The next morning they all met at Peter's house again and went off ta Windy Woods. Some of them had things to eat, and Peter had the drinks again. Janet had a big book with her. She had promised to lend it to Colin for the day.
" Here's Daddy's book that I told you about," she said. " It's all about ships... every single ship there is. I told you I'd bring it to show you. But Daddy says I've got to give it back to him in two or three days' time. So don't keep it too long."
" Thanks awfully," said Colin, and took it, very pleased. He loved ships, and this was really a wonderful book. He knew he must be very careful with it indeed.
Scamper trotted with them, as usual. They came to Windy Woods and made their way to their tree. Scamper at once put himself into his " sentry-box " and sat there, serious and important.
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" Woof," he said, and Janet patted him.
" Yes, we know you'll be on guard," she said. " Good dog! "
They all climbed up. Peter undid the rubber sheet from the cushions and spread them out over the platform. Just as he had finished, the girls gave a startled cry. " Look !The lid of the biscuit-tin is off and most of the biscuits are gone! We left quite a lot, but only a few are here. And some of the chocolate we left is gone too, and the lemonade-bottle is empty. It was half-full."
They all looked into the cubby-hole. Yes, the biscuits were certainly gone. The Secret Seven looked at one another. Then Janet spoke suddenly.
" Do you know what I think ? I think it's that cheeky little squirrel! I bet he came here after we had gone, looked into our cubby-hole, and took our things. Squirrels are very clever!"
" But what about the lemonade ? " asked Peter, doubtfully.
" Squirrels use their paws like monkeys," said Janet. " We' ve seen them holding nuts in their paws and chewing them. I'm sure that squirrel would be clever enough to take the cork out of the bottle. I expect it emptied some of the lemonade out. It wouldn't like the taste."
" I can believe in a squirrel that takes a cork out of a bottle and even empties some of the lemonade out," said Peter. " But I can't somehow believe in a squirrel that puts the cork back again. I believe it's that boy ! "
" So do I," said George. But the others didn't. They were sure that it was the squirrel.
" Anyway, don't let's worry," said Jack. " We've got plenty of food today. If the squirrel likes a few biscuits and a bit of chocolate, he can have them."
They had been sensible that morning and had brought dominoes to play with. However, they could just as well have brought cards, because there was no wind. The sun was not to be seen, and the clouds were low.
" I hope it's not going to rain," said Colin, looking up. " I believe it is."
" Well, we shan't feel it much, hidden away in the middle of a thick oak-tree," said Pam. " I don't expect we'll get a single drop on our platform."
When it did begin to rain, and the drops pattered on the leaves, only one or two got through to their platform. But Colin was worried.
" I'd better put this ship book into the cubby-hole," he said. " Hadn't I, Janet ? Your father might be cross if it got wet."
" Well, he would," said Janet. " He's very careful about books. Put it at the back of the cubby-hole, then it won't get even a drop."
So the game was stopped while Colin tucked the big book away very carefully behind the little pile of food in the hole. The rain came down harder. It was rather fun to sit and listen to it pelting down on the leaves, and yet get hardly a drop on the platform.
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By dinner-time the rain had stopped. " We'd better make a dash for it now," said Peter, trying to peer through the branches to see if there was any blue sky. " Now what about our things ? Do you suppose it's safe to leave them, after some of the biscuits and chocolate have been taken ? "
" Quite safe," said Pam, horrified at the thought of dragging everything down the tree to take home. " If the squirrel, or whoever the thief was, didn't take the cushions or the mugs and things yesterday it's not likely he will today. And we've only left a few biscuits."
" Right," said Peter. " We'll just tie up the cushions in the rubber sheet and go. Scamper ! We're coming ! "
" Woof! " said Scamper, and they heard him leaping up at the tree-trunk. He had been very bored in his sentry-box all by himself.
They went down the tree carefully, because the rain had made parts of it rather slippery. Scamper gave them a most hilarious welcome.
They all went off to their homes, and alas... nobody noticed that Colin wasn't carrying the book of ships. He had forgotten all about it, and it was still tucked away in the cubby-hole half-way up the great big oak-tree.
