“All stay here!” cried the Chief of Detectives. “Don’t move from this spot!” And with this he set off at a good speed across the valley to meet his brother.
CHAPTER X
The Tiptoe Brothers and the Slide Raft
Gran’ma and Gran’pa saw the Tiptoe Brothers throw their arms around each other’s necks in their joy at meeting, but they walked in a wide circle around the spot where Jingles the Magician was dancing in his efforts to free himself from the wire.
“I should have been sooner,” said the Dancing Master to Gran’pa and Gran’ma, “but just as I started to leave the Cottage-Cave I saw a Flying Boat coming across the country, and I knew from your story that the wicked Jingles must be in it.”
“What did he do?” asked the children.
“He left his Flying Boat out in front of the Cottage-Cave and came inside, and while he was snooping around I slipped out the back way, went round the Cottage-Cave, and touched a match to his Flying Boat! He will have to walk from now on!” And the Dancing Master did a graceful little dance step and snapped his fingers.
“Oh dear!” Gran’ma cried as she sat down hard upon the grass.
“Whatever is the matter?” the Tiptoe Brothers cried, as Gran’pa helped Gran’ma to her feet.
“It was our Flying Boat!” replied Gran’pa quietly, “and the only way we had of ever getting back home to the Earth!”