"She went home with that comic policeman," David explained. "Tom has gone down now to fetch her, and we hope the bobby told that old stepmother of hers not to bully her. Anyway, we were all just coming across the yard when one of those Yankee jeeps came up through the wood and your two pals------"

"Pards," said Dickie. "Pards we call each other. Not pals. Pals is sissy."

"All right," David continued. "Pards, then. They'd come for Uncle Charles, and he went back with them."

"Is he coming back to see us?"

"They said something about coming back this afternoon, and if Uncle Charles is stationed near here, I s'pose we'll see him again."

Dickie put his fork down with a dramatic gesture.

"An' can't you think of anything better than that? Is that all you can organize while I bin restin'? Tell you what... You're none of you any good without me... an' Mary's not much good either," he added darkly.

Dumbfounded by this impertinence, David and Peter looked at each other in silence. Then Mary laughed.

"I know what he's going to say," she shouted. "It's the best idea ever. Trust us to think of plans. I know, Dickie. You tell them. It's a reunion."

Dickie passed his empty plate with a lordly air to Peter - who took it without a word - and fumbled for a handkerchief to wipe his mouth.

"All right," he said when he had used the edge of the blanket instead, "I'll tell you. What we want is a whopping, wizard, slap-up reunion feast all done by us in here. When something good has happened it's always good to do some feastin'," and he looked round complacently.

David laughed.

"You win, Dickie. Trust you to think of eating - 'specially when your mouth is full already. It's a grand idea."

"That's O.K., pards," said Dickie, rising languidly from his stool and stretching.

"Just let us know when you want some ideas," added Mary.

"We'll want something extra special for this feast. A bit of old corn beef is no good," Dickie said, as he wandered over towards his clothes.

"Venzun, maybe," suggested Mary.

"You're all so DULL today, it's just frightenin'," Dickie continued. "Uncle Charles is the prodigal son, isn't he? Jus' go and ask old Uncle Beaver to kill the fatted calf.

He'll do it for us - me, I mean. You jus' ask him," and he disappeared triumphantly into his cubicle.

Then Peter went in to find Aunt Carol and told her of the big plan and invited her and Uncle Micah to be the Lone Piners' guests that evening. As a result of this interview, Humphrey - in a rare state of excitement this morning - was sent to kill the two fattest geese on the farm, and Aunt Carol was very apologetic because they hadn't got any venison.