And so, muttering to himself, the restless Dickie came back to the fire which was now blazing cheerily. They sat as near to it as they could, with their backs to the rough sides of the hut out of the wind, which was at last subsiding. Mary, with Macbeth across her legs, was already asleep in the crook of Penny's arm. The fierce, flickering flames threw strong lights and shadows through her curls, and when Dickie squeezed down between her and David she barely stirred.

"Why does she waste time going to sleep?" he grumbled, but four minutes later David smiled to see that even the indomitable Richard had followed her example.

Penny, the other side of Mary, was next to Jon, who was lolling back with his hands in his pockets, whistling softly as he watched the flames. The wind, though not nearly as strong, was still whistling round the hut, but the thundering of the waves was not so noticeable. It was a strange scene with the moon above and the water all round the little hill. Men were still to be seen on the bank by the great gap but, from where they were all sitting round their camp fire, they could not see the blazing ruins of Beach View.

After a long silence Jon said:

"Rum end to the day, Penny!"

"Um!" she agreed sleepily.

David leaned forward and flung two more chunks of wood on to the fire. A shower of sparks flew upwards and were scattered in the wind as Penny's red head nodded and then slipped down on to Jon's shoulder.

An hour later the tide had turned and the wind had dropped. Two big lorries and a fire engine with a searchlight and some trailer pumps came splashing down the still submerged track.

"You awake, Jon?" David called.

"Yes - and nearly paralysed. Little Penny's been asleep on me... We'd better nip down and stop that chap... Chuck more wood on the fire and make a blaze so that they'll see... Sorry, Newpenny! Try leaning the other way."

Penny stirred, sat up suddenly, and looked round in surprise as she felt her cheek where it was marked by the rough tweed of Jon's jacket. He rumpled her head and grinned before setting off down the hill with David behind him.

The searchlight on the fire engine was suddenly swung round towards them and the two boys were picked out in its beam. They waved wildly and a man lifted a megaphone and called to them.

"We can't take you back now, but your people know where you are... Are you all O.K.? Good! They're coming to fetch you 'fore the tide comes up again. We've brought you some grub and two flasks of cocoa... Can you catch? Here they come," and with a mighty heave he flung a loaded haversack across the water to their feet.