Everyone seemed to be laughing and crying at the same time. But at last it was so dark that no one could see anyone else. Jack lighted the lantern that Mike had brought down to the beach, and led the way to the cave. He badly wanted Captain and Mrs. Arnold to see how lovely it was.
They all crowded inside. There was a bright fire crackling just outside, and the cave was warm and cosy. Jack hung the lantern up and placed two wooden stools for the children’s parents. Peggy flew to heat some milk, and put out rolls of bread and some potted meat she had been saving up for Christmas. She did so want her mother to see how nicely she could do things, even though they all lived in a cave!
“What a lovely home!” said Mrs. Arnold, as she looked round and saw the shelves, the stools, the table, the beds, and everything. The cave was very neat and tidy, and looked so cosy and friendly. How they all talked! How they jumped up and down and laughed and told first this thing and then the other! Only one thing made Captain and Mrs. Arnold angry - and that was the tale of how unkind Aunt Harriet and Uncle Henry had been.
“They shall be punished,” said Captain Arnold, and that was all he said about them.
Daisy chose to moo loudly that night, and Captain Arnold laughed till the tears came into his eyes when he heard about the night that poor Daisy had had to swim behind the boat to the island! And when he heard how she had mooed and frightened away the people who had come to look for them, he laughed still more!
“Somebody will have to write a book about your adventures.” he said. “I never in my life heard anything like them. We didn’t have such thrilling adventures on our island! We just lived with the native people there till a boat picked us up! Very dull indeed!”
Jack disappeared at that moment, and when he came back he carried a great load of heather. He flung it down in a corner.
“You’ll stay with us to-night, won’t you, Captain?” he said. “We’d love to have you. Please do.”
“Of course!” said Captain Arnold. And Mrs. Arnold nodded her dark head. “We will all be together in the cave," she said. “Then we shall share a bit of your secret island, children, and know what it is like.”
So that night the children had visitors! They all fell asleep on their heather beds at last, happy, excited, and very tired. What fun to wake up to-morrow with their own father and mother beside them!