A frying-pan would be useful, said Nora.
And a saucepan or two, said Peggy, and a kettle. Oh! What fun it will be. I dont care how much we are slapped or scolded now - I shall think of this exciting plan all day long!
We had better fix a day for starting off, said Jack. What about a week from now? Sunday would be a good day for running away, because no one will come to look for us until night-time, when we dont go home!"
Yes! A week to-day! cried everyone. Oooh! How happy we shall be!
Now we must go home, said Jack, setting off to the boat. You can row if you like, Mike, and Ill bale out the water as we go. Get in, you girls.
Ay, ay, Captain! they sang out, full of joy to think they had such a fine captain as Jack! Off they all went, floating across the water in the evening light. What would they be doing next Sunday?
The Escape
The children took all the clothes they possessed down to the hollow tree by the lakeside. Mike took four enamel cups, some enamel plates, and two enamel dishes. Nora smuggled down an old kettle that Aunt Harriet had put away in a cupboard. She did not dare to take one of those on the stove. Peggy took a frying-pan and a saucepan to the hollow tree, and had to put up with a dreadful scolding when her aunt could not find them.
Jack took a saucepan too, and an axe and a fine sharp knife. He also took some small knives and forks and spoons, for the other children did not dare to take these. There were only just
enough put out for them and their aunt and uncle to use. So they were glad when Jack found some and brought them along.
Can you get some empty tins to store things in? asked Jack. I am trying to get sugar and things like that, because we must have those, you know. Grandad gave me some money the other day, and Im buying a few things to store.
Yes, Ill get some empty tins, said Mike. Undo has plenty in the shed. I can wash them out and dry them. And could you get matches, Jack? Aunt only leaves one box out, and that wont go far.
Well, Ive got a small magnifying glass, said Jack, and he showed it to the others. Look, if I focus the rays of the sun on to that bit of paper over there, see what happens. It burns it, and, hey presto, theres a fire ready-made!
Oh, good! said Mike. "Well use that on a sunny day, Jack, and save our matches!
Im bringing my work-basket in case we need to sew anything, said Peggy.
And Ive got a box of mixed nails and an old hammer, said Mike. I found them in the shed.
Were getting on! said Jack, grinning, I say - what a time were going to have!
I wish Sunday would come! sighed Nora.
I shall bring our snap cards and our game of ludo and our dominoes, said Peggy. We shall want to play games sometimes. And what about some books?
Good for you! cried Mike. Yes - books and papers well have, too - we shall love to read quietly sometimes.
The old hollow tree by the lakeside was soon full of the queerest collection of things. Not a day went by without something being added to it. One day it was a plank of wood. Another day it was half a sack of potatoes. Another day it was an old and ragged rug. Really, it was a marvel that the tree held everything!
At last Sunday came. The children were up long before their uncle and aunt. They crept into the kitchen garden and picked a basket of peas, pulled up six lettuces, added as many ripe broad beans as they could find, a bunch of young carrots, some radishes, and, putting their hands into the nest-boxes of the hens, they found six new-laid eggs!
Nora crept indoors and went to the larder. What could she take that Aunt Harriet would not notice that morning? Some tea? Yes! A tin of cocoa from the top shelf. A packet of currants and a tin of rice from the store shelf, too. A big loaf, a few cakes from the cake-tin! The little girl stuffed them all into her basket and raced out to join the others. Long before Aunt Harriet was up all these things were safely in the hollow tree.
Peggy didnt quite like taking anything from the larder, but Mike said that as Aunt and Uncle wouldnt have to keep them after that day, they could quite well spare a few odds and ends for them.
Anyway, if they paid us properly for our work, we would have enough to buy all these things and more, he said, as he stuffed them into the tree.
They went back to the farm for the last time, to breakfast. Peggy cooked the breakfast, and hoped Aunt would not notice that her long iron cooking spoon was gone. She also hoped that Aunt would not want to get another candle from the packet in the larder, for Peggy knew Mike had taken the rest of them, and had taken an old lantern of Uncles too!
The children ate their breakfast in silence.
Aunt Harriet looked at them. I suppose you think you are going off for a picnic to-day! she said. Well, you are not! You can stay and weed the kitchen garden, Peggy and Nora. And Ive no doubt Uncle Henry can set Mike something to do. Someone has been taking cakes out of my tin, and so youll all stay in to-day!
The hearts of the three children sank. To-day of all days! As soon as the girls were washing up alone in the scullery, Mike looked in at the window.