“Come on - we’ll get as close to them as we can!” said Julian, beginning to paddle again. “I expect it will make them absolutely mad to see us so close, but we can’t help that!”

They paddled hard again, and at last came up to the boat. Timmy barked. Maggie and Dirty Dick at once looked round and saw the raft and the four children. They stared at them savagely.

“Hallo!” cried Dick, waving a paddle. “We took the raft out. It goes well. Does your boat go all right?”

Maggie went red with rage. “You’ll get into trouble for taking that raft without permission,” she shouted.

“Whose permission did you ask when you took that boat?” shouted back Julian. “Tell us and we’ll ask their permission to use this raft!”

George laughed. Maggie scowled, and Dirty Dick looked as if he would like to throw his oars at them.

“Keep away from us!” he shouted. “We don’t want you kids spoiling our afternoon!”

“We like to be friendly!” called Dick, and made George laugh again.

Maggie and Dirty Dick had a hurried and angry conversation. They glared at the raft and then Maggie gave an order to Dirty Dick. He took up the oars again, and began to row, looking rather mutinous.

“Come on - follow,” said Julian, so the four began to paddle again following after the boat. “Maybe we’ll learn something now.”

But they didn’t. Dirty Dick rowed the boat towards the west bank, and the raft followed. Then he swung out into the middle again, and again the raft followed, the children panting in their efforts to keep up.

Dirty Dick rowed right across to the east bank and stayed there till the children came up. Then he rowed off again.

“Having some nice exercise, aren’t you?” called the woman in her harsh voice. “So good for you all!”

The boat swung out to the middle of the lake again. Dick groaned. “Blow! My arms are so tired I can hardly paddle. What are they doing?”

“I’m afraid they’re just leading us on a wild goose chase,” said Julian, ruefully. “They have evidently made up their minds that they won’t look for the Saucy Jane while we’re about - they’re just tiring us out!”

“Well, if that’s what they’re doing I’m not playing!” said Dick, and he put down his paddle and lay flat on his back, his knees drawn up, panting hard.

The others did the same. They were all tired. Timmy licked each one sympathetically and then sat down on George. She pushed him off so violently that he nearly fell into the water.

“Timmy! Right on my middle!” cried George, surprised and indignant. “You great clumsy dog, you!”

Timmy licked her all over, shocked at being scolded by George. She was too exhausted to push him away.

“What’s happened to the boat?” asked Anne at last. “I’m too tired to sit up and see.”