Tariq spread the map he had found on the car bonnet, and they all gathered round it.

“You think this is going to help?” Harry asked.

“Yes, it was pushed under the bushes, with just sufficient showing to catch my attention.”

“I don’t see how it can. All it shows is paw marks.”

“But carefully placed paw marks. Three of them are on the outside, clearly holding the map in place, while only one is actually on the map.”

“So you’re telling me that the place we’re looking for is under the muddy pawprint?”

“No, we’re dealing with an intelligent werewolf.” Tariq ignored Harry’s snort and continued, “The pawprint is placed to indicate where to look.”

Ros peered carefully at the paw mark. “There,” she said, “just between those two claw marks. It’s the head of the lake and I suspect that’s a boathouse. I suggest we try there.”

They followed the track which would lead them to their destination. As they drew closer, they saw it was indeed a boathouse. They approached cautiously and while Tariq and Jo knocked and opened the main door, Harry and Ros burst in from the back. The three inside gave themselves up without a struggle.

“There’s no sign of Adam,” Harry said.

A loud yipping drew their attention to a rowing boat which was floating in the lake, tied to a post. The werewolf began to pull the rope and the boat came towards them, so that they could see Adam tied up and lying in the bottom. Tariq ran down to help and Ros stepped onto the boat to untie Adam.

“I don’t know why he didn’t get Adam back himself,” Harry complained.

“As I said,” Tariq replied. “He’s intelligent. One large werewolf and one small rowing boat would be a recipe for disaster. It would be far too easy to capsize the boat.”

“Quite right,” Adam said, as he came up to join them. “I was much safer waiting in the boat for you.”

The werewolf trotted over, looked triumphantly at Harry, and shook lake water over his trousers.