SECRET SEVEN ADVENTURE by Enid Blyton

CHAPTER 8 A VISIT TO THE CIRCUS

Peter looked at his watch. "Blow!" he said in dismay. "It's nearly dinner-time. We must all get back home as fast as we can. Meet at half-past two again, Secret Seven."

"We can't!" said Pam and Barbara. "We're going to a party."

"Don't have a meeting without us," begged Pam.

"I can't come either," said George. "So we'd better make it tomorrow. Anyway, if the thief is one of the acrobats at the circus, he won't be leaving this afternoon! He'll stay there till the circus goes."

"Well... it's only just a chance he might be an acrobat," said Janet. "I only just said it could only be an acrobat that scaled that high wall. I didn't really mean it!"

"It's worth looking into, anyhow," said Peter. "Well, meet tomorrow at half-past nine, then. And will everybody please think hard, and have some kind of plan to suggest? I'm sure we shall think of something good!"

Everyone thought hard that day - even Pam and Barbara whispered together in the middle of their party! "I vote we go and see the circus," whispered Pam. "Don't you think it would be a good idea? Then we can see if Peter recognizes any of the acrobats as the thief he saw hiding under that bush!"

When the Secret Seven met the next day, muttering the password as they went through the door of the shed, everyone seemed to have exactly the same idea!

"We should visit the circus," began George.

"That's just what Pam and I thought!" said Barbara.

"I thought so too," said Colin. "In fact, it's the only sensible thing to do. Don't you think so, Peter?"

"Yes. Janet and I looked in the local paper, and we found that the circus opens this afternoon," said Peter. "What about us all going to see it? I don't know if I would recognize any of the acrobats as the thief ... I really only caught just a glimpse of him, you know, but it's worth trying."

"You said he was dark and clean-shaven," said Colin. "And I saw that his hair was black, anyway. He had a little thin patch on the top. But it isn't much to go on, is it?"

"Has anyone got any money?" asked Pam. "To buy circus tickets, I mean? I haven't any at all, because I had to buy a birthday present to take to the party yesterday."

Everyone turned out their pockets. The money was put in a pile in the middle and counted.

"The tickets are a shilling for children," said Peter with a groan. "A shilling! They must think that children are made of money. We've got four shillings and five pence here, that's all. Only four of us can go."

"I've got two shillings in my money-box," said Janet.

"And I've got sixpence at home," said Colin. "Anyone got the odd penny?"

"Oh yes...I'll borrow it from Susie," said Jack.

"Well, don't go and tell her the password in return for the penny!" said Colin, and got a kick from Jack and an angry snort.

"Right. That looks as if we can all go, after all," said Peter, pleased. "Meet at the circus field ten minutes before the circus begins. Don't be late, anyone! And keep your eyes skinned for anyone wearing a dark blue pullover with a tiny thread of red in it, because it's pretty certain the thief must have worn a jersey or pullover made of that wool."

Everyone was very punctual. All but Pam had money with them, so Peter gave her enough for her ticket. They went to the ticket-box and bought seven tickets, feeling really rather excited. A circus was always fun... but to go to a circus and keep a look out for a thief was even more exciting than usual!

Soon they were all sitting in their seats, looking down intently on the sawdust-strewn ring in the middle of the great tent. The band struck up a gay tune and a drum boomed out. The children sat up, thrilled.

In came the horses, walking proudly, their feathery plumes nodding. In came the

clowns, somersaulting and yelling; in came the bears; in came all the performers, one after another, greeting the audience with smiles.

The children watched out for the acrobats,

but they were all mixed up with the other performers; five clowns and conjurers, two clever stilt-walkers, and five men on ridiculous bicycles. It was impossible to tell which were the acrobats.

"They are third on the programme," said Peter. "First come the horses; then the clowns, and then the acrobats."

So they waited, clapping the beautiful dancing horses, and laughing at the ridiculous clowns until their sides ached.

"Now for the acrobats!" said Peter, excitedly. "Watch,Colin, watch!"