But it was David, the only one to remain silent, who had the bright idea.

"It's rather a special occasion," he pleaded, "and I don't think any of us could sleep - not even the twins - if we did go to bed. I'm going to ask Dad to help us finish off the day in style and drive us down to the beach so that we can watch them mending the bank and climb up our hill again... It's not cold and the moon will be up later and I don't suppose any of us will ever see such a sight again."

Protests from Mrs. Morton and Mrs. Warrender were swept aside in the enthusiasm which followed this argument, and the twins dashed down for coats and rugs. Mrs. Warrender produced two thermos flasks and filled bags with cake and then stood under the archway with Mrs. Morton to see them off.

Penny sat in front with Mary and Mr. Morton and watched the sun sink down behind Winchelsea Hill as the car splashed along the straight road that crossed the levels. To their left the grass was still covered with water, and Camber Castle was surrounded by the widest moat its walls had ever seen. On the other side the Marsh was higher, and although in some places the dikes had overflowed, the flooding was not so severe. In a few places the roadway was under a few inches of water and everywhere else the surface was treacherous with slime and mud, but they ran along steadily enough until they turned into the narrower road leading to the beach. In many places here the road was completely under water still and there had been so much heavy traffic on it that the surface was badly broken up.

"Lucky we had the sense to bring rubber boots," Jon said from the back. "We'll have to walk soon," and in another few minutes Mr. Morton turned the car off the flooded road into the garage entrance of a deserted bungalow.

"Wouldn't like to go back now, I suppose?" he said as he opened the door. "It's not going to be an easy walk!"

This remark was greeted with howls of derision, and so they splashed along the track which led directly to the beach until they were stopped by a large policeman.

Mr. Morton explained about the children's special connection with the incident and the policeman let them pass.