“Everywhere is empty,” said Larry. “I wish we could find a window left open or something. Then we could get inside.”
But not a window was left open, not even a crack. Not only that, but it seemed as if every window had a double fastening.
“Whoever lived here before must have been afraid of burglars,” said Daisy. “Short of smashing a window or breaking down a door, I don’t see how any one could possibly get into this house.”
They looked for footprints, but found none. Neither was there a cigarette-end, or even a scrap of paper to be seen.
“Not a single clue!” said Bets sorrowfully.
“Look at all our footprints!” said Daisy, pointing to where they showed in the muddy ground. “Plenty of clues left by our feet to show we’ve been here! I think we ought to have been more careful.”
“Well, we can’t do anything about it now,” said Pip. “Listen - is that Buster barking?”
It was. He was barking madly, and the four children listened uneasily. Fatty had gone to the village. He wasn’t there, with his quick cleverness to take charge. Pip, Daisy, and Bets looked at Larry.
“What shall we do?” said Bets. “I can hear some one coming down the drive!”
“Hide!” said Larry. “Quick, scatter behind bushes!”