The twins peeped out. Voices were coming from the sitting-room where they had had tea before. Men's voices mostly, and they could hear John laughing. They stepped into the hall. Another step. They did not have to say anything to each other. They just knew that, tea or no tea, they didn't want to stay any longer in this house. They tip-toed up the hall. Opposite the sitting-room Mary clutched Dickie's arm. Her heart was going "bump! bump! bump!" and her tongue felt dry and big in her mouth. Only two more steps now and they would be at the front door... They were on the mat and Dickie reached up to the latch...

Then a quiet voice came from behind them. "What are you doing? Stop!" The man Jacob, with a tray in his hand, was standing at the back of the hall, watching them. Then Mrs. Thurston came out of the sitting-room and shut the door quickly behind hero

"Thank you very much all the same," Dickie began, "but we've got to go now. We've got to go because we're late already, and Mother will be very cross..."

"But I thought you were thirsty and wanted some tea," Mrs. Thurston said. "Look, Jacob's got it for you, and it's ready now. You must have something before you go."

"No, thank you," Dickie went on, fingering the latch. "I'm sorry we can't stay, but we've just got to go now."

He felt the door move as Mrs. Thurston laughed.

"Very well," she said. "Good-bye, and thank you for guiding John so well. Tell your mother where you've been, and say how grateful we are to you. Are you sure you'll be all right, because the car is out of order and I can't drive you home... Very well, Jacob. Don't wait, thank you."

Dickie nodded. "Oh, yes! We'll go over Hatchholt way and find Peter."

Mrs. Thurston opened the front door for them and stood for a moment in the sunshine.

"Lucky there wasn't a tramp," she said.

"But there was a man," Mary said. "I saw him, and he dropped a cigarette, 'cause we stamped the fire out just now." She paused, and then: "P'raps he was the man in the raincoat on the mountain the other day. We thought he'd come this way."

"You've dropped your cigarette," Dickie said suddenly as he slipped out. "Good-bye."

They ran to loose Macbeth and then looked back. Mrs. Thurston was still standing at the door.

"Dickie," Mary gasped. "Her face! Did you see it? It was like when she kicked Mackie yesterday."

Her twin did not answer till they were in the wood.

"We're not afraid of anything, are we, Mary? Who shall we be going through this jungle? I think I'll be Sir Richard again and you be a native guide."