“It’s time we had something to eat,” said Peggy. “We can’t light a fire in here, for we would be smoked out, but there are some rolls of bread I made yesterday, some wild strawberries, and a cold pudding. And lots of milk, of course.”
They sat and ate, though none of them felt hungry. Daisy lay down behind them, perfectly good. The hens clucked quietly, puzzled at finding themselves in such a strange dark place, but quite happy with the children there.
When the meal was over Jack went back to his post again. He sat just inside the cave-entrance and listened.
The men were getting puzzled and disheartened. They were sitting at the foot of the hill, eating sandwiches and drinking beer. Jack could hear their voices quite plainly.
“Well, those children may have been on this island, and I think they were - but they’re not here now,” said one man. “I’m certain of that.”
“We’ve hunted every inch,” said another man. “I think you’re right, Tom; those kids have been here all right - who else could have planted those runner beans we found? - but they’ve gone. I expect that boy the policeman saw last Wednesday gave the alarm, and they’ve all gone off in the boat.”
“Ah yes, the boat!” said a third man. “Now, if the children were here we’d find a boat, wouldn’t we? Well, we haven’t found one - so they can’t be here!”
“Quite right,” said the first man. “I didn’t think of that. If there’s no boat here, there are no children! What about going back now? I’m sure it’s no good hunting any more.”
“There’s just one place we haven’t looked,” said the quiet voice of the fourth man. “There are some caves in this hillside - it’s possible those children may have hidden there.”
“Caves!” said another man. “Yes - just the place. We’ll certainly look there. Where are they?”