And down they all went — Anne too. They flung the front door wide and Timmy sped out, barking loudly. A face at the window? He’d soon find out who it belonged to!

Chapter Four

The next day

The four children waited at the open front door, listening to Timmy’s angry, excited barking. Anne was trembling, and Julian put his arm round her comfortingly.

“What was this dreadful face like?” he asked her. Anne shivered in his arm.

“I didn’t see very much,” she said. “You see, I just switched on my torch, and the beam was directed on the window nearby — and it lighted up the face for a second. It had nasty gleaming eyes, and it looked very dark — perhaps it was a black man’s face! Oh, I was frightened!”

“Then did it disappear?” asked Julian.

“I don’t know,” said Anne. “I was so frightened that I dropped my torch and the light went out. Then George woke up and rushed to the window.”

“Where on earth was Timmy?” said Dick, feeling suddenly surprised that Timmy hadn’t awakened them all by barking. Surely he must have heard the owner of the face climbing up to the window?

“I don’t know. He came rushing into the bedroom when I screamed,” said Anne. “Perhaps he had heard a noise and had gone down to see what it was.”

“That’s about it,” said Julian. “Never mind, Anne. It was a tramp, I expect. He found all the doors and windows downstairs fastened — and shinned up the ivy to see if he could enter by way of a bedroom. Timmy will get him, that’s certain.”

But Timmy didn’t get him. He came back after a time, with his tail down, and a puzzled look in his eyes. “Couldn’t you find him, Timmy?” asked George, anxiously.

“Woof,” said Timmy, mournfully, his tail still down. George felt him. He was wet through.

“Goodness! Where have you been to get so wet?” she said, in surprise. “Feel him, Dick.”

Dick felt him, and so did the others. “He’s been in the sea,” said Julian. “That’s why he’s wet. I guess the burglar, or whatever he was, must have sprinted down to the beach, when he knew Timmy was after him — and jumped into a boat! It was his only chance of getting away.”

“And Timmy must have swum after him till he couldn’t keep up any more,” said George. “Poor old Tim. So you lost him, did you?”

Timmy wagged his tail a little. He looked very downhearted indeed. To think he had heard noises and thought it was a rat — and now, whoever it was had got away from him. Timmy felt ashamed.

Julian shut and bolted the front door. He put up the chain, too. “I don’t think the Face will come back again in a hurry,” he said. “Now he knows there’s a big dog here he’ll keep away. I don’t think we need worry any more.”