“Oh, Jack! She’d never squeeze through that narrow, winding passage,” said Peggy.
“Oh yes, she would,” said Jack. “She’d come with me all right - and what’s more, Daisy is going to practise going in and out there, so that if the time comes when she has really got to hide for a few hours, she won’t mind. It wouldn’t be any good putting her into that cave, and then having her moo fit to lift off the top of the hill!”
Everyone laughed. Mike nodded his head. “Quite right,” he said. “Daisy will have to practise! I suppose the hens can go there quite well, too?”
“Easily,” said Jack. “And so can we!”
“The only things we can’t take into the cave are our boat and our house,” said Mike.
“The boat would never be found under those brambles by the water,” said Jack, “And I doubt if anyone would ever find Willow House either, for we have built it in the very middle of that thicket, and it is all we can do to squeeze through to it! Grown-ups could never get through. Why, we shall soon have to climb a tree and drop down to Willow House if the bushes and trees round it grow any more thickly!”
“I almost wish someone would come!” said Peggy. “It would be so exciting to hide away!”
“A bit too exciting!” said Jack. “Remember, there’s a lot to be done as soon as we see anyone coming!”
“Hadn’t we better plan it all out now?” said Mike. “Then we shall each know what to do.”
“Yes,” said Jack. “Well, I’ll manage Daisy the cow, and go straight off to fetch her. Mike, you manage the hens and get them into a sack, and take them straight up to the cave. Peggy, you stamp out the fire and scatter the hot sticks. Also you must put out the empty cigarette packet, the tin, and the cardboard carton that the trippers left, so that it will look as if trippers have been here, and nobody will think it’s funny to find the remains of a fire, or any other odd thing.”