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there and see the sparks fly, and the shoes made. I"ve wasted your time, I have, telling you long-ago things. You go along into the smithy. And just you remember two things - watch out for that mist, and keep away from the gypsies on the moor!"

Chapter Ten
SNIFFER’S PATRINS

    It was fun in the smithy, working the bel ows, seeing the fire glow, and watching the red-hot shoes being shaped. Jim was quick and clever, and it was a pleasure to watch him.
    „You been hearing Grandad"s old stories?" he said. „It"s al he"s got to do now, sit there and remember, though when he wants to he can make a horse-shoe as well as I can!
    There, that"s the last one. Stand stil , Sultan. That"s right!"
    The five children were soon on their way back again. It was a lovely morning, and the banks and ditches they passed were bright gold with thousands of celandines.
    „Al beautifully polished!" said Anne, picking two or three for her button-hole. It did look as if someone had polished the inside of each petal, for they gleamed like enamel.
    „What a queer tale the old man told," said Julian. „He told it well!"
    „Yes. He made me feel I don"t want to go up on the moor again!" said Anne.
    „Don"t be feeble!" said George. „It al happened ages ago. Jolly interesting too. I wonder if the gypsies who are there now know the story. Maybe their great-grand-parents were the ones who set on the Bartles that misty day!"
    „Well, Sniffer"s father looked sly enough to carry out a plan like that," said Henry. „What about us having a shot at following the way they went, and seeing if we can make out the patrins that Sniffer told George he would leave?"
    „Good idea," said Julian. „We"ll go this afternoon. I say, what"s the time? I should think it must be half-past dinner-time!"
    They looked at their watches. „Yes, we"re late, but we always are when we get back from the blacksmith," said George. „Never mind, I bet Mrs Johnson wil have an extra special meal for us!"
    She had! There was an enormous plate of stew for everyone, complete with carrots, onions, parsnips and turnips, and a date pudding to follow. Good old Mrs Johnson!
    „You three girls must wash up for me afterwards," she said. „I"ve such a lot to do today."
    „Why can"t the boys help?" said George at once.
    „I"l do al the washing-up," said Anne with a sudden grin. „You four boys can go out to the stables!"
    Dick gave her a good-natured shove. „You know we"ll help, even if we"re not good at it.
    I"l dry. I hate those bits and pieces that float about in the washing-bowl."
    „Wil it be al right if we go up on the moors this afternoon?" asked George.
    „Yes, quite al right. But if you want to take your tea, you"l have to pack it yourselves," said Mrs Johnson. „I"m taking the small children out for a ride, and there"s one on the leading-rein stil , as you know."
    They were ready to set off at three o"clock their tea packed and everything. The horses were caught in the field and got ready too. They set off happily.
    „Now we"ll see if we are as clever as we think we are, at reading gypsy patrins!" said George. „Timmy, don"t chase every rabbit you see, or you"l be left behind!"
    They cantered up on to the moor, passing the place where the caravans had stood. They knew the direction they had taken, and here and there they saw wheel-marks. It was fairly easy to follow their trail, because five caravans made quite a path to follow.
    „Here"s where they camped first," said Julian, riding up to a blackened spot that showed where a fire had been lighted. „We ought to find a message left somewhere here."
    They searched for one. George found it. „It"s here, behind this tree!" she cal ed. „Out of the wind."

    They dismounted and came round George. On the ground was the patrin, the shape of a cross, the long stick pointing forwards, in the direction they were going. Other single sticks lay there, to show that a caravan had gone that way, and beside them were the large and the