.
I suppose Jack got sent here to learn a few things, like me, said Philip. You'll be lucky you'll be able to play, go for walks, do what you like, whilst we are stewing in lessons.
No, I shan't, said the girl. I shall be with Jack. I don't have him in the school term, so I'm jolly well going to have him in the hols. I think he's marvellous.
Well, that's more than my sister, Dinah, thinks of me, said Philip. We're always quarrelling. Hallo is this Jack?
A boy came up the path towards Philip. On his left shoulder sat the parrot, Kiki, rubbing her beak softly against Jack's ear, and saying something in a low voice. The boy scratched the parrot's head and gazed at Philip with the same green eyes as his sister had. His hair was even redder, and his face so freckled that it would have been impossible to find a clear space anywhere, for there seemed to be freckles on top of freckles.
Hallo, Freckles, said Philip, and grinned.
Hallo, Tufty, said Jack, and grinned too. Philip put up his hand and felt his front bit of hair, which always rose up in a sort of tuft. No amount of water and brushing would make it lie down for long.
Wipe your feet, said Kiki severely.
I'm glad you found Kiki all right, said the girl. She didn't like coming to a strange place, and that's why she flew off, I expect.
She wasn't far away, Lucy-Ann, said Jack. I bet old Tufty here got a fright if he heard her up on the hillside.
I did, said Philip, and began telling the two what had happened. They laughed loudly, and Kiki joined in, cackling in a most human manner.
Golly, I'm glad you and Lucy-Ann have come here, said Philip, feeling much happier than he had felt for some days. He liked the look of the red-haired, green-eyed brother and sister very much. They would be friends. He would show them the animals he had as pets. They could go for walks together. Jack was some years older than Lucy-Ann, about fourteen, Philip thought, just a little older than he himself was. It was a pity Dinah wasn't there too, then there would be four of them. Dinah was twelve. She would fit in nicely only, perhaps, with her quick impatience and quarrelsome nature, she might upset things a bit.
How different Lucy-Ann and Jack are from me and Dinah, thought Philip. It was quite plain that Lucy-Ann adored Jack, and Philip could not imagine Dinah hanging on to his words, eager to do his bidding, fetching and carrying for him, as Lucy-Ann did for Jack.
Oh, well people are different, thought the boy. Dinah's a good sort, even if we do quarrel and fight. She must be having a pretty awful time at Craggy-Tops without me. I bet Aunt Polly is working her hard.
It was pleasant at tea-time that day to sit and watch Jack's parrot on his shoulder, making remarks from time to time. It was good to see the glint in Lucy-Ann's green eyes as she teased big, slow Sam, and ticked off the smaller, peevish Oliver. Things would liven up a bit now.
They certainly did. Holiday coaching was much more fun with Jack and Lucy-Ann there too.

Chapter 2
MAKING FRIENDS

Mr. Roy, the holiday master, worked the children hard, because that was his job. He coached them the whole of the morning, going over and over everything patiently, making sure it was understood, demanding, and usually getting, close attention.
At least he got it from everyone except Jack. Jack gave close attention to nothing unless it had feathers.
If you studied your geometry as closely as you study that book on birds, you'd be top of any class, complained Mr. Roy. You exasperate me, Jack Trent. You exasperate me more than I can say.
Use your handkerchief, said the parrot impertinently.
Mr. Roy made a clicking noise of annoyance with his tongue. I shall wring that bird's neck one day. What with you saying you can't work unless Kiki is on your shoulder, and Philip harbouring all kinds of unpleasant creatures about his person, this holiday class is rapidly getting unbearable. The only one that appears to do any work at all is Lucy-Ann, and she hasn't come here to work.
Lucy-Ann liked work. She enjoyed sitting beside Jack, trying to do the same work as he had been set. Jack mooned over it, thinking of gannets and cormorants, which he had just been reading about, whilst Lucy-Ann tried her hand at solving the problems set out in his took. She liked, too, watching Philip, because she never knew what animal or creature would walk out of his sleeve or collar or pocket. The day before, a very large and peculiarly coloured caterpillar had crawled from his sleeve, to Mr. Roy's intense annoyance. And that morning a young rat had left Philip's sleeve on a journey of exploration and had gone up Mr. Roy's trouser-leg in a most determined manner.
This had upset the whole class for ten minutes whilst Mr. Roy had tried to dislodge the rat. It was no wonder he was in a bad temper. He was usually a patient and amiable man, but two boys like Jack and Philip were disturbing to any class.
The mornings were always passed in hard work. The afternoons were given to preparation for the next day, and to the writing-out of answers on the morning's work. The evenings were completely free. As there were only four boys to coach, Mr. Roy could give them each individual attention, and try to fill in the gaps in their knowledge. Usually he was a most successful coach, but these holidays were not showing as much good work as he had hoped.
Sam, the big boy, was stupid and slow. Oliver was peevish, sorry for himself, and resented having to work at all. Jack was impossible, so inattentive at times that it seemed waste of time to try and teach him. He seemed to think of nothing but birds. If I grew feathers, he would probably do everything I told him, thought Mr. Roy. I never knew anyone so mad on birds before. I believe he knows the eggs of every bird in the world. He's got good brains, but he won't use them for anything that he's not really interested in.
Philip was the only boy who showed much improvement, though he was a trial too, with his different and peculiar pets. That rat! Mr. Roy shuddered when he thought of how it had felt, climbing up his leg.
Really, Lucy-Ann was the only one who worked properly, and she didn't need to. She had only come because she would not be separated from her queer brother, Jack.
Jack, Philip and Lucy-Ann soon became firm friends. The love for all living things that both Jack and Philip had drew them together. Jack had never had a boy for a friend before, and he enjoyed Philip's jokes and teasing. Lucy-Ann liked Philip too, though she was sometimes jealous when Jack showed his liking for him. Kiki loved Philip, and made funny crooning noises when the boy scratched her head.
Kiki had been a great annoyance to Mr. Roy at first. She had interrupted the mornings constantly with her remarks. It was unfortunate that the master had a sniff, because Kiki spoke about it whenever he sniffed.
Don't sniff! the parrot would say in a reproving tone, and the five children would begin to giggle. So Mr. Roy forbade Kiki to be brought into the classroom.
But matters only became worse, because Kiki, furious at being shut away outside in the garden, unable to sit on her beloved master's shoulder, sat in a bush outside the half-open window, and made loud and piercing remarks that seemed to be directed at poor Mr. Roy.
Don't talk nonsense, said the parrot, when Mr. Roy was in the middle of explaining some fact of history.
Mr. Roy sniffed in exasperation. Where's your handkerchief? asked Kiki at once. Mr. Roy went to the window and shouted and waved at Kiki to frighten her away.
Naughty boy, said Kiki, not budging an inch. I'll send you to bed. You're a naughty boy.
You couldn't do anything with a bird like that. So Mr. Roy gave it up and allowed the parrot to sit on Jack's shoulder once more. Jack worked better with the bird near him, and Kiki was not so disturbing indoors as out-of-doors. All the same, Mr. Roy felt he would be very glad when the little holiday school came to an end, and the four boys and one girl went home, together with the parrot and the various other creatures owned by Philip.
Philip, Jack and Lucy-Ann left the big slow-witted Sam and the peevish little Oliver to be company for one another each day after tea, and went off on their own together. The boys talked of all the birds and animals they had known, and Lucy-Ann listened, stumbling to keep up with them as they walked. No matter how far they walked, or what steep hills they climbed, the little girl followed. She did not mean to let her beloved brother out of her sight.
Philip felt impatient with Lucy-Ann sometimes. Golly, I'm glad Dinah doesn't tag after me like Lucy-Ann tags after Jack, he thought. I wonder Jack puts up with it.
But Jack did. Although he often did not appear to notice Lucy-Ann and did not even speak to her for some time, he was never impatient with her, never irritable or cross. Next to his birds, he cared for Lucy-Ann, thought Philip. Well, it was a good thing somebody cared for her. She didn't seem to have much of a life.
The three children had exchanged news about themselves. Our mother and father are both dead, Jack said. We don't remember them. They were killed in an aeroplane crash. We were sent to live with our only relation, Uncle Geoffrey. He's old and cross, always nagging at us. His housekeeper, Mrs. Miggles, hates us to go home for the holidays and you can tell what our life is like by listening to old Kiki. Wipe your feet! Don't sniff! Change your shoes at once! Where's your handkerchief? How many times have I told you not to whistle? Can't you shut the door, idiot?
Philip laughed. Well, if Kiki echoes what she hears in your home, you must have a pretty mouldy time, he said. We don't have too grand a time either but it's better than you and Lucy-Ann have.
Are your father and mother dead too? asked Lucy-Ann, her green eyes staring at Philip as unblinkingly as a cat's.
Our father's dead and he left no money, said Philip. But we've got a mother. She doesn't live with us, though.
Why not? asked Lucy-Ann in surprise.
Well, she has a job, said Philip. She makes enough money at her job for our schooling and our keep in the hols. She runs an art agency you know, takes orders for posters and pictures and things, gets artists to do them for her, and then takes a commission on the sales. She's a very good business woman but we don't see much of her.
Is she nice? asked Jack. Never having had a mother that he could remember, he was always interested in other people's. Philip nodded.
She's fine, he said, thinking of his keen-eyed, pretty mother, feeling proud of her cleverness, but secretly sad when he remembered how tired she had seemed sometimes when she had paid them a flying visit. One day, thought Philip, one day he would be the clever one earn the money, keep things going, and make things easy for his hard-working mother.
And you live with an uncle, like we do? said Lucy-Ann, stroking a tiny grey squirrel that had suddenly popped its head out of one of Philip's pockets.
Yes. Dinah and I spend all our hols with Uncle Jocelyn and Aunt Polly, said Philip. Uncle Jocelyn is quite impossible. He's always buying old papers and books and documents, studying them and filing them. He's making it his life-work to work out the history of the part of the coast where we live there were battles there in the old days, and burnings and killings all most exciting. He's writing a whole history but as it seems to take him a year to make certain of a fact or two, he'll have to live to be four or five hundred years old before he gets a quarter of the book done, it seems to me.
The others laughed. They pictured a cross and learned old man poring over yellow, musty papers. What a waste of time, thought Lucy-Ann. She wondered what Aunt Polly was like.
What's your aunt like? she asked. Philip screwed up his nose.
A bit sour, he said. Not too bad, really. Too hard-worked, no money, no help in the old house except for old Jo-Jo, the sort of handyman servant we've got. She makes poor Dinah slave I won't, so she's given me up, but Dinah's afraid of her and does what she is told more than I do.
What's your home like? asked Lucy-Ann.
A funny old place, hundreds of years old, half in ruins, awfully big and draughty, set half-way up a steep cliff, and almost drowned in spray in a storm, said Philip. But I love it. It's wild and lonely and queer, and there's the cry of the sea-birds always round it. You'd love it, Freckles.
Jack thought he would. It sounded exciting to him. His home was ordinary, a house in a row in a small-sized town. But Philip's house sounded really exciting. The wind and the waves and the sea-birds he felt as if he could almost hear them clamouring together, when he shut his eyes.
Wake up, wake up, sleepy-head, said Kiki, pecking gently at Jack's ear. He opened his eyes and laughed. The parrot had an extraordinary way of saying the right thing sometimes.
I wish I could see that home of yours Craggy-Tops, he said to Philip. It sounds as if things could happen there real, live, exciting things, thrilling adventures. Nothing ever happens in Lippinton, where we live.
Well, nothing much happens at Craggy-Tops either, said Philip, putting the little squirrel back into his pocket, and taking a hedgehog out of another pocket. It was a baby one, whose prickles were not yet hardened and set. It seemed quite happy to live in Philip's pocket, along with a very large snail, who was careful to keep inside his shell.
I wish we were all going home together, said Jack. I'd like to see your sister Dinah, though she does sound a bit of a wild-cat to me. And I'd love to see all those rare birds on the coast. I'd like to see your old half-ruined house too. Fancy living in a house so old that it's almost a ruin. You don't know how lucky you are.
Not so lucky when you have to carry hot water for miles to the only bath in the house, said Philip, getting up from the grass where he had been sitting with the others. Come on it's time to get back. You're never likely to see Craggy-Tops, and you wouldn't like it if you did so what's the good of talking about it?

Chapter 3
TWO LETTERS AND A PLAN

The next day Philip had a letter from Dinah. He showed it to the others.
Old Dinah's having a rough time, he said. It's a good thing I leave here soon. It's better for her when I'm there.

Dear Phil [said Dinah in her letter],
Aren't you ever coming back? Not that you're much good for anything except quarrelling with, but still it's pretty lonely here with nobody but Uncle and Aunt and Jo-Jo, who's even more stupid than before. He told me yesterday not to go out at night down the cliff, because there are things wandering about. He's quite mad. The only things wandering about besides me are the sea-birds. There are thousands of them here this year.
Don't, for goodness' sake, bring any creatures home these holidays. You know how I hate them. I shall die if you bring a bat again, and if you dare to try and train earwigs like you did last year, I'll throw a chair at your head!
Aunt Polly is making me work awfully hard. We wash and scrub and clean all day, goodness knows, what for, because nobody ever comes. I shall be glad when it's time to go off to school again. When do you come back? I wish we could earn some money somehow. Aunt Polly is worrying herself to death because she can't pay some bill or other, and Uncle swears he hasn't got the money, and wouldn't give it to her if he had. I suppose Mother would send more money if we asked her, but it's pretty awful to have her slaving away as she does, anyhow. Tell me more about Freckles and Lucy-Ann. I like the sound of them.
Your loving sister,
Dinah.

Dinah sounded rather fine, Jack thought, as he read the letter and gave it back to Philip. Here you are, Tufty, he said. Dinah sounds lonely. Hallo there's Mr. Roy beckoning me. I'll see what he wants. More work, I suppose.
By the same post had come a letter for Mr. Roy, from the housekeeper who looked after Jack's Uncle Geoffrey. It was short and to the point.
Mr. Roy had read it with dismay, and then called Jack in to show him the letter. Jack read it, also filled with dismay.

Dear Mr. Roy [said the letter],
Mr. Trent has broken his leg, and he doesn't want the children back these holidays. He wants to know if you will keep them with you, and he sends a cheque to cover the rest of the time. They can come back two days before school begins, to help me to sort out their clothes.
Yours faithfully,
Elspeth Miggles.

