“I interrupt you? Pardon me!” said Mr Wooh, and bowed himself politely away from the group in the tent. Charlie the Chimp followed him, hoping that Mischief would too, so that they could have a game. But Mischief didn’t want to. He didn’t like Mr Wooh.

“Well, I didn’t realise that anyone from the circus would walk down the field so quietly, and be able to hear what we were saying inside the tent,” said Julian, worried. “I didn’t like the look in his eyes. Dick — you don’t suppose he heard anything we were saying, do you?”

“Would it matter?” said Dick.

“It might,” said Julian. “Do you think he heard what George said about going over to Kirrin Island with the other papers — the valuable ones that the thieves didn’t see in the tower room last night? I wouldn’t let George go if I thought he had heard. In fact, I think she’d better not go. She might run into danger.”

“Don’t be silly, Ju,” said George. “I am going. And Timmy will be with me.”

“You heard what I said, George. You are not to go!” said Julian. “I’ll take the papers and hide them on the island. I’ll get them when it’s dark, fairly late. I’ll cycle over to Kirrin and untie the boat you keep there, and row over to the island.”

“All right, Julian,” said George, astonishingly meekly. “Shall we have a meal now? We’ve only to open the tins, and empty the tomatoes and lettuces out of the basket there. And the drinks are in that cool corner over there.”

“Right,” said Julian, glad that George had given way to him so easily. He would go across in George’s boat and find a good hiding-place. If danger was about, he could deal with it better than George could. After all, she was only a girl!

Yes, Julian, she is — but, as you’ve often said, she’s just as brave as a boy. Don’t be too sure about tonight!

Chapter Fourteen

Ladders — and a lot of fun!

The children stared after Mr Wooh and the chimpanzee. They saw Charlie pick up two empty buckets, one in each strong paw, and race off to the right with them.

“Where’s he going?” said Anne, astonished at the rate he was running along.

“I bet he’s going to get some water from the stream in those pails, and take them to whoever washes down the horses,” said George. She was right! Charlie soon came back again, walking this time, holding a heavy pail of water in each hand!

“Well, I must say that chimpanzee is jolly useful!” said Dick. “Look — there’s Madelon who trains those beautiful horses that paraded round the ring last night — she’s wearing old trousers this morning, she looks quite different. There — Charlie has set the pails of water down beside her. I bet that as soon as she wants any more water, he’ll be off again to the stream!”