The whole party rushed back through the trees towards the camp.
Just as they came to the edge of the clearing there was a shout, but they could see no one.
“Hands up! Halt!”
The voice came from immediately in front of them.
“Hands up!” it came again.
“Flat on your faces,” cried Captain John, throwing himself on the ground.
Susan, Titty, and Roger were full length on the ground in a moment. An arrow passed harmlessly over their heads.
They looked at their own camp, and did not at first see what Captain John had seen. In the middle of the camp a tall stick was stuck in the ground with a black pirate flag blowing from the top of it. But there seemed to be nobody there. Then, inside their own tents, they saw two figures, kneeling, one with a bow ready to shoot, the other fitting an arrow.