The bridge was very narrow and between each of the arches was a triangular recess where foot passengers could stand aside for traffic. As they stopped to watch the water from one of these recesses there was a furious ringing of a bicycle bell. They all looked up as a man rushed down the hill towards them.

Penny, who had only glanced up idly, suddenly stiffened and grabbed Jon's sleeve.

"It's Alan! HI, ALAN! Stop! It's us."

But even as she shouted the cyclist whirled over the bridge, and although he undoubtedly heard Penny call his name he made no attempt to stop but merely called back something over his shoulder.

"Well!" Penny stormed. "Of all the mean, rude things. He knew us, didn't he, Jon? I'm sure he did..."

"Do you know him then?" David asked. "Who is he? I thought he called out something about 'Police'."

"I thought so too," Jon said. "He's the chap we met on the train. He's got a sheep farm near here. Don't you remember we told you about meeting him last night?"

"Whoever he is he was in a hurry," Tom said.

"He said 'Police', did he?" Penny said. "Are you sure that's what he said, David? I think I'll go to the Police Station to see if he's there. Coming, Peter? I'd like to know why he was in such a hurry."

"P'raps someone has been murdered or kidnapped for an awful fate," Jenny added hopefully. "... I'll come with you, Penny. I'd like to see if anything exciting has happened round here."

So when Alan Denton came out of the cottage in the High Street that had the words "County Police" over the door, he found what looked like a large crowd round his bicycle.

He soon picked out Penny's red head and said, "Oh, hello! How are you? Sorry I couldn't stop on the bridge but I was in a hurry."

"We noticed that," Penny said coldly. "We did think you were rather rude, Alan. I wanted you to meet all my friends."

Alan looked rather alarmed.

"Are these all really your friends? I thought there was a fire or something?... Oh, hello, Jon! I didn't see you before in the crowd. How are you?... Of course I'd like to meet you all but I'm afraid I can't wait long because something rather unpleasant has happened and I've got to get back to Bury Fields. Why don't you all walk some of the way with me? - I've got to walk up the hill anyway."

Jon introduced them all and David kicked Dickie's ankle none too gently as he edged forward with Mary close behind him. David knew very well that if not checked the twins would be only too willing to put on their famous "introduction act."