“Now you know what your aunt said, Master Julian,” she said. “The police have got to have a report of anything suspicious. You’d better ring them up.”

“I will when we’ve been over to the island and back,” said Julian. “I don’t want to look an ass, Joan. If it’s only harmless trippers who don’t know any better there’s no need to bother the police. I promise to ring the police if we find anything suspicious.”

“I think you ought to ring them now,” said Joan. “And what’s more I don’t think you ought to go over to the island at all if you’re suspicious of the people there.”

“We’ll have Timmy with us,” said Dick. “Don’t worry.”

“And Sally too,” added Berta at once.

Joan said no more, but went out to get the raspberries and ice-cream, looking worried. She brought in an enormous glass dish of fresh red raspberries, and another dish of creamy-looking ice-cream blocks from the refrigerator.

A sigh of admiration went up from everyone. “Who could want anything better?” said Dick. “And that ice-cream — how do you get it like that, Joan — not too frozen and not too melty? Just how I like it. I do hope some American doesn’t get hold of you and whisk you away across the ocean — you’re worth your weight in gold!”

Joan laughed. “You say such extravagant things, Master Dick — and all because of an ordinary dish like raspberries and ice-cream. Get along with you! Master Leslie will tell you there’s nothing clever about raspberries and cream.”

“I agree with every word the others say,” said Berta, fervently. “You’re wunnerful, you’re a honey, you’re. . . .”

But Joan had run out of the room, laughing, very pleased. She didn’t mind what she did for children like these!

After they had finished lunch, they went down to the beach. James was still with the boat.

“She’s finished!” he called. “You going out in her now? I’ll give you a hand down with her then.”

Soon all five children and the dogs as well were in George’s boat. The boys took the oars and began to pull hard towards the island. Timmy stood at the prow as he loved to do, fore-paws on the edge of the boat, looking out across the water.

“He fancies himself as a figure-head,” said Dick. “Ah, here comes Sally — she wants to be one too. Mind you don’t fall overboard, Sally, and get your pretty feet wet. You’ll have to learn to swim if you do!”

Sally stood close beside Timmy, and both dogs looked eagerly towards the island — Timmy because he knew there were hundreds of rabbits there, and Sally because for her it was still quite an adventure to go out in a boat like this.

Berta, too, gazed eagerly at the little island as they drew near. She had heard so many tales about it now! She looked especially at the old castle rising up from it. It was in ruins, and Berta thought it must be very old indeed. Like all Americans, she loved old buildings and old customs. How lucky George was to own an island like this.