Oh, Mr. Roy! groaned Jack, who, much as he disliked his home, disliked the thought of staying on with Mr. Roy, and with the peevish Oliver, who was also staying on, even more than the thought of returning to his irritable uncle. I don't see why Lucy-Ann and I can't go back we shan't go near Uncle.
Mr. Roy did not want Jack to stay on any more than the boy himself did. The thought of having that parrot for one day longer than he needed to filled him with horror. He had never in his life disliked anything so much as he disliked Kiki. Rude boys he could deal with, and did but rude parrots were beyond him.
Well, said Mr. Roy, pursing up his lips and looking at Kiki with dislike, well I'm sure I don't want to keep you any longer, because it's pure waste of your time to be here you haven't learnt a thing but I don't see what else to do. It's quite plain that your uncle doesn't want you back you can see he has sent quite a generous cheque to cover the rest of your stay here but I had other plans. With Oliver here, I intended to do a little visiting. Really, I wish we could find some place for you to go to, you and Lucy-Ann.
Jack went back to his sister and to Philip, looking so dismayed that Lucy-Ann slipped her arm into his at once.
What is it? What's the matter?
Uncle doesn't want us back, said Jack, and explained about the letter. And Mr. Roy doesn't want us here so it looks as if nobody loves us at the moment, Lucy-Ann.
The three children looked at one another. And then Philip had his brain-wave. He clutched at Jack, almost knocking Kiki off her balance.
Jack! Come back home with me! You and Lucy-Ann can come to Craggy-Tops! Dinah would be thrilled. You could have a fine time with the sea-birds. What about it?
Jack and Lucy-Ann stared in excitement and delight. Go to Craggy-Tops? Live in an old half-ruined house, with a learned uncle, an impatient aunt, a half-mad servant and the sound of the sea all the time? Now that really would be thrilling!
Jack sighed and shook his head. He knew that the plans of children seldom came to anything when grown-ups had to be consulted about them.
It's no good, he said. Uncle Geoffrey would probably say no and Mr. Roy would anyway and your uncle and aunt would just hate to have extra children on their hands.
They wouldn't, said Philip. You could give them the cheque that your Uncle Geoffrey sent to Mr. Roy, and I bet my aunt would be thrilled. It would pay that bill Dinah talked about in her letter.
Oh, Philip oh, Jack do let's go to Craggy-Tops! begged Lucy-Ann, her green eyes shining. I'd like it more than anything in the world. We'll be in the way here, Jack, if we stay on, you know we will and I'm sure Mr. Roy will kill Kiki one day if she says any more rude things to him.
Kiki gave a hideous screech and stuck her head hard into Jack's neck. It's all right, Kiki, said Jack. I won't let anyone hurt you. Lucy-Ann, honestly it's no good asking Mr. Roy to see if we can go to Craggy-Tops. He thinks it's his duty to have us here, and we'll have to stay.
Well, let's go without asking him, then, said Lucy-Ann recklessly.
The boys stared at her without speaking. That was an idea. Go without asking! Well why not?
It would be all right if we all turned up at Craggy-Tops together, really it would, said Philip, though he was by no means certain that it would be all right at all. You see, once you were there, my uncle and aunt couldn't very well turn you out, and I could get Aunt Polly to telephone to Mr. Roy and explain things to him, and get him to send her the cheque your Uncle Geoffrey sent for you.
Mr. Roy would be glad to think we had gone, said Lucy-Ann, thinking what fun it would be to know Dinah. Uncle Geoff wouldn't care anyhow. So let's, Jack, do let's.
All right, said Jack, giving way suddenly. We'll all go off together. When is your train, Tufty? We'll go down to the station saying that we'll see you off and we'll hop into the carriage at the last minute and go with you.
Oooh! said Lucy-Ann, thrilled.
Where's your handkerchief? said Kiki, sensing the excitement and rocking herself to and fro on Jack's shoulder. Nobody took any notice of her. Poor old Kiki, said the parrot sorrowfully. Poor old Kiki.
Jack put up a hand and fondled the parrot, thinking out ways and means of escape. We could wheel my trunk and Lucy-Ann's down to the station the night before, when we take yours, he said. Nobody would notice ours was gone out of the loft. We could buy our tickets then, too. Has anyone any money?
The three of them put their money together. It would probably just buy the tickets. They simply must go off together! Now that they had made up their minds, it was quite unthinkable that anything should be allowed to prevent it.
So they made their plans. The day before Philip was due to leave, his trunk was taken from the loft, and Jack managed to get his down unobserved too. He pushed it into a big cupboard in his room, and Lucy-Ann packed it when no-one was about.
I'll wheel my trunk down to the station on the barrow, sir, said Philip to Mr. Roy. It was the custom to do this, and the master nodded, not taking much notice. He wished Jack and that parrot were going too.
The boys managed to get both trunks on to the barrow without being seen, and set off to the station in great spirits. Escape seemed quite easy, after all. Sam and Oliver did not seem to notice anything. Sam was too excited at leaving for home himself, and Oliver too miserable at the idea of being left behind to bother about anyone else.
The next morning Philip said a polite good-bye to Mr. Roy. Thank you for all your help and coaching, sir, he said. I think I shall get on well next term now. Good-bye, sir.
Good-bye, Philip. You've not done badly, said Mr. Roy.
Philip shook hands with Mr. Roy, who drew back a little as a mouse ran out of the boy's sleeve. Philip tucked it back again.
How can you have those creatures running about you like that? said Mr. Roy, and sniffed loudly.
Where's your handkerchief? said the parrot at once, and Mr. Roy glared at it. As usual it was on Jack's shoulder.
Could I go down to the station with Lucy-Ann and see Philip off? asked Jack. Kiki gave a squawk of laughter, and Jack gave her a little slap. Be quiet! There's nothing to laugh at.
Naughty boy! said Kiki, just as if she knew what mischief was in Jack's mind.
Yes, you can go down and see Philip off, said Mr. Roy, thinking that it would be nice to get rid of the parrot for a little while. So the three children went off together, grinning secretly at each other. Kiki had the last word with Mr. Roy.
Can't you shut the door? she bawled. Mr. Roy gave an exasperated click, and banged the door. He heard the parrot's cackle of laughter as the children went down the road.
If only I need never see that bird again, he thought to himself, little knowing that his wish was about to come true.
Jack, Lucy-Ann and Philip arrived at the station in plenty of time. They found their luggage and gave it to the porter to put on the train. When the engine steamed in they found an empty carriage and got in. No-one stopped them. No-one guessed that two of the children were running away. They all felt thrilled and rather nervous.
I do hope your uncle and aunt won't send us back, said Jack, stroking Kiki to quieten her. She did not like the noise of the trains, and had already told one to stop whistling. An old lady looked as if she were about to get into their carriage, but when Kiki gave one of her appalling screeches, she thought again and hurried a good way up the train.
At last the train moved off, with many snorts that caused the excited parrot to tell it to use its handkerchief, much to the children's amusement. It steamed out of the station, and, in the distance, the children saw the house where they had lived for the past few weeks, sitting at the bottom of the hill.
Well we're off, said Philip, pleased. And it was perfectly easy for you to escape, wasn't it? Golly, what fun it will be to have you and Lucy-Ann at Craggy-Tops! Dinah will be thrilled to bits when we arrive.
Off to Craggy-Tops! sang Lucy-Ann. Off to the sea and the wind and the waves! Off to Craggy-Tops!
Yes off to Craggy-Tops and to a wild and astonishing time that not one of the children could possibly have imagined. Off to Craggy-Tops and off to Adventure.

Chapter 4
CRAGGY-TOPS

The train sped on through the countryside, passing many stations, and stopping at very few. On towards the coast it went, through high mountains that towered up, over silver rivers, through big, straggling towns.
And then it came to wilder country. The sea-wind came in at the window. I can smell the sea already, said Jack, who had only once before been to the sea, and scarcely remembered it.
The train stopped at last at a lonely little station. Here we are, said Philip. Tumble out. Hi, Jo-Jo! Here I am. Have you got the old car handy?
Jack and Lucy-Ann saw a coloured man coming towards them. His skin was black, his teeth were very white, and he rolled his eyes in a peculiar way. Running behind him was a girl a little older than Lucy-Ann, but tall for her age. She had the same brown, wavy hair that Philip had, and the same tuft in front.
Another Tufty, thought Jack, but a fiercer one. It must be Dinah.
It was Dinah. She had come with Jo-Jo to meet Philip, in the ramshackle old car. She stopped short in the greatest surprise when she saw Lucy-Ann and Jack. Jack grinned, but Lucy-Ann, suddenly feeling shy of this strapping, confident-looking girl, hid behind her brother. Dinah stared in even greater amazement at Kiki, who was telling Jo-Jo to wipe his feet at once.
You mind your manners, said Jo-Jo roughly, talking to the bird as if it was a human being. Kiki put up her crest and growled angrily, like a dog. Jo-Jo looked startled.
That a bird? he enquired of Philip.
Yes, said Philip. Jo-Jo, put that trunk in the car too. It belongs to my two friends.
They coming to Craggy-Tops? said Jo-Jo in the greatest surprise. Miss Polly, she didn't say nothing about any friends, no, she didn't.
Philip, who are they? asked Dinah, coming up and joining the little group.
Two friends from Mr. Roy's, said Philip. I'll tell you all about it afterwards. He winked at Dinah to make her understand that he would explain when Jo-Jo was not there. This is Freckles I told you about him, you know and Lucy-Ann too.
The three children solemnly shook hands. Then they all got into the jerky, jumpy old car, with the two trunks at the back, and Jo-Jo drove off in a manner that seemed most dangerous to Lucy-Ann. She clutched the side of the car, half frightened.
They drove through wild hills, rocky and bare. Soon they saw the sea in the distance. High cliffs bounded it except for breaks here and there. It certainly was a wild and desolate coast. They passed ruined mansions and cottages on their way.
They were burnt in the battles I told you about, said Philip. And no-one has rebuilt them. Craggy-Tops more or less escaped.
That's the cliff behind which Craggy-Tops is built, said Dinah, pointing. The others saw a high, rocky cliff, and just jutting up they could see a small round tower, which they imagined was part of Craggy-Tops.
Craggy-Tops is built out of reach of the waves, said Philip, but on stormy nights the spray dashes against the window almost as strongly as the waves pound the shore.
Lucy-Ann and Jack thought it all sounded very thrilling. It would be fun to stay in a house that had spray dashed against its windows. They did hope there would be a terrific storm whilst they were there.
Is Miss Polly expecting you all? asked Jo-Jo suddenly. He was plainly puzzled by the two extra children. She didn't say nothing to me about them.
Didn't she? How strange! said Philip. Kiki screeched with laughter, and Jo-Jo wrinkled up his black nose in dislike of the noise. He was not going to fall in love with Kiki, that was certain. Jack didn't like the way the black fellow looked at his pet bird.
Dinah suddenly gave a shriek and pushed Philip away from her. Oh! You've got a mouse down your neck! I saw its nose peeping out. Take it away, Philip; you know I can't bear mice.
Oh, shut up and don't be an idiot, said Philip crossly. Dinah at once flew into one of her tempers. She clutched Philip's collar and shook him, trying to dislodge the mouse and frighten it away. Philip gave Dinah a push, and she banged her head against the side of the car. She at once slapped him hard. Jack and Lucy-Ann stared in surprise.
Beast! said Dinah. I wish you hadn't come back. Take your two horrid friends and go off again to Mr. Roy.
They're not horrid, said Philip, in a mild tone. They're fun. He put his mouth to Dinah's ear, after seeing that Jo-Jo was paying no attention, and whispered: They've escaped from Mr. Roy. I asked them to. Their uncle will pay Aunt Polly for them to stay with us, and she can pay that bill you told me about. See?
Dinah forgot her temper as quickly as it had come. She stared with interest at the brother and sister, rubbing her bruised head as she did so. What would Aunt Polly say? Where would they sleep? This was going to be exciting.
Jo-Jo drove headlong over the bumpy, stony road. Jack wondered that any car could stand such driving. They drove up the cliff, then down a hidden way that sloped round to Craggy-Tops.
And there, suddenly, was the roaring sea and Craggy-Tops standing sullenly above it, built half-way down the cliff. The car stopped, and the children got out. Jack gazed at the strange house. It was a queer place. Once it had two towers, but one had fallen in. The other still stood. The house was built of great grey stones, and was massive and ugly, but somehow rather grand. It faced the sea with a proud and angry look, as if defying the strong gale and the restless ocean. Jack looked down at the water. On it, and circling above it, were hundreds of wild sea-birds of all kinds. It was a perfect paradise of birds. The boy's heart sang for joy. Birds by the hundred, birds by the thousand. He would be able to study them to his heart's content, find their nests, photograph them at his leisure. What a time he would have!
A woman came to the door, and looked down at the four children in surprise. She was thin, and her hair was sandy-coloured and wispy. She looked tired and faded.
Hallo, Aunt Polly! cried Philip, running up the stone steps. I'm back!
So I see, said his aunt, giving him a peck of a kiss on his cheek. But who are these?
Aunt Polly, they're friends of mine, said Philip earnestly. They couldn't go home because their uncle broke his leg. So I brought them here. Their uncle will pay you for having them.
Philip! How can you do a thing like this? Springing people on me without telling me! said Aunt Polly sharply. Where will they sleep? You know we've no room.
They can sleep in the tower-room, said Philip. The tower-room! How lovely! Jack and Lucy-Ann were thrilled.
There's no beds there, said Aunt Polly, in a disagreeable tone. They'll have to go back. They can stay the night and then go back.
Lucy-Ann looked ready to cry. There was a harshness in Aunt Polly's tone that she could not bear. She felt unwelcome and miserable. Jack put his arm round her and gave her a squeeze.
He was determined that he would not go back. The sight of those gliding, circling, soaring birds had filled his heart with joy. Oh, to lie on the cliff and watch them! He would not go back!
They all went in, Jo-Jo carrying the trunks. Aunt Polly looked with much disfavour on Kiki.
A parrot too! she said. Nasty, squawking, screeching bird! I never liked parrots. It's bad enough to have all the creatures you collect, Philip, without a parrot coming too.
Poor Polly, poor old Polly, said Kiki unexpectedly. Aunt Polly looked at the bird, startled.
How does it know my name? she asked in astonishment.
Kiki didn't. It was a name she herself was often called, and she often said Poor old Polly! or Poor old Kiki! She saw that she had made an impression on this sharp-voiced woman, and she repeated the words softly, as if she was about to burst into tears.
Poor Polly! Dear Polly! Poor, dear old Polly!
Well I never! said Aunt Polly, and looked at the parrot more kindly. Aunt Polly felt ill, tired and harassed, but no-one ever said they were sorry, or seemed to notice it. Now here was a bird pitying her and speaking to her more kindly than anyone had for years! Aunt Polly felt strange about it, but quite pleased.
You can take a mattress up to the tower-room, and sleep there tonight with the boy what's his name? said Aunt Polly to Philip. The girl can sleep tonight with Dinah. It's a small bed, but I can't help that. If you bring people here without telling me, I can't prepare for them.
The children sat down to a good meal. Aunt Polly was a good cook. It was a mixture of tea and supper, and the children tucked into it well. All they had had that day, since their breakfast, were the sandwiches that Mr. Roy had packed for Philip and one packet of sandwiches did not go far between three hungry children.
Dinah gave a sneeze, and the parrot spoke to her sternly. Where's your handkerchief?
Aunt Polly looked at the bird in surprised admiration. Well, I'm always saying that to Dinah, she said. That bird seems to be a most sensible creature.
Kiki was pleased at Aunt Polly's admiration. Poor Polly, poor dear Polly, she said, her head coyly on one side, her bright eye glinting at Aunt Polly.
Aunt Polly likes your parrot better than she likes you, whispered Philip to Jack, with a grin.
After the meal, Aunt Polly took Philip to his uncle's study. He knocked and went in. His Uncle Jocelyn was bent over a sheaf of yellow papers, examining them with a magnifying-glass. He grunted at Philip.
So you're back again. Behave yourself and keep out of my way. I shall be very busy these holidays.
Jocelyn, Philip has brought two children back with him and a parrot, said Aunt Polly.
A parrot? said Uncle Jocelyn. Why a parrot?
Jocelyn, that parrot belongs to one of the children that Philip brought home, said Aunt Polly. Philip wants these children to stay here.
Can't have them. Don't mind the parrot, said Uncle Jocelyn. Keep the parrot if you want it. Send it away if you don't. I'm busy.
He bent over his papers again. Aunt Polly gave a sigh and shut the door. He's so interested in the past that he forgets all about the present, she said, half to herself.
Well I suppose I must ring up Mr. Roy myself. He'll be wondering about those children.
She went to the telephone. Philip followed close behind her, longing to know what Mr. Roy would say. Dinah peeped out from the sitting-room and Philip nodded towards the telephone. If only Mr. Roy was cross and said he would not have Jack and Lucy-Ann back! If only Aunt Polly would think the cheque was big enough to make it worth while letting them stay!

