The boys and Jo set off to the Fair about half-past three, on their bicycles. Jo rode Anne’s this time, and Timmy ran valiantly beside them. Jo glanced at Dick’s bicycle from time to time, proud of its brilliant look — how well she had cleaned it that morning!

They came to the Fair. “You can put your bikes up against Spiky’s caravan,” said Jo. “They’ll be safe there. Will you pay, and then we’ll get in straightaway. You needn’t pay for me — I’m going through the gap in the hedge. I’m Spiky’s friend, so it’s all right.”

She gave Dick her bicycle and disappeared. Julian paid and went in at the gate. They saw Jo waving wildly to them from the side of the big field and wheeled the three bicycles over to her, Timmy following closely at their heels.

“Hallo!” said Spiky, appearing suddenly. “See you soon! I’ve got to go and ’tend to the roundabout. I’ve got a bit of news, but not much. That’s Gringo’s caravan over there, the double-one, big van in front, little van behind.”

He nodded his head to where a most magnificent caravan stood, right away from the rest of the camp. There were people milling about all round the other vans, but there was nobody at all by Gringo’s. Evidently no one dared to go too near.

“I vote we buy a ball at one of the stands, and then go and play near Gringo’s caravan,” said Dick, in a low voice. “Then one of us will throw the ball too hard and it will go near the van — and we’ll somehow manage to get a peep inside. Timmy can go sniffing round while we play. If George is there he’ll bark the place down.”

“Jolly good idea!” said Julian. “Come on, Jo! And keep your eyes open all the time in case you’ve got to warn us of danger.”

Chapter Eighteen

Spiky is very helpful

The two boys and Jo, with Timmy at their heels, wandered round the Fair to find somewhere to buy a ball. There seemed to be none for sale, so they had a go at a Hoopla stall, and Julian managed to get a ring round a small red ball. Just the thing!

It was a big and noisy Fair, and hundreds of people from the nearby towns had come on this shops’ closing day to enjoy the fun. The roundabout played its loud, raucous music all the time, swings went to and fro, the Dodgem cars banged and bumped one another as usual, and men went round shouting their wares to sell.

“Balloons! Giant balloons! Sixpence each!”

“Ice-cream! All flavours!”

“Tell your fortune, lady? I’ll tell it true as can be!”

Jo was very much at home in the Fair. She had been brought up in one, and knew all the tricks of the trade. Timmy was rather amazed at the noise, and kept close to the boys, his tail still down because he could not forget that George was missing.