chapter 17 tit for tat!

when they arrived at the boat-house there was no sign of maggie or dick. but their boat was in theshed, tied up in front of the other two, where it had been before.

'they're back all right,' said julian. 'i wonder where they are. don't let's drag this clumsy, heavy raftinto the boat-house. i don't feel as if i've any strength left in my arms. let's drag it under a bush andtie it there.'

they thought this a good idea. they pulled the raft up to some thick bushes and tied it firmly to a rootthat was sticking out of the ground.

then they made their way to the ruined house, keeping a sharp look-out for maggie and dick.

there was still no sign of them.

they went in, timmy first. he didn't growl so they knew it was safe. he led the way to the cellarsteps. then he growled!

'what's up?' said julian. 'are they down there, tim?'

timmy ran straight down the steps into the cellar room. he growled again, but it was not the fiercegrowl he always gave when he wanted to warn that enemies or strangers were near. it was an angry,annoyed growl as if something was wrong.

'i expect dear maggie and dirty dick have been down here and found out where our headquartersare!' said julian, following timmy down the steps. he switched on his torch.

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the beds of heather and bracken were there as they had left them, and their macs and rugs andrucksacks. nothing seemed to have been disturbed. julian lighted the candles on the mantelpiece andthe dark little underground room came to life at once.

'what's the matter with timmy?' asked george, coming down into the room. 'he's still growling.

timmy, what's up?'

'i expect he can smell that the others have been down here,' said dick. 'look at him sniffing all round.

it's quite clear that someone has been here.'

'anyone hungry?' asked anne. 'i could do with some cake and biscuits.'

'right,' said julian, and opened the cupboard where they had put the food they had bought.

there was none there! except for the crockery and one or two odds and ends that had been in thecupboard before, there was nothing. the bread had gone, the biscuits, the chocolate - everything!

'blow!' said julian, angrily. 'look at that! the beasts! they've taken all our food - every bit. not evena biscuit left. we were mad not to think they might do that!'

'clever of them,' said dick. 'they know we can't stay here long without food. it's a good way ofchasing us out. it's too late to go and get any tonight, anyway - and if we go tomorrow for some,they'll do what they have come to do in their own good time... when we're not here.'

everyone felt distinctly down in the dumps. they were hungry and tired, and a good meal wouldhave made all the difference. anne sank down on her bed of heather and sighed.

'i wish i'd left some chocolate in my rucksack,' she said. 'but i didn't leave any there at all. and poortim - he's hungry too! look at him sniffing in the cupboard and looking round at george.

tim, there's nothing for you. the cupboard is bare!'

'where are those two wretches gone?' suddenly said julian, fiercely. 'i'll tick them off! i'll tell themwhat i think of people who come and rifle cupboards and take away all the food.'

'woof,' said timmy, in full agreement.

julian went angrily up the stairs. he wondered again where maggie and dirty dick were. he went tothe empty doorway and looked out. then he saw where they were.

two small tents had been put up under some thickly growing trees! so that's where the two weregoing to sleep. he debated whether or not to go and tell them what he thought of people who stolefood. he decided that he would.

but when he got over to the tents with timmy, there was no one there! rugs were laid inside, andthere was a primus stove and a kettle and other odds and ends. at the back of one tent was a 70pile of something, covered by a cloth.

julian had a good look into each tent, and then went to see if he could find out where maggie anddirty dick had gone. he saw them at last, walking through the trees. they must have gone for anevening stroll, he thought.

they didn't come back to the tents, but sat down by the lake. julian gave up the thought of tacklingthem and went back to the others. timmy was left behind, snuffling about happily.

'they've got tents,' julian informed the others when he was back in the cellar room again.

'they're obviously staying put till they've got what they came for. they aren't in the tents -they're out by the lake.'

'where's timmy?' asked george. 'you shouldn't have left him behind, ju. they might do somethingto him.'

'here he is!' said julian, as a familiar noise of claws clattering on the ground came to their ears.

timmy came down the stone steps and ran to george.

