Heres the landing-place, said Jack, and he guided the boat to a sloping sandy beach. He pulled it up on the sand, and the children jumped out and looked round. The landing-place was a natural little cove - a lovely spot for a picnic - but picnickers never came here! Only a lonely otter lay on the sand now and again, and moorhens scuttled across it. No fire had ever been made on this little beach to boil a kettle. No bits of old orange peel lay about, or rusty tins. It was quite unspoilt.
Lets leave our things here and explore a bit, said Mike, who was simply longing to see what the island was like. It seemed very big now they were on it.
All right, said Jack, and he put his bag down.
Come on, said Mike to the girls. This is the beginning of a big adventure.
They left the little cove and went up through the thick trees. There were willows, alders, hazels, and elderberries at first, and then as they went up the hill that lay behind the cove there were silver birches and oaks. The hill was quite steep, and from the top the children could see a very long way - up the lake and down the lake.
I say! If we come here to live, this hill will make an awfully good place to watch for enemies from! said Mike excitedly. We can see everything from here, all round!
Yes, said Jack. Nobody would be able to take us by surprise.
We must come here, we must, we must! said Nora. Oh, look at those rabbits, Peggy - they are as tame as can be, and that chaffinch nearly came on to my hand! Why are they so tame, Mike?
I suppose because they are not used to people, said Mike. Whats the other side of the hill, Jack? Shall we go down it?
"There are caves on the other side of the hill, said Jack. I havent explored those. They would make good hiding-places if anyone ever came to look for us here.
They went down the hill on the other side. Gorse grew there and heather and bracken. Jack pointed out a big cave in the hillside. It looked dark and gloomy in the hot sunshine.
We havent time to go there now, said Jack. But a cave would be an awfully good place to store anything in, wouldnt it? It would keep things nice and dry.
A little way down the hill the children heard a bubbling noise.
Whats that? asked Peggy, stopping.
Look! Its a little spring! cried Mike. Oh, Jack! This shall be our water-supply! Its as
cold as can be, and as clear as crystal!
It tastes fine, too, said Jack. "I had a drink last time I was here. Lower down, another spring joins this one, and there is a tiny brook.
At the bottom of the hill was a thick wood. In clear patches great bushes of brambles grew. Jack pointed them out.
There will be thousands of blackberries in the autumn, he said. And as for hazel nuts, you should see them! And in another place I know here, on a warm slope, you can find wild raspberries by the score!
Oh, do show us! begged Mike. But Jack said there was not time. Besides, the raspberries wouldnt be ripe yet.
The island is too big to explore all over to-day, said Jack. Youve seen most of it - this big hill with its caves, the springs, the thick wood, and beyond the wood is a grassy field and then the water again. Oh, it is a glorious place!
Jack, where shall we live on this island? said Peggy, who always liked to have everything well settled in her mind.
We shall build a house of wood, said Jack. I know how to. That will do finely for the summer, and for the winter we will have to find a cave, I think.
The children gazed at one another in glee. A house of wood, built by themselves - and a cave! How lucky they were to have a friend like Jack, who had a boat and a secret island!
They went back to the little landing-place, hungry and happy. They sat down and ate their bread and ham, carrots and peas, cherries and lettuces, and cake. It was the loveliest meal they had ever had in their lives, they thought. A little moorhen walked up to them and seemed surprised to see so many people in its home. But it did not run away. It ran round, pecking at the lettuce leaves; saying, Fulluck, fulluck! in its loud voice.
If I could live here on this secret island always and always and always, and never grow up at all, I would be quite happy, said Nora.
Well, well have a shot at living here for a good while at least! said Jack. Now, when shall we come?
And what shall we bring? said Mike.
Well, we dont really need a great deal at present, said Jack. We can make soft beds of heather and bracken to lie on at night. What would be useful would be things like enamel mugs and plates and knives. Ill bring an axe and a very sharp woodmans knife. Well need those when we build our house. Oh - and matches would be most useful for lighting fires. We shall have to cook our meals. Ill bring my fishing-line along, too.
The more the children talked about their plan, the more excited they got. At last they had arranged what to bring. They were gradually to hide things in a hollow tree by the lakeside, and then, when the time came, they could carry them to the boat and row off to the secret island, ready to set up house there.