“We’re right now,” said Julian, pleased. “I was beginning to think it was all too easy for words! But it isn’t!”

They rode for two hours, and then decided to have tea. They sat down in a little glade of silver birches, with an unexpected copse of pale primroses behind. Timmy had to make up his mind which to choose, a rabbit-chase, or titbits from the children’s tea!

He chose both, racing after an imaginary rabbit, and then coming back for a sandwich!’

“You know, it’s a lot better for us when Mrs Johnson makes sandwiches of tomato or lettuce or something like that,” said Henry. “We do get them all then, but when we have meat or sardine or egg sandwiches Timmy gets as much as we do!”

“Well, surely you don’t mind that, Henrietta,” said George at once. “You make Timmy sound very greedy. After all, you don’t need to give him any of your sandwiches!”

“Now, Georgina!” murmured Dick, in her ear,

“Sorry, Georgina,” said Henry, with a grin. “I just can’t help giving him a sandwich or two when he comes and sits down and looks at me so longingly.”

“Woof,” said Timmy, and at once sat down in front of Henry, his tongue out, and his eyes fixed unblinkingly on her.

“He sort of hypnotises me,” complained Henry. “Make him go away, George, I shan’t be able to keep a single sandwich or bit of cake for myself. Go and stare at someone else, Timmy, for goodness’ sake!”

Julian looked at his watch. “I don’t think we ought to spend too long over tea,” he said. “I know we’ve got summertime now, and the evenings are nice and light, but we haven’t reached the gypsy camp yet, and after that we’ve got to go all the way back. What about starting off again?”

“Right,” said everyone and remounted their horses. They set off through the heather. Soon they found it unexpectedly easy to follow the caravan route, because the soil became sandy, and there were many bare patches on which the marks of the wheels could plainly be seen.

“Goodness, if we go to the east much more, we’ll come to the sea!” said Dick.

“No, it’s still some miles away,” said Julian. “Hallo, there’s a little hill or something in the distance. First time we’ve seen anything but complete flatness!”

The wheel-marks led steadily towards the little hill, which, as they came near, seemed to grow considerably bigger. “I bet the caravans are there,” said George. “That hill would give a nice bit of shelter from the wind that came from the sea. I believe I can see one!”

George was right. The caravans were there. They showed up well against the hill, in their bright colours.

“They’ve even got up a washing-line as usual!” said Anne. “Clothes flapping in the wind!”

“Let’s go and ask if Clip is all right,” said Julian. “It will be a very good excuse for going right up to the camp.”