Julian sat up, groaning “Oh my back! Now where is that wretched boat? Oh, there it is - right away down the lake, making for the landing-place by the house - or for the boat-house probably. They’ve given up the search for the Saucy Jane for the time being anyway.”

“Thank goodness,” said Anne. “Perhaps we can give it up too - till tomorrow anyhow! Stop snuffling down my neck, Timmy. What do you want us to do, Julian.”

“I think we’d better get back,” said Julian. “It’s too late now to start searching the banks of the lake - and anyway somehow I think it wouldn’t be much use. The two in the boat didn’t appear to be going anywhere near the banks - except when they began to play that trick on us to make us tired out!”

“Well, let’s get back then,” said George. “But I simply must have a rest first. Timmy, I shall push you into the water if you keep sitting on my legs.”

There was a sudden splash. George sat up in alarm. Timmy was not on the raft!

He was swimming in the water, looking very pleased with himself.

“There! He thought he’d rather jump in than be pushed,” said Dick, grinning at George.

“You pushed him in!” said George, looking fierce.

“I didn’t,” said Dick. “He just took a header. He’s having a jolly good time. I say - what about putting a rope round him and getting him to pull us to shore? It would save an awful lot of paddling.”

George was just about to say what she thought of that idea, when she caught Dick’s sly grin. She kicked out at him.

“Don’t keep baiting me, Dick. I’ll push you in, in a minute.”

“Like to try?” asked Dick, at once, “Come on. I’d like a wrestle to see who’d go into the water first.”

George, of course, always rose to a challenge. She never could resist one. She was up in a moment and fell on Dick, who very nearly went overboard at once.

“Shut up, you two!” said Julian, crossly. “We haven’t got a change of clothing, you know that. And I don’t want to take you back with bronchitis or pneumonia. Stop it, George.”

George recognised the tone in his voice and she stopped. She ran her hand through her short curls and gave a sudden grin.

“All right, Teacher!” she said, and sat down meekly, She picked up her paddle.

Julian picked up his. “We’ll get back,” he said. “The sun’s sinking low. It seems to slide down the sky at a most remarkable speed in October.”

They took a very wet Timmy on board and began to paddle back. Anne thought it was a truly lovely evening. She gazed dreamily round as she paddled. The lake was a wonderful dark blue, and the ripples they made turned to silver as they ran away from the raft. Two moor-hens said ‘crek-crek’ and swam round the raft in curiosity, their heads bobbing like clockwork.