George, aged nine, and Timmy the puppy continue their adventures in this exciting story. Exploring at Kirrin Farm one day, Timmy falls through the barn floor into an old cellar and George has to find a trapdoor to get down to him. George is excited to find the old cellar, but she's even more excited when she discovers a dusty old trunk, full of mysterious looking papers. Has she just uncovered an important secret? These prequels are an ideal lead up to the Famous Five books for contemporary 7-10 year old readers. George was Enid Blyton's favourite and most fully realised character, whom she based on herself. Timmy was based on her own spaniel, Laddie. George's friend Alf, the fisherboy, is worried that his family are about to lose their livelihood. Their family fishing boat which was originally bequeathed to them by one of George's ancestors is under threat, as they can't find the orginal documents about the handover. George is visiting Mr and Mrs Sanders at Kirrin Farm, an old building that used to belong to George's family long ago, and after tea she and Timmy go exploring in the barns. After an interlude with a rival fisherman who tries to wrest the papers from her, she returns them to Alf and their livelihood is no longer under threat.