“Yes. Good idea,” said George. “It’s a heavenly afternoon anyway. I’d love to paddle about on the lake with that raft. I hope it’s good and sound.”

“Sure to be,” said Dick. “The wood it’s made of is meant to last. Pass the cake, George - and don’t save Timmy any. It’s wasted on him.”

“It isn’t!” said George. “You know he loves it.”

“Yes. But I still say it’s wasted on him,” said Dick. “Good thing we got such an enormous cake! Are there any biscuits left?”

“Plenty,” said Anne. “And chocolate too!”

“Good,” said Dick. “I only hope our food will last us out It won’t if George has her usual colossal appetite.”

“What about yours?” said George, indignantly, rising every time to Dick’s lazy teasing.

“Shut up, you two,” said Julian. “I’m going to fill the water jug and have some orangeade. Give me something to take to old Tim.”

They spent about half an hour over their lunch, Then they decided to go and tackle the raft in the boathouse, and see if they could possibly launch it on the lake. It would be heavy, they knew.

They left the old house and went off to the boathouse. Julian suddenly caught sight of something out on the lake,

“Look!” he said, “they’ve got one of the boats out of the boat-house - the one that wasn’t half-sunk, I suppose! Dirty Dick is rowing hard. I BET they’re looking for the Saucy Jane!”

They all stood still and watched. Dick’s heart sank, Would Maggie and Dirty Dick get there first, and find what he and the other three were looking for? Did they know where the Saucy Jane was?

“Come on,” said Julian. “We’d better get going if we want to keep an eye on them. They may be rowing to where the Saucy Jane is hidden!”

They climbed in through the wooden side of the boat-house and went to the raft. Julian saw at once that one of the boats had gone - Merry Meg. It was the only boat that was fit to take.

The four began to man-handle the big raft, They took it to the edge of the ledge. It had rope-handles on each side which the children held on to.

“Now - ease her gently,” said Julian. “Gently does it. Down she goes!”

And down she went, landing with a big splash in the water. She bobbed there gently, a strong sound raft, eager to go out on the lake!

“Get the paddles,” said Julian. “Then we’ll be off.”

Chapter Sixteen

Out on the raft

There were four little paddles. Dick got them, and gave everyone one each. Timmy looked down solemnly at the raft. What was it? Surely he was not expected to ride on that bobbing, floating thing?

Julian was on the raft already, holding it steady for the others. He helped Anne on and then George stepped down. Dick came last - well, not quite last, because Timmy was not yet on.