The Battle of Pook Island: Part 1

By JACK LASENBY, Illustrator JENNY COOPER

"The rats will get into the flour and sugar," said Bob Harris.

"Stick it in the four-gallon tins. Hammer the lids on hard."

He put a tin of wax matches in a screw-topped jar.

"I'll chop some kindling to leave. Give Denny a yell," Bob told Polly Kennedy. "We want to get down to the base camp before Uncle Ted arrives with the horses."

Denny Price knelt, looking at the dancing sand one last time. He dipped his hand in the lagoon, and Polly dipped and wished, too.

"It won't forget us now," said Denny.

"Bob says it's time to go."

"Polly, do you think my father will come home soon?"

"Course!"

"It's going to be funny, going back to school, Polly."

"I'm not sitting with Catherine Campbell this year."

"Last year Mr Welsh said he might separate me and Bob, make us sit with Itchy Hickey and Scratchy Slattery. He said that might slow us down a bit."

"But they're from over the other side! They live up Milk Street, near Catherine Campbell."

"It's okay. Bob reckons Mr Welsh was pulling our legs."

Bob heaved up his pack made from a sack. "Come on!" Pete and Joe James put on theirs.

Publisher: Longacre Press, $14.95

Age group: 8+ years