AdvFour2 – The Adventurous Four Again – Blyton, Enid.

“I do think the beginning bit of a holiday is lovely,” said Mary. “I think I like it best of all.”

“Yes. The middle and end parts slip away so quickly,” said Jill. “But you sort of feel the beginning bit will last for ever!”

“Can we go sailing with you soon?” asked Tom. “This evening, Andy?”

“No—not to-day,” said Andy, knowing that his father would not let his boat out again. “Tomorrow perhaps, if we’re allowed. Dad may not want the boat tomorrow. We’ve had such a good catch to-day.”

“Is it nice to see your own name painted on your boat?” said Mary. “A-N-D-Y—doesn’t it look lovely?”

“It’s your boat as well,” said Andy. “I always told you you could share it when you were here. It ought to be called the Andy-Tom-Jill-and-Mary!”

All the other boats came in. The children greeted the fishermen. They knew them all, and they knew the fine little fishing-boats that bobbed gently up and down beside the jetty. But they felt that Andy’s boat—their own boat—was the very best of all!

“It’s getting dark,” said Tom, with a sigh. “We’d better go home. We promised Mother we’d be in before dark—and golly, I do feel tired. We’ve had a jolly long journey to-day, and we’ll feel better tomorrow. I just feel now I want one thing—to fall into bed and sleep!”

“What—don’t you want any supper! said Jill. “You must be tired, Tom!”

Andy laughed. He was happy to see the twins again and to have his friend Tom. Four whole weeks together! They would have some fun.

“See you tomorrow,” said Andy, as the three said goodbye and turned away from the shore. “I’ll be along.”

Back they went to the cottage, all feeling suddenly tired. They could hardly eat any supper—and then they undressed quickly, washed, and fell into their beds, half-asleep before their heads touched the pillow.

“Tomorrow—lots of tomorrows!” said Jill, but Mary didn’t answer. She was asleep and dreaming of all the exciting tomorrows.

CHAPTER 2.

Off on a Sailing Trip.

THE next few days were lovely. Andy took them sailing in his boat, which he insisted belonged to them all—a quarter each.

“I’ll have the red sail for my quarter,” said Jill. “I do love it so! Andy, can’t we go out with the rest of the boats, when they go fishing?”

“Oh yes,” said Andy, and out they went the next time the little fleet went out. Andy taught the children how to let down the nets. They watched with excitement the jumping, slithering, silvery fish, caught in the meshes of the great net.

The fisherboy taught them how to set lobster-pots, too, in the right places. They took home enough fish and lobsters, scallops and crabs to keep them in food for a week!

The sun shone. They grew brown. They climbed the rocky cliffs all about, and had a wonderful time. Then Tom grew restless and wanted to go off on a longer trip.

“Let’s go somewhere exciting,” he said. “Can’t we take the Andy and go on a trip somewhere? Don’t you know anywhere thrilling, Andy, you could take us to?”

“Well,” said Andy, “I promised your mother I wouldn’t take you right out to sea any more, to visit any of our islands—in case a storm came up, like last year, and wrecked us. So it would have to be somewhere along the coast.”

“Do think of somewhere,” begged the twins. “Somewhere that nobody goes to.”

“There’s the Cliff of Birds,” said Andy suddenly. The others stared at him.

“The Cliff of Birds,” said Jill. “What a funny name!”

“It’s a good name.” said Andy. “There are thousands of birds there—I couldn’t tell you how many—all lands! Gulls, shags, cormorants, puffins—they nest there and all round and about—on the cliffs, in the cliffs, over the cliffs—everywhere. They say you can’t walk a step this season of the year without treading on a nesting-bird. They’re a sight to see.”

All the three children were fond of birds. Their eyes shone.

“Let’s go there!” said Tom. “What a sight it would be! I’ll take my camera. We’re having a snapshot competition at my school next term, and I could enter some bird pictures for it.”

“Yes, do let’s go,” said Jill. “It sounds exciting. I wonder you never told us about the Cliff of Birds before, Andy!”

