So he set himself to watch the children closely. He managed to find jobs that always took him near them. If they went down to the shore, Jo-Jo would be there, collecting driftwood. If they stayed in the house, Jo-Jo stayed too. If they went up on the cliff, Jo-Jo followed. It was most annoying for the children.
He’ll follow us and find out about Bill Smugs and his boat and car, said Lucy-Ann. We haven’t been able to go and see him at all today and if he goes on like this we shan’t be able to go tomorrow either.
It was impossible to give Jo-Jo the slip. He was very clever at keeping a watch on the children, and soon they grew angry. The two girls went up into the tower-room with the boys that night and discussed the matter together.
I know, said Jack suddenly. I know how we can give him the slip properly, and puzzle him terribly.
How? asked the others.
Why, we’ll all go into the caves, said Jack. And we’ll slip down the hole into the secret passage, and go up to Craggy-Tops cellar, slip out of there whilst Jo-Jo is waiting down on the beach for us, and go over the cliffs to Bill.
Oooh, that is a good idea, said Philip. The girls were doubtful about it, for they neither of them liked the idea of the secret passage very much. Still they all had torches now, and it would be a good chance to use them.
So next day, with Jo-Jo close on their heels, the four children and Kiki went down to the beach.
Jo-Jo, for goodness’ sake leave us alone, said Philip. We’re going into the caves, and no harm can come to us there. Go away!
Miss Polly said I was to keep an eye on you, repeated Jo-Jo. He had told the children this times without number, but they knew it wasn’t the real reason. Jo-Jo enjoyed making himself a nuisance. He wanted to poke his nose into everything they did.
They went into the caves. Jo-Jo wandered outside, putting driftwood into his sack. The children all slipped down the hole that led to the secret passage, and then, with their torches switched on, they made their way along it.
The girls didn’t like it at all. They hated the smell, and when they found that in one part it was difficult to breathe they were afraid.
Well, it’s no good going back, said Philip, giving Dinah a shove to make her go on. We’ve come more than half-way now. Do go on, Dinah. You’re holding us up.
Don’t push! said Dinah. I shall stop if I want to.
Oh, shut up arguing, you two, groaned Jack. I believe you’d start a quarrel if you were in a ship that was just about to sink, or an aeroplane about to crash. Get on, Dinah, and don’t be an idiot.
Dinah was about to start an argument with Jack too, when Kiki gave a mournful cough, so exactly like Jo-Jo’s that the children at first thought the black man must have found the passage, and all of them, Dinah as well, hurried forward at once.
It’s all right it was only that wretch Kiki, said Jack, relieved, as Kiki coughed again. They pushed on, and at last came to the end of the passage. They all stared at the trap-door above their heads, brightly lit by the light of their four torches.
Up it went, and over with a crash. The boys climbed up to the cellar floor and then helped the girls up. They shut the trap-door, went to the cellar door, which was shut, and pushed it open. The boxes on the other side fell over again with a familiar crashing noise.
The children went through the door, shut it, piled the boxes up again, and then went up the cellar steps to the big kitchen. No-one was there. That was lucky.
Out they went, and up to the cliff. Keeping to the path, where they were well hidden from the shore below, they hurried off to find their friend Bill Smugs. They grinned to think of dear Jo-Jo waiting down on the beach for them to come out of the caves.
Bill Smugs was tinkering with his boat. He waved cheerily as they all came up.
Hallo, he said, why didn’t you come and see me yesterday? I missed you.
It was because of Jo-Jo, said Jack. He keeps following us around like a shadow. I think he probably suspects we have a friend who has a car, and he means to find out who it is.
Well, don’t tell him anything, said Bill quickly. Keep things to yourself. I don’t want Jo-Jo prying around here. He doesn’t sound at all a nice person.
What are you doing to your boat? asked Jack. Are you going out in it?
I thought I would, said Bill. It’s a fine day, the sea is fairly calm, yet there’s a nice breeze and I half thought I might sail near to the Isle of Gloom.
There was an excited silence. The Isle of Gloom! All the children wanted to see it close to and Jack badly wanted to land there. If only Bill would take them with him!
Jack looked out to the west. He could not see the island, for once again there was a low heat-haze on the sea. But he knew exactly where it was. His heart beat fast. The Great Auk might be there. Anyway, even if it wasn’t, all kinds of other sea-birds would be there and probably as tame as anything. He could take his camera he could …
Bill please, please take us with you! begged Lucy-Ann. Oh, do! We’ll be very good, and you know, now that you have taught us how to sail a boat, we can really help.
Well I meant to take you, said Bill, lighting a cigarette, and smiling round at the children. I wanted to go yesterday, and when you didn’t come, I put the trip off till today. We’ll go this afternoon, and take our tea with us. You’ll have to give Jo-Jo the slip again. He mustn’t see you sailing off in my boat or he’d probably try to stop you.
Oh, Bill! We’ll be along first thing this afternoon, said Jack, his eyes gleaming very green.
Thanks most awfully, said Philip.
Shall we really see the Isle of Gloom close to? asked Lucy-Ann, in excitement.
Can’t we land there? said Dinah.
I don’t think so, said Bill. You see, there is a ring of dangerous rocks around it, and although there may once have been a passage somewhere through them, and possibly is now, for all I know, I don’t know where it is. I’m not going to risk drowning you all.
Oh, said the children, disappointed. They would have been quite willing to run the risk of being drowned, for the sake of trying to land on the bad isle.
You’d better go back and have an early lunch, if your aunt will let you have it, said Bill. I don’t want to be too late in starting. The tide will help us, if we get off fairly early.
All right, said the four, jumping up from the rocks at once. Goodbye till this afternoon, Bill. We’ll bring tea with us as nice as we can, to reward you for waiting for us.
They set off home again, talking eagerly of the coming trip. Jo-Jo had said so many frightening things about the desolate island that the children couldn’t help feeling excited at the idea of seeing it.
I wonder if Jo-Jo is still on the beach, watching for us outside the caves, said Jack. The children went cautiously to the edge of the cliff and peeped over. Yes Jo-Jo was still down there. What a sell for him!
They went to Craggy-Tops and found Aunt Polly. Aunt, could we possibly have an early lunch, and then go off and take our tea with us? asked Philip. Will it be any trouble? We’ll help to get the lunch, and we don’t mind what we have.
There’s a cold pie in the larder, said Aunt Polly, considering. And some tomatoes. And there are some stewed plums. Dinah, you lay the table, and the others can set out the food. I’ll make you some sandwiches for your tea, and there’s a ginger cake you can have too. Lucy-Ann, can you put the kettle on to boil? You can have some tea in a thermos flask if you like.
Oh, thank you, said the children, and set to work at once. They laid a place for Aunt Polly, but she shook her head.
I don’t feel very well today, she said. I’ve got a bad headache. I shan’t want anything. I shall have a good long rest whilst you are out this afternoon.
The children were sorry. Certainly Aunt Polly did look tired out. Philip wondered if his mother had sent any more money to help things along a bit, or whether Aunt Polly was finding things very difficult. He didn’t like to ask her in front of the others. Soon the children were having their dinner, and then, the tea being packed up and ready, they set off over the cliff.