ld Alan at breakfast that he was to go and see if
Estelle would like a ride. He intended to take the three elder children
with him.

'What a nuisance!' exclaimed Alan, as he and Marjorie stood a moment on
the doorstep before he started off on his father's mission. 'Why should
father have ordered the horses just to-day? We can't make an excuse
either, for we are all supposed to be keen on riding. If only the horses
could go dead lame for an hour or two!'

Marjorie sympathised, but there was no help for it. More provoking
still, there appeared to be things for the children to do for the next
two or three days. A large garden party for young people, given by Mrs.
De Bohun, took up most of one day, the children being required to help
in the preparations for the entertainment of their guests. A picnic with
friends, to a distant ruin by the sea, fully filled another day, and it
was not till these and a tennis party for children at Lord Gallway's
were over, that a free afternoon left the brother and sister at liberty
to carry out their plans.

They had intended to set off immediately after breakfast, but an
exciting rumour had come that a strange vessel was to be seen hanging
about in rather a suspicious way. The coastguard had been on the
look-out, but the result of his investigations being as yet unknown, the
Colonel asked the children if they would like to accompany him to the
cliffs. The proposal was hailed with delight. The whole morning passed
only too quickly in talking to the coastguard on duty, peeping through
his telescope, and staring at the vessel. The sailor gave it as his
opinion that it was a French boat, though something in the rig made him
not quite positive. It cruised about in a queer manner, 'just as if she
was on the watch for something,' as the man said. However, towards
mid-day she drew out into the offing, and they saw her sails slowly
disappearing below the horizon.

The excitement of this incident only died down in the children's minds
when, after lunch, they started off for the Wilderness. Alan and
Marjorie had other ideas concerning the ship, and were determined to
watch for its return. There would be plenty of time for that after their
search in the cave was over. Meantime it was certain that neither
Estelle nor Georgie must be allowed to accompany them. Happily for all
parties, Estelle had promised to read a new fairy story to Georgie, and
had settled to go to the top of the ruined summer-hous