They talked quickly, in low voices, exchanging their news. George told them how she had been caught and taken to the caravan with Timmy, who had been knocked out with a cudgel.

“We saw where you had written Red’s name,” said Dick. “That gave us the clue to come here!”

“Listen,” said Julian, suddenly. “I think we ought to make a plan quickly. I keep thinking I hear things. We’re sure to be looked for soon, you know. What can we do?”

Chapter Twenty-One

A few surprises

As soon as Julian had said that he kept hearing noises, the others felt as if they could hear some, too. They sat and listened intently, George’s heart beating so loudly that she was certain the boys would be able to hear it.

“I think perhaps it’s the sound of the sea, echoing in through the caves and the tunnels,” said Julian at last. “In the ordinary way, of course, we wouldn’t need to bother to listen — Timmy would growl at once! But, poor old chap, he’s so doped and sleepy that I don’t believe he hears anything.”

“Will he get all right again?” asked George, anxiously, fondling Timmy’s silky ears.

“Oh, yes,” said Julian, sounding much more certain than he really felt. Poor Timmy — he really did seem ill! There wasn’t even a growl in him.

“You’ve had an awful time these last few days, haven’t you George?” asked Dick.

“Yes,” said George. “I don’t much want to talk about it. If I’d had Timmy with me it wouldn’t have been so bad, but at first, when they brought me here, all I knew of Timmy was hearing him bark and snarl and bark and snarl down below in that yard. Then Red told me he had doped him.”

“How did you get to Red’s place?” asked Julian.

“Well, you know I was locked in that horrible-smelling caravan,” said George. “Then suddenly a man called Simmy — he’s Jo’s father, I think — came and dragged us out. Timmy was all stupid with the blow they’d given him — and they put him in a sack and put us both on the caravan horse and took us through the wood and along a desolate path by the coast till we came here. That was in the middle of the night.”

“Poor old George!” said Julian. “I wish Tim was himself again — I’d love to set him loose on Red and the other fellow!”

“I wonder what’s happening to Jo,” said Dick, suddenly remembering that Jo was now imprisoned in the tower room where George had been kept so long.

“And do you suppose Red and Markhoff have discovered that we’ve got out of that shed, and that Timmy has disappeared, too?” said Julian. “They’ll be in a fury when they do discover it!”

“Can’t we get away?” said George, feeling suddenly scared. “You came in a boat, didn’t you? Well, can’t we get away in that and go and fetch help for Jo?”