A man hailed them as they came by.
"Ahoy there!
Have you come from Kirrin Island?"
"Don't answer," said George.
"Don't say a word."
So no one said anything at all, but looked the other way as if they hadn't heard.
"AHOY THERE!" yelled the man, angrily.
"Are you deaf?
Have you come from the island?"
Still the children said nothing at all, but looked away while George rowed steadily.
The man on the ship gave it up, and looked in a worried manner towards the island.
He felt sure the children had come from there—and he knew enough of his comrades' adventures to wonder if everything was right on the island.
"He may put out a boat from the smack and go and see what's happening," said George.
"Well, he can't do much except take the men off— with a few ingots!
I hardly think they'll dare to take any of the gold though, now that we've escaped to tell our tale!"
Julian looked behind at the ship.
He saw after a time that the little boat it carried was being lowered into the sea.
"You're right," he said to George.
"They're afraid something is up. They're going to rescue those three men.
What a pity!"
Their little boat reached land.
The children leapt out into the shallow water and dragged it up to the beach.
Tim pulled at the rope too, wagging his tail.
He loved to join in anything that the children were doing.
"Shall you take Tim to Alf?" asked Dick.
George shook her head.
"No," she said, "we haven't any time to waste.
We must go and tell everything that has happened.
I'll tie Tim up to the fence in the front garden."
They made their way to Kirrin Cottage at top speed.
Aunt Fanny was gardening there.
She stared in surprise to see the hurrying children.
"Why," she said,
"I thought you were not coming back till tomorrow or the next day!
Has anything happened?
What's the matter with Dick's cheek?"
"Nothing much," said Dick.
The others chimed in. "Aunt Fanny, where's Uncle Quentin?
We have something important to tell him!"
"Mother, we've had such an adventure!"
"Aunt Fanny, we've an awful lot to tell you!
We really have!"
Aunt Fanny looked at the untidy children in amazement.
"Whatever has happened?" she said.
Then she turned towards the house and called, "Quentin!
Quentin!
The children have something to tell us!"
Uncle Quentin came out, looking rather cross, for he was in the middle of his work.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
"Uncle, it's about Kirrin Island," said Julian, eagerly.