She turned right at the corner where she had said "Goodbye" to David in the mist last evening, and cantered up the lane to Ingles. On the way she passed two more Home Guards on their bicycles. At the farm the smoke was rising straight and lazily into the already hazy air, and Tom's unmistakable whistle welcomed her as she rode into the yard.

"Hello!" he grinned. "You're up early. Had any adventures? We have!"

"Adventures! Wait till I tell you, Tom. I hear the twins are safe. Is that right?"

"Right it is. We rescued 'em!"

"Who's we?"

"Me. And David. And Uncle helped a bit too."

Peter swung to the ground.

"Don't be so irritating, Tom. Are you going to tell me or must I ride up to Witchend and hear the story there? And where's Mr. Ingles this morning?"

Just as Tom was relenting and had told her that his uncle had gone off with the Home Guard to Appledore, Mrs. Ingles called from the back door.

"Come along in, Peter, my dear, and tell us what you've been doing with yourself. You're up early this morning."

When she heard that the girl had intended to go on to Witchend for breakfast, she insisted that Peter sit down with them. Across the table Tom told her briefly of the night's adventure. Peter's eyes shone as she heard of how David had climbed up to the window and how the twins had been rescued. Then she told in turn, as quickly as she could, of their search of the mountain, of their meeting with Mr. Evans, of how he had disappeared in the night, and of how the Home Guard had called her out and sent her down there.

Both children helped Mrs. Ingles for an hour after breakfast and eventually got away just as the grandfather clock in the hall struck ten o'clock. The sun was very hot as they walked up the lane and Peter flicked the flies from Sally.

Now they were at Witchend's white gates and Peter tied Sally to the post. The heat was rising above the wood and over the pool a cloud of flies hovered. On the grass in the shade lay a little black dog. When Peter called his name he raised one ear and beat his tail upon the ground - and that was all,

Tom put his fingers to his mouth and whistled, loud and long, the peewit's lament. Peter, who could also whistle this way, copied him fairly successfully. David looked out from a window and waved.

"It's Peter and Tom. How are you, Peter? Come in. We've got the twins back safe and sound."

Mrs. Morton met them at the door and slipped her arm through Peter's.

"And what have you been up to, my dear? I can't sort it all out yet, but everybody except Agnes and me seems to be having adventures.