Peter shook her head. "I don't know. He just seemed to come from behind that big rock in the shadow... Let me look."

Then Jenny flopped down beside them and David found his torch and shone it into the dark opening. But there was nothing to be seen, as other rocks seemed to block the narrow passage after a few feet.

They all called and whistled the Peewit cry again, but only haunting echoes came back from the rocky cliff above them.

David sat back on his heels.

"I believe he came out of that hole," he said stubbornly and tried to lift some of the rocks that blocked the way in. But they were too heavy for them to shift, and after they had all strained and pulled for a few minutes, David said: "We're wasting time and being silly chumps as well. Let's sit down sensibly and talk it over. We've got to decide quickly what's the best thing to do. What d'you think, Peter?"

"I'm worried, David. You know I am. I keep on remembering that dream about Mary and I think that p'raps something has happened to them. I vote we go straight back and tell the grown-ups. I think we ought to do that now because we can't search all the hills ourselves and they ought to get a proper search party out... I'm sorry, David, but that's what I think."

David rolled over and grunted.

"What about you, Jenny?"

Quite flustered at being asked for an opinion, Jenny didn't seem to know what she did think.

"Thank you very much for asking me, David," she began, "but I believe I ought to be going home now. I'd forgotten I'd run away again and I'll get into awful trouble about it this time... Yes, I think Peter's right. We'd better go at once 'cos we can't do anything here."

David made no answer but called Macbeth and offered him a piece of sandwich from the knapsack. The dog accepted it out of courtesy, but could not be bothered to eat it.

"Funny," mused David. "He's not hungry and he's not very worried." He sat up suddenly. "No. You girls are wrong, and although I agree that we ought to tell the grown-ups, I don't think we all ought to go back to Seven Gates. I believe those kids are round here somewhere, and if we all go rushing back we may miss them again... Pity you can't tell us what you know, Mackie. Did Mary tie that ribbon on you...?"

David went on, "You two girls go back and find Mrs. Sterling and she'll tell you what else to do and who else to fetch. I still believe Mackie came out of the mountain."

They packed up rather silently but when they were ready to start down the track, Macbeth refused to come with them.

David looked more worried than ever. "I believe they're about here somewhere. Let's call again."