Pip appeared, followed by the much smaller Bets., panting behind him.
"Seen the burnt-up cottage this morning?" asked Larry.
"Yes. And I say, what do you think - they say somebody burnt it down on purpose - that it wasn't an accident after all!" said Pip, excited.
"On purpose!" said Larry and Daisy. "But whoever would do a thing like that!"
"Don't know," said Pip, "I overheard somebody talking about it They said that the insurance people had been down already, and some fire expert they brought with them said that petrol had been used to start up the fire. They've got some way of finding out these things, you know."
"Golly!" said Larry. "But who would do it? Somebody that didn't like Mr. Hick, I suppose?"
"Yes, " said Pip. "I bet old Clear-Orf is excited to have a real crime to find out about. But he's so stupid he'll never find out a thing!"
"Look - there's that dog again," said Bets, pointing to the little black Scottie appearing in the garden. He stood sturdily on His squat legs, his ears cocked, looking up at them as if to say "Mind me being here ? "
"Hallo, Buster!" said Larry3 bending down and patting his knee to make the dog come to him. "You're a nice dog, you are. I wish you were mine. Daisy and I have never had a dog."
"Nor have I," said Pip. "Here, Buster! Bone, Buster? Biscuit, Buster?"