7 WINDY WOODS AT NIGHT

CHAPTER SEVEN WINDY WOODS AT NIGHT IT WASN'T until Colin was undressing for bed that night that he suddenly remembered the book of ships. Where was it? Then, with a shock, he knew. He had left it in the tree-house cubby-hole. How dreadful! Suppose that mischievous squirrel found it and tore the pages or nibbled at them! Suppose a storm came and blew rain into the hole and spoilt the book! How angry Janet's father would be! Colin dressed hurriedly again. He must go and get the book. But he had reckoned

without his family. They seemed to be continually moving about the house that night, running upstairs, standing in the hall, going in and out of the garden. It was maddening. Colin sat by his window till half-past ten. Would his tiresome family never, never go to bed? Ah, that sounded like Granny coming upstairs. It wasn't until eleven o'clock that Colin felt it was safe to slip out of the house. He got safely out into the garden and jumped when an owl hooted suddenly. He stopped. Would he know the way to the tree in the dark? It was almost dark now, and in the wood it would be pitch-black. Colin felt a nasty little stab of fear. It wouldn't really be very nice in Windy Woods at night. Suppose he missed the way, didn't find the tree, and got lost? He really would feel an awful idiot, and his mother would be worried and cross. He had to pass Peter's farm on the way. He

wondered if Peter was awake. If he was, he would go with him, he was sure. He stepped into Peter's garden and made his way quietly to the farmhouse. He knew where Peter's bedroom was. The farmhouse was in complete darkness. Everyone was in bed. Colin took up a few small pebbles and threw one carefully at Peter's window. It fell back again. Colin threw another, waiting for it to hit the window. But it didn't. The window was open and the pebble flew inside and hit Peter neatly on the cheek, as he slept peacefully in bed.

He woke with a jump, sat up and stared crossly round the dark room. He rubbed his cheek, wondering what had happened. Another pebble came in at the window and hit the wall.

'Hallo! Someone's throwing stones!' said Peter to himself, and he went cautiously to the window. He made out someone standing below. 'Who is it?' whispered Peter as loudly as he could without making too much noise. 'It's me, Colin!' came a whisper from below. 'Peter, listen– I've left your father's book in the tree-house, in the cubby-hole. I must get it. Will you come with me?' 'Oooh yes,' said Peter, thrilled at the idea of going into Windy Woods at night and climbing up into the tree-house. It would be quite an adventure! Lovely! He slipped on a jumper and a pair of jeans, and shinned down the tree that grew obligingly outside his window. In a moment he and Colin were slipping down the path like shadows. Colin felt perfectly brave the moment that Peter was with him. 'I was afraid I might not

find the tree,' he whispered, as they padded along. 'You're so good at finding your way, and I thought you'd know it even in the dark.' 'Yes, I shall,' said Peter. 'But anyway I've brought a torch with me. This is fun, isn't it?' They came to Windy Woods, which were quiet tonight. Very little wind was about, and the trees made hardly any noise. An owl hooted again and made both boys jump. 'I'm glad I'm not a mouse,' said Peter. 'I should be scared stiff of an owl's hoot!' They came to their tree. Peter went up first, shining the torch down now and again for Colin, who found it difficult to climb in the dark. At last they came to the platform. It looked strange and desolate in the light of Peter's torch. 'Now to get the book,' said Colin, and he shone the torch in at the hole. He gave a sudden exclamation. 'Hey! Someone's been here again!