When the twins came in with the milk and got in the way, Mrs. Morton suggested that they explore their own valley that morning and come back presently to dinner. "And bring Peter with you," she said. "Now I've met her I'm going to treat her as part of the family... I always wanted two boys and two girls."

The Witchend valley was much smaller than Dark Hollow or Hatchholt, but once they had passed the larch wood it soon became wild. There was no clearly-defined track by the stream, and it was difficult to pick out the easiest way through the heather.

"I've never been up this valley before," Peter said, "but I know where it comes out at the top. Few people use it, so it really is your own private valley."

"I've been thinking," David replied, "that it would be fun if we could make a real secret camp. We could cook and have meals up here. There's water from the stream, and wood for the fire, and it looks as if it wouldn't be difficult to find a place which is really secret. What do you think, Peter?"

"It's the sort of thing I've always wanted to do," she said. "Let's search now. We must find a place where Sally can be hidden and then I'll teach you all to ride her. P'raps, later on, your father might buy you a pony for your-selves..."

"Just what we were going to think of ourselves," said Mary, dreamily looking up at the sky through half-closed eyes.

"It's the best idea we ever had... any of us," added Dickie generously. "Let's start now. Mary and me will go to the other side of the stream and you two can search this side"... and he scrambled to his feet.

"All right," said Peter. "But remember what we want. We mustn't be too far away from Witchend, but the camp must be well hidden. We must be near the stream, and we want some shelter. What else do we want, David?"

"You've thought of nearly everything, but I'd like us to be near the wood too, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a look-out. And we mustn't forget we shall want a safe place for our fire."

After some argument, the twins agreed to be parted and the two girls took the wood side of the stream. It was Mary who found the ideal place when they were nearly back at the wood. She was chattering away to Peter about books she liked, when she noticed a tall pine tree standing by itself about a hundred yards from the stream up the side of the valley.

"Let's go up there, Peter. It looks as if it's all gorse or brambles round the tree, but we've searched everywhere now and I don't want Dickie to find a place first."