Chapter 5
SETTLING IN AT CRAGGY-TOPS

It seemed ages before Aunt Polly got through to Mr. Roy. The master was worried and puzzled. Jack and Lucy-Ann had not returned, of course, and at first he had thought they had gone off for one of their walks, and that Jack had found some unusual bird and had forgotten all about time.
But as the hours went by and still the children had not come back, he became seriously worried. It did not occur to him that they might have gone with Philip, or he would have telephoned to the boy's aunt at once.
He was most relieved to hear Mrs. Sullivan, Philip's aunt, speaking, giving him the news that the children were safe.
They arrived here with Philip, she said, with some sharpness. I cannot think how it was that they were allowed to do this. I cannot possibly keep them.
Mr. Roy's heart sank. He had hoped for one wild moment that his problem concerning Jack and Lucy-Ann, and that tiresome parrot, was solved. Now it seemed as if it wasn't.
Well, Mrs. Sullivan, said Mr. Roy politely, though he did not feel at all civil, I'm sorry about it. The children went down to see Philip off, and I suppose the boy persuaded them to go with him. It's a pity you could not keep them for the rest of the holidays, as they would probably be happier with you and Philip. No doubt they have told you that their uncle cannot have them back these holidays. He sent me a cheque for a large sum of money, hoping I could have them. But I should be pleased to hand this over to you if you felt that you could take charge of them, and we could get Mr. Trent's consent to it.
There was a pause. How much was the cheque? asked Mrs. Sullivan.
There was another pause after Mr. Roy told her the sum of money that had been sent. It certainly was a very generous amount. Mrs. Sullivan thought quickly. The children would not cost much to keep. She would see that they kept out of Jocelyn's way. That girl Lucy-Ann could help Dinah with the house-work. And she would be able to pay off a few bills, which would be a great relief to her.
Mr. Roy waited hopefully at the other end of the wire. He could not bear the thought of having the parrot back again. Jack was bearable, Lucy-Ann was nice but Kiki was impossible.
Well, said Mrs. Sullivan, in the sort of voice that meant she was prepared to give in, well let me think now. It's going to be difficult because we've so little room here. I mean, though the house is enormous, half of it is in ruins and most of it too draughty to live in. But perhaps we could manage. If I use the tower-room again. . . .
Philip and the others, who could hear everything that was being said by Mrs. Sullivan, looked at one another in delight. Aunt Polly's giving in! whispered Philip. And oh, Jack I bet we'll have the old tower-room for our own. I've always wanted to sleep there and have it for my room, but Aunt Polly would never let me.
Mrs. Sullivan, you would be doing me a great kindness if you could manage to take the children off my hands, said Mr. Roy earnestly. I will telephone at once to Mr. Trent. Leave it all to me. I will send you the cheque at once. And if you should need any more money, let me know. I really cannot tell you how obliged I should be to you if you could manage this for me. The children are quite easy to manage. Lucy-Ann is sweet. It's only that awful parrot so rude but you could get a cage for it, perhaps.
Oh, I don't mind the parrot, said Mrs. Sullivan, which surprised Mr. Roy very much. Kiki gave a loud squawk, which Mr. Roy heard down the telephone. Well Mrs. Sullivan must be a remarkable woman if she liked Kiki!
Not much more was said. Mrs. Sullivan said she would write to Mr. Trent, after she had heard again from Mr. Roy. In the meantime she undertook to look after the children for the rest of the holidays.
The receiver clicked as she put it down. The children heaved a sigh of relief. Philip went up to his aunt.
Oh, thanks, Aunt Polly, he said. It will be fine for me and Dinah to have friends with us. We'll try and keep out of Uncle's way, and help you all we can.
Dear Polly, said Kiki affectionately, and actually left Jack's shoulder to hop on to Aunt Polly's! The children stared in astonishment. Good old Kiki! She was playing up to Aunt Polly properly.
Silly bird! said Aunt Polly, hardly liking to show how pleased she was.
God save the King, said Kiki unexpectedly, and everyone laughed.
Philip, you and Jack must have the tower-room for your own, said Aunt Polly. Come with me, and I'll see what can he arranged. Dinah, go to your room and see if you would rather share it with Lucy-Ann, or whether she would rather have Philip's old room. They open out of one another, so perhaps you would like to have the two rooms.
Dinah went off happily with Lucy-Ann to look at the room. Lucy-Ann wished she was sleeping nearer to Jack. The tower-room was a good way from where she herself would sleep. Jack took Kiki and went to a high window, settling on the window-seat to watch the sea-birds in their restless soaring and gliding outside.
Philip went to the tower-room with his aunt. He felt very happy. He had become very fond of Jack and Lucy-Ann, and it was almost too good to be true to think they had come to stay with him for some weeks.
The two of them went down a cold stone passage. They came to a narrow, winding stone stairway, and climbed up the steep steps. The stairway wound round and round, and at last came out into the tower-room. This was a perfectly round room whose walls were very thick. It had three narrow windows, one facing the sea. There was no glass in at all, and the room was draughty, and full of the sound of the crying of birds, and the roaring of the waves below.
I'm afraid this room will be too cold for you two boys, said Aunt Polly, but Philip shook his head at once.
We shan't mind that. We should have the windows wide open if there was any glass, Aunt Polly. We'll be all right. We shall love it up here. Look there's an old oak chest to put our things in and a wooden stool and we can bring a rug up from downstairs. We only need a mattress.
Well we can't possibly get a bed up those narrow stairs, said Aunt Polly. So you will have to have a mattress to sleep on. I've got an old double one that must do for you. I will send Dinah up with a broom and a cloth to clean the room a bit.
Aunt Polly, thanks awfully again for arranging all this, said Philip, half shyly, for he was afraid of his hard-working aunt, and although he spent all his holidays with her, he felt that he did not really know her very well. I hope Mr. Trent's cheque will cover all your expenses but I'm sure Jack and Lucy-Ann won't cost much.
Well, Philip, said Aunt Polly, shutting the lid of the old chest and turning to the boy with a troubled face, well, my boy, you mustn't think I am making too much fuss but the fact is, your mother hasn't been at all well, and hasn't been able to send nearly as much money for you as usual and, you see, your school fees are rather high and I've been a bit worried to know what to do. You are old enough now to realise that dear old Uncle Jocelyn is not much use in bearing responsibility for a household and the bit of money I have soon goes.
Philip listened in alarm. His mother was ill! Aunt Polly hadn't been getting the money as usual it all sounded very worrying to him.
What's the matter with Mother? he asked.
Well she's very thin and run-down, and she's got a dreadful cough, she says, answered Aunt Polly. The doctors say she must have a long rest by the sea if possible but how can she give up her job?
I shan't go back to school, said Philip at once. I shall find a job myself somehow. I can't have Mother working herself to death for us.
You can't do that, said Aunt Polly. Why, you arc not even fourteen yet. No now that I have a little money coming in from Mr. Trent for these two children, it will ease things a good deal.
This house is too big for you, said Philip, suddenly noticing how tired his aunt looked. Aunt Polly, why do we have to live here? Why can't we leave and take a nice little house somewhere, where you wouldn't have to work so hard, and which wouldn't be so lonely?
I'd like to, said Aunt Polly, with a sigh, but who would buy a place like this, half ruined and in such a wind-swept, desolate spot? And I should never be able to get your uncle to move. He loves this place, he loves this whole coast, and knows more about it than anyone else in the world. Well, well it's no good wishing this and that. We must just go on until you and Dinah are old enough to earn your living.
Then I shall make a home for Mother, and she and Dinah and I will live together happily, thought Philip, as he followed his aunt downstairs to fetch the old mattress. He called to Jack, and the two boys, with much puffing and panting, got the awkward mattress up the narrow stairway. Kiki encouraged them with shrieks and squawks. Jo-Jo, the black man, frowned at the noise. He seemed to think Kiki was directing her screeches at him, and, when she found that her noises annoyed him, she did her best to make him jump by unexpected squawks in his ear.
Jo-Jo was taking up a small table and Jack's trunk. He set them down in the tower-room and looked out of the window. He seemed very bad-tempered, Philip thought. Not that he was good-tempered at any time but he looked even sulkier than usual.
What's up, Jo-Jo? said Philip, who was not in the least afraid of the sullen servant. Seeing things?
The children had laughed over Jo-Jo's idea that there were things wandering about at night. Jo-Jo frowned.
Miss Polly shouldn't use this room, he said. No, that she shouldn't, and I've telled her so. It's a bad room. And you can see the Isle of Gloom from it too, when the mists lift and it's bad to look on the Isle of Gloom.
Don't be silly, Jo-Jo, said Philip, laughing.
Don't be silly, Jo-Jo, repeated Kiki, in an exact imitation of Philip's voice. Jo-Jo scowled at both boy and bird.
Well, you take my word, Master Philip, and don't you go looking at the Isle of Gloom more than you can help. This is the only room you can see it from, and that's why it's a bad room. No good ever came from the Isle of Gloom. Bad men lived there, and bad deeds were done there, and wickedness came from that isle as long as anyone remembers.
With this very weird warning the black man departed down the stairs, his eyes rolling, as he gazed back at the two boys with a scowl.
Pleasant fellow, isn't he? said Philip, as he and Jack unrolled the mattress. Half mad, I think. Anyway, he must be daft to stay on here and do the work he does. He could get much more money anywhere else.
What's this Isle of Gloom he talks about? said Jack, going to the window. What a queer name! I can't see any island, Tufty.
You hardly ever can see it, said Philip. It lies right out there, to the west, and there is a reef of rocks round it over which waves continually break, flinging up spray. It seems always to have a mist hanging over it. No-one lives there, though people used to, years and years ago.
I'd like to go there, said Jack. There must be hundreds of birds on that island quite tame and friendly. It would be marvellous to see them.
Tame and friendly. What do you mean, Freckles? said Philip, in surprise. Look at the birds here afraid even of Kiki!
Ah, but the birds on the Isle of Gloom would not have known man at all, said Jack. They would not have learnt to be wary or cautious. I could get some simply marvellous photographs. Gosh, I'd like to go there!
Well, you can't, said Philip. I've never been myself, and no-one has, as far as I know. Look will this be the best place for the mattress? We don't want it too near the windows because the rain would wet it and it often rains here.
Put it where you like, said Jack, lost in dreams about the misty island and its unknown birds. He might see birds there that he had never seen at all he might find rare nests and eggs. He might take the most wonderful bird-photographs in the world. Jack was quite determined to go to the Isle of Gloom if he could, in spite of all Jo-Jo's frightening tales.
Come on down to the others, said Philip at last, putting the last of their clothes into the chest. I can't say you've been much help, Jack. Come on, Kiki.
They went down the narrow, winding stair to find the others. It was good to think of the weeks ahead, with no work, no lessons just bathing, climbing, rowing. They certainly would have fun!

Chapter 6
THE DAYS GO BY

The girls had decided to have the two rooms. They were such small rooms, and it would be easier to keep two rooms tidier than one, if two people were to have them.
There would never be room for anything if we tried to keep all our things in one room, said Dinah, and Lucy-Ann agreed. She had been up to see the tower-room and liked it very much. She would have liked a room without glass panes too. It was almost as good as sleeping out-of-doors, thought the little girl, as she leaned out of one of the windows, and felt the sea-breeze streaming through her hair.
The girls' two rooms looked out over the sea, but in a different direction from the boys'. The Isle of Gloom could never be seen from there. Jack told Lucy-Ann what Jo-Jo had said, and Lucy-Ann looked rather alarmed.
You needn't worry. Jo-Jo's full of queer beliefs and stories, said Philip with a laugh. There's nothing in his stories, really I believe he just likes frightening people.
It was queer to sleep for the first time at Craggy-Tops. Lucy-Ann lay awake for a long time, listening to the muffled roar of the waves breaking on the rocks below. She heard the wind whistling, too, and liked it. How different it all was from the quiet little town Uncle Geoffrey lived in! There everything seemed half dead but here there was noise and movement, the taste of salt on her lips, the feel of the wind through her hair. It was exciting. Anything might happen at lonely Craggy-Tops.
Jack lay awake in the tower-room too. Philip was asleep on the mattress beside him. Jack got up and went to the window. The room was full of the wind, sweeping in at the sea-windows. Jack put his head out, and looked down.
There was a little moon rushing through the clouds. Down below was the swirling water, for the tide was in, beating over the black rocks. Spray flew up on the wind, and Jack felt sure he could feel a little on his cheek, high though his room was. He licked his lips. They tasted deliciously salt.
A bird cried in the night. It sounded sad and mournful, but Jack liked it. What bird was it? One he didn't know? The sea pounded away below and the wind swept up in gusts. Jack shivered. It was summer-time, but Craggy-Tops was built in such a wind-driven spot that there were always draughts blowing around.
Then he jumped violently, for something touched his shoulder. His heart thumped, and then he laughed. It was only Kiki.
Kiki always slept with Jack, wherever he was. Usually she sat on the rail at the head of his bed, her big head tucked under her wing, but there was no rail this time, only a flat mattress laid on the floor.
So Kiki had found an uncomfortable perch on the edge of the chest but when she heard Jack at the window she had flown to her usual perch, on his shoulder, making him jump violently. She nestled against him.
Go to bed, naughty boy, she said. Go to bed.
Jack grinned. It was funny when Kiki by chance hit on the right sentences. He scratched her poll, talking in a low voice to her, so as not to wake Philip.
I'll rig you up a perch of some sort tomorrow, Kiki, he said. You can't sleep properly on the edge of that chest, I know. Now I'm going to bed. It's a wild night, isn't it? But I like it.
He went back to bed, cold and shivering. But he soon got warm, cuddled up against Philip's back, and fell asleep, to dream of thousands of sea-birds walking tamely up to be photographed.
Life at Craggy-Tops was strange to Jack and Lucy-Ann at first, after all the years they had spent in an ordinary little house in an ordinary little town.
There was no electric light. There was no hot or cold water coming out of taps. There were no shops round the corner. There was no garden.
There were oil-lamps to clean and trim each day, and candles to be put into candle-sticks. There was water to be pumped up from a deep, deep well. Jack was interested in the well.
There was a small yard behind the house, backing on to the rocky cliff, and in it was the well that gave the household their water. Jack and Lucy-Ann were surprised that the water was not salt.
No, it's pure drinking-water all right, said Dinah, lifting a heavy bucket from the chain. The well goes right down in the rocks, far below the sea-bed, to pure water, crystal clear and icy cold. Taste it.
It was good to drink as good as any iced water the children had drunk on hot summer days. Jack peered down the dark, deep well.
I'd like to go down in that bucket and find out how deep the well-bottom is, he said.
You'd feel funny if you got stuck and couldn't get up again, said Dinah, with a giggle. Come on, help me, Jack. Don't stand dreaming there. You're always dreaming.
And you're always so quick and impatient, said Philip, near by. Dinah gave him an angry look. She flared up very quickly, and it was easy to provoke her.
Well, if you had to do as much as Lucy-Ann and I have been told to do, you'd be a bit quicker too, she snapped back. Come on, Lucy-Ann. Let's leave the boys to get on with their jobs. Boys aren't much good, anyway.
Yes, you'd better go, before I slap you, yelled Philip after her, and then darted away before the angry Dinah could come after him. Lucy-Ann was puzzled and rather shocked at their continual quarrels, but she soon saw that they were over as quickly as they arose, and got used to them.
Shopping was quite a business. It meant that Jo-Jo had to get out the old car, and go off with a long list to the nearest village twice a week. If anything was forgotten, it had to be done without till the next visit. Vegetables were got from a small allotment that Jo-Jo worked at himself, in a sheltered dip of the cliff away behind the house.
Let's go with Jo-Jo and have a ride in the car, suggested Lucy-Ann one morning. But Philip shook his head.
No good, he said. We've asked Jo-Jo heaps of times, but he won't take us. He just refuses, and says he'll push us out of the car if we get in it to go with him. I did get in once, and he kept his word and pushed me out.
The old beast! said Jack, astonished. I wonder you put up with him.
Well, who else would come here and work for us in this desolate place? said Dinah. Nobody else. Jo-Jo wouldn't either if he wasn't half mad.
Still, Lucy-Ann did ask Jo-Jo if she could go with him when he went shopping.
No, said the black man, and scowled.
Please, Jo-Jo, said Lucy-Ann, looking at him pleadingly. Usually she got her own way when she badly wanted it but not with Jo-Jo.
I said NO, repeated the black man, and walked off, his powerful arms swinging by his sides. Lucy-Ann stared after him. How horrid he was! Why wouldn't he take any of them in the car when he went shopping? Just bad temper, she supposed.
It was fun being at Craggy-Tops, in spite of so many things being difficult. Hot baths, for instance, could only be had once a week. At least, they could be taken every day, if someone lighted the copper fire, and was willing to carry pails of hot water down miles of stone passages to the one and only bath, set in a small room called the bathroom.
After doing this once, Jack decided that he didn't really care whether he had any more hot baths or not whilst he was at Craggy-Tops. He'd bathe in the sea two or three times a day, and make that do instead.
The girls were given household tasks to do, and did them as best they could. Aunt Polly did the cooking. Uncle Jocelyn did not appear even for meals. Aunt Polly took them to him in his study, and the children hardly remembered he was in the house.
The boys had to get in the water from the well, bring the wood in for the kitchen fire, and fill the burners in the oil-stove with oil. They took it in turns with the girls to clean and trim the lamps. Nobody liked doing that, it was such a messy job.
Jo-Jo looked after the car and the allotment, did rough scrubbing, cleaned the windows when they became clogged up with salty spray, and did all kinds of other jobs. He had a boat of his own, a sound and good one with a small sail.
Would he let us use it? asked Jack.
Of course not, said Philip scornfully. And you'd better not try to, without permission. He'd beat you if you did. That boat is the apple of his eye. We are not allowed even to set foot in it.
Jack went to have a look at it. It was a very good boat indeed, and must have cost a lot of money. It had recently been painted and was in first-class order. There were oars, mast and sail, and a good deal of fishing tackle. Jack would dearly have loved to go out in it.
But even as he stood looking at it, wondering if he dared to put his foot into it and feel the boat rocking gently beneath him, the black man appeared, his usual scowl even blacker.
What you doing? he demanded, his dark eyes rolling, and the whites showing plainly. That's my boat.
All right, all right, said Jack impatiently. Can't I look at it?
No, said Jo-Jo, and scowled again.
Naughty boy, said Kiki, and screeched at Jo-Jo, who looked as if he would like to wring the bird's neck.
Well, you certainly are a pleasant fellow, said Jack, stepping away from the boat, feeling suddenly afraid of the sullen black man. But let me tell you this I'm going out in a boat, somehow, and you can't stop me.
Jo-Jo looked after Jack with his eyes half closed and his mouth turned in angrily. That interfering boy! Jo-Jo would certainly stop him doing anything if he could!