“Well, last time you were here, it was full summer,” said Andy. “The birds have left their nesting-places on the cliffs by then, and are out on the open sea. There’s not much to see. But at nesting-time it’s different. They’re all there.”

“Well, we’ll go,” said Tom. “How far is it? Can we get there and back in a day?”

“We’ll have to,” said Jill. “Mother won’t let us go off for a night, I’m sure!”

“If we start early in the morning we’d be back before dark,” said Andy. “It’s a long way—and it’s a lonely part of the coast too. We’ll have to be careful, because there are rocks all about. But there’s a passage between them that my father knows. I’ll get him to tell me. I’ve been twice with him.”

“When shall we go?” asked Jill, beginning to feel excited. “Tomorrow?”

“No. I’m wanted on the boat with my father,” said Andy. “But maybe the next day. You’ll have to do without me tomorrow. You get out your book on birds and read it well, then you’ll know the birds on the cliff when you see them.”

So, all the next day, the children pored over their books on birds, looking up each sea-bird, studying it, and learning its name. Tom got out his camera and put a new roll of films into it. They told their mother where they were going.

“It certainly sounds exciting,” she said. “I hope Andy knows the way down the coast well. It’s rather dangerous round here.”

“Oh, Mother, Andy could sail a boat anywhere!” said Tom. “He’s been twice before, anyway. Won’t it be exciting to go somewhere that nobody ever goes to?”

“The Cliff of Birds,” said Mary. “Thousands of them, Mother. You’ll see them if Tom gets some good snaps. I suppose we shall climb the cliff.”

“I’d better have a word with Andy about that,” said her mother, and she did. But Andy assured her that he wouldn’t let anyone do anything they couldn’t do safely and easily.

Two days later the children awoke with a jump, as the alarm clock went off. It had been set for dawn—how early it was! Tom slipped into the girls’ room to make sure they were awake, and not going off to sleep again.

“The sky’s just turning silvery in the east,” he said. “Hurry up. We’ve got to be at the jetty in a few minutes. I bet Andy’s already there.”

Their mother appeared in her dressing-gown, looking sleepy. “I thought I would just see you off,” she said. “Now, you do promise to be careful, don’t you? Andy’s got lifebelts on board, hasn’t he?”

“Oh, Mother, you know we can all swim like fish!” said Jill.

“Yes—in calm or slightly rough water,” said her mother. “But if you fell overboard in stormy waters you’d find things much more difficult You’ve packed the food on board, haven’t you?”

“Oh yes,” said Tom, who could always be trusted to look after the food side. “We put it on board yesterday evening—everything you gave us, Mother. It will last us nicely for a day.”

“It would last most families for a week!” said” Ms mother. “Now—are you ready? Take woollen coats with you, because it isn’t summer, you know. Tom, where’s your mack?”

Soon they were off. The sky was much lighter now. The children could see golden fingers coming up from the east. The sun was just below the rim of the world there. They raced down to the jetty, feeling the wind quite cold on their faces and their bare legs.

Andy was there, of course, waiting for them patiently. He grinned when he saw their excited faces. “Get on board,” he said. “Everything’s ready. I’ll cast off.”

The children tumbled on board the fishing-boat they loved. It was roomy, but not too big for them to handle. It had a small, cosy cabin below. All three children were good at helping Andy now, and could be trusted with anything.

The boat slid away from the jetty. The breeze billowed out the red sail. Then, quite suddenly it seemed, the sun appeared above the sky-line, a dazzling rounded edge, and at once the water flashed with golden lines and twinkled brilliantly as the boat plunged forward.

“The sun’s rising,” said Jill, and caught her breath at the sudden beauty of it all. “The world’s all new again. Look at the sun—it seems to be climbing out of the sea itself!”

Soon the children could no longer look at the sun, it was so big and bright. The boat went slipping along in waves that seemed made of golden light and blue shadows. It was worth coming out so early just to see the enchanting beauty of the rising sun.