Paul saw Mike and Jack far below at the edge of the water. They were getting out the boat to go and fish. The girls came running down to join them. They had already asked Paul to come, but he wouldn’t. He was really afraid of water, and it was all that the others could do to get him in to bathe.
Paul stood up and waved to the others. They waved back. They didn’t like leaving him alone, but really they couldn’t go and sit up there for hours. Besides, Peggy had said that if they caught some fish she would fry them for supper, and that really sounded rather delicious!
“We shan’t be long, Paul!” shouted Mike. “We shall only be round the south end of the island, which is a good fishing-place. Yell to us if you want us.”
“Right!” shouted back Paul, and he waved again. He really thought it was queer the way the four children seemed to like the water so much - they were always bathing and paddling and boating! But Paul liked them immensely, especially Mike, who had been a great help to him when he had been a prisoner in the tower.
He watched the boat leave the little beach and row round to the other side of the island. The boat looked very small from where he stood, and the children looked like dolls! But he could hear their voices very clearly. They were getting their fishing-lines ready.
Paul half wished he was with them, they all sounded so jolly. He watched them for some time, and then he turned round and gazed down the blue waters of the lake on the other side of the island.
And he saw a boat there! Yes - a boat that was being rowed by two men! Paul stood and watched, his heart beating fast. Who were the two men? Could they be Mr. Diaz and Luiz? He hated them both and was afraid of them. Had they come to find him again?
He turned to the opposite side of the lake and yelled to the four children in the boat there.
“Jack! Mike! There’s a boat coming up the lake!”
“What?” shouted Jack.