Chapter 7
A QUEER DISCOVERY

If it had not been for Jo-Jo, life at Craggy-Tops, once the children had settled down to their daily tasks, would have been very pleasant. There seemed so much to do that was fun swimming in the sheltered cove, where the water was calm, was simply lovely. Exploring the damp dark caves in the cliffs was fun. Fishing from the rocks with a line was also very exciting, because quite big fish could be caught that way.
But Jo-Jo seemed to spoil everything, with his scowls and continual interference. He always seemed to appear wherever the children were. If they bathed, his black face appeared round the rocks. If they fished, he came scowling out on the rocks and told them they were wasting their time.
Oh, leave us alone, Jo-Jo, said Philip impatiently. You act as if you were our keeper! For goodness' sake go and get on with your own work, and leave us to do what we want to do. We're not doing any harm.
Miss Polly said to me to keep an eye on you all, said Jo-Jo sulkily. She said to me not to let you get into danger, see.
No, I don't see, said Philip crossly. All I can see is that you keep on popping up wherever we are and spoiling things for us. Don't keep prying on us. We don't like it.
Lucy-Ann giggled. She thought it was brave of Philip to talk to the big black man like that. He certainly was a nuisance. What fun they would have had if he had been jolly and good-tempered! They could have gone fishing and sailing in his boat. They could have fished properly with him. They could have gone out in the car and picnicked.
But all because he's so daft and bad-tempered we can't do any of those things, said Lucy-Ann. Why, we might even have tried to sail out to the Isle of Gloom to see if there were many birds there, as Jack so badly wants to do, if only Jo-Jo had been nice.
Well, he's not nice, and we'll never go to Gloom, and if we did get there, I bet there wouldn't be any birds on such a desolate place, said Philip. Come on let's explore that big cave we found yesterday.
It really was fun exploring the caves on the shore. Some of them ran very far back into the cliff. Others had queer holes in their roofs, that led to upper caves. Philip said that in olden times men had used the caves for hiding in, or for storing smuggled goods. But there was nothing to be seen in them now except seaweed and empty shells.
I wish we had a good torch, said Jack, as his candle was blown out for the sixth time that morning. I shall soon have no candles left. If only there was a shop round the corner where we could slip along and buy a torch! I asked Jo-Jo yesterday to get me one when he went shopping in the car, but he wouldn't.
Oooh here's a most enormous starfish! said Philip, holding his candle down to the floor of the damp cave. Do look it's a giant one, I'm sure.
Dinah gave a shriek. She hated creepy-crawly things as much as Philip liked them. Don't touch it. And don't bring it near me.
But Philip was a tease, and he picked up the great starfish, with its five long fingers, and walked over to Dinah with it. She flew into a furious rage.
You beast! I told you not to bring it near me. I'll kill it if you do.
You can't kill starfish, said Philip. If you cut one in half it grows new fingers, and, hey presto, it is two starfishes instead of one. So there! Have a look at it, Dinah smell it feel it.
Philip pushed the great clammy thing near to his sister's face. Really alarmed, Dinah hit out, and gave Philip such a push that he reeled, overbalanced and fell headlong to the floor of the cave. His candle went out. There was a shout from Philip, then a curious slithering noise and silence.
Hi, Tufty! Are you all right? called Jack, and held his candle high. To his enormous astonishment, Philip had completely disappeared. There was the starfish on the seaweedy ground but no Philip was beside it.
The three children stared in the greatest amazement at the clumps of seaweed hanging from the walls of the cave, spreading over the ground. Wherever had Philip gone?
Dinah was scared. She had certainly meant to give Philip a hard blow but she hadn't meant him to disappear off the face of the earth. She gave a yell.
Philip! Are you hiding? Come out, idiot!
A muffled voice came from somewhere. Hi! where am I?
That's Tufty's voice, said Jack. But where is he? He's nowhere in this cave.
The children put their three candles together and looked round the small, low-roofed, seaweedy cave. It smelt very dank and musty. Philip's voice came again from somewhere, sounding rather frightened.
I say! Where am I?
Jack advanced cautiously over the slippery seaweed to where Philip had fallen when Dinah had struck him. Then suddenly he seemed to lose his footing, and, to the surprise of the watching girls, he too disappeared, seeming to sink down into the floor of the seaweedy cave.
By the wavering light of their two candles the girls tried to see what had happened to Jack. Then they saw the explanation of the mystery. The fronds of seaweed hid an opening in the floor of the cave, and when the boys had put their weight on to the seaweed covering the hole, they had slipped between the fronds down into some cave below. How queer!
That's where they went, said Dinah, pointing to a dark space between the seaweed covering that part of the floor. I hope they haven't broken their legs. How ever shall we get them out?
Jack had fallen on top of poor Philip, almost squashing him. Kiki, left behind in the cave above, let out an ear-piercing screech. She hated these dark caves, but always came with Jack. Now he had suddenly gone, and the parrot was alarmed.
Shut up, Kiki, said Dinah, jumping in fright at the screech. Look, Lucy-Ann, there's a hole in the cave floor there, just between that thick seaweed. Walk carefully, or you'll disappear too. Hold up my candle as well as your own and I'll see if I can make out exactly what has happened.
What had happened was really very simple. First Philip had gone down the hole into a cave below, and then Jack had fallen on top of him. Philip was feeling frightened and bruised. He clutched Jack and wouldn't let go.
What's happened? he said.
Hole in the cave floor, said Jack, putting out his hands and feeling round to see how big the cave was they had fallen into. He touched rocky walls on each side of him at once. I say this is a mighty small cave. Hi, girls, put the candles over the hole so that we can see something.
A lighted candle now appeared above the boys and they were able to see a little.
We're not in a cave. We're in a passage, said Jack, astonished. At least, we're at the beginning of a passage. I wonder where it goes to . . . right into the cliffs, I suppose.
Hand us down a candle, called Philip, feeling better now. Oh, goodness here's Kiki.
Can't you shut the door? said Kiki, in a sharp voice, sitting hard on Jack's shoulder, glad to be with her master again. She began to whistle, and then told herself not to.
Shut up, Kiki, said Jack. Look, Philip there really is a passage leading up there awfully dark and narrow. And what a smell there is! Dinah, pass that candle down quickly, do!
Dinah at last managed to hand down a lighted candle. She lay flat on the seaweedy cave floor, and just managed to pass the candle down through the hole. Jack held it up. The dark passage looked mysterious and queer.
What about exploring it? said Philip, feeling excited. It looks as if it ought to go below Craggy-Tops itself. It's a secret passage.
More likely a short crack in the cliff rocks that leads nowhere at all, said Jack. Kiki, don't peck my ear so hard. We'll go into the open air soon. Hi, you girls! We think we'll go up this funny passage. Are you coming?
No, thanks, said Lucy-Ann at once, who didn't at all like the sound of a seaweedy passage that ran, dark and narrow, through the cliffs. We'll stay here till you come back. Don't be long. We've only got one candle now. Have you some matches in case your candle goes out?
Yes, said Jack, feeling in his pocket. Well, goodbye for the present. Don't fall down the hole.
The boys left the dark hole under which they stood and began to make their way up the damp passage. The girls could no longer hear their voices or footsteps. They waited patiently in the cave above, lighted by one flickering candle. It was cold and they shivered, glad of their warm jerseys.
The boys were a very long time. The two girls became impatient and then alarmed. What could have happened to them? They peered down the hole between the great fronds of seaweed and listened. Not a sound could be heard.
Oh dear do you think we ought to go after them? said Lucy-Ann desperately. She would be frightened to death going up that dark secret passage, she was sure, and yet if Jack was in need of help she would have no hesitation in jumping down and following him.
Better go and tell Jo-Jo and get him to come and help, said Dinah. He'd better bring a rope, I should think. The boys would never be able to climb up through the hole back into this cave, without help.
No, don't let's tell Jo-Jo, said Lucy-Ann, who disliked the black man thoroughly, and was afraid of him. We'll wait a bit longer. Maybe the passage was a very long one.
It was far longer than the boys expected. It twisted and turned as it went through the cliff, going upwards all the time. It was pitch-dark, and the candle did not seem to light it very much. The boys bumped their heads against the roof every now and again, for it was sometimes only shoulder-high.
It grew drier as it went up. Soon there was no seaweedy smell at all, but the air felt stale and musty. It was rather difficult to breathe.
I believe the air is bad here, panted Philip, as they went on. I can hardly breathe. Once or twice I thought our candle was going out, Freckles. That would mean the air was very bad. Surely we shall come to the end of this passage soon.
As he spoke, the passage went steeply upwards and was cut into rough steps. It ended abruptly in a rocky wall. The boys were puzzled.
It's not a real passage, then, said Philip, disappointed. Just a crack in the cliff rocks, as you said. But these do really look like rough steps, don't they?
The light of the candle shone down on to the steps. Yes someone had hewn out those steps at one time but why?
Jack held the candle above his head and gave a shout.
Look! Isn't that a trap-door above our heads? That's where the passage led to that trap-door! I say let's get it open if we can.
Sure enough, there was an old wooden trap-door, closing the exit of the passage, above their heads. If only they could lift it! Wherever would they find themselves?

Chapter 8
IN THE CELLARS

Let's push at it together, said Philip, in excitement, I'll put the candle down on this ledge.
He stuck the candle firmly into a crack on the ledge. Then he and Jack pushed hard at the trap-door just above their heads. A shower of dust fell down, and Philip blinked his eyes, half blinded. Jack had closed his.
Blow! said Philip, rubbing his eyes. Come on, let's try again. I felt it move.
They tried again, and this time the trap-door suddenly gave way. It lifted a few inches, and then fell back again, setting free another cloud of dust.
Get a rock or big stone and we'll stand on it, said Jack, red with excitement. A bit more of a push and we'll get the thing right open.
They found three or four flattish stones, put them in a stout pile, and stood on them. They pushed against the trap-door, and to their delight it lifted right up, and fell backwards with a thud on the floor above, leaving a square opening above the heads of the boys.
Give me a heave up, Jack, said Philip. He got such a shove that he shot out through the trap-door opening and landed on a rocky floor above. It was dark there and he could see nothing.
Hand up the candle, Freckles, and then I'll haul you up, said Philip. The candle was handed up, but went out suddenly.
Blow! said Philip. Oh glory, what's that?
Kiki, I expect, said Jack. She's flown up.
Kiki had not made a sound or said a word all through the secret passage. She had been alarmed at the dark strange place, and had clung hard to Jack all the way.
Philip hauled Jack up, and then groped in his pocket for matches to light the candle again. Where do you suppose we are? he said. I simply can't imagine.
Feels like the other end of the world, said Jack. Ah that's better. Now we can see.
He held up the lighted candle and the two boys looked round.
I know where we are, said Philip suddenly. In one of the cellars at Craggy-Tops. Look there are boxes of stores over there. Tins of food and stuff.
So there are, said Jack. My word, what a fine store your aunt keeps down here! Golly, this is quite an adventure. Do you suppose your aunt and uncle know about the secret passage?
I shouldn't think so, said Philip. Aunt Polly would be sure to have mentioned it to us, I should think. I don't seem to know this part of the cellars very well. Let me see where is the cellar door now?
The boys wandered down the cellar, trying to find the way out. They came to a stout wooden door, but, to their surprise, it was locked.
Blow! said Philip, annoyed. Now we shall have to creep all the way back down that passage again. I don't feel like doing that, somehow. Anyway, this isn't the door that leads out of the cellars into the kitchen. You have to go up steps to that one. This must be a door that shuts off one part of the cellars from the other. I don't remember seeing it before.
Listen isn't that somebody coming? said Jack suddenly, his sharp ears hearing footsteps.
Yes it's Jo-Jo, said Philip, hearing the familiar cough he knew so well. Let's hide. I'm not going to tell Jo-Jo about that passage. We'll keep it to ourselves. Shut the trap-door down quickly, Jack, and then we'll hide behind this archway here. We could slip out quietly when Jo-Jo opens the door. Blow out the candle.
They shut the trap-door quietly and then, in the pitch darkness, hid behind the stone archway near the door. They heard Jo-Jo putting a key into the lock. The door swung open, and the black man appeared, looking huge in the flickering light of his lantern. He left the door open, and went towards the back of the cellar, where the stores lay.
The boys had on rubber shoes, and could have slipped out without Jo-Jo knowing anything at all but Kiki chose that moment to imitate Jo-Jo's hollow cough. It filled the cellar with mournful echoes, and Jo-Jo dropped his lantern with a crash. The glass splintered and the light went out. Jo-Jo gave a howl of terror and fled out of the door at once, not even pausing to lock it. He brushed against the two boys as he went, and gave another screech of fright, feeling their warm bodies as he passed.
Kiki, thrilled at the result of her coughing imitation, gave an unearthly screech that sent Jo-Jo headlong through the other part of the cellars, up the steps and through the cellar door. He almost fell as he appeared in the kitchen, and Aunt Polly jumped in astonishment.
What's the matter? What has happened?
There's things down there! panted Jo-Jo, his black face looking as pale as it ever could look.
Things! What do you mean? said Aunt Polly severely.
Things that screech and yell and clutch at me, said Jo-Jo, sinking into a chair, and rolling his eyes till nothing but the dazzling whites could be seen.
Nonsense! said Aunt Polly, stirring a saucepan vigorously. I don't know why you wanted to go down there anyway. We don't need anything from the cellars this morning. I've plenty of potatoes up here. Pull yourself together, Jo-Jo. You'll frighten the children if you behave like this.
The two boys had collapsed into helpless laughter when they had seen poor Jo-Jo running in alarm from the cellar, yelling for all he was worth. They clutched each other and laughed till they ached. Well, Jo-Jo is always trying to frighten us by tales of peculiar ‘things' that wander about at night, said Jack, and now he's been caught by his own silly stories and been almost frightened out of his wits.
I say he's left the key in the door, said Philip, who had now lighted his candle again. Let's take it. Then, if ever we want to use that passage again, we can always get out this way if we want to, by unlocking the door.
He put the big key into his pocket, grinning. Maybe the black man would think it was one of the things he was always talking about that had gone off with his key.
The boys went into the part of the cellar they knew. Philip looked with interest at the door through which they had come.
I never knew there was another cellar beyond this first one, he said, looking round the vast underground room. How did I never notice that door before, I wonder?
Those boxes must have been piled in front of it to hide it, said Jack. There were empty boxes by the door, and now that he thought of it, Philip remembered seeing them in a big pile every time he had gone into the cellar. They had been neatly piled in front of that door. A trick of Jo-Jo's, no doubt, to stop the children going into the second cellar, where all those stores were kept. How silly and childish! Well, Jo-Jo couldn't stop them going there now.
We can go there through the secret passage, or we could go there through the door, because I've got the key now, thought Philip, pleased at the idea of being able to outwit the black man if he wanted to.
I suppose those steps lead up to the kitchen, don't they? said Jack, pointing to them. Is it safe to go up, do you think? We don't want anyone to see us, or they'd ask awkward questions.
I'll slip up to the top, open the door a crack, and listen to see if anyone is about, said Philip. So up he went. But Jo-Jo had gone out and his aunt was no longer there, so the big kitchen was empty and silent. The boys were able to slip out, go to the outer door, and run down the cliff path without anyone seeing them at all.
The girls will wonder whatever has become of us, said Jack, suddenly remembering Dinah and Lucy-Ann, waiting patiently for them in the cave where the hole was that led into the passage. Come on let's give them an awful fright, shall we? They'll be expecting us to come back through the secret passage they'll never expect us to come back this way.
They made their way down to the rocky shore. They went to the caves they had explored that morning and found the one that had the hole. The two girls were sitting by the hole, anxiously discussing what they ought to do.
We really must go and get help now, said Lucy-Ann. I'm sure something has happened to the boys. Really I am.
Philip suddenly spotted the giant starfish again, the one that had caused all the trouble. Very silently he picked it up. Without making a sound, he crept over the seaweedy cave floor to poor Dinah. He placed the starfish on her bare arm, where it slithered down in a horrible manner.
Dinah leapt up with a shriek that was even worse than Kiki's loudest one. Oh oh Philip's back again, the beast! Wait till I get hold of you, Philip! I'll pull all your hair out of your head! You hateful boy!
In one of her furious rages Dinah leapt at Philip, who ran out of the caves and on to the sandy shore in glee. Lucy-Ann threw her arms round Jack. She had been very anxious about him.
Jack! Oh, Jack, what happened to you? I waited so long. How did you come back this way? Where did the passage lead to?
Shrieks and yells and shouts from Dinah and Philip made it impossible for Jack to answer, especially as Kiki now joined in the row, screeching like an express train in a tunnel.
There was a fine fight going on between Philip and Dinah. The angry girl had caught her brother, and was hitting out at him for all she was worth.
I'll teach you to throw starfish at me. You mean pig! You know I hate those things. I'll pull all your hair out.
Philip got free and ran off, leaving a few of his hairs in Dinah's fingers. Dinah turned a furious face to the others.
He's a beast. I shan't talk to him for days. I wish he wasn't my brother.
It was only a bit of fun, began Jack, but this made matters worse. Dinah flew into a temper with him too, and looked so fierce that Lucy-Ann was quite alarmed, and thought she would have to defend Jack if Dinah rushed to slap him.
I won't have anything to do with any of you, stormed Dinah, and walked off angrily.
Now she won't hear all we've found this morning, said Jack. What a spitfire she is! Well, we'll have to tell you, Lucy-Ann. We've had a real adventure.
Dinah, walking off in a fury, suddenly remembered that she had not heard the story of the secret passage and where it came out. Forgetting her rage, she turned back at once.
She saw Lucy-Ann and the two boys together. Philip turned his back on her as she came up. But Dinah could be as sudden in her good tempers as she was in her bad ones. She put her arm on Philip's.
Sorry, Philip, she said. What happened to you and Jack in that secret passage? I'm longing to know.
So peace was restored again, and soon the two girls were listening in the greatest excitement to all that the boys had to tell.
It was an adventure, I can tell you, said Jack. So it was and there were more to come!

