"He'll have to go back to his stepfather," said Bets, "and oh, Inspector Jenks, he's got such a cruel stepfather. He'll beat him."
"No, he won't," said the Inspector. "I shall have a word with him. I think you'll find that he'll let Luke severely alone. In the meantime, I will look more carefully into this mystery and see if I can get a little light shed on it. It certainly sounds most interesting now that I have heard all you have told me."
"What's up with Buster?" said Fatty at that moment Buster had left the little company and could be heard barking madly at the top of the bank. Then a voice came to their ears.
"Call this dog orf! Get him under control, or I'll report him!"
"It's old Clear-Orf!" whispered Daisy gleefully. "He's tracked us after all! I bet he thinks we've got Luke down here! Old Buster must have heard him creeping up and gone and barked at him!"
Fatty went up the bank and through the overhanging bushes, and stood on the top, looking at a very angry Mr. Goon.
"Ho! I knew you were down there," said Mr. Goon. "Yes, and I know who you've got with you too!"
"Then I wonder you're not a bit more polite about it," said Fatty in a smooth voice.
"Polite about it! Why should I be?" said Mr. Goon. "Ah, I've caught you properly, I have — harbouring someone who's done a crime! You've gone too far this time, you have. You call this dog orf, and let me go down the bank and get my hands on you-know-who."
Fatty gave a chuckle. He called Buster off and held him by the collar, standing politely aside whilst Mr. Goon pushed his way through the bushes, and then jumped down beside the water, expecting to find four frightened children and a very scared Luke.