Off they went together, looking closely at the ground. They found the cigarette ends and picked them up. Then on they went again.

“Let’s go back,” said George, in a low voice. “It spoils things if other people are on the island. I don’t want to have a picnic here now. We’ll go off in the boat somewhere and have a picnic tea in a cove.”

So they dragged the boat down to the water and jumped in. Sally was very pleased to be back in the boat and ran from end to end wagging her stiff little tail in delight. Timmy followed her up and down and got in everyone’s way.

“How can I row if you keep on jumping over me, Timmy?” complained Dick. “Sally, you’re just as bad. Berta, are you all right? You look a bit green?”

“It’s only excitement and the bumpy bit past the rocks,” said Berta, anxious not to appear seasick in front of the others. “I’ll be all right as soon as we get on to calm water.”

But she wasn’t, so it was regretfully decided that they must row to the shore. They had a lazy tea on the beach, and Berta recovered enough to join in heartily.

“Anyone got room for an ice-cream?” asked Anne. “Because if so I’ll stroll down to the shops and get some. I want to buy a new pair of shoe-laces too. One of mine broke this morning.”

Everyone appeared to have room for an ice-cream, so Anne set off with Sally, who wanted to come with her. She went to the draper’s and got the laces, and then went to the tea-shop that sold ices.

“Seven, please,” she said. The girl in the shop smiled. “Seven! You used to ask for five.”

“Yes, I know. But we’ve got someone staying with us — and another dog,” explained Anne. “And both dogs like ice-creams.”

“That reminds me — someone was in my shop yesterday asking about your uncle,” said the girl. “He said he knew him. He wanted to know how many children were staying at Kirrin Cottage, and I thought only the four of you were there — and Timmy of course. He seemed surprised, and said, surely there was another girl?”

“Good gracious!” said Anne, startled. “Did he really? How inquisitive! What did you say then?”

“I just said there were two boys and a girl, and a girl who liked to dress as a boy,” said the girl.

Anne was glad to think the shop-girl hadn’t known about Berta. “What was the man like?” she asked.

“Quite ordinary,” said the girl, trying to remember. “He wore dark glasses like so many visitors do in the bright sun. And I noticed he had a large gold ring on his finger when he paid my bill. That’s all I can remember.”

“Well, if anyone else asks you about us, just say we’ve got a friend staying with us called Leslie,” said Anne. “Goodbye.”

She went off at top speed anxious to tell the others. The man in the tea-shop must have been one of those who had gone to the island to watch the beach — he might have been staring at the five of them as they had played together. He must be one of the men now in the motor-boat. Anne didn’t like it, and it made her feel very uneasy.