Timmy had come to the cellar room as soon as he had heard them stirring. He knew he had to be quiet so he didn’t give even one small bark. He was thrilled to find they were going out into the night.

The moon was well up now, and although it was not full, it was very bright. Small clouds swam across the sky, and every now and again the moon went behind one of them and the world became dark. But that was only for a minute or two, then out it came again, as brilliant as ever.

’Any sign of the others?’ whispered Dick.

Julian stood at the doorway and looked towards the tents. No - all was quiet there. Still, it would be better if he and the others crept round the side of the house and kept in the shadows.

“We don’t want to run any risk of them spotting us now,” whispered Julian, giving his orders. “Keep out of the moonlight, whatever you do. And see that Tim walks to heel, George.”

Keeping well in the shadows the five crept down to the lake-side. The water gleamed in the moonlight, and a bright moon-path ran all down it, lovely to see. The lake looked very dark and brooding. Anne wished it had a voice of some kind - even the little lap-lap-lap of waves at the edge. But there was none.

They pulled out the raft and threw the coil of rope on to it. Then they clambered on, enjoying its smooth bob-bob-bobbing as they paddled out on the water. They were off!

Timmy was thrilled. He kept licking first one of the four, then another. He loved going out in the night.

The moon shone down on the little company and turned every little ripple to silver as the raft bobbed over the water.

“It’s a heavenly night,” said Anne, looking round at the silent trees that lined the banks. “The whole place is so quiet and peaceful.”

An owl immediately hooted very loudly indeed from the trees and Anne jumped violently.

“Now don’t start all the owls hooting by talking about how quiet everything is,” teased Julian. ‘I agree though that it really is a heavenly evening.

How calm and mirror-like this lake is. I wonder if it ever produces a wave of any sort! Do you suppose it stays like this even in a storm?’

“It’s a queer sort of lake,” said Dick. “Look out, Timmy - that’s my ear. Don’t lick it all away. I say - anyone looking out for our four bearings?”

“Well, we know more or less where we’ve got to paddle the raft to,” said Julian. “We’ll go in that direction and then see if we’re spotting the bearings. I’m sure we’re going right at the moment.”

They were. George soon saw Tall Stone, and then Tock Hill came into sight. It wasn’t long before Steeple was seen too, shining in the moonlight.