“I should think they brush against the roof of a caravan all the time,” she said. “What a queer life to live — in a little caravan day in and day out, hiding yourself away in woods and fields!”

They walked on down the path, which wound about through the trees, following the clear spaces. Sometimes the trees were so close together that it seemed impossible for a caravan to go between. But the wheel-ruts showed that caravans did go down the path.

After a time the wood became thicker, and the sunlight could hardly pierce through the branches. Still the path went on, but now it seemed as if only one set of wheel-ruts was marked on it. They were probably the wheels of Simmy’s caravan.

Here and there a tree was shorn of one of its branches, and a bush uprooted and thrown to one side.

“Simmy meant to go deep into the wood last time he came,” said Julian, pointing to where a bush lay dying by the side of the path. “He’s cleared the way here and there. Actually we aren’t on a proper path any longer — we’re only following wheel-ruts.”

It was true. The path had faded out. They were now in a thick part of the wood, with only the ruts of the caravan wheels to guide them.

They fell silent. The wood was very quiet. There were no birds singing, and the branches of the trees were so thick that there was a kind of green twilight round them.

“I wish we had Timmy with us,” half-whispered Anne at last.

Julian nodded. He had been wishing that a long time. He was also wishing he hadn’t brought Anne — but when they had started out, they had Jo with them to guide them, and warn them of any danger. Now they hadn’t.

“I think we’d better go very cautiously,” he said, in a low voice. “We may come on the caravan unexpectedly. We don’t want Simmy to hear us and lie in wait.”

“I’ll go a little way in front and warn you if I hear or see anything,” said Dick. Julian nodded to him and he went on ahead, peering round the trees when he came to any curve in the wheel-rut path. Julian began to think of what they would do when they reached the caravan. He was pretty certain that both George and Timmy would be found locked up securely inside.

“If we can undo the door and let them out, Timmy will do the rest,” he thought. “He’s as good as three policemen! Yes — that’s the best plan.”

Dick suddenly stopped and lifted up his hand in warning. He peered round the bole of a big tree, and then turned and nodded excitedly.

“He’s found the caravan!” said Anne, and her heart began its usual thump-thump-thump of excitement.

“Stay here,” said Julian to Anne, and went on quietly to join Dick. Anne crept under a bush. She didn’t like this dark, silent wood, with the green light all round. She peered out, watching the boys.