Almost before she had finished speaking Mary was wriggling through the gorse tunnel again. Left alone Peter explored more carefully. Well away from the tree and the gorse, was a safe place for their camp-fire. She then found three flat rocks and, using one as a hearthstone, stood the other two up on edge at each side hoping that the distance between them was narrow enough to support the kettle. After gathering some twigs and dry heather to start the fire, Peter went into the wood to fetch as much kindling as she could carry. She also brought back four stout sticks which she hoped would serve as the uprights for a shelter. A bracken tent was a good idea, for when the roof was covered with bracken it would be invisible. She pulled in some heather to sit on, and then made a second journey to the wood for thin sticks to make the framework of the roof and sides. This took a long time and she had just decided that she was hungry enough for dinner when she heard voices below. She pulled herself up into the tree and looked down into the valley. Toiling slowly along the side of the stream in the shadow of the wood, came the three Mortons. David had the knapsack on his back and seemed to be carrying a pail as well. The twins had satchels and a gleam of metal signified that Dickie had also got the job of kettle-carrier again. Macbeth cavorted in the rear. Peter stood upright on a stout branch and shouted with all her strength. She saw Mary stop and point up at her and all three waved. Mary continued to lead the way but it was not until she had taken them round the gorse bushes and pushed aside the bracken to show them her secret, that the boys realized how well she had done. When David said that they could not have found a better place if they had searched for months, she went quite pink at his praise.

"I've got it," said Dickie suddenly, "I've thought of a name for us and for this camp. This is Lone Pine Camp, and we'll be the Lone Pine Club... Now let's have something to eat..."

Both suggestions were approved.

"You'd better be captain, David," said Peter, "because it really was your idea to have a camp although I always wanted a secret club... but I'll be camp cook if you like."

"All right," David agreed, "but you'll all have to obey orders and after dinner we'll make the rules... We've got plenty to eat and we can be out till supper if we're not too far away."

"I hope you didn't tell your mother anything," said Peter. "This must be a real secret - particularly from grown-ups who generally spoil everything however nice they are."

The twins were indignant,,

"Do you think we really would?"

"'Course we wouldn't say a word."