And round from the back of the van came an olive-skinned woman with a bright handkerchief round her hair. Then, very shyly, came the gipsy child called Fenella.

Miranda gave them a brilliant smile.

"Only this morning I said to Reuben here that we should meet old friends to-day."

Reuben jumped down.

"But before you tell us where you are going, tell us where is our friend Petronella, who saved Fenella's life?"

"Peter's all right," David announced. "We're all going to Clun for a holiday, but she wanted to ride her pony on her own. She'll be there when we arrive to-night. Where are you going, Reuben?"

When David had mentioned Clun he noticed that the two gipsies glanced at each other rather meaningly, but before his question could be answered Dickie broke in:

"We were just going to make a fire and have something to eat. We've only got sandwiches, but you're welcome to some of those if you like."

Reuben smiled down at the boy, and then, over his shoulder, said something to Fenella, who went into the caravan for a bundle of dry sticks.

Soon a fire was burning merrily and a great pot of soup was heated over it and shared when it was hot enough, with the sandwiches. They were all glad of the fire, for the weather was getting steadily colder.

Mary began to explain why they were going to Clun, but Reuben interrupted to ask whether they had been there before.

David shook his head. "No, it's all new to us. I suppose you've been there lots of times? Tell us what it's like."

Reuben shrugged. "The town? Like any other of its size, except perhaps that it is quieter. We go through it sometimes on the way to Wales from these parts."

"You see," Miranda broke in, "you go to Clun and we come away."

"Have you just this moment left? I mean this morning?"

"We start in the night. But not from the town. On the other side of the town is the old forest land with sheep farms and many other old and mysterious things as well... That's the country we know... Now we do not like it as much, and maybe we never go back."

When pressed to explain his reasons for never going back Reuben admitted that sheep stealing was going on and that sooner or later - however innocent they really were - he was sure the gipsies would be accused.

"And so we go before the trouble starts," he finished. "Reuben and Miranda have a good name everywhere, but when sheep disappear from farms we have known for years we think 'tis best for us to move."

David held his hands to the leaping flames and looked up at the grey sky before he said: