After they had called and whistled till their throats ached, he said suddenly: "No, this is no good. Do you mind, Peter, if I go with Jenny? I've got some ideas and it will be easier I think if I go down myself. D'you mind staying and keeping a look out? P'raps if you get up really high somewhere you could watch the whole Dingle. Take Mackie with you - you'll have to lead him and I think I've got some string - and he'll be company for you. I'd try to get up to the Chair, if I were you, because you can see for miles from there... You'd better take what's left of the grub, too in case you find Dickie - he's sure to be hungry."

"Of course I will, David. Maybe that plan is best, and I think I'd rather you went and arranged the search party. I'll go up to the Chair and if I haven't found them I shall see you when you come back up the Dingle, and I'll come and meet you."

So they tied a length of string round the collar of a reluctant Macbeth and led him protesting down the path towards the ruined cottages.

When they came to the place where David had found Dickie's "mastock", Peter said "Good-bye" to the others who hurried down the path with nothing more from David than: "Keep a good look out, Peter. If they're at home I'll come back right away for you. It's just on two o'clock now, so by four or soon after you can expect us back again. 'Bye, Peter."

Jenny looked thoroughly unhappy. "Hope you don't really mind me going back, Peter," she said, "but I reckon she'll be rampaging all round Barton by now... and Peter... I wouldn't stay up by the Chair if I were you. Honest, I wouldn't, Peter. Nobody stays up there even in daylight. Please don't, Peter. Keep a good look out from somewhere else."

Peter smiled wanly, patted the dejected Macbeth, and called back: