Andy and the girls sat up until they could keep awake no longer. They went back to the shack, curled up on their beds, and slept restlessly, worrying about Tom and the lost boat.
In the morning, Andy went out cautiously, wondering if the enemy had already landed a boat on their island to hunt for them. But he could see nothing strange.
He sat talking to the girls as they prepared breakfast. "Tom is certainly caught." he said. "There's no doubt about that, I'm afraid. Well. I know enough of Tom to know that he won't say we are here, too. He won't give us away. But they will certainly come and hunt for anyone else who might be here. We have to do two things—hide ourselves so that we can't possibly be found—and then think of some way of rescuing Tom."
"Oh dear! It seems quite impossible," said Jill, feeling very worried. Mary began to cry.
"Don't cry, Mary," said Andy, putting his arm round her. "We have to be brave now. We are British children, and so we have plenty of courage and heaps of ideas. We must all think hard and see what we can do to trick the enemy."
"But, Andy, how can we hide on this bare island?" said Mary, drying her eyes and blinking away her tears. "They will beat all through the bracken and heather. There are no good trees to hide in. Not a single cave. Really, there isn't anywhere at all!"
"You're right. Mary," said Andy. "It's going to be very difficult. But we must think of something. You see, if only we can hide and not be found we can somehow think of a way to rescue Tom—but if we are found we can't help Tom, and won't be able to escape and tell our secret!"
"Yes—it's very, very important," said Jill thoughtfully. "Let's think of ways of hiding. The bracken is no use at all, is ft?"
"Not a bit of use," said Andy. "I did think we might perhaps wade out to the ship and hide down in the cabin—but I know they would look there."
"Could we hide in the shack?" asked Mary. "Pile the heather over ourselves, or something?"