Chapter Seven A LITTLE SQUABBLE
　　A sound made them turn. It was the boy's father coming up. He nodded to the children.
　　'Making friends?' he said, amiably¹. 'That's right. My boy's pretty lonely here. I hope you'll comeup and see us some time. Finished your conversations SON?'
　　'Yes,' said the boy. 'This boy here says that island is his, and he's going to take me over it whenhis father has finished his work there -- and that won't be long.'
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　　'And do you know the way through all those wicked rocks?' said the man. 'I shouldn't care to tryit. I was talking to the fishermen the other day, and not one of them appeared to know the way!'
　　This was rather astonishing. Some of the fishermen did know it. Then the children rememberedthat the men had all been forbidden to take anyone to the island while Uncle Quentin was atwork there. It was clear that they had pretended not to know the way in loyalty² to their orders.
　　'Did you want to go to the island then?' asked Dick, suddenly.
　　'Oh no! But my boy here would love to go,' said the man. 'I don't want to be seasick³, bobbing upand down in those waves near the island. I'm a poor sailor. I never go on the sea if I can help it!'
　　'Well, we must go,' said Julian. 'We've got to do some shopping for my aunt. Good-bye!'
　　'Come and see us as soon as you can,' said the man. 'I've a fine television set that Martin herewould like to show you. Any afternoon you like!'
　　'Oh thanks!' said George. She seldom saw television. 'We'll come!'
　　They parted, and the four children and Timmy went on down the cliff-path.
　　'Whatever made you sound so rude, Dick?' said George. 'The way you said "What's that to dowith you?" sounded quite insulting.'
　　'Well -- I just felt suspicious, that's all,' said Dick. 'That boy seemed to be so jolly interested inthe island and in your father's work, and when it would be finished.'
　　'Why shouldn't he be?' demanded George. 'Everyone in the village is interested. They all knowabout the tower and all the boy wanted to know was when he could go to my island - that's whyhe asked when Father's work would be finished. I liked him.'
　　'You only liked him because he was ass⁴ enough to think you were a boy,' said Dick. 'Jollygirlish-looking boy you are, that's all I can say.'

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