“What’s the matter with Timmy?” asked George, coming down into the room. “He’s still growling, Timmy, what’s up?”

“I expect he can smell that the others have been down here,” said Dick, “Look at him sniffing all round. It’s quite clear that someone has been here.”

“Anyone hungry?” asked Anne, “I could do with some cake and biscuits.”

“Right,” said Julian, and opened the cupboard where they had put the food they had bought.

There was none there! Except for the crockery and one or two odds and ends that had been in the cupboard before, there was nothing. The bread had gone, the biscuits, the chocolate - everything!

“Blow!” said Julian, angrily. “Look at that! The beasts! They’ve taken all our food - every bit. Not even a biscuit left. We were mad not to think they might do that!”

“Clever of them,” said Dick. “They know we can’t stay here long without food. It’s a good way of chasing us out. It’s too late to go and get any tonight, anyway - and if we go tomorrow for some, they’ll do what they have come to do in their own good time... when we’re not here.”

Everyone felt distinctly down in the dumps. They were hungry and tired, and a good meal would have made all the difference. Anne sank down on her bed of heather and sighed.

“I wish I’d left some chocolate in my rucksack,” she said. “But I didn’t leave any there at all. And poor Tim - he’s hungry too! Look at him sniffing in the cupboard and looking round at George. Tim, there’s nothing for you. The cupboard is bare!”

’Where are those two wretches gone?’ suddenly said Julian, fiercely. ‘I’ll tick them off! I’ll tell

them what I think of people who come and rifle cupboards and take away all the food.’

’Woof,’ said Timmy, in full agreement.

Julian went angrily up the stairs. He wondered again where Maggie and Dirty Dick were. He went to the empty doorway and looked out. Then he saw where they were.

Two small tents had been put up under some thickly growing trees! So that’s where the two were going to sleep. He debated whether or not to go and tell them what he thought of people who stole food. He decided that he would.

But when he got over to the tents with Timmy, there was no one there! Rugs were laid inside, and there was a primus stove and a kettle and other odds and ends. At the back of one tent was a pile of something, covered by a cloth.

Julian had a good look into each tent, and then went to see if he could find out where Maggie and Dirty Dick had gone. He saw them at last, walking through the trees. They must have gone for an evening stroll, he thought.

They didn’t come back to the tents, but sat down by the lake. Julian gave up the thought of tackling them and went back to the others. Timmy was left behind, snuffling about happily.