Chapter 9
A STRANGE BOAT

The girls would not go up the secret passage, no matter how much the boys urged them to. They shuddered to think of the dark, narrow, winding tunnel, and although they agreed that it was very exciting, they did not want to feel the thrill of creeping along it themselves.
I suppose Dinah's afraid of giant starfish jumping out at her, or something, said Philip in disgust. And Lucy-Ann is just a baby.
But even teasing would not make the girls try the passage, though they never tired of hearing about it. The boys slipped down into the cellar the next day, and found that Jo-Jo had once again piled up the boxes in front of the second door, so that it was quite hidden. It was puzzling, but he often did silly spiteful things. Anyway, they had the key of the door. That was something.
The weather became fine and hot. The sun shone down out of a cloudless sky and the children went about in bathing-suits. They were soon burnt as brown as gypsies. Philip, Dinah and Lucy-Ann spent more time than Jack in the water. The boy was quite mad over the wild birds that infested the coast in such numbers. He was for ever identifying terns and skuas, cormorants, gulls and others. He did not want Lucy-Ann with him, much to her dismay.
The birds are learning to know me, he explained to his sister. But they don't know you, Lucy-Ann. You keep with the others, there's a good girl. Anyway, we can't both leave Tufty and Dinah, it would be rude.
So for once Lucy-Ann was not Jack's shadow, and spent most of her time with the others. But she usually knew where Jack was, and, when it was about time for him to return, she would always watch for him.
Dinah thought she was silly. She would never have dreamt of watching for Philip. I'm only too glad when he gets out of the way, she said to Lucy-Ann. Horrid tease! He nearly made me go mad last year when he put earwigs under my pillow, and they all crawled out in the middle of the night.
Even Lucy-Ann thought that sounded horrid. But by now she was used to Philip and his peculiar ways. Even when he was only wearing bathing-drawers he seemed able to secrete some kind of creature about his body. Yesterday it had been a couple of friendly crabs. But when he had accidentally sat down on one, and it had nipped him, he had come to the conclusion that crabs were better in the sea than out of it.
Anyway, I'm glad Freckles takes Kiki with him when he goes bird-watching, said Dinah. I quite like Kiki, but now that she has taken to imitating all the birds around here, it is rather sickening. I'm surprised Aunt. Polly puts up with her as well as she does.
Aunt Polly had become fond of the parrot. It was an artful bird and knew that it had only to murmur Poor dear Polly to get anything it liked out of Aunt Polly. Jo-Jo had been well and truly ticked off by Aunt Polly the day he had gone shopping in the car and had forgotten the parrot's sunflower seeds. The children had been delighted to hear the sullen black man so well scolded.
Uncle Jocelyn's experience of Kiki was definitely not good. One hot afternoon the parrot had flown silently in at the open window of the study, where Uncle Jocelyn sat, as usual, bent double over his old papers and books. Kiki flew to the book-shelf and perched there, looking round her with interest.
How many times have I told you not to whistle? she said in a stern voice.
Uncle Jocelyn, lost in his books, came out of them with a start. He had never even seen the parrot and had forgotten that one had come to the house. He sat puzzling his head to know where such an extraordinary speech came from.
Kiki said nothing more for a time. Uncle Jocelyn came to the conclusion that he had been mistaken, and he dropped his head to study his papers once more.
Where's your handkerchief? asked Kiki sternly.
Uncle Jocelyn felt sure that his wife was somewhere in the room, for Kiki imitated Aunt Polly's voice very well. He groped in his pocket for a handkerchief.
Good boy, said the parrot. Don't forget to wipe your feet now.
They're not dirty, Polly, said Uncle Jocelyn in surprise, thinking that he was speaking to his wife. He was puzzled and annoyed. Aunt Polly did not usually come and disturb him like this by giving him unnecessary orders. He turned round to tell her to go, but could not see her.
Kiki gave a hollow cough, exactly like Jo-Jo's. Uncle Jocelyn, now certain that the black man was also in the room, felt most irritable. Why must everyone walk in and disturb him today? Really, it was unbearable.
Get out, he said, thinking that he was speaking to Jo-Jo. I'm busy.
Oh, you naughty boy, said the parrot, in a reproving tone. Then it coughed again, and gave a realistic sneeze. Then, for a while, there was complete silence.
Uncle Jocelyn settled down again, forgetting all about the interruption at once. Kiki did not like being ignored like that. She flew from the book-shelf on to Uncle Jocelyn's grey head, giving one of her railway-engine screams as she did so.
Poor Uncle Jocelyn leapt to his feet, clutched at his head, dislodged Kiki, and gave a yell that brought Aunt Polly into the room at once. Kiki sailed out of the window, making a cackling sound that sounded just like laughter.
What's the matter, Jocelyn? asked Aunt Polly alarmed.
Uncle Jocelyn was in a rage. People have been in and out of this room all the morning, telling me to wipe my feet and not to whistle, and somebody threw something at my head, he fumed.
Oh that was only Kiki, said Aunt Polly, beginning to smile.
Only Kiki! And who on earth is Kiki? shouted Uncle Jocelyn, furious at seeing his wife smile at his troubles instead of sympathising with them.
The parrot, said Aunt Polly. The boy's parrot, you know.
Uncle Jocelyn had forgotten all about Jack and Lucy-Ann. He stared at his wife as if she had gone mad.
What boy and what parrot? he demanded. Have you gone crazy, Polly?
Oh dear, sighed Aunt Polly. How you do forget things, Jocelyn! She reminded him of the two children who had come for the holidays, and explained about Kiki. She's the cleverest parrot you ever saw, said Aunt Polly, who had now completely lost her heart to Kiki.
Well, said Uncle Jocelyn grimly, all I can say is that, if that parrot is as clever as you think it is, it will keep out of my way because I shall throw all my paperweights at it if it comes in here again.
Aunt Polly, thinking of her husband's very bad aim whenever he threw anything, gave a glance at the window. She thought she had better keep it closed, or she might find everything in the room smashed by paper-weights one day. Dear, dear, what annoying things did happen, to be sure! If it wasn't children clamouring for more to eat, it was Jo-Jo worrying her; and if it wasn't Jo-Jo, it was the parrot; and if it wasn't the parrot, it was Uncle Jocelyn threatening to throw his paper-weights about. Aunt Polly closed the window firmly, went out of the room, and shut the door sharply.
Don't slam the door, came Kiki's voice from the passage. And how many times have I . . .
But for once Aunt Polly had no kind word for Kiki. You're a bad bird, she said sternly to the parrot. A Very bad bird.
Kiki sailed down the passage with an indignant screech. She would find Jack. Jack was always good and kind to her. Where was Jack?
Jack was not with the others. He had gone with his field-glasses to the top of the cliff, and was lying on his back, looking with pleasure at the birds soaring above his head. Kiki landed on his middle and made him jump.
Oh it's you, Kiki. Be careful with your claws, for goodness' sake. I've only got my bathing-suit on. Now keep quiet, or you'll frighten away the birds. I've already seen five different kinds of gulls today.
Jack got tired of lying on his back at last. He sat up, pushed Kiki off his middle, and blinked round. He put his field-glasses to his eyes again, and looked out over the sea in the direction of the Isle of Gloom. He had not seen it properly yet.
But today, though most of the distant hills behind him were lost in the heat-haze, for some reason or other the island could be quite plainly seen, jutting up from the sea to the west. Gosh! said Jack, in surprise. There's that mystery island that Jo-Jo says is a bad island. How clearly it can be seen today! I can see hills jutting up and I can even see the waves dashing spray over the rocks that go round it!
Jack could not see any birds on the island, for his glasses were not strong enough to show him anything more than the island itself and its hills. But the boy felt certain that it was full of birds.
Rare birds, he said to himself. Birds that people don't know any more. Birds that might nest there undisturbed year after year, and be as tame as cats. Golly, I wish I could go there. What a tiresome nuisance Jo-Jo is not to let us use his boat! We could get to the island in it quite easily if the sea was as calm as it is today. Blow Jo-Jo!
The boy swept his glasses around the jagged coast, and then stared hard in surprise at something. It couldn't be somebody rowing a boat along the coast, about a mile or so away. Surely it couldn't. Jo-Jo had said that nobody but himself had a boat for miles and miles and Aunt Polly had said that nobody lived anywhere near Craggy-Tops at all not nearer than six or seven miles, anyway.
And yet there's someone in a boat out there on the sea to the west of this cliff, said Jack, puzzled. Who is it? I suppose it must be Jo-Jo.
The man in the boat was too far away to make out. It might be Jo-Jo and it might not. Jack came to the conclusion that it must be. He glanced at the sun. It was pretty high, so it must be dinner-time. He'd go back, and on the way he would look and see if Jo-Jo's boat was tied up at the usual place. If it was gone, then the man in the boat must be Jo-Jo.
But the boat was not gone. It was in its usual place, firmly tied to its post, rocking gently in the little harbour near the house. And there was Jo-Jo, too, collecting driftwood from the beach for the kitchen fire. Then there must be someone else not far away who had a boat of his own.
Jack ran to tell the others. They were surprised and pleased. We'll go and find out who he is, and pal up with him, and maybe he'll take us out fishing in the boat, said Philip at once. Good for you, Freckles. Your old field-glasses have found out something besides birds for you.
We'll go and see him tomorrow, said Jack. What I really want is a chance to go out to the Isle of Gloom and see if there are any rare birds there. I just feel I must go there! I really have got a sort of hunch about it.
We won't tell Jo-Jo we've seen someone else with a boat, said Dinah. He'd only try to stop us. He hates us doing anything we like.
So nothing was said to Jo-Jo or to Aunt Polly about the stranger in the boat. The next day they would find him and talk to him.
But something was to happen before the next day came.

Chapter 10
NIGHT ADVENTURE

That night Jack could not sleep. The moon was full and shone in at his window. The moonlight fell on to his face and he lay there, staring at the big silvery moon, thinking of the gulls he had seen gliding and circling on the wind, and the big black cormorants that stood on the rocks, their beaks wide open as they digested the fish they had caught.
He remembered the Isle of Gloom, as he had seen it that morning. It looked mysterious and exciting so far away, and lonely and desolate. Yet people had lived there once. Why did no-one live there now? Was it so desolate that no-one could make a living there? What was it like?
I wonder if I could possibly see it tonight, in the light of the full moon, thought Jack. He slipped off the mattress without waking Philip, and went to the window. He stared out.
The sea was silvery bright in the moonlight. Where rocks cast shadows, deep black patches lay on the sea. The waters were calmer than usual, and the wind had dropped. Only a murmur came up to Jack as he stood at the window.
Then he stared in surprise. A sailing-boat was coming over the water. It was still a good way out, but it was making for the shore. Whose boat was it? Jack strained his eyes but could not make out. A sailing-boat making for Craggy-Tops in the middle of the night! It was queer.
I'll wake Tufty, he thought, and went to the mattress. Tufty! Philip! Wake up and come to the window.
In half a minute Philip was wide awake, leaning out of the narrow window with Jack. He too saw the sailing-boat, and gave a low whistle that awoke Kiki and brought her to Jack's shoulder in surprise.
Is it Jo-Jo in the boat? wondered Philip. I can't tell if it's his boat or not from here. Anyway, let's get down to the shore and watch it come in, Freckles. Come on. I'm surprised that Jo-Jo should be out at night, when he's always telling us about ‘things' that wander around the cliff in the dark but probably it isn't Jo-Jo.
They put on shorts and jerseys, and their rubber shoes, and made their way down the spiral stair. They were soon climbing down the steep cliff path. Under the moon the sailing-boat came steadily in, the night wind behind it.
It is Jo-Jo's boat, said Philip at last. We can see it plainly now. And there's Jo-Jo in it. He's alone, but he's got a cargo of some sort.
Maybe he's been fishing, said Jack. Let's give him a fright, Philip.
The boys crept up to where the boat was heading. Jo-Jo was furling the sail. Then he began to row to the shore, towards the little harbour where he always tied up his boat. The boys crouched down behind a rock. Jo-Jo brought the big boat safely in, and then tied the rope to the post. He turned to pull out whatever cargo he had and at that very moment the boys jumped out at him, giving Red Indian whoops and rocking the boat violently.
Jo-Jo was taken unawares, lost his balance and fell into the water, going overboard with a terrific splash. He came up at once, his face gleaming in the moonlight. The boys did not like the expression on it. Jo-Jo climbed out of the water, shook himself like a dog, and picked up a thick rope-end.
Golly he's going to lick us, said Jack to Philip. Come on we must run for it.
But the way to the house was barred by the big powerful body of the black man, swinging his rope-end.
Now I'll show you what happens to boys who come spying around at night, he said between his teeth. Jack tried to dodge by, but Jo-Jo caught hold of him. He swung the rope-end into the air and Jack gave a yell. At the same moment Philip charged Jo-Jo full in the middle, and the black man gasped for breath, and let go of Jack. The boys sped off over the beach at once, heading away from the steep cliff path that led to the house. Jo-Jo was after them immediately.
The tide's coming in, gasped Jack, as he felt water running over his ankles. We must turn back. We'll be caught by the tide and pounded against the rocks.
We can't turn back. We shall be licked black and blue by Jo-Jo, panted Philip. Jack make for that cave. We can perhaps creep up that secret passage. We simply must. I really don't know what Jo-Jo mightn't do if he was in a rage. He might even kill us.
Quite terrified now, the boys floundered into the cave, the waves running round their ankles. Jo-Jo came splashing behind them. Ah he had got those boys now! Wait till he had done with them! They wouldn't leave their beds again at night!
The boys found the hole in the floor of the cave they were looking for and disappeared down it into the darkness of the secret passage. They heard Jo-Jo breathing heavily outside in the upper cave. They hoped and prayed he would not slip down the hole too.
He didn't. He stood outside by the entrance, waiting for the boys to come out. He had no idea there was a secret passage there. He stood, panting heavily, the rope-end in his hand. A big wave covered his knees. Jo-Jo muttered something. The tide was coming in rapidly. If those boys didn't come out immediately they would be trapped there for the night.
Another wave ran up, almost as high as the black man's waist. It was such a powerful wave that Jo-Jo at once left the cave entrance and tried to make his way back across the beach. He could not risk being dashed to pieces against the cliff by the incoming tide.
Those boys can spend the night in the caves, and I'll deal with them tomorrow morning early, thought Jo-Jo grimly. As soon as the tide goes down in the morning I'll be there and they'll be mighty sorry for themselves when I've finished with them.
But the boys were not shivering inside the cave. They were once more climbing up the secret passage, this time in complete darkness. The passage was terrifying enough but not nearly so alarming as Jo-Jo.
They came at last to the trap-door and pushed it open. They clambered out on to the rocky cellar floor, and shut the trap-door.
Take my hand, said Jack, shivering as much with cold as with fright. We'll make our way towards the door as best we can. Come on. You know the direction, don't you? I don't.
Philip thought he did, but he found that he didn't. It took the boys some time to find the cellar door. They felt all round the rocky walls of the cellar, and at long last, after falling over boxes of all kinds, they came to the door. It was not locked. Thank goodness they had taken away the key. Philip pushed at the door and it opened.
The pile of boxes on the other side fell over with a terrific crash that echoed all round the cellar. The boys stood listening to see if anyone would hear and come. But nobody did. They piled up the boxes again as best they could and crept up the cellar steps and into the moonlit kitchen.
They wondered where Jo-Jo was. Was he still waiting for them at the entrance to the caves?
Jo-Jo was not. He had made fast his boat, removed several things from it, and then had climbed the cliff path to the house. He had gone to his bedroom, just off the kitchen, gloating over the thought of the two boys shivering in the caves, when a terrific noise came to his ears.
It was the pile of boxes overturning down in the cellar, but Jo-Jo did not know that. He stood in his bedroom, rooted to the ground. What was that noise? He did not dare to go and find out. If he had, he would have seen two figures stealing through the moonlit kitchen towards the hall. He would have seen them scurrying up the stairs as quietly as mice.
Soon the boys were on their mattress, glad to be there safe and sound. They chuckled when they thought of Jo-Jo waiting in vain for them. And, down in his bedroom, Jo-Jo chuckled to think of how he would wait outside the cave the next morning, rope-end in hand, and give those two boys a good hiding.
They all fell asleep at last.
Jo-Jo was up first, piling driftwood on the kitchen fire. He did his jobs, and then tied the rope-end round his waist. It was time he went down to the beach and caught those boys. The tide would soon be down low enough for them to come out.
Then he stopped still in the greatest astonishment for into the kitchen, as bold as brass, came all four children, chattering away loudly.
What's for breakfast? Golly, I'm hungry.
Did you have a good night, boys? We did.
Fine. We must have slept all the night through. These words were from Philip. Jack joined in, delighted to see the amazement and wonder on Jo-Jo's black face. Yes, we slept like logs. Even if Kiki had done her imitation of a railway express, I don't think we'd have waked up.
What's for breakfast, Jo-Jo? asked Dinah. Both the girls knew about the boys' adventure the night before, and were entering into the fun of puzzling Jo-Jo. He evidently still thought the boys were down in the caves.
You two boys been asleep in your room all night? asked Jo-Jo at last, hardly able to believe his eyes and ears.
Where else should we sleep? said Philip impudently. On the Isle of Gloom?
Jo-Jo turned away, puzzled and taken aback. It couldn't have been these two boys last night. It was true he had not seen their faces clearly, but he had felt certain they were Philip and Jack. But now that was plainly impossible. No-one could have got out of those caves at high tide and yet here were the boys. It was disturbing and puzzling. Jo-Jo didn't like it.
I'll go down to those caves now and watch to see who comes out, he thought at last. Then I'll know who it was spying on me last night.
So down he went but though he watched for two hours, nobody came from the caves. Which was not very surprising, because there was nobody there.
Jo-Jo just simply can't understand it, said Jack, grinning, as he watched the black man from the cliff path. What a good thing we didn't tell anyone about the secret passage! It came in mighty useful last night.
He'll think you and Philip were two of the ‘things' he's always trying to frighten us with, said Dinah. Silly old Jo-Jo! He must think we are babies to be frightened of anything he would say.
What are we going to do today when we've finished our jobs? asked Lucy-Ann, polishing the lamp she had been cleaning. It's such a fine day. Can't we go for a picnic walk over the cliff and along the coast?
Oh yes and we'll see if we can find that man I saw in a boat yesterday, said Jack, remembering. That would be fine. Maybe he'll let us go in his boat. Dinah, ask your Aunt Polly if we can take our dinner with us.
Aunt Polly said yes, and in about half an hour they set off, passing Jo-Jo on the way. He was now working in his allotment, over the edge of the cliff, behind the house.
Did you have a good night, Jo-Jo? yelled Philip. Did you sleep all night long, like a good boy?
Jo-Jo scowled and made a threatening noise. Kiki imitated him, and he bent down to pick up a stone to throw at her.
Naughty boy! screeched Kiki, flying high into the air. Naughty, naughty boy! Go to bed at once, naughty boy!

