To the Cubs’ dismay Mr. Beak reported the story to Mr. Ogden, who seemed inclined to believe it. But something even worse was to happen. Black Bill himself walked down to the Hall that night with the policeman, to make (so he said) a report of the matter himself to Mr. Ogden.
He had a short interview alone with the Squire, and then went away with a horrible grin on his face. Mr. Ogden came out as white as a sheet, and in a towering rage. He ordered the search for Danny to be stopped, and said he had disgraced himself, and could now shift for himself; he washed his hands of such a young scamp.
The Cubs, in despair, set to work with redoubled energy, and that night a strange adventure befell David and Hugh.
CHAPTER XVIII
DETECTIVES
Whilst Bill and Jack had been getting actively to work in search of Danny, David and Hugh had been making plans. Retiring to a particular and secret den of their own, in a pile of logs, they faced the problem in a really logical way. With pencil and notebook, and the quiet determination of true detectives, they reviewed the situation.
“First,” said David, “what do we know?... Danny was last seen going to the circus. Then gipsies are people who are often thieves or something. Danny is a detective. If there was anything fishy about those gipsies he would be sure to get on the scent. If Black Bill caught him at it he would be sure to keep him prisoner, so we had better take it that he has been kidnapped by Black Bill. What do we do?”
“Try not to let Black Bill out of our sight,” said Hugh. “Follow him everywhere he goes. Try and get as near to him as possible, in case we can overhear him talking about Danny; and keep our eyes open for any clue there might be.”
“Yes,” said David thoughtfully, “that’s just what we must do. But the circus is moving on this afternoon. It’s going to Bradmead—that’s five miles away.”
“Then we must go, too,” said Hugh. “We may have to stay away some time, so we must take all we might want with us. And we must be prepared for anything that might happen.”
“Yes,” agreed David, “let’s make a list.” He sharpened his pencil and flattened out his notebook.