Part 16 (1/2)

'Let's have a good look round,' said George, feeling suddenly thrilled. 'I've gone all adventurous again!'

'Oh dear!' said Anne. But she couldn't help feeling rather thrilled, too. They all got up and Timmy followed, wagging his tail. He was pleased that his friends hadn't gone off and left him on guard by himself that morning.

'We'll all go different ways,' said Julian. 'Up, down and sideways. I'll go up.'

They separated and went off, George and Timmy together, of course. They hunted in the hillside for possible caves, or even for some kind of hiding-place. Timmy put his head down every rabbit-hole and felt very busy indeed.

After about half an hour the others heard Julian yelling. They ran back to the caravans, sure that he had found something exciting.

But he hadn't. He had simply got tired of hunting and decided to give it up. He shook his head when they rushed up to him, shouting to know what he had found.

'Nothing,' he said. 'I'm fed up with looking. There's not a cave anywhere here. I'm sure of that! Anyone else found anything?'

'Not a thing,' said everyone in disappointment. 'What shall we do now?'

'Put our plan into action,' said Julian, promptly. 'Let the men themselves show us what they're after. Off we go down the hills, and we'll yell out to n.o.bby that we're off for the day - and we'll hope that Lou and Tiger Dan will hear us!'

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

A VERY GOOD HIDING-PLACE

They went down the hill with Timmy. Julian gave d.i.c.k some instructions. 'Have a meal in the town,' he said. 'Keep away for the day, so as to give the men a chance to come up the hill. Go to the post office and see if there are any letters for us - and buy some tins of fruit. They'll make a nice change.'

'Right, Captain!' said d.i.c.k. 'And just you be careful, old boy. These men will stick at nothing - bad-tempered brutes they are.'

'Look after the girls,' said Julian. 'Don't let George do anything mad!'

d.i.c.k grinned. 'Who can stop George doing what she wants to? Not me!'

They were now at the bottom of the hill. The circus camp lay nearby. The children could hear the barking of the dogs and the shrill trumpeting of Old Lady.

They looked about for n.o.bby. He was nowhere to be seen. Blow! It wouldn't be any good setting off to the town and laying such a good plan if they couldn't tell n.o.bby they were going!

n.o.body dared to go into the camp. Julian thought of the two red cloths that n.o.bby and Pongo had waved. Double-danger! It would be wise not to go into the camp that morning. He stood still, undecided what to do.

Then he opened his mouth and yelled:

'n.o.bby! n.o.bBY!'

No answer and no n.o.bby. The elephant man heard him shouting and came up. 'Do you want n.o.bby? I'll fetch him.'

Thanks,' said Julian.

The little man went off, whistling. Soon n.o.bby appeared from behind a caravan, looking rather scared. He didn't come near Julian, but stood a good way away, looking pale and troubled.

'n.o.bby! We're going into the town for the day,' yelled Julian at the top of his voice. 'We're ...'

Tiger Dan suddenly appeared behind n.o.bby and grabbed his arm fiercely. n.o.bby put up a hand to protect his face, as if he expected a blow. Julian yelled again: