It didn't take long to get down to the village, and the straggling street looked very pleasant in today's sunshine. She felt that she would like to see Jenny again and tell her that the Lone Piners were coming and wondered how she could avoid her inquisitive old parent. If the shop door was open that terrifying bell wouldn't peal! It was, and Peter stepped quietly into the gloom and looked around. In a corner behind the counter by the window sat Jenny. Her red hair was over her eyes, her chin in her hands, and she was bent over a paper-backed book in her lap.

"Hello, Jenny! Where's my bike?"

There was a crash as the chair overturned and Jenny sprawled on the floor.

"Oh! Peter! You are a beast coming in like that all slinky and quiet."

Peter leaned over the counter and whispered: "Can you come out? I've got something special to tell you, and I want to know about my bike."

"I can't come yet. She's out and I'm minding the shop till she comes back... But she won't be long, and then I'll come, Peter - I'd love to."

"All right. I say, Jenny. I want some paper and a pen. I've got a special letter to write. Can you lend me some?"

"You'd better come into the office," said Jenny importantly. "And if Mum comes back afore you've done," she went on, "you'd better get down on the floor under the desk and then she won't see you... But buck up do, please, Peter, 'cause all this makes me nervous."

Peter found a pen which would write, and then realized that she had a particularly important message to send and that by a later rule of the Lone Pine Club she ought to write in code. She had just closed the envelope and was drawing the silhouette of the Lonely Pine on the flap when she heard the sound of singing in the street. Somehow the voice seemed familiar, and when, with it, came the steady "clip-clop" of a horse's hooves, she rushed out to join Jenny on the pavement, and there was Reuben on the driving seat of the caravan, with Miranda at his side!

"Hello!" Peter called excitedly. "Hello, Mr. Reuben! It's me, Peter! I got here safely! Where are you going?"

The gipsy woman smiled a welcome.

"So you are safe and well, eh? That's good. And the old man?" asked Reuben.

"Yes! Yes!" she said. "He's all right, too, thank you... At least I suppose he is really... He's a bit peculiar."

The gipsy smiled again.

"Maybe. We are going to Onnybrook round the side of the mountain. We are told we shall sell baskets there... We do not like this place, but we said we would pass your farm again to see if there was anything we might do for you..."

Peter was so excited that she did not see an ominous figure hurrying up the pavement towards them.