Parp-parp went the hooter and the five children watched the little boy pedal swiftly down the pavement then cross the road, and disappear into the gate of Kosy-Kot.
"I feel like saying 'Gah!'" said poor Fatty. "Wasting our time looking for a hooter that's on a child's tricycle—and getting my foot run over!"
"Never mind," said Bets consolingly. "You'll be able really to limp this afternoon, when you're the old man again."
They all went back to Pip's. It didn't seem any use trying to find the owner of the other hooter. They couldn't possibly go round looking at every one in Peterswood to see who had odd eyes. It was very disappointing about the tricycle.
"I think this is a very slow sort of mystery," said Bets. "It will be time to go back to school again before we've even begun to solve it!"
"What's the date?" said Pip. "Let me see—it must be the seventh of September—no, the eighth. Gracious, we really haven't much more time!"
"Perhaps something will happen soon," said Larry hopefully. "You know how sometimes things sort of boil up and get terribly exciting all of a sudden."
"Well, it's time this one did," said Fatty. "It's been in the refrigerator long enough!"
Every one laughed. "I wouldn't mind sitting in a frig myself," said Daisy. "Let's get our bathing things and go and bathe in the river. I'm so awfully hot."
So down to the river they went, and were soon splashing about happily. Fatty, of course, was a very fine swimmer, and could swim right across the river and back. Bets splashed happily in the shallow water. The others swam about lazily just out of their depth.