And as they landed on the stone flagging outside they heard Mr.Drummond excitedly directing the pursuit.
"Quick, Wilkins! Get them! They tried to rob the house!" Mr.Drummond's voice pursued them along the verandah.

"Help! Robbers! Head them off!" The boys took the stone steps in two bounds, crashed at the bottom into a hedge, went tearing through and emerged beyond in a service yard, dimly lighted by one struggling electric bulb over a back doorway.

It was Ossie who fell into the clothes basket and Wink who collided with the clothes reel and sent it spinning wildly and creakingly around in the darkness.

Perry fortunately avoided all pitfalls and was leading by six yards when he reached the top of another flight of steps and saw the marquee and the dancing platform and the gay lights at his right.

To make their way in that direction would be sheer folly, while in front of them lay a tangle of shrubbery and trees.