Mystery Penta

8-Up In The Hills

The four children were upset and puzzled by the behavior of the two men. Robert told how Fawkes  had wakened her by squawking and how she had heard the men talking together in low voices.

'I don't really think they had come to steal anything,' she said. 'I think they were just meeting near here for a secret talk. They didn't know the caravans were here and walked straight into ours.' 

'They're bad-tempered brutes,' said James. 'And I don't care what you say, Robert, I'm going to lock your caravan door tonight. I know you've got Fawkes — but I'm not running any risk of these men coming back, Fawkes or no Fawkes.' 

Anne was so scared that Robert consented to let James lock the red caravan door. Fawkes was locked in with them. The boys went back to their own caravan, and James locked his door, too, from the inside. He wanted to be on the safe side. 

'I'll be glad to get away from here up into the hills,' he said. 'I shan't feel safe as long as we are quite so near the camp. We'll be all right up in the hills.'

'We'll go first thing after breakfast,' said , settling down to his bunk again. 'Gosh, it's a good thing the girls had Fawkes tonight. Those fellows looked as if they meant to go for you properly, James.' 

'Yes. I shouldn't have had much chance against the two of them either,' said James. 'They are both hefty, strong fellows.'

The next morning all the four awoke early. Nobody felt inclined to lie and snooze — all of them were anxious to get off before Lou and Dan appeared again.

'You get the breakfast, Anne and Robert, and Harry and I will catch the horses and put them in the caravan shafts,' said James. 'Then we shall be ready to go off immediately after breakfast.' 

They had breakfast and cleared up. They got up on to the driving-seats and were just about to drive away when Lou and Dan came down the track towards them.

'Oh, you're going, are you?' said Dan, with an ugly grin on his face. 'That's right. Nice to see kids so obedient. Where you going?'

Up into the hills,' said James. 'Not that it's anything to do with you where we go.'

'Why don't you go round the foot of the hills, instead of over the top?' said Lou. 'Silly way to go — up there, with the caravans dragging them horses back all the way.'

James was just about to say that he didn't intend to go right up to the top of the hills and over to the other side, when he stopped himself. No — just as well not to let these fellows know that he meant to camp up there, or they might come and worry them all again. 

He clicked to Dobby. 'We're going the way we want to go,' he said to Lou in a curt voice. 'And that's up the hill. Get out of the way, please.'

As Dobby was walking straight at them, the men had to jump to one side. They scowled at the four children. Then they all heard the sound of running footsteps and along came Nobby, with Barker and Growler at his heels as usual.

'Hey, what you going so early for?' he yelled. 'Let me come part of the way with you.'

'No, you don't,' said his uncle, and gave the surprised boy an unexpected cuff. 'I've told these kids to clear out, and they're going. I won't have no meddling strangers round this camp. And don't you kid yourself they want to make friends with you, see! You go and get out those dogs and exercise them, or I'll give you another box on the ears that'll make you see all the stars in the sky.' 

Nobby stared at him, angry and afraid. He knew his uncle too well to defy him. He turned on his heel sullenly and went off back to the camp. The caravans overtook him on the way. James called to him in a low voice: