But Cecil had gone. There was no answer at all. He didn’t want to make friends with “these children.” He knew better than that! Mrs. Andrews went in search of him, but he had completely disappeared.

The four children were not at all surprised. Julian, Dick and Anne grinned at one another. George stood with her back to them, still sulky.

Mrs. Andrews came back again, out of breath. “I can’t find him,” she said. “Never mind. I’ll find something for him to do when he appears again.”

“Yes. Perhaps you’ve got some beads for him to thread? Or a nice easy jigsaw puzzle to do?” said Julian, very politely. The others giggled. A smile appeared on Mrs. Andrews’s face.

“Bad boy!” she said. “Oh dear — poor Jock. Well, it’s his own fault. Now good-bye, I must get on with my work.”

She ran off to the dairy. The children looked round the haystack. Mr. Andrews was getting into his car. He would soon be gone. They waited a few minutes till they heard the car set off down the rough cart-track.

“That’s Jock’s bedroom — where the pear-tree is,” said Julian. “Let’s just have a word with him before we go. It’s a shame.”

They went across the farmyard and stood under the pear-tree — all except George, who stayed behind the haystack with the food, frowning. Julian called up to the window above: “Jock!”

A head came out, the face still painted terrifyingly in streaks and circles. “Hello! He didn’t whack me. Mum wouldn’t let him. All the same, I’d rather he had — it’s awful being stuck up here this sunny day. Where’s dear Cecil?”

“I don’t know. Probably in the darkest corner of one of the barns,” said Julian. “Jock, if things are difficult in the day-time, come up at night. We’ve got to see you somehow.”

“Right,” said Jock. “How do I look? Like a real Red Indian?”

“You look frightful,” grinned Julian. “I wonder old Timmy knew you.”

“Where’s George?” asked Jock.

“Sulking behind the haystack,” said Dick. “We shall have an awful day with her now. You let the cat properly out of the bag, you idjit!”

“Yes. I’m a ninny and an idjit,” said Jock, and Anne giggled. “Look — there’s Cecil. You might tell him to beware of the bull, will you?”

“Is there a bull?” said Anne, looking alarmed.

“No. But that’s no reason why he shouldn’t beware of one,” grinned Jock. “So long! Have a nice day!”

The three left him, and strolled over to Cecil, who had just appeared out of a dark little shed. He made a face at them, and stood ready to run to the dairy where Mrs. Andrews was busy.

Julian suddenly clutched Dick and pointed behind Cecil. “The bull! Beware of the bull!” he yelled suddenly.

Dick entered into the joke. “The bull’s loose! Look out! Beware of the bull!” he shouted.