The Sea of Adventure by Enid Blyton Read Free Book Online Page B

live in caves. I just want a sunny, lazy, windy time with the people I like best. It would be nice if Aunt Allie was here too — but perhaps she wouldn't enjoy it very much."
     
    "I hope she's feeling better," said Dinah. "I say, where's the land? I can't see a bit — not even an island!"
     
    "You'll see plenty tomorrow," said Bill. "You can choose one for your own."
     
    That was a wonderful afternoon and evening. They had a fine tea on board, prepared by the two girls, who found new bread, strawberry jam and a big chocolate cake in the cabin larder.
     
    "Make the most of this," said Bill. "You won't get new bread often now. I doubt if we shall find any farm-houses at all, among the lonely islands we shall visit. But I've brought tins and tins of biscuits of all kinds. And as for this chocolate cake, eat it up and enjoy it — I don't think you'll get any more for two weeks."
     
    "I don't care," said Dinah, munching away. "When I'm hungry I simply don't mind what I eat — and I can see I'm always going to be hungry on this holiday."
     
    The sun went down in a great golden blaze, and the tiny curly clouds turned a brilliant pink. Still the motor-boat went on and on and on, over a sea that blazed pink and gold too.
     
    "The sun has drowned itself in the sea," said Lucy-Ann at last, as it disappeared. "I watched the very very last little bit go down into the water."
     
    "Where are we going to sleep tonight?" asked Jack. "Not that I mind — but it would be fun to know."
     
    "There are two tents somewhere in the bow," said Bill. "I thought, when we came to an island we like the look of, we'd land, put up the tents and sleep there for the night. What do you say?"
     
    "Oh yes," said everyone. "Let's look for an island — a really nice wild one!"
     
    But at the moment there was no land in sight, not even a small rocky island. Bill gave the wheel to Jack, and looked at the chart. He pointed with his finger. "We've been running in this direction. We should come on these two islands presently. One has a few people on it, and, I believe, a tiny jetty. We'd better go there tonight, and then set off to the unknown tomorrow. It's getting too late to go hunting for islands further away. It would be dark before we got there."
     
    "It's still very light," said Philip, looking at his watch. "At home it would be getting dark."
     
    "The further north you go, the longer the evening light is," said Bill. "Don't ask me why at the moment. I don't feel capable of a lecture just now."
     
    "You don't need to tell us," said Philip loftily. "We learnt all about it last term. You see, owing to the sun being . . ."
     
    "Spare me, spare me," begged Bill, taking the wheel again. "Look, one of your inquisitive little rats is sniffing at Kiki's tail. There will be murder done in a moment if you don't remove him."
     
    But Kiki knew better than to hurt any of Philip's pets. She contented herself with cracking her beak so loudly in Squeaker's ear that he ran back to Philip in alarm, scampering up his bare legs and into his shorts in a trice.
     
    Gradually the sea lost its blue, and became grey-green. The breeze felt cold and everyone put on jerseys. Then far away in the distance a dark hump loomed up — land!
     
    "That's it, that's one of the islands we want for tonight," said Bill, pleased. "I consider I've done pretty well to head so straight for it. We'll soon be there."
     
    It certainly was not long before they were nosing alongside a simple stone jetty. A fisherman was there, in a long blue jersey. He was astonished to see them.
     
    Bill explained in a few words. "Och, so it's bairds ye're after," said the fisherman. "Weel, there's a plenty for you out yon," and he nodded towards the sea. "Where will you be sleeping the night? My bit cottage won't tak' sae mony."
     
    Lucy-Ann couldn't understand him, but the others gathered what he meant. "Bring the tents," ordered Bill. "We'll soon have them up. We'll get the fisherman's wife to