Chapter 6 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
　　'It's not bad,' said Anne. 'There's a fairly clean mattress¹ and a rug. I'll be all right. But what about ifthe others come, Dick? Will you look out for them? I almost think George will have to sleep in a barnwith you and Julian if she comes. That old woman won't let anyone else in, I'm sure!'
　　'I'll look out for them and arrange something,' said Dick. 'You eat the rest of your sandwiches andyour cake, and see if you can dry your wet feet and make yourself really comfortable.
　　There's a shed or something out here. I shall be quite all right. Yell for me if you want me.'
　　Anne went back into the room. She felt wet and tired, hungry and thirsty. She ate all her food, andhad a drink from the jug². Then she felt sleepy and lay down on the mattress, throwing the rug overher. She meant to listen for the others to come, but she was too tired. She fell fast asleep!
　　Dick was prowling about down below. He was careful because he didn't want to run into the oldwoman's son. He didn't like the sound of him somehow! He came to a small barn with piles of strawin one corner. He flashed his torch cautiously round.
　　'This will do for me,' he thought. 'I can be quite comfortable here in that straw. Poor Anne! I wish oldGeorge was with her. I'd better wait about and watch for the other two, or I'll fall asleep and missthem, once I bed down in that straw! It's only about six o'clock too - but we've had a long day. Iwonder how Timmy is. I wish he was here!'
　　Dick thought that probably George and Julian would come in through the same gate as he and Annehad used. He found a broken-down shed near the gate and sat down on a box there, waiting 23for them to come.
　　He ate his sandwiches while he waited. They were very comforting! He ate every one and then thecake. He yawned. He felt very sleepy indeed, and his feet were wet and tired.
　　No one arrived at all - not even the old woman's son. She could still be seen sewing under the lamp.
　　But after about two hours, when it was almost eight o'clock, and Dick was beginning to be veryworried about George and Julian, the old woman got up and put away her work-basket.
　　She disappeared out of Dick's sight, and didn't come back. But the light was still there, shining out ofthe window. Left for her son, probably, thought Dick.
　　He tiptoed to the window. The rain had stopped now and the night was much clearer. The stars wereout and a moon was coming up. Dick's spirits rose.
　　He peered in at the lighted room. Then he saw the old woman lying on a broken-down sofa in acorner. A blanket was pulled right up to her chin and she seemed to be asleep. Dick went back to hisshed, but now he felt there was no use in watching for George and Julian. They must have lost theirway completely! Or else Mr. Gaston, or whatever his name was, must have had to do something toTimmy's leg, and Julian had

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