nt of enjoyment from
them. A plank placed over a tree-trunk made quite a good see-saw; the
new back gate was a delightful one to swing upon; and, when Miss
Ormrod's back was turned, it was a favourite amusement to place a ladder
against the potting-shed wall, climb to the ridge of the roof, and then
slide down and give a flying jump to the ground. There was an old bucket
inside the potting-shed upon which Diana had her eye; she had schemes
that centred round that bucket. It had holes drilled in its sides, and
had been used during building operations to light a fire in. She was
determined it should be used for that purpose again.

Down by the brink of the lake was a boat-house that belonged to the
school. It was kept carefully locked, and Miss Todd had the key. Since
she had taken over the school she had allowed no one to use the boat--a
grievance at which the girls sometimes grumbled. There was a small
landing-stage at the edge of the water, and only six feet away from this
was a sort of island formed of some willow-stumps and a little soil. It
was a tiny place, hardly worthy to be called an island, and yet for
Diana it held an immense attraction. She wanted to get on to it. She
went down one day with Wendy, Peggy, and Vi, and they took the plank
which had been used for a see-saw, fixed it as a bridge from the
landing-stage to a willow-stump, and then walked across and took
possession. Their new property was only about as large as a good-sized
dining-table, but they were immensely pleased with it.

"We'll bring down the Stars and Stripes and hang them up!" exulted
Diana.

"The Union Jack, you mean!" corrected Wendy. "Can't run up even an
Allied flag on British soil without first claiming it for the King! I'd
like to have a picnic here!"

"That's exactly what's in my mind," agreed Diana, waiving the question
of the colours. "And I've got a brain-wave. We'll carry the bucket over,
light a fire, and cook something. Wouldn't it be rather ripping?"

"A1!" beamed Peggy and Vi.

"Crusoe Island", as the girls named their willow-clump, might certainly
claim the doubtful distinction of being the smallest British possession
in the world, but it was an important one in the eyes of its owners.
They duly brought down the Union Jack and the American flag, and--as a
concession to Diana--planted them side by side on its scanty soil. They
decided not to tell seniors or juniors anything at all about it. Of
course, in a vague way, t