One day there was a very high tide indeed. The waves splashed against the cliffs and all the caves were full of water. There was nothing to do down on the beach, because, for one thing, there was no beach, and for another Dimmy said it was dangerous to go down the cliff-path when the tides were high because the spray made the path slippery, and they might easily slip down and fall into the high water.
“Well, what shall we do then?” said Jack, wandering out into the garden, and picking some pea-pads. He split the pads and emptied the peas into his mouth. Dimmy had a lovely garden - full of peas and beans and lettuces and gooseberries and late cherries and early plums. None of the children could help picking something as they went through it every day.
“I know what we’ll do!” said Mike. “We’ll go and explore the garden of the Old House. Come on!”
They passed the farm-lad, George, who was busy digging up some potatoes. Nora called to him.
“Hallo! We’re going to explore the garden of the Old House. Nobody lives there, do they, George?”
“That house has been empty this twenty years.” said George. “Maybe more. The garden is like a forest!”
“It will be fun to explore it then,” said Peggy. They ran up the slope of the cliff towards the Old House. They were all in sun-suits and shady hats, but even so they were very hot. Soon they came to a high wall that ran all round the big garden of the Old House.
“We can’t climb over this,” said Jack, looking up at the wall, which was three times as tall as he was. “What are we going to do?”
“What about going in through the gates?” said Mike, with a grin. “Or do you feel it would be more exciting to break your leg trying to climb that wall, Jack?”
Everybody laughed. “Well, it would be more exciting to climb the wall,” said Jack, giving Mike a friendly punch. “But we’ll go and find the gates.”