Then Mr. and Mrs. Ingles arrived, with the latter riding on Sally. Both were looking very smart, and Mr. Ingles had changed into his uniform for the occasion. He lifted his wife down while Peter held the pony and they joined the group by the porch. David was now feeling very nervous and wondering whether the others would come, but his attention was mercifully distracted by the appearance of Agnes. Dressed most unsuitably in black she also wore a black hat from which waggled four enormous scarlet cherries. Just as the twins ran over to her a car came up the lane and the party was complete. A jolly-looking man in officer's uniform was driving and by his side was Bill Ward, who jumped out and proudly introduced his father. Captain Ward saluted the ladies, gave Peter a hug with one arm, and clapped Tom on the back with the other. Then he shook hands with David.

"Well, my lad? Very much honoured by your invitation, but you didn't tell us much. What are we to do?"

David cleared his throat and began his speech. He had been planning what to say all day, but now that all these grown-ups were here round him he forgot the words he had rehearsed and began rather incoherently:

"Thank you all very much for coming, and we're all very glad to see you... It's like this... We - Peter and Tom and the twins and me - have formed a secret club with a secret meeting-place near here with a camp fire... We want you all to come as our guests to the camp this afternoon - we've got some rations for you, thanks to Mother - and then we thought we could all tell each other what we found out on the hill and about Appledore and Hatchholt..."

Before any of the grown-ups could answer Dickie broke in:

"An' there's something else jolly important and serious, too. You've all got to be blindfolded."

At this startling pronouncement Captain Ward and Mr. Sterling looked mildly astonished, Agnes showed signs of alarm, and Mr. Ingles roared with laughter and slapped his knee.

"Well, did you ever hear the like of that?" he boomed. "Blindfolded, eh? Me - that's lived hereabouts for forty years! And what is it you're going to do with us when you've got us helpless?"

Then Peter spoke up. "We're going to lead you to our secret camp, Mr. Ingles. Of course we regret the inconvenience very much" - she was rather proud of this grand phrase - "but we know you'll understand."

Mary sidled up to Bill, whose appearance always unsettled her allegiance to Dickie.

"If you like," she said, "I'll lead you myself. Then you'll be quite safe. Would you like me to look after you?"

"Thank you, Mary. I would. I only wish I could take you to sea with me!"