Peter was angry with David for spending so much time messing about with sluices and wheels and things and had decided to go swimming on her own. When David saw her in the water he quickly jumped down behind the dam wall, pulled on his swimming trunks and dived into the water - down, down into the clear green depths. He opened his eyes and looked up through the water. Just ahead and above him he could see Peter swimming away. He kicked hard and came up to the surface. He shook the water out of his hair and puffed. "Oh Peter," he said, "this is grand. That's the best dive I've ever had. What a wonderful place this is. Let's race to the other end."

She looked at him over her shoulder, grinned sheepishly, and said, "Right. Go!"

Peter swam very well indeed, but David was better. He had been well taught and he really loved the water, but realizing that Peter had been annoyed with him, David decided to let her win.

After that all was well, but in spite of the sun the water was surprisingly cold, and they did not stay in very long. The wall of the dam was hot to the touch and they lay there, sunbathing, for a little.

"I wonder what's happened to the twins, David? I suppose Tom can't come, so they've had to stay at Witchend. P'raps they'd show your mother the map, though, and she'd let them come on their own! I tell you what! My clothes are in that secret place I showed you - I'll run over and dress now, and meet you up on that ridge on the right. I used to have a look-out hut there - like the one I built at Lone Pine - and we could watch from there and see if the others are coming up the valley. It's the highest place round here, and you can practically see the summit." She ran off along the side of the water and disappeared into the heather. David was dressed in two minutes, spread his towel and trunks on the warm stones to dry, and started for the ridge she had pointed out. It was farther than he thought, but Peter caught him up before he got to the top.

"There's not much of my hut left now," she panted, "but we might re-make it. Yes, here's the place, and there are three of the stakes I put in. It's a fine spot, isn't it?"

They flung themselves down in the heather. Looking down into the Hatchholt valley they could follow the white track right down to the first turn, and David realized again how steep and narrow was this wild valley. He wondered what it would be like in winter.

"They're certainly not there," David said definitely.

"No. Maybe they're not coming," Peter agreed.

Suddenly David stiffened, gripped her arm, and pulled her down into the heather beside him.