Everyone was full of ideas. " We could bring some small boards to put across the branches and make a proper little platform," said Colin. " We've got some in our shed at home."
" And rope to tie them on with," said Jack.
" Yes, and cushions to sit on," said Pam. " Only we'd have to stuff them in the hole in the tree whenever we left, in case it rained."
" Can't do that. The hole's not big enough," said Jack.
" Well, I could bring an old waterproof sheet - a rubber one- to cover up any of our things when we leave," said Barbara. " Then they would be quite all right."
" Good idea," said Peter, scribbling fast in his note-book. " Any more ideas ? "
" Stores for the cubby-hole in the tree," said Janet. " Unbreakable mugs and things like that. I'll bring those. Mummy always lets us have them when we want them, so long as we take them back sometime."
" This is fine," said Peter, scribbling quickly. " Boards to make a platform. You can bring those, Colin."
" Rope to tie them with," said Jack. " I'll bring that."
" Cushions for me," said Pam.
" Rubber sheet for me," said Barbara.
" Mugs for me," said Janet. " What about you, George ? "
" I'll bring some chocolate for the cubby hole," said George. " We had a big parcel from a cousin in America today, heaps of chocolate in it. My mother said I could have half."
" Smashing ! " said Peter. " And I'll bring the drinks. Golly, we're going to have a glorious time. It will be a wonderful meeting-place. Don't you go and tell that awful sister of yours, Jack."
" As if I'd tell Susie!" said Jack, indignantly. " When shall we begin to make the tree-house ?"
" Why not tomorrow ? " said Peter. " Nobody is going away to the sea just yet. It shouldn't take us long to put everything together up here. This place is just made for a tree-house! "
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A loud and mournful howl rose up from the foot of the tree. Then there came a scrabbling noise.
" Oh... poor Scamper ! " said Janet. " He's been as good as anything waiting for us. I guess he wishes he could climb like our cat. He'd be up beside us in half a jiffy ! "
" We're coming, Scamper," called Peter. He took one last look round the tree. " It really couldn't be better," he said. "And there's only one more thing to hope for."
" What's that ? " asked Jack, beginning to climb down.
" Something for the Secret Seven to do" said Peter. " We haven't had any adventure or mystery or excitement for ages."
" I'm glad you said that," said Pam. " When you say things never happen, they always do."
" I hope you're right," said Peter. He parted the leaves of the tree behind him. " What a long way we can see! " he said. " Right over the wood, and across to the hill. I can see the road winding up the hill too, and cars on it."
" Come on," called Jack, who was half-way down the tree now. " It's getting jolly late. I shall get into a row, I know I shall. My mother says our meetings always last an hour too long! "
" Well, this was a jolly good one anyhow," said Colin, slithering down much too fast. " Golly... now I've torn my shorts."
" I should think so... going down the tree as if it was a slippery-slip ! " said Barbara.
Scamper gave them a tremendous welcome. He leapt on one after another as the Secret Seven jumped down to the ground, barking and licking with all his might. Peter laughed.
" Poor old Scamper... you won't like our new meeting-place, will you? I say, look... what about giving Scamper that hole over there as a kind of kennel when we are up the tree ? "
He pointed to what looked almost like a small cave in a nearby tree. It was old and rotten, and a hole had appeared at the foot of its trunk. It would just about fit Scamper.
" We could put one of his rugs in there, and a bone, so that he would know it was his place," said Peter. " And we could say, 'On guard, Scamper!' to him, so that he would stay there till we came down."
" Oh yes... he would be our sentinel," said George. " He'd make an awfully good one. He would bark as soon as anyone came near."
They all felt happy now that they had made a good plan for Scamper. He wouldn't be able to come up the tree and join their meetings as he did in the shed... but at least he would be doing something for them and feeling important because he was on guard.
" Woof," said Scamper, exactly as if he understood every word, and agreed thoroughly. He wagged his tail and ran in front of them. He knew it was dinner-time, if they didn't!
