“I’m not your good friend,” said the other man. “I’ve got to do business with you, Mr Wooh, but I wouldn’t like to have you for a friend. I’d rather have that chimpanzee of yours! I don’t even like playing cards with you! WHY doesn’t this fellow come?”

George put her mouth to one of Timmy’s ears. “Timmy, I’m going to tell them to clear off my island,” she whispered furiously to the listening dog. “Fancy fellows like that daring to set foot here — rascals and rogues! Don’t come with me — wait till I call you, then if you have to rescue me, come at once!”

Leaving a most unwilling Timmy standing beside part of the old castle wall, she suddenly appeared before the two astonished men by the light of their lantern.

They leapt to their feet at once. “It’s the girl who’s come — I shouldn’t have thought that the boys would have let her,” said Mr Wooh, astonished. “I am…”

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON MY ISLAND?” demanded George, angrily. “It belongs to me. I saw your light and came over with my dog. Be careful of him — he’s big and strong and fierce. Clear off at once, or I’ll report you to the police!”

“Easy, easy, now!” said Mr Wooh, standing very straight and looking immensely tall. “So the boys sent you to hide the papers instead of daring to come themselves. How cowardly of them! Where are the papers? Give them to me.”

“I’ve hidden them,” said George. “They’re not very far away. You didn’t think I’d be silly enough to come along to you with them in my hands when I saw your light and knew that people were here, did you? No — I’ve hidden them somewhere on the shore — where you won’t find them. Now you just clear off, both of you!”

“A very brave and determined young lady!” said Mr Wooh, bowing solemnly to George.

“Do you mean to tell me that’s a girl!” said the other man, amazed. “Well! She’s a plucky kid, I must say! Look here, kid, if you’ve got those papers, hand them over, and I’ll give you a whole lot of money which you can give to Professor Hayling with my best wishes.”

“Come and get them,” said George, turning as if to go. The two men looked at one another, eye-brows raised. Mr Wooh nodded, and then winked. If George had seen his face she would have known what that wink meant. It meant, “Let’s humour this silly kid, follow her — see the hiding-place, snatch the papers and clear off in our boat without paying a penny! But LOOK OUT for the dog!”

George led the way, Timmy walking between her and the two men. He was growling all the time, deep down in his throat, as if to say, “Just you lay a finger on George and I’ll bite it off!” The men took care not to go too near him! They shone the lantern on him all the time, making sure that he was not going to leap at them.