Crochet pattern query....

[SweepTheHalls]

I'm struggling as a beginner to work on a pattern called Flock of Birds from the Creative Crochet magazine. The magic ring and round 1 went fine. I am then on the 26 stitches I should be. Round 2 then goes:

Working in gaps between sts, 2ch (counts as first st) 2htr in the same gap, 3 htr in each gap to the end, join with a sl St to second of first 2ch, 39 St.

I end up with way to many stitches, about 1/3 too many. Where am I going wrong?

I have drawn this out. I can't get this to work out either with those 2 rows of instructions.

After your first round do you have 13 groups of 2 stitches - with a gap between each group of 2 stitches?

If that is the case then the pattern requires you to do a cluster of 3 stitches in each of the 13 gaps - making 39 stitches in total.

More like 26 individual stitches rather than 13 groups. I am going to overcome it by doing clusters in alternate gaps I think as I just want to get on! Thanks for your help.