Over Sea, Under Stone

Barnabas “Barney” Drew, Jane Drew, and Simon Drew have arrived in the small Cornish village of Trewissick to spend their holidays with their parents and a family friend, a mysterious man named Professor Merriman “Merry” Lyon, whom they call Great-Uncle Merry. After picking the family up from the train station, Great-Uncle Merry drives them to the Grey House, which he is renting from a man named Captain Toms. The children are excited to spend four weeks exploring the village and visiting with their beloved great-uncle, who often disappears for long stretches of time. Barney, the youngest, is especially happy to be spending time in Cornwall because that is where the Arthurian legends took place. As they settle in the Grey House, the children notice a luxurious yacht in the harbor and wonder about its owners. Only Jane notices that Great-Uncle Merry appears upset by the ship.

While the three siblings spend time on the beach, they run into a boy named Bill Hoover, who accidentally knocks Jane over with his bike. The boys have an altercation, but Bill soon leaves, and they watch him bring some supplies to the yacht.