They got in before dark, with big clouds sweeping overhead and heavy drops of rain falling. Their mother was most relieved to see them. But she was very upset when she heard that Tom had left his camera behind.
“You will have to go and get it,” she said. “It’s much too good a one to leave lying about. How careless you are. Tom! It’s not a bit of good giving you anything nice!”
“I’m most awfully sorry, Mother,” said Tom. “I promise you we’ll go and get it the very first fine day we have. Andy says the weather’s broken for a whilebut as soon as its fine again, we’ll go off and get my camera.”
“And find that hiding-place and see Smuggler’s Rock,” said Jill under her breath. “Mary, don’t you hope Mother lets us stay away for a night? Then we can explore Smuggler’s Rock properly!”
CHAPTER 6.
Sailing Away Again.
THE next few days, as Andy had foretold, were wet and squally. But fishing was good, and the children, in macks, rubber boots and sou’-westers, had a lovely time helping with the fish. Andy worked hard. The hauls were excellent and his father was pleased.
“Maybe he’ll give me two or three days off,” said Andy. “When the fine weather comes back we’ll take the Andy and go off again. I like that better than anything.”
Andy’s father came to supper one night. The children’s mother liked the silent, stem-faced man, and gave him a very fine supper. The children shared in it, and chattered like magpies.
“They must make your head ache!” their mother said to Andy’s silent father.
“Och, their chatter is no more than the calling of the gulls!” said the fisherman, with a twinkle.
“But we’re much more useful than the gulls!” said Mary. “We’ve helped you a lot this week. You said we had.’”
“So you have,” said the fisherman. “Andy’s taught you a bonny lot of things! You’re right good children. You don’t mess about and get into mischief like most silly little scallywags.”
This was a long and handsome speech from Andy’s father. The children were delighted. Jill made the most of his good temper.
“Will you be able to let Andy off for a day or two soon?” she asked. “We do so want to go out in the Andy again all by ourselves.”
“I’ll give him a two-days’ holiday,” said the fisherman, drawing out his pipe. “May I smoke, ma’am? Thank you.”
“Thanks, Dad,” said Andy.
“We’ll go to Smuggler’s Rock then!” said Tom. “Hurrah!”
“Where’s that?” asked his mother quickly.
“Oh, it’s a place we saw the other day when we went to the Cliff of Birds,” said Tom airily. “Mother, as Andy will have two days off, could we spend the whole time on the boat? I’d like to go to the Cliff of Birds and have time to take some proper snapsif only I can find my camera againand we do want to sail to Smuggler’s Rock. It looks exciting.”
“Not a night away!” began his mother. “You know I don’t like that.”
“But Andy will be with us. He’ll look after us, won’t he?” said Tom, turning to Andy’s father, who was now puffing out big clouds of thick smoke. “Andy’s often out all night with you, isn’t he?”
“Oh, Andy’s used to being on the boat for nights on end!” said the fisherman, in a very good temper after his fine supper. “You’ll not come to any harm with Andy there. You can trust my boy, ma’am.”
“Oh, I know I can,” said the children’s mother. “It’s only thatwellafter their adventure last year I just don’t feel I want them to go travelling on their own again.”
“Why, ma’amyou don’t suppose two adventures like that could happen, do you?” said Andy’s father. “Theirs was an adventure that only happens once in a lifetime, if that! You let them gothey’ll be all right with Andy. He can anchor the boat somewhere quiet, and they can sleep on her in comfort if they take plenty of rugs.”
It all seemed to be settled without any argument or difficulty at all. How lovely! The children glowed with pleasure and felt very grateful to Andy’s father for making things easy for them. He seemed to have conquered their mother’s fears completely!
The next evening Andy came up to the cottage. “Weather’s changing,” he said. “See that sky? We’ll set off tomorrow, shall we? Get what food you can and I’ll bring some too. Knowing young Tom’s appetite I reckon we’d better lay in a good stock for two days and a night!”
Their mother always kept a fine stock of tinned food handy, and she told the children to take what they wanted. They took her at her word and soon the Andy was well stocked with all kinds of things, from sardines to tins of pineapple. Andy brought a few offerings too, and stared in surprise at the store already in the cabin cupboards.
“We shan’t want all that!” he said. “Wellnever mindwe won’t bother to take it back again now. Got some rugs? We’ll want plenty to sleep on. The girls can sleep down in the cabin tomorrow nightand we boys will sleep up on deck. I can rig up a tarpaulin round us to keep the wind off.”
Soon there were piles of rugs on board the Andy too, and some of the old cushions from the cottage. It was almost dark before the children had finished stocking the little boat They felt as if they were going on a long, long tripa night away from home made all the difference!
They set off at eight o’clock in the morning, and their mother came down to the jetty to wave goodbye. “Have a lovely trip, and take some fine pictures, and find plenty of smugglers on Smuggler’s Rock!” she said. “Tom and Andy, be sure you look after the twins well.”
“Of course!” said the boys. Andy took the tiller, and the little boat glided away with the morning sun on her. Tiny white-topped waves curled against her smooth sides, and she bobbed a little.
“She’s happy again!” said Jill. “And so are we! Goodbye, Mother! See you tomorrow evening!”
Soon the boat rounded the corner of the rocky bay, and was out of sight. The children settled down comfortably to enjoy the trip. They all loved the sea, and were at home on it. They watched the sea-gulls soaring in the wind. They saw them floating on the water, bobbing over the curling waves. Now for a lovely trip!
The wind was strong and the Andy galloped along. Mary, who had lain awake from excitement the night before, fell asleep. Spray splashed over her, but she did not wake. The others talked, and Jill once more aired her views about the hiding-place which she felt sure must be behind the waterfall.
“What I really want to know,” said Tom, “is where I left my camera. I’m pretty certain I put it down in that shallow cave where we rested. I hope to goodness it’s there.”
Now they were running along the channel between the ridges of rocks. Later they would sight Smuggler’s Rock in the distance. But they would not go there to-day. They would go tomorrow!
They turned into the shallow bay they had anchored in before, and at once there came to their ears the terrific clamour of the thousands of nesting sea-birds. “I shan’t look at the cliff and see their eggs falling this time.” said Jill. “Careless birds! I wonder how they know their own eggsand what do they think when they fly back and see that they are gone?”
“Just lay some more, I suppose.” said Tom. “Mary, wake up! We’re there! You’ve been asleep for ages.”
“We’ll anchor in that deep pool again.” said Andy, and very soon the anchor was going down with a splash.
There was no one about. The place seemed as deserted as before, except for the noisy sea-birds. But perhaps the whistling man was in hiding somewhere? Or maybe he had gone.
“Let’s take some food with us and go up to that place we rested in before,” said Andy. “We could have a picnic there. It’s a marvellous view, right over the sea. Maybe we shall find your camera, Tom, and you can take some photographs.”
Everyone thought this was a good idea, and they collected what food they wanted, and put it into kit-bags which the two boys slung over their shoulders.
“Now, don’t look down at all this time, Jill,” said Andy. “That’s always a mistake when you’re climbing. Look upwards all the time. Ready, everyone?”
Yes, they were ready. They began their steep climb up. following the cat-like Andy, who seemed to know all the best handholds and footholds. Jill didn’t look down once and was quite all right. Soon they were all panting and puffing, for the day was warm.