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absolutely quiet if I tell him.»
    «I'll make him a little white coat said Janet. «Then he won't be seen either. He'll look like a big lump of snow or something!»
    They all began to feel very excited. «What time shall we go?» said Colin.
    «Well, it was about half-past nine, wasn't it, when the men arrived last night», said Jack. «We'll make it the same time then. Meet here at about nine tonight. My goodness – this is a bit of excitement, isn't it?»

9 – Out Into the Night
     
    Janet spent the whole of the afternoon making Scamper a white coat. Peter borrowed a ragged old sheet, and found an old white macintosh. He thought he could cut up the sheet and make it do for the other three, it was so big.
    Janet helped him to cut it up and make arm-holes and neck-holes. She giggled when he put one on to see if it was all right.
    «You do look peculiar», she said. «What about your head – how are you going to hide your dark hair? It will be moonlight tonight, you know.»
    «You'll have to try and make white caps or something for us», said Peter. «And we'll paint our faces white!»
    «There's some whitewash in the shed», said Janet, with another giggle. «Oh, dear – you will all look queer. Can I come to the shed at nine, Peter, and just see you all before you go?»
    «All right – if you can creep down without anyone seeing you», said Peter. «I think Mummy's going out tonight, so it should be all right. If she's not, you mustn't come in case you make a noise and spoil the whole thing.»
    Mummy was going out that night. Good! Now it would be easy to slip down to the shed. Peter told Janet she must wrap up very warmly indeed – and if she had fallen asleep she was not to wake up!
    «I shan't fall asleep», said Janet, indignantly. «You know I couldn't possibly. Mind you don't.»
    «Don't be silly», said Peter. «As if the head one in an important plan like this could fall asleep! My word, Janet – the Secret Seven are in for an adventure this time!»
    At half-past eight the children's lights were out, and didn't go on again. But torches lighted up their rooms, and Janet was very, very busy dressing up Scamper in his new white coat. He didn't like it at all, and kept biting at it.
    «Oh, Scamper – you won't be allowed to go unless you look like a snow-dog!» said Janet, almost in despair. And whether or not Scamper understood what she said she didn't know – but from that moment he let her dress him up without any more trouble. He looked peculiar and very mournful.
    «Come on, if you're coming – it's almost nine», said a whispering voice. It was Peter's. Together the two children and Scamper crept down the stairs. They were very warmly wrapped up indeed – but as soon as they got out into the air they found that it was not nearly as cold as they expected.
    «The snow's melting! There's no frost tonight», whispered Janet.
    «Golly, I hope those snowmen won't have melted», said Peter, in alarm.
    «Oh, they won't yet», said Janet. «Come on – I can see one of the others.»
    The passwords were whispered softly at the door of the shed, and soon there were five of the Secret Seven there. Peter lighted a candle, and they all looked at one another in excitement.
    «We've got to paint our faces white and put on our white things», said Peter. «Then we're ready.»
    Jack giggled. «Look at Scamper! He's in white too! Scamper, you look ridiculous.»
    «Woof», said Scamper, miserably. He felt ridiculous, too. Poor Scamper!
    With squeals and gurgles of laughter the four boys painted their faces white. They had carefully put on their white things first so as not to mess their overcoats. Janet fitted the little white skull caps she had roughly made, over each boy's head.
    «Well! I shouldn't like to meet you walking down the lane tonight!» she said. «You look terrifying!»
    «Time we went», said Peter. «Goodbye, Janet. Go to bed now and sleep tight. I'll tell you our adventures in the morning! I shan't wake