His friendliness was difficult to resist, and he was really very charming. Now that he was close Peter saw that he was older than he had seemed at first, and he would certainly be a great help to the search-party. So she took his hand and said, "Right ho! My name's Petronella Sterling, but everyone calls me Peter. And this is Sally. Let's go and find the others. If you'll follow along after me I'll gallop back and tell them and then you can join the line."

As she breasted the rise she turned and waved her hand to her new friend and galloped back to Bill. He saw her coming, and sensing that her haste meant news he halted the others and waited for her. When she had told her story he scratched his head.

"We can do with him, Peter, but I'm a bit worried. If he's come along the top from the other direction he would have passed the Appledore track, and if the twins had seen or heard him they'd have called for help. Looks as if we've narrowed the search a bit, but we'll wait for this chap, and I'll have a word with him."

Evans, when he arrived, was as helpful as he could be, but he had not anything much to add to the story he had told Peter,

"Of course," he said to Bill. "I might have passed the children, but, you see, I wasn't looking for them. I've never been up here before, and after this afternoon's experience I doubt if I'll ever come again. I suppose you gentlemen know only too well what the fog is like up here. I know now, and I don't like it!"

The others grinned at his way of putting it, but Bill added: "Anyhow, Mr. Evans, you've been lucky. Very lucky. The fog cleared in an hour or two tonight. Sometimes it lasts for days, and I doubt if you'd have found your way down... But we've these children to worry about. I'm anxious, and we'll be glad of your help. Why don't you dump your knapsack down where you can find it again easily? You don't want to carry it round with you, surely?"

"Oh, that's all right, thanks," Evans said hastily. "I don't mind a bit, and I'm used to it now. It's heavy, but it balances well."

So they started off again, calling and whistling and searching, but without success. Now that the excitement was wearing off Peter began to feel terribly sleepy and had to make terrific efforts to keep awake. Fight as she would, she began to sway in the saddle, and twice she dozed off for a few seconds.

After half an hour's progress their shouts were answered by the other party, but when they met they could see by their gloomy faces that they had had no luck either. Bill was very serious, and called them all together.