adventure, he had led the others to that happy spot. He felt that
to refrain from jam, apple turnovers, cake, and mixed candied peel
was a really heroic act - and I agree with him. He was also proud
of not taking the custard pudding - and there I think he was wrong
- because if he had taken it there would have been a difficulty
about returning the dish; no one, however starving, has a right to
steal china pie-dishes with little pink flowers on them. The
soda-water syphon was different. They could not do without
something to drink, and as the maker's name was on it they felt
sure it would be returned to him wherever they might leave it. If
they had time they would take it back themselves. The man appeared
to live in Rochester, which would not be much out of their way
home.

Everything was carried up to the top of the tower, and laid down on
a sheet of kitchen paper which Cyril had found on the top shelf of
the larder. As he unfolded it, Anthea said, 'I don't think THAT'S
a necessity of life.'

'Yes, it is,' said he. 'We must put the things down somewhere to
cut them up; and I heard father say the other day people got
diseases from germans in rain-water. Now there must be lots of
rain-water here - and when it dries up the germans are left, and
they'd get into the things, and we should all die of scarlet
fever.'

'What are germans?'

'Little waggly things you see with microscopes,' said Cyril, with
a scientific air. 'They give you every illness you can think of!