'he's got something in his mouth!' said george, in surprise. timmy dropped it into her lap. she gavea yell.

'it's a tin of shortbread! where did he get it from?'

julian began to laugh. 'he must have taken it from one of the tents!' he said. 'i saw something coveredup with a cloth in one tent - their food, i imagine! well, well - tit for tat - they took our food and nowtimmy is taking theirs!'

'fair exchange is no robbery,' grinned dick. 'serves them right! i say - tim's gone again!'

he was back in a minute with something large and paper-covered. it was a big cake! the four roaredwith laughter. 'timmy! you're a wonder! you really are!'

timmy was pleased at this praise. off he went again and brought back a cardboard box in which wasa fine pork-pie. the children could hardly believe their eyes.

'it's a miracle!' said anne. 'just as i had made up my mind to starve for hours! a pork-pie of allthings! let's have some.'

'well, i have no second thoughts about it,' said julian, firmly. 'they took our food and we deservesome of theirs. good gracious - don't say tim's gone again.'

he had! he was enjoying himself thoroughly. he arrived this time with a packet of ham, and thechildren couldn't imagine how he had stopped himself from eating some on the way.

'fancy carrying it in his mouth and not even tasting a bit!' said dick. 'tim's a better person than i 71am. i'd just have to have had a lick.'

'i say - we ought to stop him now,' said julian, as timmy ran up the steps again, his tail waggingnineteen to the dozen. 'we're getting a bit too much in exchange!'

'oh, do see what he brings back this time,' begged anne. 'then stop him.'

he came back carrying an old flour bag in which something had been packed. timmy carried itcleverly by the neck so that nothing had fallen out. george undid the bag.

'home-made scones - and buns,' she said. 'timmy, you are very, very clever, and you shall have awonderful supper. but you are not to go and take any more things, because we've got enough.

see? no more. lie down and be a good dog and eat your supper.'

timmy was quite willing. he wolfed ham and scones and a slice of cake, and then he went up intothe kitchen, jumped into the sink and lapped the water lying there. he then jumped down and went tothe doorway to look out. he barked. then he growled loudly.

the children rushed up the stone steps at once. outside, at a safe distance, was dirty dick.

'have you been taking anything of ours?' he shouted.

'no more than you have been taking of ours!' shouted back julian. 'fair exchange, you know, and allthat.'

'how dare you go into our tents?' raged the man, his shock of hair making him look very peculiar inthe twilight.

'we didn't. the dog fetched and carried for us,' said julian. 'and don't you come any nearer. he's justlonging to fly at you! and i warn you, he'll be on guard tonight, so don't try any funny tricks.

he's as strong and savage as a lion.'

'grrrr,' said timmy, so fiercely that the man started back in fright. he went off without another word,shaking with anger.

julian and the others went back to finish a very delicious supper. timmy went with them - but heplanted himself at the top of the cellar steps.

'not a bad place for him to be in tonight,' said julian. 'i don't trust that couple an inch. we can givehim one of our blazers to lie on. i say - this has boiled up into quite an adventure, hasn't it?

it seems frightful to think we'll be back at school on tuesday!'

'we must find the loot first!' said anne. 'we really must. let's get out that plan again, ju. let's makesure that tall stone is marked on it.'

they got it out and put it on the table. they bent over it once more.

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'yes - tall stone is marked at the end of one of the lines,' said julian. 'tock hill is at the end of theopposite line. let's get the map and see if there is a tock hill.'

they got the map, and studied it. anne suddenly put her finger down on it. 'there it is. on theopposite side of the lake from where we saw the tall stone. tock hill on one side. tall stone on theother. surely that means something.'

'it does, of course,' said julian. 'it is bearings given to show the whereabouts of the hidden goods.

there are four bearings given - tall stone. tock hill. chimney. and steeple.'

'listen!' said dick, suddenly. 'listen! i know how to read that map. it's easy.'

the others looked at him in surprise and doubt.

'read it, then,' said julian. 'tell us what it all means. i don't believe you can!'