FIVE ON A HIKE TOGETHER by Enid Blyton

16 OUT ON THE RAFT

There were four little paddles. Dick got them, and gave everyone one each. Timmy looked down solemnly at the raft. What was it? Surely he was not expected to ride on that bobbing, floating thing?

Julian was on the raft already, holding it steady for the others, He helped Anne on and then George stepped down. Dick came last - well, not quite last, because Timmy was not yet on.

"Come on, Tim!" said George. "It's all right! It's not the kind of boat you're used to, but it acts in the same way. Come on, Timmy!"

Timmy jumped down and the raft bobbed violently. Anne sat down suddenly with a giggle. "Oh dear - Timmy is so sudden! Keep still, Tim - there isn't enough room on this raft for you to walk all over it."

Julian pushed the raft out of the boat-house. It knocked against the wooden ledge as it went, and then swung out on to the backwater outside. It floated very smoothly.

"Here we go!" said Julian, paddling deftly. "I'll steer, Dick, None of you need to paddle till I say so. I can paddle and steer at the moment, till we get on to the lake itself."

They were all sitting on the raft except Timmy, who was standing up. He was very interested in seeing the water flow past so quickly. Was this a boat then? He was used to boats - but in boats the water was never quite so near. Timmy put out a paw into the water. It was pleasantly cool and tickled him. He lay down with his nose almost in the water.

"You're a funny dog, Timmy!" said Anne. "You won't get up too suddenly, will you, or you'll knock me overboard."

Julian paddled down the little backwater and the raft swung out on to the lake itself. The children looked to see if there was any sign of Maggie and Dirty Dick.

"There they are!" said Julian. "Out in the middle, rowing hard. Shall we follow them? If they know where the Saucy Jane is they'll lead us to it."

"Yes. Follow them," said Dick. "Shall we paddle now? We'll have to be quick or we may lose them."

They all paddled hard, and the raft suddenly swung to and fro in a most alarming manner.

"Hey, stop!" shouted Julian. "You're all paddling against one another. We're going round in circles. Dick and Anne go one side and George the other. That's better. Watch how we're going, all of you, and stop paddling for a moment if the raft swings round too much."

They soon got into the way of paddling so that the raft went straight ahead. It was fun. They got very hot and wished they could take off their jerseys. The sun was quite warm, and there was no wind at all - it was really a perfect October afternoon.

"They've stopped rowing," said George, suddenly. "They're looking at something - do you suppose they have got a bit of paper like the one we have, with the same marks, and are examining it? I wish I could see!"

They all stopped paddling and looked towards the boat in which Maggie and Dirty Dick sat. They were certainly examining something very carefully - their heads were close together. But they were too far away for the children to see if they were holding a piece of paper.

"Come on - we'll get as close to them as we can!" said Julian, beginning to paddle again. "I expect it will make them absolutely mad to see us so close, but we can't help that!"

They paddled hard again, and at last came up to the boat. Timmy barked. Maggie and Dirty Dick at once looked round and saw the raft and the four children. They stared at them savagely.

"Hallo!" cried Dick, waving a paddle. "We took the raft out. It goes well. Does your boat go all right?"

Maggie went red with rage. "You'll get into trouble for taking that raft without permission," she shouted.