"But you're never going up over now? Ye are? It's a stiff climb and lonely, too, and the weather looks like breaking... And those cycles? Ye'll never get those over. Those little ones'll not be able to push them up, for the track is nothing but stones..."

David explained that they hoped they could leave the cycles with her and call for them on their way back in a few days' time. This was agreed without difficulty, but then they had to transfer the loaded saddlebags to Sally. This took a long time and David needed all his patience.

The pony was difficult and the twins were not helpful. Dickie kept chattering on about the Devil's Chair and what he was going to do when he got up there, and Mary was trying to make up her mind whether Macbeth could manage without his basket. The friendly hostess of the "Hope Anchor" helped, but by the time they were ready she looked anxiously up the mountain.

"Ye have to go? Ye can bide here if you wish and welcome. Weather looks bad."

"We've got to go," said Dickie. "You're afraid that old devil is comin' to his throne. Mary and me heard all about that. We were frightened 'bout him once last summer, but we're not now. When I get up there we're goin' to jump on his silly old chair."

Before the woman could reply to this boasting Mary chimed in.

"We've been wonderin', David, whether we ought to be tied up."

"Tied up? What d'you mean, Mary?"

"You know. Like they do when they climb mountains. They always do."

David assured them that this would not be necessary, and after several minutes' argument they tore themselves away from their new friend and started up the rough lane which she pointed out to them. After ten minutes the trees thinned out and they found themselves on the side of the mountain. The twins, who were in front, turned and looked down on the "Hope Anchor" lying below them like a little model from a toy shop.

"She's still there," said Mary. "Look, David. I think she's waving."

They waved in return, but David would not let them linger. He was not enjoying this journey very much, for he was tired already and not very used to Sally. Also it was horribly hot and the path, winding steeply now between the heather, was treacherous with loose stones. And the flies were a torment to the three travellers as well as to Sally, who was fidgety and unhappy. For a time it seemed as if the path was leading them away from the Chair and Mary complained that it was a magic mountain.

"Anyway," her twin said, "it's a beastly mountain, and I don't like it, and I wish we hadn't come. I hate it..."

Mary added, "David, we're going to stop. We're tired... An' it's no use you lookin' grumpy like that."