"I've just been out for a walk looking at birds," she replied. "But that is the way. Just follow this track and it leads to the reservoir, and then you'll know where you are... Well, John, we must get along... Good-bye, twin..."

Now Dickie, like Mary just now, had had enough of this adventure. He was ready to go, and thought his sister would agree. He was afraid that they were going to get into trouble for disobeying orders and leaving their valley, and was thoroughly ashamed of himself. He was just about to say "Good-bye" when he had the odd feeling that Mary was trying to tell him something. The twins never attempted to explain this to each other. They just knew that it happened and that sometimes they could speak to each other without words. Now Mary was telling him very definitely that they were not going home yet, but were going to Appledore first,

"There's something we've got to find out. We must go to Appledore," she seemed to be saying. So Dickie was not surprised when his twin said out aloud: "If you don't mind, Mrs. Thurston, we'll come down with you like we did the other day. We're awfully thirsty, and we'll have plenty of time to get back this way after tea."

But Mrs. Thurston did not seem to want them. She made excuses and was quite cross when Dickie supported his sister and said, "But don't you want us to come and see you? We've guided this stranger to you all day and looked after him..."

"And shared our rations with him," added Mary. "And now you don't want us."

John Davies laughed, picked up his suit-case, and looked at his aunt. "I think they'd better come with us, Aunt," he said. "Much more satisfactory."

They passed the cairn of stones and the secret hollow from where they had seen the stranger in the raincoat.

Soon after they came to the Appledore path, and Mary and Dickie led the way down. The others seemed to be lagging behind, so he whispered:

"What are we doin' this for, Mary? Were you really thirsty? 'Course I'm hungry now, but I generally am."

"I don't know, Dickie. I just felt we'd got to find out something... And she didn't really want us to come... I wish we hadn't now, but we can't go back yet."

"Mary," said Dickie solemnly, "have you thought what Mummy will say 'bout this adventure?"

"Yes, I have. Everything happened quickly, Dickie and we couldn't sort of help it, could we?"

They were almost in sight of the farmhouse and Macbeth, now that he was not with Mrs. Thurston, was trotting sedately in front. Suddenly he stopped, cocked his head, lifted one paw, and growled. Mary reached for Dickie's hand.

"Someone running through the trees, Dickie! Really! I saw him."

"This is a magic wood," said Dickie. "I don't think I like it."