Dick had suddenly seen the caravan. It was small, badly needed painting, and appeared quite deserted. No fire burned outside. No Simmy was sitting anywhere about. Not even Blackie the horse was to be seen.

The boys watched intently for a few minutes, not daring to move or speak. There was absolutely no sound or movement from the tiny clearing in which the caravan stood.

Windows and doors were shut. The shafts rested crookedly on the ground. The whole place seemed deserted.

“Dick,” whispered Julian at last, “Simmy doesn’t seem to be about. This is our chance! We’ll creep over to the caravan and look into the window. We’ll attract George’s attention, and get her out as soon as we can. Timmy, too.”

“Funny he doesn’t bark,” said Dick, also in a whisper. “I suppose he can’t have heard us. Well — shall we get over to the caravan now?”

They ran quietly to the little caravan, and Julian peered through the dirty window. It was too dark inside to see anything at all.

“George!” he whispered. “George! Are you there?”

Chapter Fifteen

Anne doesn’t like adventures

There was no answer from inside the caravan. Perhaps George was asleep — or drugged! And Timmy, too. Julian’s heart sank. It would be dreadful if George had been ill-treated. He tried to peer inside the window again, but what with the darkness of the wood and the dirt on the pane, it really was impossible to see inside.

“Shall we bang on the door?” asked Dick.

“No. That would only bring Simmy if he’s anywhere about — and if George is inside and awake, our voices would have attracted her attention,” said Julian.

They went quietly round the caravan to the door at the back. It had no key in the lock. Julian frowned.

Simmy must have got the key with him. That would mean breaking down the door and making a noise. He went up the few steps and pushed at the door. It seemed very solid indeed. How could he break it down, anyway? He had no tools, and it didn’t look as if kicking and shoving would burst it in.

He knocked gently on the door — rap-rap-rap. Not a movement from inside. It seemed very strange. He tried the round handle, and it turned easily.

It not only turned easily — but the door opened! “Dick! It’s not locked!” said Julian, forgetting to whisper in his surprise. He went inside the dark caravan, hardly hoping now to see George or Timmy.

Dick pushed in after him. There was a nasty sour smell and it was very untidy. Nobody was there. It was quite empty, as Julian had feared.

He groaned. “All this way for nothing. They’ve taken George somewhere else. We’re done, now, Dick — we haven’t a clue where to go next.”

Dick fished his torch out of his pocket. He flashed it over the untidy jumble of things in the caravan, looking for some sign that George had been there. But there was nothing at all that he could see to show him that either Timmy or George had been there.