No sooner was she on the ground than she rushed over to Uncle Micah, seized his hand and led him a little way down the track. The old man seemed to be rather dazed and quite willing to leave the rescue arrangements to someone else. Before the cradle went up again, David noticed that he passed his hand several times across his forehead. Then Mary dragged at his arm, and he lowered his head for her to whisper. No doubt the twins were up to something mysterious, but it must be important, David thought, or else Mary would have waited to see Dickie come down.

Dickie's descent was not without incident, because he was so excited that he swung the cradle until he hit the side of the cliff and hurt himself.

"Mountaineering" he said, "that's what this is. Everest! And down there you're the native porters. Hi! Keep me off the cliff, you porters!... Ow! You beasts!... I bet you told them to do that, David. You never think of Mary and me doin' all this for you and sufferin' hunger and thirst... Oh, gosh! Am I down? Isn't it quick? Give me a sandwich, 'cos I'm famishin'."

And with his mouth full he dashed over to join his twin and Uncle Micah. The cradle went up again and Tom hauled it over the edge and called to them to wait for a bit and then disappeared.

David went over to pat Sally and watched the twins. Humphrey and the policeman sat down and lit their pipes and Jenny was talking to Macbeth. Every now and then David could hear the twins evidently pleading with Mr. Sterling. And then Mary raised her voice, and David heard her say:

"But you must, Uncle. It's the most wonderful thing in the world, and we've done it for you. We're not playing a game - honest, we're not, Uncle - so do please, PLEASE, believe us! Will you PLEASE, please wish for your heart's desire?"

"Just wish for what you want to happen most in all the world," Dickie said grandly. "An' we'll do it for you... Just like that... Poof!" and he snapped his fingers and waved a magnificent hand as if he was Merlin himself.

"An' if you can't think what is your heart's desire," came Mary's anxious treble, "we'll tell you," and then, before David could see how the old man was reacting, Tom called, "Right away," and down came Peter, laughing all over her brown face. She slipped an arm through David's and said:

"Isn't it grand to be together again, David? Listen - you two men as well - I can't explain how the twins found him, but it's true - Uncle Micah's son, Charles Sterling is in there with a twisted ankle, and he's coming down next."