harbour, climbed up it and settled themselves on the top of it, dangling their legs in the sunlight and looking out over the rippled lake.
“Anybody could see us here,” said the boy.
“Nobody could hear us,” said the able-seaman.
“What is the plan?” said the boy.
“Treasure,” said the able-seaman. “But I can’t tell you unless you promise to come, all by yourself with me. …”
“Nobody else?”
“Nobody else.”
“Not even Susan?”
“Nobody. We’ll go to a desert island, a really desert island, not this one, and there we’ll dig for treasure buried by pirates. For a long time we shan’t find it. They never do. But then, at last, there will be a hollow sound under our pickaxes and thousands of gold pieces will be rolling about in the sand.”
“But where is the island?”
“You haven’t said you’ll come. Treasure-seekers only tell each other. If I told you, you might go and let it out to a pirate or somebody.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“Well, will you come?”
“All right,” said the boy.
“You swear. Properly we ought to have a bit of paper and you ought to make a mark with your own blood. Can’t you prick your finger?”