So are we, George, so are we! cried the four children excitedly. They told him all about their adventure in the Old House that day. George listened. He got into his boat, which was floating by the side of the little pier, and beckoned to the
children to get in.
You come along with me and Ill show you something, he said. They all tumbled in, and Jack and Mike took an oar each. George had two. They rowed out on the calm sea, bumping a little on the waves that ran round the rocks here and there.
Weve got to row a good way, said George. I reckon we can just do it before supper. Right round the cliff there, look - and beyond it - and then round the next crag too. Its a goodish way.
It was lovely on the sea in the evening. The children took turns at rowing. The sun sank lower. The boat rounded the big cliff, went across the next bay, and rounded a great craggy head of rock that stood well out into the sea. Beyond that the cliff fell almost down to sea-level before it rose again.
George took the boat well out to sea then - and suddenly he pulled in his oars, shaded his eyes with his hand, and looked over the land to the north-west.
Now you look over there, he said, and tell me what you can see.
The children looked. Jack gave a shout. Why, we can see the topmost window of the Old House from here - and we can see the topmost window of our own tower too! The cliffs seem to fall away in a more or less straight line from here, and the towers can just be seen.
Yes, said George. And in smuggling days a ship could come and anchor out here. Right out of sight of Spiggy Holes, and could come in at night when a light shone in those towers! Old man Spiggy used to light the lamp when it was safe, and it used to wink out at the smuggling ships here, and in theyd ride on the tide, unseen by anyone!
It does sound exciting, said Jack. Do you suppose Mr. Felipe Diaz is going to use the tower for the same thing, George?
Oh no! said George. But well keep our eyes open, shall we?
Yes, rather! cried all the children, and rowed back to supper as fast as they could.
The Light in the Tower
They seem in a mighty hurry to come in, he said. Why, that place wants painting from top to bottom - and theyre not going to have anything done except that the big boiler is to be put right!
The children bathed and paddled, fished and boated as much as ever, but the day that the new people moved into the Old House all four of them went to hide themselves in an enormous oak tree that grew not far from the gates.
They climbed up into the tree, settled themselves down on two broad branches, leaned comfortably against the trunk of the tree, and sat there, whispering and waiting.
Presently a large removal van came along the road, and then another - but that was all.
Funny! said Jack, in surprise. Only two vans of furniture for that enormous house! They must just be furnishing a small part of it.
The vans moved in through the gates, stopped in front of the house, and the men began to unload. Then the big car belonging to Mr. Felipe Diaz came tearing along, and, just under the tree where the children hid, it had to stop, to allow a tradesmans van to pass out of the gates.
In the car was Mr. Diaz, the yellow-haired woman, a chauffeur as dark as Mr. Diaz, and a sleepy-eyed young man who lolled back in the car, talking to the woman.
Well, said Mr. Diaz, hopping out of the car, and beckoning to the young man to come with him. Here we are! You go on to the house, Anna. Luiz and I are just going to walk round the walls of the place to see that they are all right.
The car moved in through the gates. The two men stood underneath the tree, talking in low tones. The children could hear every word.
This is as safe a place as anywhere in the kingdom, said Mr. Diaz. See that tower? Well, the boat can hang about right out of sight till we light a signal in the tower. Then it can come slipping in, and nobody will ever know. We shall be copying the old smugglers, Luiz - but our goods are not quite the same! Ha, ha!
Luiz laughed too. Come on, he said. I want to see the place. When are the dogs coming?
Mr. Diaz murmured something that the children couldnt hear, and the two went off round the walls of the Old Houses garden. The children, who had hardly dared to breathe whilst the men had stood beneath the tree, looked at one another in the greatest excitement.
Did you hear? whispered Mike. Theyre going to
use a boat - and put a signal into the tower! Its just like the old days!
But are they smugglers then? asked Nora, puzzled. And what are the goods they spoke of?
I dont know, said Mike. But Im jolly well going to find out. This is about the most exciting thing that has happened to us since we ran away long ago to our secret island!
I love adventures, said Jack. But look here - weve got to be jolly careful of these people. If they think we even guess that theyre up to something, therell be a whole heap of trouble for us!
Well be careful, said Nora, and she began to climb down the tree. Come on! Im tired of being up here.