At last they were back at the tents, and the others crowded round them to hear what had happened. Anne looked very white. Jenny was with her, comforting her — she had just made up her mind to telephone the police, and was most relieved to see George again.

“We’ll tell you all the details in the morning,” said Julian. “But all I’ll say now is that the papers are safe all right, here in my pocket — the thieves were probably Mr Wooh and another man. They were on the island tonight, waiting for George. They had overheard what she said in the tent! However, George and Timmy pushed them both into the water and set their boat adrift, so things are settling down nicely! They will have to spend the night on the island, cold and wet through!”

“George did all that!” said Jenny, amazed. “Well! I never knew she was so dangerous! Good gracious! I feel right down scared of her! Settle down to sleep in your tent, dear — you look tired out!”

George was glad to flop down on her rugs. Now that the excitement was all over, she felt too sleepy for words! She fell asleep at once — but Julian and Dick didn’t. They lay awake for some time, chuckling over George’s deeds of daring. What a cousin to have!

When they were up at the house at breakfast next morning, Jeremy came up the garden and put his head in at the dining-room window. “I say!” he said, “Mr Wooh’s not in his tent this morning! He’s disappeared! And poor old Charlie the Chimp is too miserable for words.”

“Ah — we can tell you exactly where Mr Wooh is,” said Julian. “But — wait a bit, Tinker, where are you going? You haven’t finished your…”

But Tinker had gone off with Jeremy at top speed! He was very fond of Charlie. Oh dear, would the chimpanzee weep for his master and refuse to take his food? Tinker called Mischief and they both ran down to the fence with Jeremy and climbed over it. Tinker went straight to Charlie’s cage. The chimpanzee sat with his head in his hands, rocking himself to and fro, making sad, crying noises.

“Let’s get into the cage with him,” said Tinker. “He’ll like to be comforted. He must be missing Mr Wooh very, very much.”

They crawled into the cage and sat down in the straw, each putting an arm round the sad chimpanzee. Old Grandad was very surprised to see them both there.

“Don’t know what’s happened to Mr Wooh,” he said. “Didn’t come home last night! Here, Jeremy, you come on out. I can’t spare you to cry over Charlie all morning. He’ll soon perk up. You can stay with him, Tinker, if you like.”

Jeremy crawled out of the cage and went off crossly. Tinker sat with his arm round Charlie, wishing he didn’t look so terribly sad. As he sat there, he heard a funny little noise going on all the time. Tick — tick — tick — ticka — ticka — tick — tick — tick — tick — ticka — ticka — tick. “Sounds like a watch or something,” said Tinker, and scrabbled about in the straw. Perhaps Mr Wooh’s big gold watch had fallen into Charlie’s cage?