“Right, Jenny,” said Tinker, about to give her one of his ‘squeezes’ but thinking better of it when he saw her warning look. “Julian, may I come with you to Kirrin Island tonight? I’d like a bit of fun.”

“You may not,” said Julian. “Anyway, there won’t be any fun.”

“There might be if Mr Wooh did hear George say she was taking those papers over,” said Tinker. “He’d be waiting on the island — and you might be glad to have me with you!”

“I should not be glad to have you with me,” said Julian. “You’d just be in the way. It would be much easier to look after myself than to see what you were up to all the time. I am going by myself. Please don’t scowl at me like that, George.”

He got up from the table and went to look out of the window. “Wind’s died down a bit,” he said. “I think I’ll have a bathe in an hour’s time. If any of you others want to come, we’ll go down together.”

They all went down to the beach after a while and bathed, except Mischief, who put one small paw into the water, gave a howl and scampered back up the beach as fast as ever he could, afraid that Tinker might catch him and make him go in! Timmy went in, of course. He swam marvellously, and even gave Tinker a ride on his back, diving down when the boy felt heavy, so that Tinker suddenly found himself sprawling in the water! “You wretch, Timmy!” yelled the boy, “the water’s gone up my nose. Wait till I catch you! I’ll put you under!”

But he couldn’t possibly catch old Timmy, who really enjoyed the joke. The big dog gave a joyful bark, and swam after George. How he loved being with them all!

The rest of the day went quickly. Jenny had a fine tea for them, with slices of ham, and salad, and fruit to end with, and said afterwards that she had time to play a game of Scrabble with them if they liked. Mischief sat on the table to watch.

“I don’t mind you watching,” said Anne. “But you are NOT to play, Mischief. You knocked all my letters onto the floor last time we played, and I lost the game.”

Timmy watched gravely, sitting on a chair beside George. He simply could NOT understand what made the children play games like this when they could go for a nice long walk with him. They took pity on him when the game was over and went out for a two-mile walk along by the sea. How Timmy loved that!

“I shall cycle to Kirrin Village as soon as it’s dark,” announced Julian. “I suppose your boat is tied up in the usual place, George? I’m sorry I can’t take you with me, but there might be a bit of danger, as we said. However I won’t run into any if I can help it. I shan’t feel comfortable until those secret papers are safely out of the way! You can give them to me just before I go, George.”