The whistle was repeated as she ran over to the open window. The floor was cold to her feet and the air fresh and keen as she leaned out and saw three men in khaki grinning up at her.

"Hello, Peter," said the sergeant softly. "Sorry to disturb you so early, but the Home Guard's come to see you, and I don't want to wake the house. Now don't shout, but tell me as quietly as you can - have you seen or heard of any strangers up this way, either last night or this morning?"

She knew the men; they were all from Onnybrook or the next village.

"Yes!" she whispered. "Yes - we've got one. He's downstairs."

The three men looked at each other and then up at her. "Where did you get him?"

"On the mountain last night," she whispered hoarsely.

"Come down and tell us all about it, Peter, and better wake your father up, too. Where's your stranger, did you say?"

"He's in the sitting-room. We've only got two bedrooms, and I'll have to go through his room to get to the door... Shall I come quietly and creep through without waking him?"

"Yes. Be quick, Peter, and be quiet. Don't wake your father, after all, for a minute. Come out here first."