Wed better tell Nora, said Jack. So they went up the hillside calling Nora. Nora! Nora! Where are you?
But Nora didnt answer! She crouched lower in the bracken and hoped no one would find her. But Jack came upon her suddenly and shouted cheerfully, Oh, there you are! The hens have all come back, Nora! They knew it was their meal-time, you see! Come and have your supper. We kept some for you.
Nora went with him to the beach. Peggy kissed her and said, Now dont worry any more. Its all right. Weve got all the hens safely again.
Had I better see to the hens each day, do you think, instead of Nora? Mike asked Jack. But Jack shook his head.
No, he said. Thats Noras job - and youll see, shell do it spendidly now, wont you, Nora?
Yes, I will, Jack, said Nora, eating her rice pudding, and feeling much happier. I do promise I will! Im so sorry I was careless.
Thats all right, said the other three together - and it was all right, for they were all kind-hearted and fond of one another.
But what Id like to know, said Peggy, as she and Nora washed the dirty things, is where did those hens manage to hide themselves so cleverly?
The children soon knew - for when, in a little while, Mike went to fetch something from Willow House he saw three shining eggs in the heather there! He picked them up and ran back to the others.
Those cunning hens walked into Willow House and hid there! he cried, holding up the eggs.
Well, well, well! said Jack, in surprise. And to think how we hunted all over the island - and those rascally hens were near by all the time!
The Caves in the Hillside
Now it was easy to milk Daisy, for they had a proper pail. Peggy cleaned it well before they used it, for it was dusty and dirty. When Jack or Mike had milked Daisy they stood the pail of milk in the middle of the little spring that gushed out from the hillside and ran down to the lake below. The icy-cold water kept the milk cool, and it did not turn sour, even on the hottest day.
Jack got out the packets of seeds he had brought from his grandfathers farm, and showed them to the others. Look, he said, here are lettuce seeds, and radish seeds, and mustard and cress, and runner beans! Its late to plant the beans, but in the good soil on this island I daresay they will grow quickly and we shall be able to have a crop later in the year.
The mustard and cress and radish will grow very quickly! said Peggy. What fun! The lettuces wont be very long, either, this hot weather, if we keep them well watered.
Where shall we plant them? asked Mike.
Well, wed better plant them in little patches in different corners of the island, said Jack. If we dig out a big patch and have a sort of vegetable garden, and anyone comes here to look for us, they will see our garden and know someone is here! But if we just plant out tiny patches, we can easily throw heather over them if we see anyone coming.
Jacks always full of good ideas, said Nora. Ill help to dig and plant, Jack.
Well all do it, said Jack. So together they hunted for good places, and dug up the ground there, and planted their precious seeds. It was Peggys job to water them each day and see that no weeds choked the seeds when they grew.
Were getting on! said Nora happily. Milk and cream each day, eggs each day, wild raspberries when we want them, and lettuces, mustard and cress, and radishes soon ready to be pulled!
Jack planted the beans in little bare places at the foot of a brambly hedge. He said they would be able to grow up the brambles, and probably wouldnt be noticed if anyone came. The bean seedlings were carefully watched and nursed until they were strong and tall,
and had begun to twist themselves round any stem near. Then Peggy left them to themselves, only watering them when they needed it.
It was sometimes difficult to remember which day it was. Jack had kept a count as best he could, and sometimes on Sundays the children could hear a church bell ringing if the wind was in the right direction.
We ought to try and keep Sunday a day of rest and peace, said Mike. We cant go to church, but we could make the day a good sort of day, if you know what I mean.
So they kept Sunday quietly, and the little island always seemed an extra peaceful day then. They hardly ever knew what the other days were - whether it was Tuesday or Thursday or Wednesday! But Jack always told them when it was Sunday, and it was the one day they really knew. Nora said it had a different feel, and certainly the island seemed to know it was Sunday, and was a dreamier, quieter place then.
One day Jack said they must explore the caves in the hillside.
If anyone does come here to look for us, and its quite likely, he said, we must really have all our plans made as to what to do, and know exactly where to hide. People who are really looking for us wont just sit about on that beach as the trippers did, you know - they will hunt all over the island.
Well, lets go and explore the caves to-day, said Mike. Ill get the lantern.