At that moment something hit the saucepan with a loud ping, and ashes flew up out of the fire. A long arrow with a green feather stuck, quivering, among the embers.
The four explorers started to their feet.
“It’s begun,” said Titty.
Roger grabbed at the arrow and pulled it out of the fire.
Titty took it from him at once. “It may be poisoned,” she said. “Don’t touch the point of it.”
“Listen,” said Captain John.
They listened. There was not a sound to be heard but the quiet lapping of the water against the western shore of the island.
“It’s him,” said Titty. “He’s winged his arrow with a feather from his green parrot.”
“Listen,” said Captain John again.
“Shut up, just for a minute,” said Mate Susan.
There was the sharp crack of a dead stick breaking somewhere in the middle of the island.
“We must scout,” said Captain John. “I’ll take one end of the line, the mate the other. Titty and Roger go in the middle. Spread out. As soon as one of us sees him, the others close in to help.”
They spread out across the island, and began to move forward. But they had not gone ten yards when John gave a shout.
“ Swallow has gone,” he shouted. He was on the left of the line, and as soon as he came out of the camping ground he saw the landing-place