Chapter 11
BILL SMUGS

Whereabouts did you see the strange boat, Freckles? asked Philip, as they went over the cliffs.
Over there, beyond those rocks that jut out, said Jack, pointing. Quite a big boat, really. I wonder where it's kept when it's not in use. Somebody must live fairly near it but I couldn't see any houses.
There aren't any proper houses near, said Philip. People used to live about here ages ago, but there was fighting and burning, and now there are only ruined places. But there might be a tumbledown shack of some sort, all right for a man who wants a lonely kind of holiday.
They walked on over the cliffs, Kiki sailing up into the air every now and again to join a surprised gull, and making noises exactly like the sea-birds, but more piercing.
Philip collected a large and unusual caterpillar from a bush, much to Dinah's dismay, and put a lizard into his pocket. After that Dinah walked a good distance from him, and even Lucy-Ann was a bit wary. Lucy-Ann did not mind live creatures as Dinah did, but she wasn't particularly anxious to be asked to carry lizards or caterpillars, as she might quite well be requested to do if Philip decided to take home some other creature that, if put in his pocket, might eat the caterpillar or lizard already there!
They all walked on happily, enjoying the rough sea breeze, the salty smell of the sea, and the sound of the waves against the rocks below. The grass was springy beneath their feet, and the air was full of gliding birds. This was a lovely holiday, lovely, lovely!
They came to a jutting part of the cliff and walked out almost to the edge. I can't see signs of any boat on the water at all, said Jack.
You're sure you didn't imagine it? said Philip. It's funny there's not a thing to be seen today a boat is not an easy thing to hide.
There's a sort of cove down there, said Lucy-Ann, pointing to where the cliff turned in a little, and there was a small beach of shining sand. Let's go down and picnic there, shall we? We can bathe first. It's awfully windy up here; I can hardly get my breath to talk.
They began to climb down the steep and rocky cliff. The boys went first and the girls followed, slipping a little now and again. But they were all good climbers, and reached the bottom of the cliff in safety.
Here it was sheltered from the rushing wind and was warm and quiet. The children slipped off their jerseys and shorts and went into the water to bathe. Philip, who was a good swimmer, swam right out to some black rocks that stuck out from the water, high and forbidding. He reached them, and climbed up to rest for a while.
And then he suddenly saw a boat, on the other side of the rocks! There was a flat stretch there, and on it, pulled up out of reach of the waves, was the boat that Jack had seen on the sea the day before. No-one could possibly see the boat unless he, like Philip, happened to be on those particular rocks, for, from the shore, the high rocks hid the flat stretch facing seawards, where the boat lay.
Whew! whistled Philip in surprise. He got up and went over to the boat. It was a fine boat with a sail, and was almost as big as Jo-Jo's. It was called The Albatross. There were two pairs of oars in it.
Well! said Philip, surprised. What a queer place to keep a boat right out here on these rocks! Whoever owns it would have to swim out whenever he wanted to get it. Funny!
He shouted to the others. The boat's here on these rocks. Come and see it.
Soon all the children were examining the boat. That's the one I saw, said Jack. But where's the owner? There's no sign of him anywhere.
We'll have our lunch and then we'll have a good look-see, said Philip. Come on, girls back to the shore we'll go. Then we'll separate after our picnic and hunt round properly for the man who owns this boat.
They swam back to the shore, took off their wet things, set them out to dry in the sun and put on their dry clothes. Then they sat down to enjoy the sandwiches, chocolate and fruit that Aunt Polly had prepared for them. They lolled in the sun, tired with their swim, hungry and thirsty, enjoying the food immensely.
Food's gorgeous when you're really hungry, said Lucy-Ann, taking a huge bite at her sandwich.
I always am hungry, said Jack. Shut up, Kiki that's the best part of my apple you've pecked. I've got some sunflower seeds for you in my pocket. Can't you wait?
What a pity, what a pity! said Kiki, imitating Aunt Polly when something went wrong. What a pity, what a pity, what a . . .
Oh, stop her, said Dinah, who knew that the parrot was quite capable of repeating a brand-new sentence a hundred times without stopping. Here, Kiki have a bite of my apple, do.
That stopped Kiki, and she ran her beak into the apple in delight, pecking out a bit that kept her busy for some time.
A quarrel nearly blew up between Dinah and Philip over the large caterpillar which made its way out of the boy's pocket, over the sand, towards Dinah. She gave a shriek, and was about to hurl a large shell at Philip when Jack picked up the caterpillar and put it back into Philip's pocket.
No harm done, Dinah, he said. Keep your hair on! Don't let's start a free fight now. Let's have a peaceful day.
They finished up every crumb of the lunch. The gulls won't get much, said Philip lazily, shaking out the papers, then folding them up and putting them into his pocket. Look at that young gull it's as tame as anything.
I wish I had my camera here, said Jack longingly, watching the enormous young gull walking very near. I could get a marvellous snap of him. I haven't taken any bird pictures yet. I really must. I'll find my camera tomorrow.
Come on, said Dinah, jumping up. If we're going to do a spot of man-hunting, we'd better begin. I bet I find the strange boatman first.
They separated, Jack and Philip going one way and the girls going the other. They walked on the sandy little beach, keeping close to the rocky cliffs. The girls found that they could not get very far, because steep rocks barred their way after a bit, and they had to turn back.
But the boys managed to get past the piece of cliff that jutted out and sheltered the little cove they had been picnicking in. On the other side of the cliff was another cove, with no beach at all, merely flattish rocks that shelved upwards to the cliff. The boys clambered over these rocks, examining the creatures in the pools as they went. Philip added a sea-snail to the collection in his pocket.
There's a break in the cliff just over there, said Jack. Let's explore it.
They made their way towards the gap in the cliff. It was much wider than they expected when they got there. A stream trickled over the rocks towards the sea, running down from somewhere half-way up the cliff.
Must be spring-water, said Jack, and tasted it. Yes, it is. Hallo look, Tufty!
Philip looked to where Jack pointed, and saw floating in a pool a cigarette-end, almost falling to pieces.
Someone's been here, and quite recently too, said Jack, else the tide would have carried that cigarette-end away. This is exciting.
With the cigarette-end as a proof of someone's nearness, the boys went on more eagerly still. They came to the wide crack in the cliff and there, a little way up, built close against the rocky slope, was a tumbledown hut. The back of it was made of the cliff itself. The roof had been roughly mended. The walls were falling to pieces here and there, and, in winter, it would have been quite impossible to live in it. But someone was certainly living there now, for outside, spread over a stunted bush, was a shirt set out to dry.
Look, said Jack, in a whisper. That's where our boatman lives. What a lovely hidie-hole he's found!
The boys went quietly up to the tumbledown hut. It was very, very old, and had probably once belonged to a lonely fisherman. A whistling came from inside the hut.
Do we knock at the door? said Philip, with a nervous giggle. But at that moment someone came out of the open doorway and caught sight of the boys. He stood gaping in great surprise.
The boys stared back without a word. They rather liked the look of the stranger. He wore shorts and a rough shirt, open at the neck. He had a red, jolly face, twinkling eyes, and a head that was bald on the top, but had plenty of hair round the sides. He was tall and strong-looking, and his chin jutted out below his clean-shaven mouth.
Hallo, he said. Coming visiting? How nice!
I saw you out in your boat yesterday, said Jack. So we came to see if we could find you.
Very friendly of you, said the man. And who are you?
We're from Craggy-Tops, the house about a mile and a half away, said Philip. I don't expect you know it.
Yes, I do, said the man unexpectedly. But I thought only grown-ups lived there a man and a woman and a black servant.
Well, usually only grown-ups do live there, said Philip. But in the hols my sister and I come there too, to stay with our Aunt Polly and Uncle Jocelyn. And these hols two friends of ours came too. This is one of them Jack Trent. His sister Lucy-Ann is somewhere about. I'm Philip Mannering and my sister is Dinah she's with Lucy-Ann.
I'm Bill Smugs, said the man, smiling at all this sudden information. And I live here alone.
Have you just suddenly come here? asked Jack, in curiosity.
Quite suddenly, said the man. Just an idea of mine, you know.
Not much to come for here, said Philip. Why did you come?
The man hesitated for a moment. Well, he said, I'm a bird-watcher. Interested in birds, you know. And there are a great many unusual birds here.
Oh! cried Jack, in the greatest delight. Do you like birds too? I'm mad on them. Always have been. I've seen crowds here that I've only seen in books before.
And then the boy plunged into a list of the unusual birds he had seen, making Philip yawn. Bill Smugs listened, but did not say very much. He seemed amused at Jack's enthusiasm.
What particular bird did you hope to see here, Mr. Smugs? asked Jack, stopping at last.
Bill Smugs seemed to consider. Well, he said, I rather hoped I might see a Great Auk.
Jack looked at him in astonished silence that changed to awe. The Great Auk! he said, in a voice mixed with surprise and wonder. But but isn't it extinct? Surely there are no Great Auks left now? Golly did you really think you might see one?
You never know, said Bill Smugs. There might be one or two left somewhere and think what a scoop it would be to discover them!
Jack went brick-red with excitement. He looked out over the sea towards the west, where the Isle of Gloom lay hidden in a haze.
I bet you thought there might be a chance of them on a desolate island like that, he said, pointing to the west. You know the Isle of Gloom. You've heard about it, I expect.
Yes, I have, said Bill Smugs. I certainly have. I'd like to go there. But it's impossible, I believe.
Would you take us out in your boat sometimes? asked Philip. Jo-Jo, our black servant, has a fine boat, but he won't let us use it, and we'd love to go fishing sometimes, and sailing too. Do you think it's awful cheek to ask you? But I expect you find it a bit lonely here, don't you?
Sometimes, said Bill Smugs. Yes, we'll go fishing and sailing together you and your sisters too. It would be fun. We'll see how near we can go to the Isle of Gloom too, shall we?
The two boys were thrilled. At last they could sail a boat. What a sell for old Jo-Jo! They went off to call the girls.
Hi, Dinah! Hi, Lucy-Ann! yelled Jack. Come and be introduced to our new friend Bill Smugs!

