Five Have a Wonderful Time by Enid Blyton Read Free Book Online Page B

Perhaps they are watching silently behind their caravan curtains, Julian thought, uncomfortably.

    The wheel-marks went right down the field and reached the gate. It was shut now, but it must have been opened for the two caravans, because there were marks in the grass by the gate, marks that passed through it and then were lost in the lane.
    "What are we to do?" said Anne, scared. "They're gone! We've nowhere to sleep. Oh, Julian — what are we going to do ?"

Chapter Eight
WHERE ARE THE CARAVANS?

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    FOR once in a way Julian was quite at a loss what to do! It looked as if someone had stolen the two caravans
    — taken them right away somewhere!
    "I suppose we'd better ring up the police," he said. "They'll watch out for the two caravans, and arrest the thieves. But that won't help us much for tonight! We've got to find somewhere to sleep."
    "I think we ought to go and tackle one or two of the fair-folk," said Dick. "Even if they have got nothing to do with the theft they must have seen the caravans being taken away."
    "Yes. I think you're right," said Julian. They must know something about it. George, you stay here with Anne, in case the fair people are rude. We'll take Timmy — he may be useful."
    George didn't want to stay behind — but she could see that Anne did! So she stayed with her, straining her eyes after the two boys as they went back up the hill with Timmy close behind.
    "Don't let's go to the snake-man," said Dick. "He might be playing with his snakes in his caravan!"
    "What possible game can you play with snakes?" said Julian. "Or are you thinking of snakes and ladders?"
    "Funny joke," said Dick, politely. "Look — there's somebody by a camp-fire — Bufflo, I think. No, it's Alfredo. Well, we know he isn't as fierce as he looks — let's tackle him about the caravans."
    They went up to the big fire-eater, who was sitting smoking by the fire. He didn't hear them coming and jumped violently when Julian spoke to him.
    "Mr. Alfredo," began Julian, "could you tell us where our two caravans have gone? We found them missing when we got back just now."
    "Ask Bufflo," said Alfredo, gruffly, not looking at them.
    "But don't you know anything about them?" persisted Julian.
    "Ask Bufflo," said Alfredo, blowing out clouds of smoke. Julian and Dick turned away, annoyed, and went over to Bufflo's caravan. It was shut. They knocked on the door, and Bufflo appeared, his mop of golden hair gleaming in the lamplight.

    "Mr. Bufflo," began Julian politely again, "Mr. Alfredo told us to come and ask you about our caravans, which are missing, and…"
    "Ask the rubber-man," said Bufflo, shortly, and slammed the door. Julian was angry. He knocked again. The window opened and Skippy, Bufflo's little wife, looked out.

    "You go and ask Mr. India-rubber," she called, and shut the window with what sounded suspiciously like a giggle.
    "Is this a silly trick they're playing on us?" said Dick fiercely.
    "Looks like it," said Julian. "Well, we'll try the rubber-man. Come on. He's the last one we'll try, though!"
    They went to the rubber-man's caravan, and rapped smartly on the door. "Who's there?" came the voice of Mr. India-rubber.
    "Come out — we want to ask you something," said Julian.
    "Who's there?" said the rubber-man again.
    "You know jolly well who we are," said Julian raising his voice. "Our caravans have been stolen, and we want to find out who took them. If you won't give us any help, we're going to telephone the police."
    The door opened and the rubber-man stood on the top of the steps, looking down at Julian. "Nobody has stolen them," he said. "Nobody at all. You go and ask the snake-man."
    "If you think we're going round asking every single person in this camp, you're mistaken!" said Julian, angrily. "I don't want to go to the police — we wanted to be friends with you fair-folk, not enemies. This is all very silly. If the carvans are stolen we've no other choice but to go to the police — and I