Penny turned her back to the sea and looked back over the levels to Rye, still standing serene but lonely on her hill.

"Yes," she agreed, "and you can see how they've had to make the bank stronger in some places. But, Jon... What a thrill if this bank did break and the waters rushed across to the two towns! It reminds me of that story of a little boy who put his hand in a hole in a Dutch dike and saved his country! I s'pose that little hill straight in front is the one marked on the map. It's like a pyramid from here and there's a little black hut on the top! And I can see the houses beyond, too... Now, the sun's gone in and the wind's cold. Let's go down behind the bank again and walk on the smugglers' path."

They slithered down, bringing a rush of shingle with them. To their right now the grey ruin of Camber Castle seemed very close, and Penny suggested that it was just the sort of place for hiding a treasure.

"It might be," Jon agreed. "But we've got to make up our minds now what we're going to say to Miss Ballinger. We've got to agree about this, so once we've got a story we must stick to it. You think she's behind all this, don't you, Penny?"

She nodded violently. "I know she is."

"Well, I'm not quite so sure as you are," her cousin went on, "but even if she is, it would be crazy of us to let her see that we're suspicious. I wish I knew why she suddenly sent us that note this morning and why she so specially wants us to come today. I can't help feeling that she wants something from us in a hurry... I expect you're right really, Penny, and she's the one who told Slinky to find the clue and bring it to her."

"We shall know soon, anyway, because we're nearly there," Penny replied. "Let's make up our minds quickly because she's probably got the clue by now."

"If she has that will prove it," Jon agreed. "But she'll be clever if she gets as far as 'earthen vessels'! We must pretend to be quite innocent and try to lead her on if she keeps on asking us questions..."

"She'll do that," Penny interrupted. "She's always asking questions and that's why we're asked to tea. You're right, Jon. If we stay simple long enough she'll give herself away. Would you like me to be a bit silly? You know - not quite, quite..."

"For goodness sake, don't play the fool, Penny, or you'll spoil it all. Let's make up our minds not to talk too much and maybe she will give herself away. This is a rum place, isn't it?"