Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE Dick rowed the boat carefully between the rocks that guarded the island. 'We'll land at our usual little cove,' he said. 'I'll bet no one else would know how to get there if they didn't already know the way!' 'The water's like glass here,' said Anne. 'I can see the bottom of the cove.' She leapt out and helped the boys to pull in the boat.

They came to the old ruined castle that had been built long ago on the island. Now the jackdaws came down from the tower, and chacked loudly round them in a very friendly manner. 'Well- it doesn't look as if anyone's here,' said Julian, staring round and about.

They went in and out of the old castle, examining the floor- but there was no sign of anyone having made a fire. No matter how they searched, the three could find nothing to explain the light that George had said she saw.

Anne sat down and undid her sandals. She set them by a big stone, so that she could easily find them again, and ran down to the sea. Soon Julian and Dick came back together, having gone all round the island, and looked into every cranny. They called to Anne. We haven't seen a sign of a single soul, said Dick. 'Better go home again. George may be back by now.'

'I'll put on my sandals,' said Anne, drying her feet in the warm sand. She ran to the big stone by which she had put them. She stopped -and stared in surprise. 'What's happened to one of my sandals? Dick- Ju- have you taken one?' 'Sandals? No- we didn't even know where you'd put them,' said Julian. 'There's one of them there, look- the other must be somewhere near.'

But it wasn't. 'Well! How silly!' said Anne, amazed. 'I know I put them both together, just here. Anyway, why take one, and not both?' 'Perhaps a rabbit took one?' suggested Dick, with a grin. 'Or a jackdaw- they're really mischievous birds, you know!' 'A jackdaw surely couldn't pick up a sandal!' said Anne. 'It'd be too heavy. And I can't imagine a rabbit running off with one!' 'Well- it's not there,' said Dick, thinking that Anne must have been mistaken about putting them both by the big stone. He hunted round, but could not see the other one anywhere- STRANGE!