Gradually the storm died away, and only the pitter-patter of raindrops falling from the trees could be heard, a singing, liquid sound. The thunder went farther and farther away. The lightning flashed for the last time. The storm was over.
Now well have something to eat and a cup of milk to drink, and off to bed well go, said Jack. Weve had quite enough excitement for to-day! And Mike and I were so late last night that Im sure hes dropping with sleep. I know I am.
Peggy got a small meal for them all, and they drank Daisys creamy milk. Then the girls went into the back room of Willow House and snuggled down on the warm heather there, and the boys lay down in the front room. In half a minute everyone was asleep!
Again Daisy the cow awoke them with her mooing. It was strange to wake up in Willow House instead of in their outdoor sleeping-place among the gorse, with the sky above them. The children blinked up at their green roof, for leaves were growing from the willow branches that were interlaced for a ceiling. It was dim inside
Willow House. The door was shut, and there were no windows. Jack had thought it would be too difficult to make windows, and they might let in the wind and the rain too much. So Willow House was rather dark and a bit stuffy when the door was shut - but nobody minded that! It really made it all the more exciting!
The children ran out of Willow House and looked around - all except Nora. She lay lazily on her back, looking up at the green ceiling, thinking how soft the heather was and how nice Willow House smelt. She was always the last out of bed!
Nora, you wont have time for a dip before breakfast if you dont come now, shouted Peggy. So Nora ran out, too. What a lovely morning it was! The thunderstorm had cleared away and left the world looking clean and newly washed. Even the pure blue sky seemed washed, too.
The lake was as blue as the sky. The trees still dripped a little with the heavy rain of the night before, and the grass and heather were damp to the foot.
The world looks quite new, said Mike. Just as if it had been made this very morning! Come on - lets have our dip!
Splash! Into the lake they went. Mike and Jack could both swim. Jack swam like a fish. Peggy could swim a little way, and Nora hardly at all. Jack was teaching her, but she was a bit of a baby and would not get her feet off the sandy bed of the lake.
Peggy was first out of the water and went to get the breakfast - but when she looked round their little beach, she stood still in disgust!
Look here, boys! she cried. Look, Nora! How those trippers have spoilt our beach!
They all ran out of the cold water, and, rubbing themselves down with their two towels, they stared round at their little beach, which was always such a beautiful place, clean and shining with its silvery sand.
But now, what a difference! Orange-peel lay everywhere. Banana skins, brown, slippery, and soaked with rain, lay where they had been thrown. A tin that had once had canned pears in, and two cardboard cartons that had been full of cream, rolled about on the sand, empty. A newspaper, pulled into many pieces by the wind, blew here and there. An empty cigarette packet joined the mess.
The children felt really angry. The little beach was theirs and they loved it. They had been careful to keep it clean, tidy, and lovely, and had always put everything away after a meal. Now some horrid trippers had come there just for one meal and had left it looking like a rubbish-heap!
And they were grown-up people, too! said Jack, in disgust. They ought to have known better. Why couldnt they take their rubbish away with them?
People that leave rubbish about in beautiful places like this are just rubbishy people themselves! cried Peggy fiercely, almost in tears. Nice people never do it. Id like to put those people into a big dust-bin with all their horrid rubbish on top of them - and wouldnt I bang on the lid, too!
The others laughed. It sounded so funny. But they were all angry about their beach being spoilt.
Ill clear up the mess and burn it, said Mike.
Wait a minute! said Jack. We might find some of the things useful.
What! Old banana skins and orange-peel! cried Mike. Youre not thinking of making a pudding or something of them, Jack!
No, said Jack, with a grin, but if we keep the tin and a carton and the empty cigarette packet in our cave-cupboard, we might put them out on the beach if anyone else ever comes - and then, if they happen to find the remains of our fire, or a bit of string or anything like that - why, they wont think of looking for us - theyll just think trippers have been here!
Good idea, Jack! cried everyone.
You really are good at thinking out clever things, said Peggy, busy getting the fire going. Its crackling sounded very cheerful, for they were all hungry. Peggy put some milk on to boil. She meant to make cocoa for them all to drink.
Mike picked up the cigarette packet, the tin, and one of the cardboard cartons. He washed the carton and the tin in the lake, and then went to put the three things away in their little cave-cupboard. They might certainly come in useful some day!