"Cheer up, David," Peter said. "Maybe there's nothing to worry about. Let's go home and have some tea, and see if the others are there."

At tea David could keep silent no longer, and poured out his story to Mr. Sterling. He told of their first meeting with Jacob at the station and of his peculiar threatening, manners, and also of their visit to Appledore, and of the way Mrs. Thurston had questioned them and then, after the cry of the owl, had rushed them home and so prevented them returning over the top of the mountain.

"And then this afternoon, Mr. Sterling," he went on, "we saw her taking photographs of the dam... and sort of spying round here and watching through glasses... And I thought - we thought - maybe that it was something to do with the reservoir and the water supply for the cities you told me about, and I'm wondering whether we ought to go and tell somebody about her. What do you think, sir?"

"What do I think young man? What would I think except that you've been reading too many books or going to the cinema? Stop worrying yourself, lad, 'bout things that don't concern you. You're up here, and maybe don't know our ways yet. We try to keep ourselves to ourselves, and give each other a hand when 'tis needed, but we don't interfere."

David went very red.

"I'm not wanting to interfere, sir," he said. "And if you don't think I need to say anything to anybody, I won't. But we've been to her house, and I can't see why she should take photographs of Hatchholt. Why should she?"

Mr. Sterling chuckled. "How do you know she was a-taking pictures of us? She was taking pictures of birds I'll be bound. Gut yourself a piece of my best cake and welcome and forget the woman."

David grinned ruefully and followed this advice.

They helped to wash up, but somehow David couldn't settle down to much else, and was feeling very uneasy when Peter tried to persuade him to go swimming again.

"I don't think I will, Peter," he said. "I'd love it really but I'm worried about the twins, and think I ought to get back. Will you walk down the valley with me till we get to the turning?"

She didn't try to keep him so he said, "Good-bye and thank you," to Mr. Sterling, who told him to come again soon and bring the little 'uns, and they started down the track by the pipe-line.

When they came to the turning, David broke a long silence. "Look here," he said. "We'll come to-morrow, if we can. We'll come this way, and you meet us about twelve. We'll bring sandwiches and Tom too, if we can get him. 'Bye, Peter. See you to-morrow."