There was no answer from George. Timmy, feeling that he was not wanted, disappeared. He went back to George and curled himself up on her feet. He put his nose down on his paws and slept.

“Spooky Timmy,” murmured Julian, re-arranging himself. “Timmy spooky — no, I mean — oh dear, what do I mean?”

“Shut up,” said Dick. “What with you and Timmy messing about, I can’t get — to — sleep!” But he could and he did — almost before he had finished speaking. Silence fell on the little camp, and nobody noticed when the next train rumbled under-ground — not even Timmy!

Chapter Six

Day at the farm

The next day the children were up very early, as early as Mr. Luffy, and they all had breakfast together. Mr. Luffy had a map of the moorlands, and he studied it carefully after breakfast.

“I think I’ll go off for the whole day,” he said to Julian, who was sitting beside him. “See that little valley marked here — Crowleg Vale — well, I have heard that there are some of the rarest beetles in Britain to be found there. I think I’ll take my gear and go along. What are you four going to do?”

“Five,” said George at once. “You’ve forgotten Timmy.”

“So I have. I beg his pardon,” said Mr. Luffy, solemnly. “Well — what are you going to do?”

“We’ll go over to the farm and get some more food,” said Julian. “And ask that farm-boy if he’s heard the tale of the spook-trains. And perhaps look round the farm and get to know the animals there. I always like a farm.”

“Right,” said Mr. Luffy, beginning to light his pipe. “Don’t worry about me if I’m not back till dusk. When I’m bug-hunting I lose count of the time.”

“You’re sure you won’t get lost?” said Anne, anxiously. She didn’t really feel that Mr. Luffy could take proper care of himself.

“Oh yes. My right ear always warns me if I’m losing my way,” said Mr. Luffy. “It waggles hard.”

He waggled it at Anne and she laughed. “I wish you’d tell me how you do that,” she said. “I’m sure you know. You can’t think how thrilled the girls at school would be if I learnt that trick. They’d think it was super.”

Mr. Luffy grinned and got up. “Well, so long,” he said. “I’m off before Anne makes me give her a lesson in ear-waggles.”

He went off down the slope to his own tent. George and Anne washed-up, whilst the boys tightened some tent ropes that had come loose, and generally tidied up.

“I suppose it’s quite all right leaving everything unguarded like this,” said Anne, anxiously.

“Well, we did yesterday,” said Dick. “And who’s likely to come and take anything up here in this wild and lonely spot, I’d like to know? You don’t imagine a spook-train will come along and bundle everything into its luggage-van, do you, Anne?”