The car climbed fast now up through streets of drab houses and then turned east into a broad, tree-shaded road. On their right now and far below them was the sea. It was a lovely road and autumn was already touching with a tender hand the woods through which they rushed. Soon they passed near a church with a high square tower standing alone on the gorse-crowned down.

"Fairlight," Fred said. "And 'tis a landmark they say for all sailors beating up the Channel. But if it's churches you fancy, you'll be seeing something better afore long."

Even Penny was quiet when they came at last to Winchelsea and Fred drove slowly down the wide street that skirted the churchyard and the ruin of the once mighty church.

"Miss Ballinger said that once the sea came right up to the walls of Winchelsea, didn't she? I can't see where," said Jon. "This place might be anywhere for it doesn't look as if it had ever been a port and I can't even see the sea."

Fred stopped, jumped out and opened the door.

"I was to stop here and take you to the look-out, Mrs. Warrender said."

Penny clutched Jon's arm.

"Why, Jon!" she whispered. "It's like she said. I can see what she means and what Auntie meant, too, when she said it was magic. This funny little town, all forgotten and deserted by the sea... Look how flat it is down there. And look at the sheep everywhere."

Jon nodded.

"Yes, you can imagine the sea coming right to the bottom of the cliff." He turned to Fred. "What keeps the sea back now? I suppose those roofs over there are on the beach, but it is all so flat that it looks as if the sea could easily come rolling over again."

"So it could," he said, "and it's been near it more'n once. I mind a time when I was but a lad when the bank broke over yonder..."

"What bank?" Penny interrupted.

The man pointed to the right.

"Those cliffs you see way up yonder are called Cliff End, and right there these flat marshes begin. Pett Level 'tis called here. The great bank of shingle to keep the sea back starts at Cliff End and runs right along to the mouth of the river below Rye yonder."

Jon and Penny followed his moving finger.

"Them liddle houses and shacks and the like," he went on, "they be called Winchelsea Beach, and folks come there in hundreds in summer. Houses be put up behind t' bank, o' course."

"What's that bit of yellow land sticking out into the sea like a finger?" asked Penny, looking further east.

"The Ness," Vasson answered. "Dungeness. Look hard and see if you can spot the lighthouse at the end. Tis black and white."