‘What a hurricane!’ said her mother. ‘It seems as if George never walks if she can possibly run. Now Anne -put the clothes in three piles — the very old – the not so old — and the quite nice.’ Just before half past ten Julian went up to his window to watch for the signal from his uncle. He waited patiently. A few seconds after the hall-hour the flashes came – one, two, three, four, five, six – good! Now George would settle down for the day. Perhaps they could go to the quarry in the afternoon. Julian went back to his books and was soon buried in them, with Dick grunting by his side.
At about five minutes to eleven there was the sound of running feet and panting breath. George appeared at the door of the sitting-room where the two boys were doing their work. They looked up.
George was red in the face, and her hair was windblown. She fought to get her breath enough to speak. ‘Julian! Dick! Something’s happened — Timmy wasn’t there!’ ‘What do you mean?’ said Julian in surprise. George slumped down on a chair, still panting. The boys could see that she was trembling too.
‘It’s serious, Julian! I tell you Timmy wasn’t in the tower when the signals came!’ ‘Well — it only means that your absent-minded father forgot to take him up with him,’ said Julian, in his most sensible voice. ‘What did you see?’ ‘I had my eye glued to the telescope,’ said George, ‘and suddenly I saw someone come into the little glass room at the top. I looked for Timmy, of course, at once -but I tell you, he wasn’t there! The six flashes came, the man disappeared — and that was all. No Timmy! Oh I do feel so dreadfully worried, Julian.’ ‘Well, don’t be,’ said Julian, soothingly. ‘Honestly, I’m sure that’s what happened. Your father forgot about Timmy. Anyway, if you saw him, obviously things are all right.’ ‘I’m not thinking about Father!’ cried George. ‘He must he all right if he flashed his signals — I’m thinking about Timmy. Why, even if Father forgot to take him, he’d go with him. You know that!’ ‘Your father might have shut the door at the bottom and prevented Timmy from going up,’ said Dick.
‘He might,’ said George, frowning. She hadn’t thought of that. ‘Oh dear – now I shall worry all day long. Why didn’t I stay with Timmy? What shall I do now?’ ‘Wait till tomorrow morning,’ said Dick. ‘Then probably you’ll see old Tim all right.’ ‘Tomorrow morning! Why, that’s ages away!’ said poor George. She put her head in her hands and groaned. ‘Oh, nobody understands how much I love Timmy. You would perhaps if you had a dog of your own, Julian. It’s an awful feeling, really. Oh Timmy, are you all right?’ ‘Of course he’s all right,’ said Julian, impatiently. ‘Do pull yourself together, George.’ ‘I feel as if something’s wrong,’ said George, looking obstinate. ‘Julian — I think I’d better go across to the island.’ ‘No,’ said Julian at once. ‘Don’t be idiotic, George.’ Nothing is wrong, except that your father’s been forgetful. He’s sent his O.K. signal. That’s enough! You’re not to go and create a scene over there with him. That would be disgraceful!’ ‘Well – I’ll try and be patient,’ said George, unexpectedly meek. She got up, looking, worried. Julian spoke in a kinder voice.
‘Cheer up, old thing’! You do like to go off the deep end, don’t you?’
Chapter Fifteen
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
GEORGE did not moan any more about her worries. She went about with an anxious look in her blue eyes, but she had the sense not to ‘tell her mother how worried she was at not seeing Timmy in the glass room, when her father signalled.
She mentioned it, of course, but her mother took the same view as Julian did. ‘There! I knew he’d forget to take Timmy up! He’s so very forgetful when he’s at work.’ The children decided to go to the quarry that afternoon and explore the tunnel under the shelf of rock. So they set off after their lunch. But when they came to the quarry, they did not dare to climb down the steep sides. The heavy rain of the day before, had made them far too dangerous.
‘Look,’ said Julian, pointing to’ where the bushes and smaller plants were ripped up and crushed. ‘I bet that’s where old Martin fell down yesterday! He might have broken his neck!’ ‘Yes. I vote we don’t attempt to go down till it’s as dry as it was the other day,’ said Dick.
It was disappointing. They had brought torches, and a rope; and had looked forward to a little excitement. ‘Well, what shall we do?’ asked Julian.
‘I’m going back’ home,’ said George, unexpectedly. ‘I’m tired. You others go for a walk.’ Anne looked at George. She did seem rather pale. ‘I’ll come back with you, George,’ said Anne, slipping her hand through her cousin’s arm. But George shook it off.
‘No thanks, Anne, I want to be alone?
‘Well – we’ll go over the cliff then,’ said Julian. ‘It’ll be nice and blowy up there, See you later, George!’ They went off. George turned and sped back to Kirrin a cottage. Her mother was out. Joanna was upstairs in her bedroom. George went to ‘the larder and took several things from it. She bundled them into a bag and then fled out of the house.
She found James the fisher-boy. ‘James! You’re not to tell a soul. I’m going over to Kirrin Island tonight because I’m worried about Timmy. We left him there. Have my boat ready at ten o’clock.’ James was always ready to do anything in the world for George. He nodded and asked no questions at all. ‘Right, Miss. It’ll be ready. Anything you want put in it?’ ‘Yes, this bag,’ said George. ‘Now don’t split, on me, James. I’ll be back tomorrow if I find Tim’s all right?
She fled back to the house. She hoped Joanna would not notice the things she had taken from the larder shelf. ‘I can’t help it if what I’m doing is wrong,’ she kept whispering to herself. ‘I know something isn’t right with Timmy. And I’m not at all sure about Father, either. He wouldn’t have forgotten his solemn promise to ‘me about taking Timmy up with him. I’ll have to go across ‘to the island. I can’t help it if it’s wrong!’ The others wondered what was up with George when they came back from their walk. She was so fidgety and restless. They had tea and then did some gardening for Aunt Fanny. George did some too, but her thoughts were far away, and twice her mother had to stop her pulling up seedlings instead of weeds.
Bedtime came. The girls got into bed at about a quarter to ten. Anne was tired and fell asleep at once. As soon as George heard her regular breathing she crept quietly out of bed and dressed again. She pulled on her warmest jersey, got her raincoat, rubber boots and a thick rug, and tiptoed downstairs.
Out of the side door she went and into the night. There was a bit of a moon in the sky, so it was not as dark as usual. George was glad. She would be able to see her way through the rocks a little now — though she was sure she could guide the boat even in the dark! James was waiting for her. Her boat was ready. ‘Everything’s in,’ said James. ‘I’ll push off. Now you be careful, Miss — and if you do scrape a rock, row like anything in case she fills and sinks. Ready?’ Off went George, hearing the lap-lap of the water against the sides of the boat. She heaved a sigh of relief, and began to row strongly away from the shore. She frowned as she rowed. Had she brought everything she might want? Two torches. Plenty of food. A tin-opener. Something to drink. A rug to wrap herself in tonight.
Back at Kirrin Cottage Julian lay in bed watching for his uncle’s signal. Half past ten. Now for the signal. Ah, here they were! One — two three – four — five -six.! Good. Six and no more! He wondered why George hadn’t come into his and Dick’s room to watch for them. She had last night. He got up, padded to me door of George’s room and put his head in ‘George!’ he said softly. ‘It’s O.K. Your father’s signals have just come again.’ There was no reply. Julian heard regular breathing and turned to go back to bed. The girls must be asleep already! Well, George couldn’t really be worrying much about Timmy now, then! Julian got into his bed and soon fell asleep himself. He had no idea that George’s bed was empty no idea that even now George was battling with the waves that guarded Kirrin Island! It was more difficult than she had expected, for the moon did not really give very much light, and had an annoying way of going behind a cloud just when she badly needed every scrap of light she could get. But, deftly and cleverly, she managed to make her way through the passage between the hidden rocks. Thank goodness the tide was high so that most of them were well below the surface! At last she swung her boat into the little cove. Here the water was perfectly calm. Panting a little, George pulled her boat up as far as she could. Then she stood in the darkness and thought hard.