Chapter 12
A TREAT AND A SURPRISE FOR JO-JO

Bill Smugs proved to be a fine friend. He was a jolly fellow, always ready for a joke, patient with Kiki, and even more patient with Philip's ever-changing collection of queer pets. He did not even say anything when Philip's latest possession, an extra-large spider, ran up the leg of his shorts. He merely put his hand up, took hold of the wriggling spider, and deposited it on Philip's knee.
Dinah, of course, was nearly in hysterics, but mercifully the spider decided that captivity was boring, ran into a rock crevice and disappeared.
The children visited Bill Smugs nearly every day. They went fishing in his boat and brought home marvellous catches that made Jo-Jo's mouth fall open in amazement. Bill showed them how to sail the boat too, and soon the four children could manage it perfectly well themselves. It was great fun sailing about in a good strong breeze.
Almost as fast as a motor-boat, said Philip in glee. Bill, I am glad we found you.
To Jack's disappointment Bill Smugs did not seem to want to talk endlessly about birds, nor did he want to go off with Jack and watch the birds on the cliffs or on the sea. He was quite willing to listen to Jack raving about birds, though, and produced many fine new bird books for him, which he said Jack could keep for himself.
But they're new, protested Jack. Look, the pages of this one haven't even been cut you've not read them yourself, sir. You read them first.
No, you can have them, said Bill Smugs, lighting his cigarette. There's a bit about the Great Auk in one of them. I'm afraid we shall never find that bird after all. No-one has seen it for about a hundred years.
It might be on the Isle of Gloom or on some equally deserted, desolate island, said Jack hopefully. I do wish we could go there and see. I bet there would be thousands of frightfully tame birds there, sir.
This eternal talk about birds always bored Dinah. She changed the subject.
You should have seen Jo-Jo's face when we brought in our catch of fish yesterday, she said, with a grin. He said, ‘You never caught those from the rocks. You've been out in a boat.' 
You didn't tell him you had? said Bill Smugs at once. Dinah shook her head.
No, she said. He'd try to spoil our pleasure if he knew we used your boat.
Do your uncle and aunt know you've met me? asked Bill. Dinah shook her head again.
Why? she asked. Don't you want them to know? What does it matter whether they do or not?
Well, said Bill Smugs, scratching the bald top of his head, I came here to be alone and to watch the birds and I don't want people coming round spoiling things for me. I don't mind you children, of course. You're fun.
Bill Smugs lived all alone in the tumbledown hut. He had a comfortable car, which he kept under a tarpaulin at the top of the cliff, in as sheltered a place as possible. He went into the nearest town to do his shopping whenever he wanted to. He had brought a mattress and other things to the hut, to make it as comfortable as he could.
The children were thrilled when they knew he. had a car as well as a boat. They begged him to take them out in it next time he went.
I want to buy a torch, said Jack. You remember that queer secret passage we told you about, Bill? Well, it's difficult to go up it carrying a candle a torch would be much handier. I could buy one if you'd take me in your car.
I'd like one too, said Philip. And, Jack you said you wanted some camera film, because you'd left yours behind at Mr. Roy's. You can't take photographs of birds unless we get some. You could get that too.
The girls wanted things as well, so Bill Smugs agreed to take them the next day. They all crowded into the car in excitement the following morning.
Jo-Jo's going into the town as well today, said Dinah, with a giggle. It would be funny if we saw him, wouldn't it? He would get a surprise.
Bill Smugs' car was really a beauty. The boys, who knew about cars, examined it in delight.
It's new, said Jack. This year's, and a jolly fast one. Bill, are you very rich? This car must have cost a lot of money. You must be awfully well-off.
Not very, said Bill, with a grin. Now off we go.
And off they went, cruising very swiftly, once they left the bad coast road behind. The car was well-sprung, and seemed to surge along.
Golly, isn't it different from Aunt Polly's old car that Jo-Jo drives! said Dinah, enjoying herself. It won't take us any time to get to the town.
They were very soon there. Bill Smugs parked the car, and then went off by himself, after arranging with the children to meet them for lunch at a very grand hotel.
I wonder where he's gone, said Jack, staring after him. We might just as well have kept all together. I wanted to go to that stuffed-animal shop with him, and see some of the stuffed birds there.
Well, you could see he didn't want us, said Dinah, who was disappointed too. She was very fond of Bill Smugs now and had saved up some money to buy him an ice-cream. I expect he has got business of his own to do.
What is his business? asked Lucy-Ann. He must do something besides bird-watching, I should think. Not that he does much of that, now that he knows us.
He never said what his work was, said Jack. Anyway, why should he? He's not like us, always wanting to blurt out everything. Grown-ups are different. Come on let's find a shop that sells torches.
They found one that had extremely nice pocket torches, small and neat. The beam was strong, and the boys could well imagine how the dark secret passage would be lighted up, once they turned on their torches. They each bought a torch, the girls too.
Then we needn't light our bedroom candles at night, said Dinah. We can use our torches'.
They went to buy rolls of film to fit Jack's camera. They bought sweets and biscuits, and a small bottle of strong-smelling scent for Aunt Polly.
Now we'd better get some sunflower seeds for Kiki, said Jack. Kiki gave a squawk. She was on Jack's shoulder as usual, behaving very well for once. Every passerby stared at her in surprise, of course, and the parrot enjoyed this very much. But, except for sternly telling a surprised errand-boy to stop whistling at once, Kiki hardly said a word. She was pleased with the sunflower seeds, which she adored, and gobbled up a few in the shop.
The children looked in the shops for a time, waiting for one o'clock to come, so that they might join Bill Smugs at the hotel. And then, quite suddenly, they saw Jo-Jo.
He was coming along the street in the old car, hooting at a woman crossing the road. The children clutched one another, wondering if he would see them, half hoping that he would.
And he did. He caught sight of Philip first, then saw Jack with Kiki on his shoulder, and then the two girls behind. He was so overcome with amazement that he let the car swerve across the road, almost knocking down a policeman.
Here, you! What do you think you're doing? yelled the policeman angrily. Jo-Jo muttered an apology, and then looked for the children again.
Don't run away, said Jack to the others. He can't chase us in the car. Just walk along and take no notice of him.
So they walked down the street, talking together, pretending not to see Jo-Jo and taking no notice at all of his shouts.
Jo-Jo simply could not believe his eyes. How did the children get here? There was no bus, no train, no coach they could take. They had no bicycles. It was too far for them to have walked there in the time. Then how was it they were here?
The black man hurried to park his car, meaning to go after the children and question them. He parked it and jumped out. He ran after the four children, but at that moment they reached the very grand hotel where they had arranged to meet Bill Smugs, and ran up the steps.
Jo-Jo did not dare to follow the children into the grand hotel. He stood at the bottom of the big flight of steps, looking after them in annoyed surprise. It was astonishing enough to find them in the town but even more astonishing to find them disappearing into the most expensive hotel in the place.
Jo-Jo sat down at the bottom of the steps. He meant to wait till they came out. Then he would pack them into his car and take them home, and tell Miss Polly where he'd found them. She wouldn't be best pleased to hear they were wasting hard-earned money at expensive hotels, when they could easily take a packet of sandwiches with them.
The children giggled as they ran up the steps. Bill Smugs was waiting for them in the lounge. He showed the girls where to wash and do their hair. They all met together again in a few minutes and went into the restaurant to have lunch.
It was a magnificent lunch. The children ate everything put in front of them, and finished up with the biggest ice-creams they had ever seen.
Oh, Bill, that was grand, said Dinah, sinking back into her comfortable chair with a sigh. Simply marvellous. A real treat. Thanks awfully.
I think you must be a millionaire, said Lucy-Ann, watching Bill count out notes to the waiter in payment of the bill. Golly, I've eaten so much that I feel I really can't get up and walk.
Jack remembered Jo-Jo, and wondered if the black man was watching for them. He got up to see.
He peeped out of a window that looked on to the hotel's main entrance. He saw Jo-Jo sitting patiently down at the bottom of the steps. Jack went back to the others, grinning.
Is there a back entrance to this hotel? he asked Bill Smugs. Bill looked surprised.
Yes, he said. Why?
Because dear Jo-Jo is sitting outside the hotel entrance waiting for us, said Jack. Bill nodded, understanding.
Well, we'll depart quietly by the back entrance, he said. Come on. It's time we went, anyway. Got all you wanted from the shops?
Yes, said the children, and trooped out after him. He led them to the back of the hotel, and out of a door there into a quiet street. He took them to where he had parked his car, and they all got in, happy at having had such a lovely day.
They sped back to the coast, and got out of the car at the nearest point to Craggy-Tops. They hurried over the cliff, eager to get back before Jo-Jo did.
Jo-Jo did not arrive until about an hour later, looking dour and grim. He put away the car and went to the house. The first thing he saw was the group of four children playing down on the rocks. He stood and stared in angry astonishment.
There was a mystery somewhere. And Jo-Jo meant to find out what it was. He wasn't going to be puzzled and defeated by four children. Not he!

Chapter 13
JO-JO IS TRICKED AGAIN

jo-jo thought about the mystery of the children being in the town, with, as far as he knew, no possible way of getting there except by walking, and this they had not had time to do. He came to the conclusion that they must know someone who gave them a lift there.
So he set himself to watch the children closely. He managed to find jobs that always took him near them. If they went down to the shore, Jo-Jo would be there, collecting driftwood. If they stayed in the house, Jo-Jo stayed too. If they went up on the cliff, Jo-Jo followed. It was most annoying for the children.
He'll follow us and find out about Bill Smugs and his boat and car, said Lucy-Ann. We haven't been able to go and see him at all today and if he goes on like this we shan't be able to go tomorrow either.
It was impossible to give Jo-Jo the slip. He was very clever at keeping a watch on the children, and soon they grew angry. The two girls went up into the tower-room with the boys that night and discussed the matter together.
I know, said Jack suddenly. I know how we can give him the slip properly, and puzzle him terribly.
How? asked the others.
Why, we'll all go into the caves, said Jack. And we'll slip down the hole into the secret passage, and go up to Craggy-Tops cellar, slip out of there whilst Jo-Jo is waiting down on the beach for us, and go over the cliffs to Bill.
Oooh, that is a good idea, said Philip. The girls were doubtful about it, for they neither of them liked the idea of the secret passage very much. Still they all had torches now, and it would be a good chance to use them.
So next day, with Jo-Jo close on their heels, the four children and Kiki went down to the beach.
Jo-Jo, for goodness' sake leave us alone, said Philip. We're going into the caves, and no harm can come to us there. Go away!
Miss Polly said I was to keep an eye on you, repeated Jo-Jo. He had told the children this times without number, but they knew it wasn't the real reason. Jo-Jo enjoyed making himself a nuisance. He wanted to poke his nose into everything they did.
They went into the caves. Jo-Jo wandered outside, putting driftwood into his sack. The children all slipped down the hole that led to the secret passage, and then, with their torches switched on, they made their way along it.
The girls didn't like it at all. They hated the smell, and when they found that in one part it was difficult to breathe they were afraid.
Well, it's no good going back, said Philip, giving Dinah a shove to make her go on. We've come more than half-way now. Do go on, Dinah. You're holding us up.
Don't push! said Dinah. I shall stop if I want to.
Oh, shut up arguing, you two, groaned Jack. I believe you'd start a quarrel if you were in a ship that was just about to sink, or an aeroplane about to crash. Get on, Dinah, and don't be an idiot.
Dinah was about to start an argument with Jack too, when Kiki gave a mournful cough, so exactly like Jo-Jo's that the children at first thought the black man must have found the passage, and all of them, Dinah as well, hurried forward at once.
It's all right it was only that wretch Kiki, said Jack, relieved, as Kiki coughed again. They pushed on, and at last came to the end of the passage. They all stared at the trap-door above their heads, brightly lit by the light of their four torches.
Up it went, and over with a crash. The boys climbed up to the cellar floor and then helped the girls up. They shut the trap-door, went to the cellar door, which was shut, and pushed it open. The boxes on the other side fell over again with a familiar crashing noise.
The children went through the door, shut it, piled the boxes up again, and then went up the cellar steps to the big kitchen. No-one was there. That was lucky.
Out they went, and up to the cliff. Keeping to the path, where they were well hidden from the shore below, they hurried off to find their friend Bill Smugs. They grinned to think of dear Jo-Jo waiting down on the beach for them to come out of the caves.
Bill Smugs was tinkering with his boat. He waved cheerily as they all came up.
Hallo, he said, why didn't you come and see me yesterday? I missed you.
It was because of Jo-Jo, said Jack. He keeps following us around like a shadow. I think he probably suspects we have a friend who has a car, and he means to find out who it is.
Well, don't tell him anything, said Bill quickly. Keep things to yourself. I don't want Jo-Jo prying around here. He doesn't sound at all a nice person.
What are you doing to your boat? asked Jack. Are you going out in it?
I thought I would, said Bill. It's a fine day, the sea is fairly calm, yet there's a nice breeze and I half thought I might sail near to the Isle of Gloom.
There was an excited silence. The Isle of Gloom! All the children wanted to see it close to and Jack badly wanted to land there. If only Bill would take them with him!
Jack looked out to the west. He could not see the island, for once again there was a low heat-haze on the sea. But he knew exactly where it was. His heart beat fast. The Great Auk might be there. Anyway, even if it wasn't, all kinds of other sea-birds would be there and probably as tame as anything. He could take his camera he could . . .
Bill please, please take us with you! begged Lucy-Ann. Oh, do! We'll be very good, and you know, now that you have taught us how to sail a boat, we can really help.
Well I meant to take you, said Bill, lighting a cigarette, and smiling round at the children. I wanted to go yesterday, and when you didn't come, I put the trip off till today. We'll go this afternoon, and take our tea with us. You'll have to give Jo-Jo the slip again. He mustn't see you sailing off in my boat or he'd probably try to stop you.
Oh, Bill! We'll be along first thing this afternoon, said Jack, his eyes gleaming very green.
Thanks most awfully, said Philip.
Shall we really see the Isle of Gloom close to? asked Lucy-Ann, in excitement.
Can't we land there? said Dinah.
I don't think so, said Bill. You see, there is a ring of dangerous rocks around it, and although there may once have been a passage somewhere through them, and possibly is now, for all I know, I don't know where it is. I'm not going to risk drowning you all.
Oh, said the children, disappointed. They would have been quite willing to run the risk of being drowned, for the sake of trying to land on the bad isle.
You'd better go back and have an early lunch, if your aunt will let you have it, said Bill. I don't want to be too late in starting. The tide will help us, if we get off fairly early.
All right, said the four, jumping up from the rocks at once. Good-bye till this afternoon, Bill. We'll bring tea with us as nice as we can, to reward you for waiting for us.
They set off home again, talking eagerly of the coming trip. Jo-Jo had said so many frightening things about the desolate island that the children couldn't help feeling excited at the idea of seeing it.
I wonder if Jo-Jo is still on the beach, watching for us outside the caves, said Jack. The children went cautiously to the edge of the cliff and peeped over. Yes Jo-Jo was still down there. What a sell for him!
They went to Craggy-Tops and found Aunt Polly. Aunt, could we possibly have an early lunch, and then go off and take our tea with us? asked Philip. Will it be any trouble? We'll help to get the lunch, and we don't mind what we have.
There's a cold pie in the larder, said Aunt Polly, considering. And some tomatoes. And there are some stewed plums. Dinah, you lay the table, and the others can set out the food. I'll make you some sandwiches for your tea, and there's a ginger cake you can have too. Lucy-Ann, can you put the kettle on to boil? You can have some tea in a thermos flask if you like.
Oh, thank you, said the children, and set to work at once. They laid a place for Aunt Polly, but she shook her head.
I don't feel very well today, she said. I've got a bad headache. I shan't want anything. I shall have a good long rest whilst you are out this afternoon.
The children were sorry. Certainly Aunt Polly did look tired out. Philip wondered if his mother had sent any more money to help things along a bit, or whether Aunt Polly was finding things very difficult. He didn't like to ask her in front of the others. Soon the children were having their dinner, and then, the tea being packed up and ready, they set off over the cliff.
They had not seen Jo-Jo. The black man was still down on the beach, now feeling very puzzled, and most annoyed with the vanished children. He felt certain they were in the caves. He went in himself and called to them.
There was no answer, of course. Jo-Jo called again and again. Well, if they've lost themselves in the caves, it will be good riddance of bad rubbish, he said to himself. He decided to go up and report the matter to Miss Polly.
So up he went. The children had gone, and Aunt Polly was washing up. She glanced sharply at Jo-Jo.
Where have you been all morning? she asked. I wanted you, and you were nowhere to be found.
Looking for them children, said Jo-Jo. It's my belief they've gone into the caves down there, and got lost. I been calling and calling for them.
Don't be so silly, Jo-Jo, said Aunt Polly. You're just making the children an excuse for your laziness. You know quite well they are not in the caves.
Miss Polly, I seed them go in, and I didn't seed them come out, began Jo-Jo indignantly. I was on the beach all the time, wasn't I? Well, I tells you, Miss Polly, them children went into the caves, and they're there still.
No, they're not, said Aunt Polly firmly. They have just gone off for a picnic. They came in, had an early lunch and went out again. So don't come to me any more with silly stories about them being lost in caves.
Jo-Jo's mouth dropped open. He simply could not believe his ears. Hadn't he been on the beach by the caves all the morning? He would have seen the children as soon as they came out.
Don't pretend to be so surprised, said Aunt Polly sharply. Just stir yourself and do a few jobs quickly. You will have to do this afternoon all the things you didn't do this morning. I expect the children did go into the caves but they must have slipped out when you were not looking. Don't stand there looking like a stuffed dummy. You make me very angry.
Jo-Jo shook himself, shut his mouth and went off silently to do some jobs in the house. He was full of amazement. He remembered how one night he had chased two boys into the caves, thinking they were Philip and Jack and the tide had come up and imprisoned them in the caves but they were not there the next morning.
And now the four children had done the same thing. Jo-Jo thought it was decidedly uncanny. He didn't like it. Now those children had given him the slip again. Where had they gone? Well, it wasn't much good trying to find out that afternoon not with Miss Polly in such a bad temper anyway!

