“How do you mean - the stakes we have cut will grow?" asked Mike in surprise. “Sticks don’t grow, surely!”
Jack grinned. “Willow sticks do!” he said. “You can cut a willow branch off the tree - strip it of all buds and leaves, and stick it in the ground, and you’ll find that, although it has no roots, and no shoots - it will put out both and grow into a willow-tree by itself! Willows are full of life, and you can’t stamp it out of them!”
“Well - our house will be growing all the year round, then!” cried Nora. “How funny!”
“I think it’s lovely!” said Peggy. “I like things to be as alive as that. I shall love to live in a house that’s growing over me - putting out roots and shoots and buds and leaves! What shall we call our house, Jack?”
“Willow House!” said Jack. “That’s the best name for it!”
“It’s a good name,” said Peggy. “I like it. I like everything here. It’s glorious. Just us four - and our secret island. It’s the loveliest adventure that ever was!”
“If only we had more to eat!” said Mike, who seemed to feel hungry every hour of the day. “That’s the only thing I don’t like about this adventure!”
“Yes,” said Jack. “We’ll have to put that right! Don’t worry. We shall get over it somehow!”
That night there was nothing much to eat but potatoes. Jack said he would go off in the boat as soon as it was dark, to see what he could find at his old farm.
So he set off. He took with him a candle, set in the lantern, but he did not light it in case he should be seen.