“Whoever was here this morning scared them all right,” said Julian, remembering. “Gosh, don’t let’s forget there may be people here. Well — I can’t see anyone so far!”

They went cautiously forward, towards the old castle. Timmy running ahead. Then Julian stopped and pointed to the ground.

“Cigarette ends — look! Fresh ones, too. There are people here, that’s certain. Walk ahead of us, Tim.”

But at that moment there came the sound that Anne had heard the night before — the sound of a motor-boat’s engine. R-r-r-r-r-r-r-r!

“They’re escaping!” cried Dick. “Quick, run to the other side of the island! We may see them then!”

Chapter Twelve

Very suspicious

The children, with the two dogs barking excitedly, ran to the other, seaward side of the island. Great rocks lay out there, and the sea splashed over them.

“There it is — a motor-boat!” cried Dick. They all stood and watched the boat riding over the sea at a very fast speed.

“Where are the glasses — did we bring them with us?” said Julian. “I’d like to focus them on the boat and see if I can read the name — or even see the men in it!”

But the glasses had been left behind at Kirrin Cottage — what a pity!

“They must have anchored their motor-boat out there, and somehow clambered inshore over the rocks,” said George. “It’s a dangerous thing to do if you don’t know the best way.”

“Yes — and if they came last night, as I think they must have done, because I’m sure now it was the engine of the motor-boat that I heard,” said Anne, “if they came last night, they must have clambered to the shore in the dark. I wonder they managed it!”

“It must have been the light of a lantern or a torch you saw on the island in the night,” said Julian. “They probably didn’t want to be seen arriving on the island, and that’s why they went the other side, the seaward side. I wonder if they were men spying to find out if Berta is with us or not.”

“Let’s snoop around a bit more and see if we can find anything else,” said Anne. “The motor-boat is almost out of sight now.”

They went back to the other side of the island. Berta looked with awe at the old ruined castle in the middle. Jackdaws circled round a tower, calling loudly. “Chack-chack-chack!”

“Once upon a time my castle had strong walls all round it,” said George. “And there were two great towers. One’s almost in ruins, as you can see, but the other is fairly good. Come right into the castle.”

Berta followed the others in, struck dumb with awe. To think that this island, and this wonderful old ruined castle belonged to George! How very very lucky she was!

She went through a great doorway, and found herself in a dark room, with stone walls enclosing it. Two narrow, slit-like windows brought in all the light there was.