“P’raps,” said William hastily to his friends, “p’raps we’d better go now.”
His friends agreed.
They went as quietly and unostentatiously as possible by way of the back regions.
Henri remained at the window. He watched the curious quartette as they came in at the gate.
Details of their appearance, unnoticed before, became clear as they drew nearer.
“Ze Crumbs an’ ze Crikey!” ejaculated Henri.
******
It was two hours later. William sat disconsolately upon the upturned plant pot throwing stones half-heartedly at the fence. Jumble sat disconsolately by him snapping half-heartedly at flies. The Outlaws had nobly shared the sugar cakes with Jumble and he was just beginning to wish that they hadn’t....
Suddenly Henri’s face appeared at the top of the fence.
“’Ello!” he said.