Part 8 (2/2)

Then the little girl set to work to make the beds. She decided to make two nice big ones, one on each side of the cave.

”George and I and Tim will have the one this side,” she thought, busy patting down the heather into the shape of a bed. ”And Julian and d.i.c.k can have the other side. I shall want lots more heather. Oh, is that you, d.i.c.k? You're just in time! I want more heather.”

Soon the beds were made beautifully, and each had an old rug for an under-blanket, and two better rugs for covers. Cus.h.i.+ons made pillows.

”What a pity we didn't bring night-things,” thought Anne. ”I could have folded them neatly and put them under the cus.h.i.+ons. There! It all looks lovely. We've got a beautiful house.”

Julian came sliding down the rope from the cliff to the cave. He looked round admiringly. ”My word, Anne-the cave does look fine! Everything in order and looking so tidy. You are a good little girl.”

Anne was pleased to hear Julian's praise, though she didn't like him calling her a little girl.

”Yes, it does look nice, doesn't it?” she said. ”But why aren't you watching up on the cliff, Ju?”

”It's d.i.c.k's turn now,” said Julian. ”The two hours are up. Did we bring any biscuits? I feel as if I could do with one or two, and I bet the others could too. Let's all go up to the cliff-top and have some. George and Timmy are there with d.i.c.k.”

Anne knew exactly where to put her hand on the tin of biscuits. She took out ten and climbed up to the cliff-top Julian went up on the rope. Soon all five were sitting b) the big gorse-bush, nibbling at biscuits, Timmy too. At least, he didn't nibble. He just swallowed.

The day pa.s.sed very pleasantly and rather lazily. They took turns at being look-out, though Anne was severely scolded by Julian in the afternoon for falling asleep during her watch. She was very ashamed of herself and cried.

”You're too little to be a look-out, that's what it is,” said Julian. ”We three and Timmy had better do it.”

”Oh, no, do let me too,” begged poor Anne. ”I never, never will fall asleep again. But the sun was so hot and ...”

”Don't make excuses,” said Julian. ”It only makes things worse if you do. All right-we'll give you another chance, Anne, and see if you are really big enough to do the things we do.”

But though they all took their turns, and kept a watch on the sea for any strange vessel, none appeared. The children were disappointed. They did so badly want to know who had put that trunk on the wreck and why, and what it contained.

”Better go to bed now,” said Julian, when the sun sank low. ”It's about nine o'clock. Come on! I'm really looking forward to a sleep on those lovely heathery beds that Anne has made so nicely!”

Chapter Fourteen.

DISTURBANCE IN THE NIGHT.

IT was dark in the cave, not really quite dark enough to light a candle, but the cave looked so nice by candlelight that it was fun to light one. So Anne took down the candle-stick and lighted the candle. At once queer shadows jumped all round the cave, and it became a rather exciting place, not at all like the cave they knew by daylight!

”I wish we could have a fire,” said Anne.

”We'd be far too hot,” said Julian. ”And it would smoke us out. You can't have a fire in a cave like this. There's no chimney.”

”Yes, there is,” said Anne, pointing to the hole in the roof. ”If we lighted a fire just under that hole, it would act as a chimney, wouldn't it?”

”It might,” said d.i.c.k, thoughtfully. ”But I don't think so. We'd simply get the cave full of stifling smoke, and we wouldn't be able to sleep for choking.”

”Well, couldn't we light a fire at the cave entrance then?” said Anne who felt that a real home ought to have a fire somewhere. ”Just to keep away wild beasts, say! That's what the people of old times did. It says so in my history book. They lighted fires at the cave entrance at night to keep away any wild animal that might be prowling around.”

”Well, what wild beasts do you think are likely to come and peep into this cave?” asked Julian, lazily, finis.h.i.+ng up a cup of cocoa. ”Lions? Tigers? Or perhaps you are afraid of an elephant or two.”

Everyone laughed. ”No-I don't really think animals like that would come,” said Anne. ”Only-it would be nice to have a red, glowing fire to watch when we go to sleep.”

”Perhaps Anne thinks the rabbits might come in and nibble our toes or something,” said d.i.c.k.

”Woof!” said Tim, p.r.i.c.king up his ears as he always did at the mention of rabbits.

”I don't think we ought to have a fire,” said Julian, ”because it might be seen out at sea and give a warning to anyone thinking of coming to the island to do a bit of smuggling.”

”Oh no, Julian-the entrance to this cave is so well-hidden that I'm sure no one could see a fire out to sea,” said George, at once. ”There's that line of high rocks in front, which must hide it completely. I think it would be rather fun to have a fire. It would light up the cave so queerly and excitingly.”

”Oh good, George!” said Anne, delighted to find someone agreeing with her.

”Well, we can't possibly f.a.g out and get sticks for it now,” said d.i.c.k, who was far too comfortable to move.

”You don't need to,” said Anne, eagerly. ”I got plenty myself today, and stored them at the back of the cave, in case we wanted a fire.”

”Isn't she a good little house-wife!” said Julian, in great admiration. ”She may go to sleep when she's look-out, but she's wide-awake enough when it comes to making a house for us out of a cave! All right, Anne-we'll make a fire for you!”

They all got up and fetched the sticks from the back of the cave. Anne had been to the jackdaw tower and had picked up armfuls that the birds had dropped when making their nests in the tower. They built them up to make a nice little fire. Julian got some dried seaweed too, to drop into it.

They lighted the fire at the cave-entrance, and the dry sticks blazed up at once. The children went back to their heather-beds, and lay down on” them, watching the red flames leaping and crackling. The red glow lit up the cave and made it very weird and exciting.

”This is lovely,” said Anne, half-asleep. ”Really lovely. Oh Timmy, move a bit do. You're so heavy on my feet. Here, George, pull Timothy over to your side. .You're used to him lying on you.”

”Good-night,” said d.i.c.k, sleepily. .'The fire is dying down, but I can't be bothered to put any more wood on it. I'm sure all the lions and tigers and bears and elephants have been frightened away.”

”Silly!” said Anne. ”You needn't tease me about it - you've enjoyed it as much as I have! Good-night.”

They all fell asleep and dreamed peacefully of many things. Julian awoke with a jump. Some queer noise had awakened him. He lay still, listening.

Timothy was growling deeply, right down in his throat. ”R-r-r-r-r-r-r,” he went. ”Gr-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r!”

George awoke too, and put out her hand sleepily. ”What's the matter, Tim?” she said.

”He's heard something, George,” said Julian, in a low voice from his bed .on the other side of the cave.

George sat up cautiously. Timmy was still growling. ”s.h.!.+” said George and he stopped. He was sitting up straight, his ears well c.o.c.ked.

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