Tom and Jenny, who were keeping in the background, were pulled forward by David next, and there was hand-shaking and grins all round, and they all felt they were friends almost before they had left the platform.

"Your bikes have arrived," David said, "but those who are going to cycle ought to start now because we should try and get there before dark. Who wants to go by bus?"

There was a long silence, until Mary said meekly, "I think Mackie does, and I don't think he's old enough to go by himself, so I'd better go, too."

"An' if Mary goes by bus I s'pose I've got to go as well. 'Course, I'd much rather go on my bike," Dickie said.

"Of course you would, Dickie," David agreed hastily. "Everyone knows that! Jenny, do you mind going with them if the bus will take your bike and luggage as well?"

Jenny agreed, although it was clear that she would rather have cycled; but those who got to know Jenny soon realized that this was the sort of thing which she was often doing for other people.

The bus was quite full and David was rather glad he was not going in it, as there was every sign that the twins were looking forward to entertaining an enthusiastic audience on the journey. "Just behave yourselves," he begged as they clambered in, "and when you get there anyone will tell you how to find Keep View... We'll be as quick as we can."

The driver, who had agreed to take the bicycles, was a kindly man and David had no doubt that the twins and Jenny would be well looked after.

By this time Jon and Penny had collected their bikes and as the four cycled out into the dusk David and Tom were told about Alan Denton and his sheep-dog, and the newcomers were told about the meeting with the gipsies.

There was not so much fun in the journey now, although the wind was not as strong, and they seemed to be riding right into an angry, flaming sunset. It was a lonely road and Jon remembered how Alan had told them that Clun itself seemed to be at the end of everything. The river was never far away, and on each side of the valley great hillsides shrouded in trees stretched up towards the darkening sky.

"We must be nearly there," David said after another mile. "I think I can see some lights ahead... I'm tired, aren't you, Tom? Hope Agnes has got in the biggest supper I've ever seen."

"I expect the twins have eaten it," Tom said gloomily. "My legs tingle, and I never knew before that the saddle of this bike could be so hard... Here we are, anyway - this must be Clun... If it isn't I'm not going any further. Let's walk the last bit."