He turned to the others: "And if we look to the right now we shall see a little path leading to Hatchholt,"

Their friend dropped his heavy suit-case.

"Well done the guides," he said. "Now I'm going to rest for five minutes and have a smoke. This case is heavy, and I'm tired." And he sat down in the heather.

Mary looked at him with a puzzled frown.

"I've been wondering," she said. "Why didn't you have old John and the car to take you to Appledore 'stead of carrying all that luggage around?"

"Who's old John?" he asked.

"He has a car at Onnybrook. Why didn't you wait for him 'stead of trying to walk and getting lost?"

"Don't worry your head about me," he said. "I came on the early train, and there was no car so I started to walk."

Dickie rolled over on his back. He was feeling much more pleased with himself now.

"Well, I wouldn't want to walk with that luggage for any of my aunts," he remarked.

Mary sat up and then nudged her twin sharply.

"Look, Dickie! Someone's coming... P'raps it's Peter coming from Hatchholt?"

The officer pulled them down sharply.

"Let's trail them," he said. "Don't let's show ourselves till you see who it is."

They looked at him in surprise. He sounded serious, but was smiling as usual, and gave Dickie a broad wink. Mary put her hand on Mac's collar, and slowly raised her head above the heather.

Mary squealed. "It's your auntie come to meet you. I'm sure it is. Look! It's Mrs. Thurston, isn't it? But she hasn't come from Appledore. P'raps she's come up Hatchholt from the station."

"Come on!" said Dickie. "Don't you want to see her? Or shall we hide here and give her a surprise? Be quiet, Mackie, you bad dog... Quick, Mary, put him on the lead! He's so rude to Mrs. Thurston."

Before they could say more their companion pulled them so roughly down into the heather that Mary cried out in surprise and pain. He was looking white and upset, and for a moment didn't seem to know what he was doing.

Dickie wrenched himself free. "Let go!" he said. "Let Mary go! You're hurting her."

Then he smiled and released her. "I'm sorry," he said. "This is a splendid adventure, isn't it? I haven't seen my aunt for years, and don't suppose I would know her. Will one of you look again and tell me if you're absolutely certain that it's Mrs. Thurston. You look, Mary! You saw her first."