“I don’t know. I don’t think I can!” whispered George, in a panic.

“I’ll leave patrins for you!” said Sniffer. “Look out for them! Now I’m going to slip into the cave next door, and wait till my father’s finished talking to you. Then I’ll go back to Timmy.”

He slipped out just in time. The lantern shone into George’s cave and Sniffer’s father stood there.

“Have you seen Sniffer?” he asked. “I missed him when I woke just now. If I catch him in here I’ll whip him till he squeals.”

“Sniffer? He’s not here,” said George, trying to sound surprised. “Look round the cave and see!”

The man caught sight of the note-book and pencil in George’s hand. “What’s that you’re writing?” he said suspiciously and took it from her.

“So you’re writing for help, are you!” he said. “And how do you think you’re going to get help. I’d like to know? Who’s going to take this note home for you? Sniffer?”

“No,” said George, truthfully.

The man frowned as he looked again at the note. “Look here,” he said, “you can write another note, to those two boys. And I’ll tell you what to say.”

“No,” said George.

“Oh yes, you will,” said the man. “I’m not going to hurt those boys. I’m just going to get back those packets from wherever they are hidden. Do you want your dog back safely?”

“Yes,” said George, with a gulp.

“Well, if you don’t write this note you won’t see him again,” said the man. “Now then, take your pencil and write in that note-book of yours.”

George took up her pencil. “This is what you must write,” said the man, frowning as he thought hard.

“Wait a minute,” said George. “How are you going to get this note to the boys? You don’t know where they are! You won’t be able to find them if this mist still goes on.”

The man scratched his head and thought.

“The only way to get the note to them is to tie it on my dog’s collar and send him to find them,” said George. “If you bring him here to me I can make him understand. He always does what I tell him.”

“You mean he’ll take the note to whoever you tell him to take it?” said the man, his eyes gleaming. ‘Well, write it then. Say this:

“ “We are prisoners. Follow Timmy and he will bring you to us and you can save us.” Then sign your name, whatever it is.”

“It’s Georgina,” said George, firmly. “You go and get my dog while I write the note.”

The man turned and went. George looked after him her eyes bright. He thought he was making her play a trick on Julian and Dick, to bring them here so that they could be threatened and questioned about the packets, and where they were hidden!

“But I’m going to play a trick on him,” thought George. “I’m going to tell Timmy to take the note to Henry, and she’ll be suspicious and get Captain Johnson to follow Tim back here, and that will give the gypsies an awful shock! I expect the Captain will be sensible enough to get the police as well. Aha, I’m playing a trick too!”