They sat silently watching the swaying of the tall bracken as the newcomer crept through it. It was a horrid moment. Was someone going to spring out on them?
Get inside the cave, you two girls, whispered Jack. I think youll be safe there. Im going to slip round the hill and come up behind this person, whoever he is.
The girls crept just inside the cave and parted the bracken that grew around it to see what Jack was going to do. He was just slipping away when the person creeping up the hillside stopped his crawling. The bracken kept still. This was worse than seeing it move! Oh dear!
Then a head popped out of the bracken, and Nora gave a loud squeal.
Mike! she said. "Mike!
Sh, you silly chump! hissed Peggy, shaking her. Youll be heard by the trippers!
Fortunately the gramophone was going loudly, so Noras squeal was not heard. The three children stared in delight at Mike. It was he who had been creeping up through the bracken after all! What a relief! He grinned at them and put his head down again. Once more the bracken fronds began to move slightly as Mike made his way through them up to the cave.
Oh, Mike, said Nora, when he came up to them. You did give us such a fright. We thought you were a tripper coming after us!
I got a good view of them, said Mike, sitting down beside the others. There are three men and two women. They are tucking into an enormous supper.
Do you think theyll explore the island as they said? asked Peggy anxiously.
Perhaps this thunderstorm will put them off, said Mike, looking up at the black sky. My word, its brought the bats out early! Look at them!
Certainly the little black bats were out in their hundreds. The hot, thundery evening had brought out thousands of insects, and the bats were having a great feast, catching the flies and beetles that flew through the air.
It was the bats that sent the trippers away. One of the women caught sight of two or three bats darting round under the trees, and she gave a shriek.
Ooh! Bats! Ooh! I cant bear bats! Im frightened of them. Lets pack up and go quickly!
I cant bear bats either! squealed the other woman. Horrid little creatures!
They wont hurt you, said a mans voice. Dont be silly.
I cant help it; Im frightened of them, said a woman. Im going!
But I wanted to explore the island, said Eddie.
Well, youll have to explore it another day, said the woman. Just look at the sky, too - theres going to be a dreadful storm.
All right, all right, said Eddie, in a sulky voice. Well go. Fancy being frightened of a few bats!
The children on the hillside stared at one another in delight. The trippers were really going. And no one had discovered them. Goody, goody!
Good old bats! whispered Jack. Would you think anyone would be
scared of those little flitter-mice, Nora?
Aunt Harriet was, said Nora. I dont know why. I think they are dear little creatures, with their funny black wings. Anyway, I shall always feel friendly towards them now. They have saved us from being found!
Daisy the cow mooed loudly. Jack frowned. If only we had milked Daisy before the trippers came! he said.
Did you hear that? said one of the trippers. That was thunder in the distance!
The four children giggled. Nora rolled over and stuffed her hands into her mouth to stop laughing loudly.
Good old Daisy! whispered Mike. Shes pretending to be a thunderstorm now, to frighten them away!
Nora gave a squeal of laughter, and Jack punched her. Be quiet, he said. Do you want us to be discovered just when everything is going so nicely?
The trippers were getting into their boat. They pushed off. The children heard the sound of oars, and peeped out. They could see the boat, far down below, being rowed out on to the lake. A big wind sprang up and ruffled the water. The boat rocked to and fro.
Hurry! cried a womans voice. We shall get caught in the storm. Oh! Oh! Theres one of those horrid bats again! Ill never come to this nasty island any more!
I jolly well hope you wont! said Jack, pretending to wave good-bye.
The children watched the boat being rowed down the lake. The voices of the people came more and more faintly on the breeze. The last they heard was the gramophone being played once again. Then they saw and heard no more. The trippers were gone.
Come on, said Jack, standing up and stretching himself. Weve had a very narrow escape - but, thank goodness, no one saw us or our belongings.
Except that footprint and a bit of string, said Mike.
Yes, said Jack, thoughtfully. I hope that man called Eddie doesnt read anywhere about four runaway children and think we might be here because of what he heard and found. We must be prepared for that, you know. We must make some plans to prevent being found if anyone comes again to look for us.
A distant rumble of thunder was heard. Jack turned to the others. Not Daisy mooing this time! he grinned. Come on, theres a storm coming. Weve plenty to do. Ill go and get Daisy, to milk her. Nora and Mike, you catch the hens and take them back to the hen-yard - and Mike, make some sort of shelter for them with a couple of sacks over sticks, or something, so that they can hide there if they are frightened. Peggy, see if you can light the fire before the rain comes.