Chapter 14
A GLIMPSE OF THE ISLE OF GLOOM

The children hurried over the cliffs to Bill Smugs and his boat. He was ready for them. He put their packet of sandwiches and cake, their thermos, and a packet of biscuits and chocolate of his own, into the boat. Then they all got in.
Bill had brought the boat to shore, instead of hiding it out by the rocks. He pushed off, wading in the water till the boat floated. Then in he jumped, and took the oars till they were away from the rocks.
Now then, he said, in a little while, when they were well beyond the rocks and out at sea, now then, boys, up with that sail and let's see how you do it!
The boys put up the sail easily. Then they took turns at the tiller, and Bill was pleased with them. You are good pupils, he said approvingly. I believe you could take this boat out alone now.
Oh, Bill would you let us? asked Jack eagerly. You could trust us, really you could.
I might, one day, said Bill. You would have to promise not to sail out very far, that's all.
Oh yes, we'd promise anything, said the children earnestly. How thrilling it would be to set off in Bill's boat all by themselves!
There was a good wind and the boat sped along smoothly, rocking a little every now and again as she came to a swell. The sea was really very calm.
It's lovely, said Jack. I do like the flapping noise the sail makes and the sound of the water slapping against the boat, and the steady whistling of the wind . . .
Dinah and Lucy-Ann let their hands trail in the cool, silky water. Kiki watched with interest from her perch on the big sail. She could hardly keep her balance there, and had to half-spread her wings to help her. She seemed to be enjoying the trip as much as the children.
Wipe your feet and shut the door, she said to Bill Smugs, catching his eye. How many times have I . . .
Shut up, Kiki! cried everyone at once. Don't be rude to Bill, or he'll throw you overboard.
Kiki cackled with laughter, rose into the air and joined a couple of startled sea-gulls, announcing to them that they had better use their handkerchiefs. Then she gave an ear-piercing shriek that made the gulls sheer off in alarm. Kiki returned to her perch, pleased with herself. She did enjoy creating a sensation, whether it was among human beings, birds or animals.
I still can't see the Isle of Gloom, said Jack, who was keeping a sharp look-out for it. Whereabouts is it, Bill? I seem to have lost my sense of direction now I'm right out at sea.
Over there, said Bill, pointing. The children followed his finger, but could see nothing. Still, it was exciting that the bad island, as Jo-Jo called it, was coming nearer and nearer.
The sailing-boat sped on, and the wind freshened a little as they got further out. The girls' hair stood out behind them, or blew all over their faces, and Bill gave an exclamation of annoyance as the wind neatly whipped his cigarette from his fingers and swept it away.
Now, if Kiki was any use at all, she would fly after that and bring it back to me, said Bill, cocking an eye at the parrot.
Poor Kiki, said the parrot, sorrowfully shaking her head. Poor old Kiki. What a pity, what a pity, what . . .
Jack aimed an old shell at her and she stopped with a cackle of laughter. Bill tried to light another cigarette, which the wind made rather difficult.
After a while Jack gave a sudden cry. Look! Land ho! Isn't that the Isle of Gloom? It must be.
They all looked hard. Looming up out of the heat-haze was land, there was no doubt about it.
Yes that's the island all right, said Bill, with great interest. It's fairly big, too.
The boat drew nearer. The island became clearer and the children could see how rocky and hilly it was. Round it was a continual turmoil of water. Surf and spray were flung high into the air, and here and there the children could see jagged rocks sticking up from the sea.
They went nearer in. The water was rough and choppy now, and Lucy-Ann began to look a little green. She was the only one who was not a first-rate sailor. But she bravely said nothing, and soon the sea-sick feeling began to pass off a little.
Now you can see the wide ring of rocks running round the island, said Bill Smugs. My word, aren't they wicked! I guess many a boat has been wrecked on them at one time or another. We'll cruise round a bit, and see if we can spot any entry. But we don't go any nearer, there's no use begging me to.
The Albatross was now in a very choppy sea indeed and poor Lucy-Ann went green again. Have a dry biscuit, Lucy-Ann, said Bill Smugs, noticing her looks. Nibble it. It may keep off that sick feeling.
It did. Lucy-Ann nibbled the dry biscuit gratefully and was soon able to take an interest in the trip once more. The Isle of Gloom certainly lived up to its name. It was a most desolate place, as far as the children could see. It seemed to be made of jagged rocks that rose into high hills in the middle of the island. A few stunted trees grew here and there, and grass showed green in some places. The rocks were a curious red colour on the seaward side of the island, but black everywhere else.
There are heaps and heaps of birds there, just as I thought, said Jack, looking through his field-glasses in excitement. Golly just look at them, Bill!
But Bill would not leave the tiller. It was dangerous work cruising near to the ring of rocks in such a choppy sea. He nodded to Jack. I'll take your word for it, he said. Tell me if you recognise any birds.
Jack reeled off a list of names. Bill, there are thousands and thousands of birds! he cried. Oh, do, do let's land on the island. Find a way through this ring of rocks somehow. Please, please do.
No, said Bill firmly. I said not. It would be a dangerous business to get to the island even if we knew the way, and I don't. I'm not risking all our lives for the sake of seeing a few birds at close quarters birds you can see at Craggy-Tops any day.
The sailing-boat went on its way round the island, keeping well outside the wicked ring of rocks over which waves broke continually, sending spray high into the air. The children watched them, and noticed how they raced over the treacherous rocks, making a roaring noise that never stopped. It was somehow very thrilling, and the children felt exultant and wanted to shout.
Jack could see the island most clearly because of his field-glasses. He kept them glued to his eyes, looking at the hundreds of birds, both flying and sitting, that he could see. Philip tapped his arm.
Let someone else have a look too, he said. Hand over the glasses.
Jack didn't want to, because he was afraid of missing seeing a Great Auk, but he did at last give them to Philip. Philip was not so interested in the birds he swept the coast of the island with the glasses and then gave an exclamation.
Hallo! There are still houses or something on the island. Surely people don't live there now.
Of course not, said Bill Smugs. It's been deserted for ages. I can't imagine why anyone ever did live on it. They could not have farmed it or used it for fishing it's a desolate, impossible sort of place.
I suppose what I can see are only ruins, said Philip. They seem to be in the hills. I can't make them out really.
Anyone walking about any of Jo-Jo's ‘things'? asked Dinah, with a laugh.
No nobody at all, said Philip. Have a look through the glasses, Dinah and then Lucy-Ann. I don't wonder it's called the Isle of Gloom. It certainly is a terribly gloomy-looking place nothing alive on it except the sea-birds.
The girls had a turn of looking through the glasses too. They didn't like the look of the island at all. It was ugly and bare, and had an extraordinary air of forlornness about it.
The sailing-boat went all round the island, keeping well outside the rocks that guarded it. The only place where there might conceivably be an entrance between the rocks was a spot to the west. Here the sea became less choppy, and although spray was flung up high, the children could see no rocks on the surface. The spray was flung by waves racing over rocks nearby.
I bet that's the only entrance to the island, said Jack.
Well, we're not going to try it, said Bill Smugs at once. I'm going to leave the island now, and head for calmer water. Then we'll take down the sail and have our tea, bobbing gently about instead of tossing and pitching like this. Poor Lucy-Ann keeps on turning green.
Jack took a last look through his glasses and gave such a shout that Dinah nearly over-balanced, and Kiki fell off her perch above.
Whatever is it? said Bill Smugs, startled.

chapter 14 continuation

A Great Auk! yelled Jack, the glasses glued to his eyes. It is, it is an enormous bird with small wings close to its sides and a big razor-like bill. It's a Great Auk!
Bill gave the tiller to Jack for a moment and took the glasses. But he could see no Great Auk, and he handed them back to the excited boy, whose green eyes were gleaming with joy.
I expect it's one of the razorbills, he said. The Great Auk is much like a big razorbill, you know you've let your wish be father to the thought, old man. That wasn't a Great Auk, I'll be bound.
But Jack was absolutely convinced that it was. He could not see it any longer, but, as they left the island behind, the boy sat looking longingly backwards at it. The Great Auk was there. He was sure it was. He was certain he had seen one. How could Bill suggest it was a razorbill?
Bill Bill do go back, begged Jack, hardly able to contain himself. I know it was an auk a Great Auk. I suddenly saw it. Imagine it! What will the world say if they know I've found a Great Auk, a bird that's been extinct for years!
The world wouldn't care much, said Bill Smugs drily. Only a few people keen on birds would be excited. Calm yourself a bit I'm afraid it certainly wasn't the bird you thought.
Jack couldn't calm himself. He sat looking terribly excited, his eyes glowing, his face red, his hair blown about in the wind. Kiki felt the excitement and came down to his shoulder, pecking at his ear to get his attention.
It was a Great Auk, it was, it was, said Jack, and Lucy-Ann slipped a hand in his arm and squeezed it. She too was sure it was a Great Auk and anyway she wasn't going to spoil her brother's pleasure by saying that it wasn't. Neither Philip nor Dinah believed that it was.
They had their tea on calmer water, with the sail down and the boat drifting where it pleased. Jack could eat nothing, though he drank his tea. Lucy-Ann, hungry now after her sea-sickness, ate Jack's share of the tea, and enjoyed it. The others enjoyed themselves too. It had been an exciting afternoon.
Can we sail your boat by ourselves some time, as you promised? asked Jack suddenly. Bill Smugs looked at him sharply.
Only if you promise not to go very far out, he said. No rushing off to find the Great Auk on the Isle of Gloom, you know.
As this was the idea at the back of Jack's mind, the boy went red at once. All right, he said at last. I promise not to go to the Isle of Gloom in your boat, Bill. But may we really go out by ourselves other days?
Yes, you may, said Bill. I think you really know how to manage the boat all right and you can't come to much harm if you choose a calm day.
Jack looked pleased. A dreamy expression came over his face. He knew what he meant to do. He would keep his word to Bill Smugs he would not go to the Isle of Gloom in Bill's boat but he would go in someone else's. He would practise sailing and rowing in Bill's boat and as soon as he was absolutely sure of handling it, he would borrow Jo-Jo's boat, and go to the island in that.
This was a bold and daring plan but Jack was so thrilled at the idea of finding a Great Auk, when everyone else thought it was extinct, that he was willing to run any risk to get to the island. He was sure he could find the entrance to the ring of rocks. He would furl the sail when he got near the rocks and do some rowing. Jo-Jo's boat was big and heavy, but Jack thought he could manage it well enough.
He said nothing to the others whilst Bill was there. Bill mustn't know. He was jolly and kind and a good friend but he was a grown-up, and grown-ups always stopped children doing anything risky. So Jack sat in the rocking boat and thought out his daring plan, not hearing the others' remarks or teasing.
He's gone off to the island to see his Great Auk, said Dinah, with a laugh.
Poor old Jack that bird has quite taken his appetite away, said Philip.
Wake up! said Bill, giving Jack a nudge. Be a little sociable.
After tea they decided to row back, taking it in turns. Bill thought it would be good for them to have some exercise, and the children enjoyed handling the oars. Jack rowed vigorously, thinking that it was good practice for the time when he would go to the island.
Well here we are, safely back again, said Bill, as the boat came to shore. The boys jumped out and pulled it in. The girls got out, bringing the thermos flask with them. Bill pulled the boat up the shore.
Well, good-bye, he said. We've had a fine time. Come along tomorrow, if you like, and I'll let you have a shot at taking the boat out by yourselves.
Oh, thanks! cried the children, and Kiki echoed the words too. Oh, thanks! she said. Oh, thanks; oh, thanks; oh, thanks!
Be quiet, said Philip, with a laugh, but Kiki chanted the words all the way home. Oh, thanks; oh, thanks; oh, thanks; oh, thanks!
Did you have a nice afternoon? asked Aunt Polly, when they went into the house.
Lovely, said Dinah. Is your headache better, Aunt Polly?
Not much, said her aunt, who looked pale and tired. I think I'll go to bed early tonight, if you'll take your uncle's supper in to him, instead of me, Dinah.
Yes, I will, said Dinah, not liking the task very much, for she was rather afraid of her learned and peculiar uncle.
Jo-Jo came in at that moment and stared at the four children. Where you been? he asked roughly. And where did you go this morning, after you went into the caves?
We came up to the house, said Philip, putting on a surprised expression that infuriated Jo-Jo. Didn't you see us? And we've just come back from a picnic, dear Jo-Jo. Why all this concern for our whereabouts? Did you want to come with us?
Jo-Jo made a rude and angry noise, at once copied by Kiki, who then cackled out her maddening laughter. Jo-Jo gave the parrot a look of hatred and stalked out.
Don't tease Jo-Jo, said Aunt Polly wearily. He's really getting impossible so uncivil and lazy. He never came near the house all the morning. Well I'm going to bed.
Jack, you help me with Uncle Jocelyn's tray, said Dinah, when the supper was ready. It's heavy. Philip's gone off somewhere as usual. He always disappears when there's any job to be done.
Jack took the heavy tray and followed Dinah as she led the way to her uncle's study. She knocked on the door. A voice grunted, and Dinah imagined it said Come in.
They went in, Kiki on Jack's shoulder as usual. Your supper, Uncle, said Dinah. Aunt Polly's gone to bed. She's tired.
Poor Polly, poor dear Polly, said Kiki, in a pitying tone. Uncle Jocelyn looked up, startled. He saw the parrot and picked up a paper-weight.
Kiki at once flew out of the door, and Uncle Jocelyn put the paper-weight down again. Keep that parrot out, he said grumpily. Interfering bird. Put the tray down there. Who are you, young man?
I'm Jack Trent, said Jack, surprised that anyone could be so forgetful. You saw me and my sister Lucy-Ann the day we came here, sir. Don't you remember?
Too many children in this house, said Uncle Jocelyn, in a grumbling tone. Can't get any work done at all.
Oh, Uncle you know we never disturb you, said Dinah indignantly.
Uncle Jocelyn was bending over a big and very old map. Jack glanced at it.
Oh, he said, that's a map of part of this coast and that's the Isle of Gloom, isn't it, sir?
He pointed to the outline of the island, drawn carefully on the big map. Uncle Jocelyn nodded.
Have you ever been there? asked Jack eagerly. We saw it this afternoon, sir.
Never been there, and don't want to go either, said Uncle Jocelyn surlily.
I saw a Great Auk there this afternoon, said Jack proudly.
This did not impress Uncle Jocelyn at all. Nonsense, he said. Bird's been extinct for ages. You saw a razorbill. Don't be foolish, boy.
Jack was annoyed. Only Lucy-Ann paid any attention to his great discovery, and she, he knew, would have believed him if he had said he had seen Santa Claus on the island. He stared sulkily at the untidy, frowning old man.
Uncle Jocelyn stared back.
Could I see the map, please? asked Jack suddenly, thinking that he might possibly see marked on it the entrance between the rocks.
Why? Are you interested in that sort of thing? asked Uncle Jocelyn, surprised.
I'm very interested in the Isle of Gloom, said Jack. Please may I see the map, sir?
I've got a bigger one somewhere showing only the island, in great detail, said Uncle Jocelyn, quite pleased now to think that anyone should be interested in his maps. Let me see where is it?
Whilst he went to look for it, Jack and Dinah had a good look at the big map of the coast. There, lying off it, ringed by rocks, was the Isle of Gloom. It had a queer shape, rather like an egg with a bulge in the middle of one side, and its coast was very much indented. It lay almost due west of Craggy-Tops.
Jack pored over the map, feeling terribly excited. If only Uncle Jocelyn would lend it to him!
Look, he said to Dinah, in a low voice. Look. The ring of rocks is broken just there. See? I bet it's where I imagined the entrance was this afternoon. See that hill shown in the map? The entrance to the rocks is just about opposite. If ever we wanted to go there and goodness knows I do we need only look for that hill it's the highest on the island, I should think and then watch for the entrance to the rocks just opposite to the hill. Easy!
It looks easy on the map, but I bet it's a jolly sight more difficult when you get out on the sea, said Dinah. You sound as if you mean to go there, Jack but you know what we promised Bill Smugs. We can't break our promise.
I know that, idiot, said Jack, who had never broken a promise in his life. I've got another plan. I'll tell you later.
Much to the children's disappointment, Uncle Jocelyn could not find the large map of the island. He would not lend the other one to Jack.
Certainly not, he said, looking quite shocked. It's a very, very old map hundreds of years old. I wouldn't dream of handing it out to you. You'd damage it, or lose it or something. I know what children are.
You don't, Uncle, said Dinah. You don't know what we are like a bit. Why, we hardly ever see you. Do lend us the map.
But nothing would persuade the old man to part with his precious map. So, taking one last glance at the drawing of the island, with its curious ring of protecting rocks, and the one break in them, Jack and Dinah left the untidy, book-lined study.
Don't forget your supper, Uncle, called back Dinah as she shut the door. Uncle Jocelyn gave a grunt. He was already lost in his work again. The supper-tray stood unheeded beside him.
I bet he'll forget all about it, said Dinah. And she was right. When Aunt Polly went into the study the next day to tidy it as usual, there was the supper-tray standing on the table, complete with plate of meat and vegetables, and piece of pie and custard.
You're worse than a child, scolded Aunt Polly. Yes, you really are, Jocelyn.