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　　Ahoy there! Show yourselves!
　　There was a sudden flash of sunlight on the lenses of a pair of field-glasses. They were beinglevelled at the island, on whose rocks the children’s boat had been grounded. The glasses sweptthe rocks and the island, and then came back to the rocks again.
　　The boat was there, draped end to end with seaweed. The glasses rested on it for a fewmoments. Then they swept the sea, but among the bobbing birds it was impossible to pick out thefive wet heads.
　　The children kept as close to swimming birds as possible. Philip was all right because Huffinand Puffin perched on his head, and hid him beautifully. Lucy-Ann was near a big cormorant¹, whoeyed her with interest but did not swim away from her. Dinah and Jack² were among a crowd ofbobbing, diving puffins, and Bill, fearful of his big, somewhat bald head being spotted³, keptbobbing under the water, and holding his breath there as long as he could.
　　After what seemed an age the enemy’s motor-boat swung round and went away, going rightround the island – or so Bill thought. They heard the sound of its engine growing fainter andfainter.
　　Not until it had completely died away did Bill let the children get back into the boat. Then,when he thought it was quite safe, they all clambered back, wet and hungry, but no longer sleepy.
　　‘How slippery the boat is, with all this seaweed!’ said Jack. ‘Dinah, your idea worked well. Idon’t think the enemy even guessed there was anyone here – and there were five people and a boatwithin easy sight of their glasses.’
　　‘Yes, a very fine idea, Dinah,’ said Bill. ‘Now – what about breakfast? I’m starving!’
　　They sat down and opened a few tins. Kiki screeched⁴ with delight when she saw the chunks⁵ ofpineapple in one of them. She tried to raise her crest⁶, but as she had only one or two feathers left init, it was not a very successful effort.
　　Jack suddenly thought of something. ‘Bill! Do I remember something – something about youand Horace’s radio – or did I dream it? Yes, perhaps I dreamt it.’

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