The Worst Witch All at Sea (12 page)

hen Mildred woke up the next morning she had a stiff neck from sleeping beneath the window. She sat up to peer out through the mist and saw a watery sun lurking behind the clouds.

Her first thought was for Tabby, and she crept out of her sleeping-bag and clambered into her sports-kit of grey aertex shirt, knee-length black shorts, grey socks and black plimsolls. (Miss Hardbroom and Miss Cackle had decreed that everyone was allowed to wear sports clothes for the entire holiday.) As it was still very early and rather cold, she wrapped her cloak around her shoulders and tiptoed out of the dormitory.

Seagulls screamed and wheeled

around her as she picked her way carefully down the rickety steps to the cove. To Mildred’s delight, the sun had burnt through the clouds and the mist rolled back across the sea, as if an invisible hand was rolling up a carpet before her very eyes, and there below her lay the sea, sparkling and calm, the boat gently bobbing like a bath-toy at the end of the breakwater.

Mildred’s spirits lifted like the mist as the sun warmed her tousled morning hair, and she watched the sea turn bluer by the minute. It seemed a completely different place from yesterday.

Tabby was curled up on a pile of rope inside the shelter at the end of the boat. Mildred could see him as she peeped in through the window.

‘Good morning, Tab!’ she said, opening the door. ‘I’ve brought your break-fast.’

Tabby sprang on to her shoulder with one bound and rubbed his head against her neck. He certainly seemed none the worse for his night on board the boat.

Mildred unwrapped the little parcel of food which she had brought. She had saved three fish fingers and a lump of soggy mashed potato from dinner the night before. In fact, it was nearly
all
the dinner, as they had only had five fish fingers to start with, as well as baked beans, but she knew Tabby didn’t like baked beans, so she had gratefully eaten those herself. She had also brought some milk mixed with water, in a plastic bottle she had saved from their breakfast on the flight to the Castle.

Mildred went and sat on the shingle beach and watched Tabby exploring the seaweed.

‘I’d better get back, Tab,’ said Mildred after a while. ‘They’ll all come to investigate if they know I’m down here so early. I’ll leave the window open a bit, so you don’t get too hot. At least there’s a nice breeze on the sea. I’ll come back this evening and let you out again. Don’t you worry now.’

Tabby wasn’t at all keen about going back into the cabin. Mildred had to rugby-tackle him and stuff him protesting back inside.

Everyone was up and in the middle of dressing when Mildred arrived back in the dormitory.

‘Well, fancy that,’ said Ethel. ‘Mildred Hubble the early riser. Been practising your broomstick water-skiing have you?’

‘Something like that,’ muttered Mildred.

‘What a terrific morning!’ exclaimed Maud, smiling joyfully as she looked out of the window. ‘Miss Hardbroom just came in and announced that we’re to spend the whole day on the beach! We’ve all got our swimming-costumes on under our PE clothes, Mil. You’d better get yours on too – oh, and don’t forget to bring your swimming-hat and your broomstick. The magician’s arranged for us to have breakfast on the beach as a special treat!’

Not too near the boat, I hope! thought Mildred, anxious that someone might hear or see Tabby.

Miss Cackle and Miss Hardbroom were waiting for the members of Form Two in the little courtyard.

‘Good morning, girls,’ said Miss Cackle, beaming. ‘Such glorious weather, after yesterday.’

‘I hope you’re all very grateful to be here having this wonderful holiday,’ snarled Miss Hardbroom, making them all feel guilty as usual.

‘Yes, Miss Hardbroom,’ chorused the girls.

‘Yes, yes, Miss Hardbroom,’ said Miss Cackle. ‘I’m sure we’re
all
delighted to be here. Now then, as we all have our broomsticks with us, we may as well fly down to the cove instead of using those rather worn-looking steps. Mr Rowan-Webb has left a veritable feast of a breakfast on the beach, so the sooner we get down there the better,
I
say! Take it easy on the way down – the cliffs are very steep. I think we should hover our way down rather than attempting a nosedive.’