THE four children were so tremendously surprised and excited that for a minute or two they didn't say a word. They just stared at the dark hulk of the old wreck, imagining what they might find. Then Justin clutched Stephen's arm and pressed it tightly.
"Isn't this wonderful?" he said. "Oh, Stephen, isn't it an extraordinary thing to happen?"
Still Stephen said nothing, but stared at the wreck, all kinds of thoughts racing through her mind. Then she turned to Justin.
"If only the wreck is still mine now it's thrown up like this!" she said. "I don't know if wrecks belong to the queen or anyone, like lost treasure does. But after all, the ship did belong to our family. Nobody bothered much about it when it was down under the sea— but do you suppose people will still let me have it for my own now it's thrown up?"
"Well, don't let's tell anyone!" said Theo.
"Don't be silly," said Stephen. "One of the fishermen is sure to see it when his ship goes slipping out of the bay. The news will soon be out."
"Well then, we'd better explore it thoroughly ourselves before anyone else does!" said Theo, eagerly. "No one knows about it yet. Only us. Can't we explore it as soon as the waves go down a bit?"
"We can't wade out to the rocks, if that's what you mean," said Stephen.
"We might get there by boat— but we couldn't possibly risk it now, while the waves are so big. They won't go down today, that's certain. The wind is still too strong."
"Well, what about tomorrow morning, early?" said Justin. "Before anyone has got to know about it? I bet if only we can get into the ship first, we can find anything there is to find!"
"Yes, I expect we could," said Stephen. "I told you divers had been down and explored the ship as thoroughly as they could— but of course it is difficult to do that properly under water. We might find something they've missed. Oh, this is like a dream. I can't believe it's true that my old wreck has come up from the bottom of the sea like that!"
The sun was now properly out, and the children's wet clothes dried in its hot rays.
They steamed in the sun, and even Tim's coat sent up a mist too. He didn't seem to like the wreck at all, but growled deeply at it.
"You are funny, Tim," said Stephen, patting him. "It won't hurt you! What do you think it is?"
"He probably thinks it's a whale," said Mary with a laugh. "Oh, Stephen— this is the most exciting day of my life! Oh, can't we possibly take the boat and see if we can get to the wreck?"
"No, we can't," said Stephen. "I only wish we could. But it's quite impossible, Mary. For one thing I don't think the wreck has quite settled down on the rocks yet, and maybe it won't till the tide has gone down. I can see it lifting a little still when an extra big wave comes. It would be dangerous to go into it yet. And for another thing I don't want my boat smashed to bits on the rocks, and us thrown into that wild water! That's what would happen. We must wait till tomorrow. It's a good idea to come early. I expect lots of adults will think it's their business to explore it."
The children watched the old wreck for a little time longer and then went all round the island again. It was certainly not very large, but it really was exciting, with its rocky little coast, its quiet inlet where their boat was, the ruined castle, the circling parrots, and the scampering rabbits everywhere.
"I do love it," said Mary. "I really do. It's just small enough to feel like an island. Most islands are too big to feel like islands. I mean, Britain is an island, but nobody living on it could possibly know it unless they were told. Now this island really feels like one because wherever you are you can see to the other side of it. I love it."
Stephen felt very happy. She had often been on her island before, but always alone except for Tim. She had always vowed that she never, never would take anyone there, because it would spoil her island for her. But it hadn't been spoilt. It had made it much nicer. For the first time Stephen began to understand that sharing pleasures doubles their joy.
"We'll wait till the waves go down a bit then we'll go back home," she said. "I rather think there's some more rain coming, and we'll only get soaked through. We shan't be back till tea-time as it is, because we'll have a long pull against the out-going tide."
All the children felt a little tired after the excitements of the morning. They said very little as they rowed home. Everyone took turns at rowing except Mary, who was not strong enough with the oars to row against the tide. They looked back at the island as they left it. They couldn't see the wreck because that was on the opposite side, facing the open sea.
"It's just as well it's there," said Justin. "No one can see it yet. Only when a boat goes out to fish will it be seen. And we shall be there as early as any boat goes out! I vote we get up at dawn."
"Well, that's pretty early," said Stephen. "Can you wake up? I'm often out at dawn, but you're not used to it."
"Of course we can wake up," said Justin. "Well— here we are back at the beach again— and I'm jolly glad. My arms are awfully tired and I'm so hungry I could eat a whole larderful of things."
"Woof," said Tim, quite agreeing.
"I'll have to take Tim to Alf," said Stephen, jumping out of the boat. "You get the boat in, Justin. I'll join you in a few minutes."
It wasn't long before all four were sitting down to a good tea. Aunt Fallonia had baked new scones for them, and had made a ginger cake with black treacle. It was dark brown and sticky to eat. The children finished it all up and said it was the nicest they had ever tasted.
"Did you have an exciting day?" asked their aunt.
"Oh yes!" said Mary, eagerly. "The storm was grand. It threw up ..."
Justin and Theo both kicked her under the table. Stephen couldn't reach her or she would most certainly have kicked her too. Mary stared at the boys angrily, with tears in her eyes.
"Now what's the matter?" asked Aunt Fallonia. "Did somebody kick you, Mary? Well, really, this kicking under the table has got to stop. Poor Mary will be covered with bruises. What did the sea throw up, dear?"
"It threw up the most enormous waves," said Mary, looking defiantly at the others.
She knew they had thought she was going to say that the sea had thrown up the wreck— but they were wrong! They had kicked her for nothing!
"Sorry for kicking you, Mary," said Justin. "My foot sort of slipped."
"So did mine," said Theo. "Yes, Aunt Fallonia, it was a magnificent sight on the island. The waves raced up that little inlet, and we had to take our boat almost up to the top of the low cliff there."
"I wasn't really afraid of the storm," said Mary. "In fact, I wasn't really as afraid of it as Ti ..."
Everyone knew perfectly well that Mary was going to mention Timphothy, and they all interrupted her at once, speaking very loudly. Justin managed to get a kick in again.
"Oooh!" said Mary.
"The rabbits were so tame," said Justin, loudly.
"We watched the cormorants," said Theo, and Stephen joined in too, talking at the same time.
"The parrots made such a noise, they said 'Chack, chack, chack,' all the time."
"Well, really, you sound like parrots yourselves, talking all at once like this!" said
Aunt Fallonia, with a laugh. "Now, have you all finished? Very well, then, go and wash your sticky hands— yes, Stephen, I know they're sticky, because I made that gingerbread, and you've had three slices! Then you had better go and play quietly in the other room, because it's raining, and you can't go out. But don't disturb your father, Stephen. He's very busy."
The children went to wash. "Idiot!" said Justin to Mary. "Nearly gave us away twice!"
"I didn't mean what you thought I meant the first time!" began Mary indignantly. Stephen interrupted her.
"I'd rather you gave the secret of the wreck away than my secret about Tim," she said. "I do think you've got a careless tongue."
"Yes, I have," said Mary, sorrowfully. "I think I'd better not talk at meal-times any more. I love Tim so much I just can't seem to help wanting to talk about him."
They all went to play in the other room. Justin turned a table upside down with a crash. "We'll play at wrecks," he said. "This is the wreck. Now we're going to explore it."
The door flew open and an angry, frowning face looked in. It was Stephen's father! "What was that noise?" he said. "Stephen! Did you overturn that table?"
"I did," said Justin. "I'm sorry, sir. I quite forgot you were working."
"Any more noise like that and I shall keep you all in bed tomorrow!" said his Uncle James. "Stephina, keep your cousins quiet."
The door shut and Uncle James went out. The children looked at one another.
"Your father's awfully fierce, isn't he?" said Justin. "I'm sorry I made that row. I didn't think."
"We'd better do something really quiet," said Stephen. "Or he'll keep his word— and we'll find ourselves in bed tomorrow just when we want to explore the wreck."
This was a terrible thought. Mary went to get one of her dolls to play with. She had managed to bring quite a number after all. Justin fetched a book. Stephen took up a beautiful little boat she was carving out of a piece of wood. Theo lay back on a chair and thought of the exciting wreck. The rain poured down steadily, and everyone hoped it would have stopped by the morning.
"We'll have to be up most awfully early," said Theo, yawning. "What about going to bed in good time tonight? I'm tired with all that rowing."
In the ordinary way none of the children liked going to bed early— but with such an exciting thing to look forward to, early-bed seemed different that night.
"It will make the time go quickly," said Mary, putting down her doll. "Shall we go now?"
"Whatever do you suppose Mother would say if we went just after tea?" said Stephen. "She'd think we were all ill. No, let's go after supper. We'll just say we're tired with rowing— which is perfectly true— and we'll get a good night's sleep, and be ready for our adventure tomorrow morning. And it is an adventure, you know. It isn't many people that have the chance of exploring an old, old wreck like that, which has always been at the bottom of the sea!"
So, by eight o'clock, all the children were in bed, rather to Aunt Fallonia's surprise. Mary fell asleep at once. Justin and Theo were not long— but Stephen lay awake for some time, thinking of her island, her wreck— and, of course, her darling dog!
"I must take Tim too," she thought, as she fell asleep. "We can't leave old Tim out of this. He shall share in the adventure too!