"Camber Castle. We both want to see it. I've been reading about it in some of those old books."

"What old books?" his mother asked.

"The books in the box - the Great-Uncle Charles' box upstairs - of course."

"I've been very good," Mrs. Warrender smiled, "and I haven't once asked you what you have found. Anything interesting yet?"

"Nothing really," Penny broke in quickly. "And what are these new people like?"

"I think they're nice. There are some children, too, and a dog. I didn't really reckon on a dog, and I don't think the best hotels have them."

"We met the dog last night," Penny said. "He's a darling, and I covet him."

Mrs. Warrender smiled and said, "Have a good day and don't be late for dinner this evening."

Two hours later Jon and Penny had left the Winchelsea road by a farm gate and were heading towards the grey bulk of Camber Castle rising ahead of them like a rocky island in a green sea.

"I've got a feeling," said Penny pensively, "that we're going to discover something thrilling at Camber."

Jon said, "I tell you what, Penny. I nearly told Mother everything at breakfast this morning. You mustn't think I'm backing out, but I don't see much chance of us getting nearer to any treasure with our clue, and I don't like this business between Miss Ballinger and Slinky and that girl who tried to bribe me."

"You looked quite goofy at her, anyway," Penny said quickly.

"What do you mean? I was just surprised at being offered a motor-bike."

"Well, I've never seen anyone look like that, even at the idea of a motor-bike," she retorted; "but it doesn't matter now. What's more important is that you promised and swore not to say anything to Auntie. You know you did, Jon. It's not like you to back out. Maybe it seems difficult now, but I'm sure we shall find something soon, and remember, too, that old Uncle Charles told you in the letter that your mother wasn't to be worried. We must wait a few days more, Jon. Let's do it on our own."

They crossed yet another dike by the usual plank bridge before he spoke again.

"It's not that I don't want us to do this together, Newpenny. It's just that the whole business looks more serious than we first thought, and if we're not bright enough to find the answer to 'earthen vessels' before these other people, then we shall be to blame for not telling the anybody else especially if there really is a valuable treasure. Don't you see that we ought not to risk losing anything for Mother's sake if we could find it by telling her what we have discovered so far?"