They watched it until it turned into the road at the end of the track and then saw that the other lorries were almost completely under water. Some of the men who had been working on the bank were now going back to the gap, but there did not seem much they could do to stop the water until the tide turned.

Jon ran his fingers through his hair.

"We're in for it now, and in for the night, too. What shall we do?"

"Climb to the top," David said. "That's what hills are for!"

Now that the tide was near turning the wind was dropping in sympathy, and when they reached the little plateau upon which the black hut stood, the moon sailed above the ragged clouds and they could see far inland to Winchelsea and all along the bank to Cliff End. Towards Rye it looked as if there was another break, but the flood water, although not deep, was still spreading over the grassy levels and still coming in through the gap.

They stood against the rough tarred boards of the hut and Mary suddenly lurched heavily against Penny, who looked down at the little girl in surprise.

"Tired?" she asked quietly.

"... Um - just a bit," Mary nodded. "I'm funny in the legs, but don't tell the others. I'm gettin' cold, too."

Jon and David moved away a few steps and started a consultation.

Penny smothered a terrific yawn. She was annoyed with the boys for whispering together and in the normal way would have had something to say about it, but now she stayed with the twins and fussed Macbeth until they came back. Jon grinned apologetically at Penny and gave her arm a friendly squeeze as he said:

"Sorry about that! We're probably here for the night so we'd better try and make ourselves comfortable... Let's see if we can get into the hut."

They crowded round the door, which was fastened with a padlock, but David's big scout knife soon loosened the staple.

"It's a pity to break in, but I don't think anybody will mind really," said Jon as he swung the door back.

It was too dark to see much, but the smell which greeted them was not very pleasant - stale and fishy.

"Has anybody got a match or a light?" David asked peevishly.

"Do stand away from the door," Jon went on. "Let me get in and look round."

"I should think something has died in there," Penny said wrinkling her nose. "I don't like it. I'm going to sit down outside here away from the wind... Come on, Mary, come and keep me warm."