“But I can’t walk miles in a mist over the moor,” said Henry, in a panic.

“We don’t need to. We’ll saddle our horses and go on those,” said William, beginning to dress, and sounding very sensible indeed. “Timmy will lead the way. You go and get the horses out. Do buck up, Henry. The others may be in danger. You’re acting like a Henrietta!”

That made Henry cross. She went out of the room at once and down into the yard. What a pity Captain Johnson happened to be away just that night. He would have decided everything at once.

Courage came to her when she got the horses. They were surprised but quite willing to go for a night-time ride, even in this thick mist! William came up in a very short time with Timmy behind him. Timmy was delighted to have William with him. He liked him, but he was not very fond of Henry.

He ran forward, just in front of the horses, and they followed behind. Both Henry and William had excellent torches, and kept them shining downwards, so that they should not miss Timmy. He did go out of sight once or twice, but came back immediately, when he heard the horses stopping.

Over the moor they rode. They didn’t follow the railway, of course. Timmy didn’t need to. He knew the way perfectly!

Once he stopped and sniffed the air. What had he smelt? Henry and William had no idea, but Timmy was puzzled by what he had smelt on the misty air.

Surely he had smelt the smell of the two boys, Julian and Dick? It had come on the air for a moment or two, and Timmy was half-inclined to follow it and see if the smell was right. Then he remembered George and Anne and went on through the swirling mist.

The boys were actually not very far away when Timmy smelt them. They were still in the middle of the bush, trying to keep warm, and sleep. If only they had known that Timmy was near, with Henry and William! But they didn’t.

Timmy led the way. Soon they came to the quarry, but did not see it because of the mist. They went round it, led by Timmy, and rode towards the gypsy camp. Timmy slowed down, and they took warning.

“He’s getting near wherever he wants to take us,” whispered William. “Had we better dismount and tie the horses up, do you think? Their hooves may give a warning that we are near.”

“Yes. Yes, William,” said Henry, thinking that the boy was really very sensible. They dismounted quietly and tied the horses to a nearby birch tree.

They were quite near the hill in front of which was the gypsy camp. The mist was not so thick here, and the two suddenly caught sight of a dark, shadowy caravan, outlined against a camp-fire, left burning nearby. “We’ll have to be very quiet,” whispered William. “Timmy’s brought us to the gypsy camp on the moor. I had an idea that he would. The others must be held prisoner somewhere near - be as quiet as you can.”