“I hear you’ve had some visitors,” said mother.
The Swallows stared at her. It really was astonishing how news flew about among these natives.
“ Mrs. Blackett called on me yesterday and told me her little girls had met you on the island. She seemed very jolly. How did you get on with the girls?”
“Beautifully,” said Susan. “One is called Nancy and the other is called Peggy.”
“Really,” said mother. “I thought the elder one was called Ruth.”
“That’s only when she is with the natives,” said Titty. “She is the captain of the Amazon pirates, and when she’s a pirate her name is Nancy. We call her Nancy.”
“I see,” said mother. “ Mrs. Blackett said they were a couple of tomboys, and she was afraid they might be too wild for you.”
“They aren’t any wilder than we are,” said Titty.
“I hope not,” said mother, laughing.
Then she said, “Their uncle lives during the summer in that houseboat we saw. You haven’t been meddling with it, have you?”
“No,” said John, gloomily. “But he thinks we have.”
“I know,” said mother, “ Mrs. Dixon told me. I said I was sure you hadn’t.”
“But he thinks we have. He’s been here. He came when we were all away and left this.” John pulled out the note and gave it to mother.
Mother looked at it. “Who is Captain Flint,” she asked.