Chapter 8 WHAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO?
　　Stumbling through the dark wood, Julian and George hurried as best they could. Timmy hurried too,knowing that something was worrying both his friends. Richard followed behind, half-crying again.
　　He really had been very much afraid.
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　　They came at last to the little dell where they had planned to spend the night. It was quite dark.
　　Julian called loudly:
　　'Dick! Anne! Where are you?'
　　George had made her way to where she had hidden her bicycle. She fumbled¹ for the lamp andswitched it on. She took it off and flashed it round the dell. There was Dick's bicycle, with thepuncture repair outfit³ on the ground beside it - but no Dick, and no Anne! What had happened?
　　'Anne!' yelled Julian, in alarm. 'Dick! Come here! We're back!'
　　And then a small trembling voice came down from the tree-top overhead.
　　'Oh Julian! Oh Julian! I'm here.'
　　'It's Anne!' yelled Julian, his heart leaping in relief. 'Anne - where are you?'
　　'Up in this tree,' called back Anne, in a stronger voice. 'Oh Ju - I've been so frightened, I didn't dareclimb down in case I fell. Dick . . .'
　　'Where is Dick?' demanded Julian.
　　A sob⁴ came down to him. 'Two horrible men came - and they've taken him away. They thought hewas Richard!'
　　Anne's voice became a wail⁵. Julian felt that he must get her down the tree so that she could be withthem and be comforted. He spoke⁶ to George.
　　'Shine that lamp up here. I'm going up to fetch Anne.'
　　George silently shone the light of the lamp on the tree. Julian went up like a cat. He came to Annewho was still clinging tightly to a branch.
　　'Anne, I'll help you down. Come on, now - you can't fall. I'm just below you. I'll guide your feet tothe right branches.'
　　Anne was only too glad to be helped down. She was cold and miserable⁷, and she longed to be withthe others. Slowly she came down, with Julian's help, and he lifted her to the ground.
　　She clung to him, and he put his arm round his young sister. 'It's all right, Anne. I'm with you now.

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