When at last he came near the place where the children had really turned off toward the brook, he stopped and looked about.

Seeing smoke issuing from among the trees at a little distance, he thought, "That's a gypsy camp.

Now wouldn't it be just like those youngsters to trail in there?
Anyway it's the most likely place, and I'm going to have a look." Leaving his car by the side of the road, Pompton struck into the field, and soon came to the little bridge just beyond which the old basket-weaver still sat.
"Have you seen anything of two children ?" Pompton inquired, civilly.
"No," growled the man, looking up and frowning a little.
"Well, I'm fairly sure they came in here from the road about half an hour ago.

Perhaps you didn't notice them.

I'll just take a look round." He started in the direction of the camp, but the man called him back.
"I tell you no children have been near here," he said, in a voice slightly less surly.