They had rather a solemn meal. Things had suddenly begun to seem rather complicated. They couldn’t go to the police about such a silly thing — nor did they want to. But if the farmer wanted to turn them out of this field, how could they go back to their first camping-place? Nobody wanted to live in a camp surrounded by enemies!

“We’ll sleep on it,” said Julian, at last. “Don’t worry, you girls. We’ll find a way out of this problem. We are pretty good at getting out of difficulties. Never say die!”

“Woof,” said Timmy, agreeing heartily. George patted him.

“That’s one of your mottoes, isn’t it, Timmy?” she said.

“And another motto of his is ‘Let sleeping dogs lie’,” said Dick, with a broad grin. “He hates being wakened up when he’s having a nice nap, dreaming of millions of rabbits to catch!”

“Well, talking of naps, what about getting into our bunks?” said Julian, with a yawn. “We’ve had a good long walk today, and I’m tired. I’m going to lie in my bunk and read.”

Everyone thought this a very good idea. They cleared up the supper-things, and the girls said good night to the boys. They went into the caravan with Timmy.

“I do hope this holiday isn’t going to be a failure,” said Anne, as she got into her bunk. George gave one of her snorts.

“A failure! You wait and see! I’ve a feeling it will turn out to be super.”

Chapter Nine

A great surprise

It didn’t seem as if George’s feeling that the holiday was going to be ‘super’ was at all correct the next morning. A loud rapping came on the door of the boys’ caravan before they were even awake!

Then a large red face looked in at the window, startling Julian considerably.

“Who gave you permission to camp here?” said the face, looking as black as thunder.

Julian went to the door in his pyjamas. “Do you own this field?” he said, politely. “Well, we were camping in the next field, and…”

“That’s let for campers and caravanners,” said the man, who was dressed like a farmer. “This isn’t.”

“As I said, we were in the next field,” repeated Julian, “and for some reason the fair-folk there didn’t like us — and when we were out they brought our caravans here! As we’ve no horses to take them away, we couldn’t do anything else but stay!”

“Well, you can’t stay,” said the farmer. “I don’t let out this field. I use it for my cows. You’ll have to go today, or I’ll put your caravans out into the road.”

“Yes, but look here…” began Julian, and then stopped. The farmer had walked off, a determined figure in riding-breeches and tweed coat. The girls opened their window and called to Julian.

“We heard what he said. Isn’t he mean? Now what are we going to do?”

“We’re going to get up and have breakfast,” said Julian. “And then I’m going to give the fair-folk one more chance — they’ll have to lend us two horses — the two they used yesterday to pull our vans! — and pull us back into our rightful place. Otherwise I very much fear I shall have to get help from the police!”