"I've cooked theirs, too, but it's difficult without an oven. There's no way of keeping it hot."

"If they're not here by the time I've finished mine I'll eat theirs too," David growled, and then went outside again and beat upon an empty saucepan. And this time he did get an answer, for round the corner of the house came Uncle Micah looking haggard in the morning sunlight. David dropped the wooden spoon with which he had been beating the gong and stared in amazement at the old man's unkempt appearance. His black eyes were wild and restless and fixed themselves on David almost unseeingly, while his hands plucked at his beard.

"What means this clamour?" he boomed suddenly, and David felt rather than heard Peter come out of the barn and stand beside him.

"Good morning, Uncle Micah," she began. "That's our gong. We're just going to have breakfast. Would you like to see how we've tidied up the barn and made it ship-shape for our camp?"

The old man passed his hand across his eyes and then said:

"Those two... I want to see those two... the two little ones."

"You mean Dickie and Mary? Oh! They're off together somewhere. Why do you want to see them, Uncle?"

"Tell them to come to me. I shall be in the twenty-acre over the mountain... As soon as they come back tell them, I pray..." and he strode away towards the house.

Peter looked worried as they went back into the barn and took two plates from the top of the stove. They sat down at the table in silence, and although the sun was shining right into the barn through the wide-open doors their meal was a gloomy one.

Every now and then, between mouthfuls, David would mutter, "Silly young idiots."

At last Peter put down her knife and fork and said:

"For goodness' sake, cheer up, David. I can't think what's the matter with you... they're only having a bit of fun..." but she said this as if she didn't really mean it, and when David glanced up with a "Sorry, Peter," he caught a very worried look on her face. Before he could say any more, there came a cheerful greeting from behind them.

"Good morning, all. My word, but you must have a fine cook here - your breakfast smells good..."

David got up, and Peter smiled.

"Come and have a cup of tea with us, Aunt Carol."

"Thank you, I will. Your uncle was late for his breakfast and I'd had mine. Where are the twins, by the way? He said he wanted to see them, but I can't imagine why."

"Oh, they're just playing one of their silly tricks, Mrs. Sterling. They often do this sort of thing, but I must admit that Dickie has never been known to miss a meal if he can help it."