"But Mother, I thought they were with you. We left a note for them saying where we were and telling them to come with Tom. When they didn't come I supposed that he couldn't bring them, and that they'd be here."

His mother's face was very white.

"Come here!" she said, and led the way into the kitchen.

"Agnes, the twins are not with Master David. Tell me quickly, what they said to you this morning."

Agnes told what she knew, and David added again Peter's news about the camp, and the message she had left for them.

"Listen, David! You must go as quickly as you can to Ingles. It's just possible they may be there, or that Tom is bringing them home through the mist now, although Agnes has not been very long back. If they are not there, ask Mr. Ingles what is the best thing to do. Let me know quickly, but find him first. He'll help us. Go on your bike if you can see and if it will be quicker, but hurry, David, and find them for me."

David gave his mother a quick hug and went out again into the mist. He felt sick and afraid, but somehow couldn't believe that the twins were actually lost. It just couldn't happen, but this was a real chance for the Lone-Piners to prove themselves. The fog was worse now, and as he could no longer see the big white gate he knew it would be useless to cycle. He wondered what it would be like when it was dark, and had the sense to run back for his torch. Then, for a minute, he stood by the stream and called and whistled the Peewit's cry. But the latter was a forlorn and feeble little effort, and his voice seemed to come back to him muffled and thwarted.

Twice in the lane he stopped and called again: "Dickie! Mary! Where are you, twins? Can you hear me?"

But the only answer was the slow drip, drip of moisture falling from the trees.

7. Appledore

Alone on the top of the mountain, with the heather already damp, and cold against their bare knees, the twins stood hand-in-hand as the mist slid like a silent, silvery ghost around them. The Stiperstones vanished even as Dickie whispered, "He's in his chair, Mary."