Hes probably used to her, said Dick. Well, lets go to sleep. I wonder if George is asleep or awake? I hate to think of her a prisoner somewhere.
I bet Timmy hates it more than we do, said Dick, hearing a long-drawn whimper from the next room. Poor old Tim. He cant go to sleep either!
Dick and Julian managed to go to sleep at last, both thinking of a speedy little figure on a bicycle, racing through the night to ask questions of a roundabout boy called Spiky!
Chapter Seventeen
TO GRINGOS FAIR
At half past seven next morning Joan came running upstairs to Julians bedroom, a piece of paper in her hand. She knocked on the door.
Master Julian! A dirty little note was on the front door mat when I got down this morning. Its folded over with your name on the outside.
Julian was out of bed in a trice. A note from the kidnappers perhaps? No – it couldnt be. They wouldnt write to him!
It was from Jo! She had scribbled it so badly that Julian could hardly read it.
Julian, I saw Spiky, hes coming to the beech at levven I took Dicks bike to go home on I will bring it back at levven, dont be too cross. Jo.
I suppose beech doesnt mean a tree, it means the beach, the sands, said Dick. And levven means eleven oclock. Little scallywag – I hope she hasnt damaged my bike in any way.
Jo hadnt. She had actually managed to find time to clean it before she left home, and arrived with it so bright and gleaming that Dick hadnt the heart to scold her!
She was early so she came to the house instead of the beach. She rode through the gate and up the front path and Timmy ran to greet her with a volley of delighted barks. He liked Jo – in fact he really loved the little gypsy girl. She certainly had a way with animals! Sally followed, dancing on her tiptoes as usual, ready to welcome as a friend anyone that Timmy liked.
Dick hailed Jo from the front door as she came up. Hallo, bicycle-stealer! My word, whats happened to my bike – have you spring-cleaned it?
Jo grinned, looking at Dick warily. Yes. Im sorry I took it, Dick.
Youre not a bit sorry – but Ill forgive you, said Dick, grinning too. So you got to the Fair safely after all?
Oh yes – and I woke up Spiky – he wasnt half surprised, said Jo. But his Pa was sleeping in the same caravan as he was, so I couldnt say much. I just told him to be on Kirrin Beach at eleven. Then I rode back home. I ought to have left your bike on the way back, but I was a bit tired, so I rode home, instead of walking.
You cant have had much sleep last night, said Julian, looking at the sunburnt girl with her untidy curly hair. Hallo – whos that?
A short, plump boy was hurrying past the gate. He had a mop of black hair which stuck up into curious spikes of hair at the crown.
Oh – thats Spiky! said Jo. Hes on time, isnt he? Hes called Spiky because of his hair. You wont believe it, but he spends a fortune on hair-oil, trying to make those spiky bits go flat. But they wont. She called loudly.
Spiky! Hey, SPIKY!
Spiky turned at once. He had a pleasant, rather lopsided face, and eyes as black as currants. He stood staring at Jo and the boys. Im just off to the beach, he said.
Right. Were coming too, said Jo, and she and the boys went to join. They met the ice-cream man on the way and Julian bought an ice-cream for each of them.
Coo – thanks, said Spiky, pleased. He was rather shy of Dick and Julian, and wondered very much why he had been asked to come.
They sat down on the beach. I wasnt half scared when you came tapping at the window last night, he said to Jo, licking his ice-cream with a very pink tongue. Whats it all about?
Well, said Julian, cautiously, were interested in somebody called Gringo.
Old Gringo? said Spiky. A lot of peoples interested in Gringo. Do you know what we say at the Fair? We say Gringo ought to put up a notice. All dirty work done here! Hes a bad lot, Gringo is – but he pays us well, even if he makes us work like slaves.
He owns the Fair, doesnt he? said Julian, and Spiky nodded. I expect he uses it as a cover for all his other, bigger jobs, Julian said to Dick. He looked at the plump, black-eyed boy, wondering how far he could trust him. Jo saw the look and knew what it meant.
Hes all right, she said, nodding towards Spiky. You can say what you like. Hes an oyster, he is. Aint you, Spiky?
Spiky grinned his lopsided grin. Julian decided to trust him, and speaking in a low voice that really thrilled Spiky, he told him about the kidnapping of George. Spikys eyes nearly fell out of his head.
Coo! he said. I bet old Gringos at the bottom of that. Last week he went off up to London – he told my Pa he was on to a big job – an American job, he said it was.
Yes – it sounds as if it all fits, said Julian. Spiky, this kidnapping happened the night before last. Did anything unusual occur in the Fair camp, do you know? It must have happened in the middle of the night.
Spiky considered. He shook his head. No – I dont think so. Gringos big double-caravan is still there – so he cant have gone. He had it moved right away from the camp yesterday morning – said there was too much noise for his old Ma, who lives in his posh caravan and looks after him. We was all glad it was moved – now he cant spy on us so easily!
I suppose you… began Julian, and then stopped as Dick gave an exclamation.
Ive got an idea! he said. Suppose that caravan was moved for another reason – suppose someone was making a row inside the van – someone shouting for help, say! Gringo would have to move it away from the rest of the camp in case that someone was heard.
There was a pause, and then Spiky nodded. Yes. It could be, he said. Ive never known Gringo move his caravan away from the camp before. Shall I do a bit of snooping for you?
Yes, said Julian, excited. My word – it would be a bit of luck if we could find George so quickly – and so near us too! A Fair camp would be a fine place to hide her, of course. Thank goodness we found that bit of paper with Gringo written on it!
Lets all go to the Fair this afternoon, said Dick. Timmy too. Hed smell out George at once.
Hadnt we better tell the police first? said Julian. At once Spiky and Jo got up in alarm. Spiky looked as if he were going to run away immediately!
Dont you get the police, Julian! said Jo urgently. You wont get anything more out of Spiky, if you do. Not a thing.
Im going, said Spiky, still looking terrified.
No, youre not, said Dick, and caught hold of him. We shant go to the police. They might frighten off Gringo and make him smuggle George away at once. Ive no doubt he has plans to do so at any minute. We shant say a word, so sit down and be sensible.
You can believe him, Jo told Spiky. Hes straight, see?
Spiky sat down, still looking wary. If youre coming to the Fair, come at four, he said. Its half-day closing today for the towns around, and the place will be packed. If you want to do any snooping, you wont be noticed in that crowd.
Right, said Julian. Well be there. Look out for us, Spiky, in case youve got any news.
Spiky then left, and the boys couldnt help smiling at his back view – the spikes of hair at the top of his head were so very noticeable!
Youd better stay to lunch with us, Jo, said Dick, and the delighted girl beamed all over her face.
Will Joans cousin mind you not being back to dinner? asked Julian.
No. I said I wouldnt be back all day, said Jo. Its still school holidays, you see. Anyway, I cant stand that Jane – she moons about all the time – and shes got some of my clothes on, too.
Jo sounded so indignant about Berta that the boys had to laugh. They all went back to Kirrin Cottage, and found Joan and Anne hard at work in the house.