Chapter Seven BACK TO KIRRIN COTTAGE
　　THE four children were so tremendously surprised and excited that for a minute or two they didn'tsay a word. They just stared at the dark hulk of the old wreck¹, imagining what they might find. ThenJulian clutched George's arm and pressed it tightly.
　　"Isn't this wonderful?" he said. "Oh, George, isn't it an extraordinary thing to happen?"Still George said nothing, but stared at the wreck, all kinds of thoughts racing² through her mind.
　　Then she turned to Julian.
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　　"If only the wreck is still mine now it's thrown up like this!" she said. "I don't know if wrecks³ belongto the queen or anyone, like lost treasure does. But after all, the ship did belong to our family.
　　Nobody bothered much about it when it was down under the sea— but do you suppose people willstill let me have it for my own now it's thrown up?""Well, don't let's tell anyone!" said Dick.
　　"Don't be silly," said George. "One of the fishermen is sure to see it when his ship goes slipping outof the bay. The news will soon be out."
　　"Well then, we'd better explore it thoroughly⁴ ourselves before anyone else does!" said Dick, eagerly.
　　"No one knows about it yet. Only us. Can't we explore it as soon as the waves go down a bit?""We can't wade⁵ out to the rocks, if that's what you mean," said George. "We might get there by boat— but we couldn't possibly risk it now, while the waves are so big. They won't go down today, that'scertain. The wind is still too strong."
　　"Well, what about tomorrow morning, early?" said Julian. "Before anyone has got to know about it? Ibet if only we can get into the ship first, we can find anything there is to find!""Yes, I expect we could," said George. "I told you divers⁶ had been down and explored the ship asthoroughly as they could— but of course it is difficult to do that properly under water. We might findsomething they've missed. Oh, this is like a dream. I can't believe it's true that my old wreck hascome up from the bottom of the sea like that!"The sun was now properly out, and the children's wet clothes dried in its hot rays. They steamed inthe sun, and even Tim's coat sent up a mist too. He didn't seem to like the wreck at all, but growleddeeply at it.

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