"Just come over 'ere, Alfie, and see 'oo's 'ere."

Alfie was not quite such an unpleasant-looking specimen as his companion but he stared insolently at Peter and said quietly:

"What are you doing here, miss?"

There was something frightening about both these men, and yet Peter had the sense to realize that she must never show that she was afraid of them. So she drew herself up - and she was not really very tall - and faced them courageously as she said:

"I was having my lunch in the shelter of the rick before you came along and tried to catch my pony... You wouldn't be able to catch her, anyway... She only comes to me."

The two men glanced at each other and then the first grimaced in a way that was meant to be a smile and said, "That's orlright missy... Jus' surprised us, that's all. This is a lonely place this is on a cold winter's day, and we were surprised like to find you here. Better be getting on your way, miss, hadn't you? You don't want to take no notice of us. Just forget all about us!"

Peter was rather puzzled at this odd turn in the conversation, but she was sure that the best thing she could do was to get on her way as quickly as she could. So before she answered them she called Sally softly by name. The pony, who had been standing some yards off, trotted forward obediently, and before either of the men could move a step Peter was in the saddle. She felt safer there, for she knew now that they could never catch her. She wondered, too, why she should forget all about them. Suddenly curious to see the van that had broken down on this lonely road, she edged Sally a little towards the open gate. As she did so the man with the cap - and Peter noticed now that he had a horrible squint in one eye - stepped towards her and snapped:

"Keep off the road, miss. Just ride along inside the field this side of the hedge."

"But why?" Peter asked innocently. "Why should I? You've broken down, haven't you? Would you like me to stop at the first garage or the first policeman and ask them to come and help you?"

Alfie took charge.

"No, miss. We wouldn't like you to do that. We shall manage and be away in ten minutes... Don't you worry about us. Just forget us from now on."