Anne gazed over the tops of the trees that grew at the lake-side. The sky was turning pink. Away in the distance, on a high slope about a mile away she saw something that interested her.

It looked like a high stone. She pointed at it. “Look, Julian,” she said. “What’s that stone? Is it a boundary mark, or something? It must be very big.”

Julian looked where she was pointing. “Where?” he said. “Oh, that. I can’t imagine what it is.”

’It looks like a very tall stone,’ said Dick, suddenly catching sight of it too.

“A tall stone,” repeated Anne, wondering where she had heard that before. “A tall... oh, of course! It was printed on that plan, wasn’t it - on the piece of paper Dick was given. Tall Stone! Don’t you remember?”

“Yes. So it was,” said Dick and he stared at the faraway stone monument with interest. Then as the raft swung onwards, high trees hid the stone. It was gone.

“Tall Stone,” said Julian. “It may be only a coincidence, of course. It wants a bit of thinking about, though. Funny we should suddenly spot it.”

“Would the loot be buried there?” asked George, doubtfully. Julian shook his head. “Oh, no,” he said, “it is probably hidden in some position explained by that mysterious map. Paddle up, everyone! We really must get back.”

Chapter Seventeen

Tit for tat!

When they arrived at the boat-house there was no sign of Maggie or Dick. But their boat was in the shed, tied up in front of the other two, where it had been before.

“They’re back all right,” said Julian “I wonder where they are. Don’t let’s drag this clumsy, heavy raft into the boat-house. I don’t feel as if I’ve any strength left in my arms. Let’s drag it under a bush and tie it there.”

They thought this a good idea. They pulled the raft up to some thick bushes and tied it firmly to a root that was sticking out of the ground.

Then they made their way to the ruined house, keeping a sharp look-out for Maggie and Dick. There was still no sign of them.

They went in, Timmy first. He didn’t growl so they knew it was safe. He led the way to the cellar steps. Then he growled!

“What’s up?” said Julian. “Are they down there, Tim?”

Timmy ran straight down the steps into the cellar room. He growled again, but it was not the fierce growl he always gave when he wanted to warn that enemies or strangers were near. It was an angry, annoyed growl as if something was wrong.

“I expect dear Maggie and Dirty Dick have been down here and found out where our headquarters are!” said Julian, following Timmy down the steps. He switched on his torch.

The beds of heather and bracken were there as they had left them, and their macs and rugs and rucksacks. Nothing seemed to have been disturbed. Julian lit the candles on the mantelpiece and the dark little underground room came to life at once.