Part 20 (1/2)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ANOTHER VISIT FROM LOU AND DAN

n.o.body disturbed the children that night, and Timmy did not bark once. n.o.bby slept on a pile of rugs in the boy's caravan, and Pongo cuddled up to him. The chimpanzee seemed delighted at staying with the caravanners. Timmy was rather jealous that another animal should be with them, and wouldn't take any notice of Pongo at all.

The next morning, after breakfast, the children discussed who was to go down to the town. 'Not n.o.bby and Pongo, because they wouldn't be allowed in the bus together,' said Julian. 'They had better stay behind.'

'Not by ourselves?' said n.o.bby, looking alarmed. 'Suppose Lou and Uncle Dan come up? Even if I've got Pongo I'd be scared.'

'Well, I'll stay here, too,' said d.i.c.k. 'We don't all need to go to buy torches. Don't forget to post that letter to Daddy and Mother, Julian.'

They had written a long letter to their parents, telling them of the exciting happenings. Julian put it into his pocket. 'I'll post it all right,' he said. 'Well, I suppose we might as well go now. Come on, girls. Keep a look-out, d.i.c.k, in case those rogues come back.'

George, Timmy, Anne and Julian went down the hill together, Timmy running on in front, his tail wagging nineteen to the dozen. Pongo climbed up to the roof of the red caravan to watch them go. n.o.bby and d.i.c.k sat down in the warm sun on the ledge, their heads resting on springy clumps of heather.

'It's nice up here,' said n.o.bby. 'Much nicer than down below. I wonder what everyone is thinking about Pongo and me. I bet Mr Gorgio, the head of the circus, is wild that the chimpanzee's gone. I bet he'll send up to fetch us.'

n.o.bby was right. Two people were sent up to get him - Lou and Tiger Dan. They came creeping up through the bracken and heather, keeping a sharp eye for Timmy or Pongo.

Pongo sensed them long before they could be seen and warned n.o.bby. n.o.bby went very pale. He was terrified of the two scoundrels.

'Get into one of the caravans,' said d.i.c.k in a low voice. 'Go on. I'll deal with those fellows - if it is them. Pongo will help me if necessary.'

n.o.bby scuttled into the green caravan and shut the door. d.i.c.k sat where he was. Pongo squatted on the roof of the caravan, watching.

Lou and Dan suddenly appeared. They saw d.i.c.k, but did not see Pongo. They looked all round for the others.

'What do you want?' said d.i.c.k.

'n.o.bby and Pongo,' said Lou with a scowl. 'Where are they?'

'They're going to stay on with us,' said d.i.c.k.

'Oh, no, they're not!' said Tiger Dan. 'n.o.bby's in my charge, see? I'm his uncle.'

'Funny sort of uncle,' remarked d.i.c.k. 'How's that dog you poisoned, by the way?'

Tiger Dan went purple in the face. He looked as if he would willingly have thrown d.i.c.k down the hill.

'You be careful what you say to me!' he said, beginning to shout.

n.o.bby, hidden in the caravan, trembled when he heard his uncle's angry yell. Pongo kept quite still, his face set and ugly.

'Well, you may as well say good-bye and go,' said d.i.c.k in a calm voice to Dan. 'I've told you that n.o.bby and Pongo are staying with us for the present.'

'Where is n.o.bby?' demanded Tiger Dan, looking as if he would burst with rage at any moment. 'Wait till I get my hands on him. Wait ...'

He began to walk towards the caravans - but Pongo was not having any of that! He leapt straight off the roof on to the horrified man, and flung him to the ground. He made such a terrible snarling noise that Dan was terrified.

'Call him off!' he yelled. 'Lou, come and help.'