Ill show you this evening, said Jack, getting up. Be by the lakeside at eight oclock, when all your work is done, and Ill meet you there. I must go now, or Granpa will be angry with me, and perhaps lock me into my room so that I cant get out again to-day.
Good-bye, Jack, said Nora, who was feeling much better now. "Well see you this evening.
Jack ran off, and the three children made their way slowly back to Uncle Henrys farm. They had taken their dinner out into the fields to eat - now they had to go back to work. Nora had a great deal of ironing to do, and Peggy had to clean the kitchen. It was a big stone kitchen, and Peggy knew it would take her until supper-time - and, oh dear, how tired she would be then! Aunt Harriet would scold her all the time, she knew.
Ive got to go and clean out the barn, said Mike to the girls, "but Ill be in at supper-time, and afterwards well see about this great secret of Jacks.
They each began their work, but all the time they were thinking excitedly of the evening. What was Jacks secret? Where was the place he knew of? Could they really and truly run away?
They all got into trouble because they were thinking so hard of the evening that they did not do their work to Aunt Harriets liking nor to Uncle Henrys either. Nora got a few more slaps, and Peggy was scolded so hard that she cried bitterly into her overall. She was made to scrub the kitchen floor all over again, and this made her late for supper.
Mike was shouted at by Uncle Henry for spilling some corn in the barn. The little boy said nothing, but he made up his mind that if it was possible to run away in safety he would do so, and take the girls with him, too.
Nora and Peggy ought to be going to school and wearing nice clothes that fit them, and having friends to tea, said Mike to himself. This is no life for them. They are just very hard-worked servants for Aunt Harriet, and she pays them nothing.
The children ate their supper of bread and cheese in silence. They were afraid of speaking in case their aunt or uncle shouted at them. When they had finished Mike spoke to his aunt.
Please may we go for a walk in the fields before we go to bed? he asked.
No, you cant, said Aunt Harriet in her sharp voice. Youll just go to bed, all of you. Theres a lot of work to do to-morrow, and I want you up early.
The children looked at one another in dismay. But they had to do as they were told. They went upstairs to the big bedroom they all shared. Mike had a small bed in the corner behind a screen, and the two girls had a bigger bed between them.
I believe Aunt Harriet and Uncle Henry are going out to-night, and thats why they want us to go to bed early, said Mike. Well, if they do go out, well slip down and meet Jack by the river.
We wont get undressed then, said Nora. Well just slip under the sheets, dressed - and then it wont take us long to run down to the lake.
The three children listened hard. They heard the front door close. Mike popped out of bed and ran to the front room. From there he could see the path to the gate. He saw his uncle and aunt walk down it, dressed to go out.
He ran back to the others. Well wait for five minutes, he said, "then well go.
They waited quietly. Then they all slipped downstairs and out of the back door. They ran down to the lake as fast as they could. Jack was there waiting for them.
Hallo, Jack, said Mike. Here we are at last. They sent us to bed, but when they went out we slipped down here to meet you.
Whats your great secret, Jack? asked Nora, we are longing to know.
Well, listen, said Jack. You know what a big lake this is, dont you, perfectly wild all round, except at the two ends where there are a few farmhouses and cottages. Now I know a little island, a good way up the south side of the lake,
that Im sure nobody knows at all. I dont think anyone but me has ever been there. Its a fine island, and would make the best hiding-place in the world!
The three children listened, their eyes wide with astonishment. An island on the big lake! Oh, if only they could really go there and hide - and live by themselves - with no unkind aunt and uncle to slap them and scold them and make them work hard all day long!
Are you too tired to walk down the lakeside to a place where you can see the island? asked Jack. I only found it quite by chance one day. The woods come right down to the lakeside opposite the island, and they are so thick that I dont think anyone has ever been through them, and so no one can have seen my island!
Jack! Jack! Take us to see your secret island! begged Nora. Oh, we must go. Were all tired - but we must, must see the secret island.
Come on, then, said Jack, pleased to see how excited the others were. Follow me. Its a good way.
The bare-footed boy took the three children across the fields to a wood. He threaded his way through the trees as if he were a rabbit. The wood thinned out and changed to a common, which, in turn, gave way to another wood, but this time the trees were so thick that it seemed as if there was no way through them at all.