Then David passed Macbeth down before Mr. Ingles gave him a hand for the last time. In the yard they stood still for a minute before creeping in single file to the corner of the house. They were just about to cross the grass to the gate when Mr. Ingles put out his arm and pressed them back against the wall.

"Quiet," he said under his breath. "Don't move."

He had heard the front door open, and now came the clear and unmistakable voice of Mrs. Thurston.

"The moon will soon be up," she said. "The wind has dropped and the mist has gone..."

David felt Mary shaking as she leaned against him, and Dickie was muttering, "Beast and pig! I hate her!"

"Now," said Mr. Ingles, and led them across to the gate. "Walk quietly. I'm going to take you on my back, Mary. We'll be quicker that way. If Dickie can't keep up with us you chaps must take it in turn to give him a lift. Mac will have to walk."

And so they escaped from Appledore.

9. Hatchholt

After David had left, Peter turned back up the Hatchholt valley in the thickening mist. She could have found her way blindfolded, so she had plenty of opportunity of thinking over the day's adventures. The mist was very thick now and she was just crossing one of the rough plank bridges over the pipe-line when she heard the throbbing of an aeroplane. She stood in alarm as the plane came rapidly nearer, until it seemed to be actually roaring up the valley. Straining her eyes upwards, she thought she glimpsed a rushing dark shadow in the grey fog, but soon the noise of the engine died away and she trudged on up the hill, knowing that her father would be fidgeting about her.

Mr. Sterling was very glad to see her.

"Always gallivanting about, my girl! And look at you now. You're wet through. Run up and change your clothes and give your hair a rub, and by the time you're ready I'll have some bread and milk for you."

"Father," she said, "you're an old pet to me. I'll eat up the bread and milk if I can sit here on the floor and dry my hair at the same time."

"Was the mist very bad as you came up? How far did you go with the lad, and will he find his way?"

"Yes, Father. I'm sure he will, although it's very thick out there now."

"He's a nice lad," Mr. Sterling went on. "A good-mannered lad, who's been taught to listen politely to his elders. And I think he's got a good headpiece on his shoulders, too."

Peter decided to talk to him again about Mrs. Thurston. She told him everything they had found out, reminded him again of the afternoon's activities and of David's suspicions.

"I know you think David was being silly," she finished, "but I've been thinking about it all, too, and now I believe he's right, and... and, I believe we ought to tell the police."