Read Online The Circus of Adventure by Enid Blyton - Free Book Online

Gussy’s track,’ said Bill, in a half-whisper as they went along together. ‘Now how could they have guessed he was with us? It’s a pity he’s so striking-looking, and so easily recognizable. I suppose someone must have spotted him with me, made enquiries about me—and as soon as they knew who I was, the rest would be easy. Hm! I don’t like it very much.’
    ‘Will you and Gussy have to disappear from here?’ whispered Lucy-Ann, so softly that Bill could hardly hear. ‘Please don’t go away, Bill.’
    ‘I’ll have to discuss things with your aunt,’ said Bill. ‘Don’t say a word to Gussy. He’ll get the wind up properly, if I know anything about him. And on no account must any of you leave him alone anywhere—always keep him in your midst.’
    ‘Yes, Bill,’ said Lucy-Ann. ‘Oh dear—I do wish those people weren’t going to the farm. Bill, they might be ordinary people, mightn’t they? They haven’t got to be enemies, have they?’
    Bill squeezed Lucy-Ann’s hand. ‘No. I may be wrong. But I get hunches about these things, Lucy-Ann. And I’ve got a hunch this very minute. You needn’t worry. I shan’t let anything happen.’
    ‘Well—so long as you’re with us,’ said Lucy-Ann. ‘But please don’t go away, Bill.’
    ‘I won’t,’ said Bill. ‘Not unless I take Gussy with me, which would really be the safest thing to do.’
    They reached Quarry Cottage, and went in. Gussy and Dinah had gone to bed. Aunt Allie and the boys were still up, reading.
    Bill put the milk in the larder and came back. He sat down and told the three of them what Mrs. Ellis had said. Mrs. Cunningham looked grave.
    ‘How did they know he was down here?’ she wondered. ‘Oh, Bill—what shall we do now? Shall we leave here at once—all of us?’
    ‘No. That would tell the enemy too much,’ said Bill. ‘I don’t see that two people—a man and a woman—can do very much by themselves—I mean they can’t fall on us and wrest Gussy away from our midst! As long as there are only the two of them we haven’t much to fear—and Mrs. Ellis will soon tell us if any more arrive. One of the boys can go up each day for milk, and get the latest news.’
    ‘Right. We’ll go on as we are then,’ said his wife, and Lucy-Ann heaved a sigh of relief. ‘You’ll tell Gussy of course, Bill—put him on his guard? He’s got to be very sensible now—keep with us all, not wander away—and I’m afraid the boys must fasten their window at night.’
    ‘Blow!’ said Jack, who hated a shut window at night. ‘Kiki’s enough of a sentinel, Aunt Allie. She would screech the place down if anyone came.’
    ‘I’d feel safer with your window shut,’ said his aunt. ‘I think Kiki would screech. Still—I don’t want to run any risks.’
    Gussy was told next morning, and so was Dinah. Philip was posted up by the farm to watch the new people arrive. They came in the same black car that Philip had seen through his field-glasses the day before. It was long and low and large—and very expensive-looking.
    ‘A Daimler,’ said Philip. ‘I bet that can get along! Now—can I spot what the visitors are like?’
    There were two. One was a spruce, tall, lean man, wearing a very well-cut suit, an eyeglass in one eye, and hair smoothly brushed back. The other was a woman—pretty, young and with a very foreign voice. The man spoke English well, but he was obviously a foreigner too.
    He handed the woman out very carefully indeed. Then she leaned on his arm as they walked up the path to the farm-house door. They went very slowly.
    ‘Either she’s been ill or she’s pretending to be,’ thought Philip. ‘I’d better go back and tell Bill—and Gussy too. He may recognize them from my description.’
    But Gussy didn’t. He shook his head. ‘No, I don’t know them.’
    ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if they come along here sometime today,’ said Bill. ‘Just to have a snoop round. I feel sure they know I’m at this