'Oh TINKER! How marvellous to have a circus at the bottom of the garden!' said George, her eyes shining, and Anne nodded too. Tinker glared at them.

'JUST like girls to say a thing like that!' he said. 'Would you want people trespa.s.sing all over a field that belonged to you, with horses neighing and tigers and lions roaring, and bears grunting, and chimpanzees stealing things - and nasty little circus boys being rude all the time, ready to knock you down.'

'Oh Tinker! You do make it sound so exciting!' said George. 'Will there really be lions and tigers? Suppose one escaped - what a thrill!'

'Well - I shouldn't like that,' said Anne, at once. 'I don't particularly want a lion peering in at my window, or a bear clomping round my bedroom!'

'Neither do I,' said Tinker, in a most decided voice. 'That's why I'm going to tell Dad about it. He's got the old doc.u.ments that set out our rights to that field. He showed me them one day. I'll ask him about them, and if he'll let me see them, I'll take them straight to the police and let them turn out that rude old man and his horrible circus.'

'How do you know it's horrible?' asked George. 'It might be awfully good. I'm sure they'd let us camp in the corner nearest the garden, and we'd get an awfully good view of what's going on all the time. Look - there's your father strolling down the path, smoking a pipe. He never does that if he's busy. It would be a good time to go and ask him about the doc.u.ment. He might even show it to us.'

'All right,' said Tinker, rather sulkily. 'But you'll see I'm right. Come on.'

However, Tinker proved to be quite, quite wrong! His father went to fetch the old, yellowed piece of parchment at once. 'Ha! Here it is!' he said. 'It's pretty valuable too, because it's so old. It dates back quite a few centuries.'

He undid the rather dirty piece of ribbon round it and unrolled it. Neither the girls nor Tinker could read the old-fashioned lettering.

'What does it all say?' asked Anne, with great interest.

'It says that the field known as "Cromwell's Corner" is to be held by the Hayling Family for always,' said Professor Hayling. 'It was given to them by Cromwell because our family allowed them to camp in that field when they sorely needed a rest after battle. It's been ours ever since.'

'So n.o.bODY else is allowed to camp in it, or use it for grazing or anything, unless we say so!' said Tinker, triumphantly.

'Quite right,' said his father. 'But wait a minute - I seem to remember an odd clause that said something about a travelling show - a show that had rights to camp in the field since about 1066. Not even Cromwell could alter that - it was in the original deeds, long before Cromwell battled in that district. Now let's see - that piece would come about the end, I expect.'

The two girls and Tinker waited while the Professor pored over the old and beautiful lettering. He jabbed his finger on to three lines towards the end.

'Yes. There it is. I'll quote it. Listen! "And let it be known that Ye Travelling Show so-named 'Tapper's Travelling Show', which has always had camping rights, shall still have the right to claim these once every ten years so long as the show travels the country ways - Given under my hand..." and so on and so on. Well - I don't expect that Tapper's Travelling Show is going now, all these years and years after the doc.u.ment was drawn up and signed in the year 1648. See - here's the date - if you can read the old figures!'

The children stared at the date, and then glanced up at Tinker. He looked angry and very red in the face. 'You might have told me all that before, Dad,' he said.

'Why?' asked his father, astonished. 'What possible interest can it have for you children?'

'Only that there's a circus called Tapper's Travelling Circus in that field this very minute,' said Anne. 'And the old man with it is called Tapper - and he said it was his right to be there, and...'

'He was rude to me and I want you to turn out this circus this very day!' said Tinker. 'We want to camp there.'

'I'm sure Mr Tapper would have no objection to you camping there,' said his father. 'Aren't you being rather silly, Tinker? You weren't rude to any of the circus folk, were you?'

Tinker went very red, turned his back and stalked out of the room, Mischief clinging to his neck. He rubbed his chest where the circus boy had punched him. 'Just you wait!' he said in a whisper. 'I'll punch you one day!'

'Anne, if you and the others want to camp in the field, I'll go and speak to Mr Tapper,' said the Professor, puzzled by Tinker's behaviour.

'Oh no - it's all right,' said Anne, hastily. 'He has already said that it didn't matter if we camped there. Oh - there are the boys back again. I'll just go and see if they have brought back all our bicycles safely. Thank you for showing us that marvellous old doc.u.ment, Professor!'

And away she went looking rather hot and bothered!

Chapter Six

GETTING READY FOR CAMPING OUT

d.i.c.k and Julian were most interested to hear about Tinker and the Travelling Circus - and the old, old doc.u.ment.

'You made a bit of a fool of yourself,' said Julian, looking at Tinker. 'Still, there's no harm done, apparently. I vote we go and see where we can put up our tents. Personally, I shall be thrilled to see a bit of circus life so close to me! I wonder how they'll manage to put on a show. I suppose they've everything with them, and can put up a circus ring and a marquee and anything else necessary.'

'There are a lot of big vans,' said Anne. 'I went down to have a look about half an hour ago. The field is almost full now, except for one corner near our hedge that I suppose they have left for our tents.'

'I saw the posters about the circus as we cycled back,' said d.i.c.k. 'Dead-Shot d.i.c.k - Chimpanzee that plays Cricket - the Boneless Man - Madelon and her Beautiful Horses - Monty and Winks the clowns - the Dancing Donkey - Mr Wooh, the Wonder Wizard - gosh, it sounded quite a circus. I'm glad we can camp in the same field - we shall really see behind the scenes, then.'

'Don't forget there was Charlie the Chimp, and the Bonzo Band,' said Julian. 'What fun if the chimp got loose and peeped in at the kitchen window!'

'It wouldn't be at all funny,' said Anne. 'Jenny would run for miles! So would Tinker's monkey!'

'What about putting up our own tents after tea?' said d.i.c.k. 'The carrier said he'd have them here by tea-time. It's hotter than ever today. I don't feel I can do much at the moment. I just want to laze.'

'Woof,' said Timmy, who was lying down with his head on his paws, panting.

'You feel the same, old chap, don't you?' said Julian, poking him with his toe. 'You're tired out with your long run to Kirrin and back again, aren't you?'

'The roads were so dusty!' said d.i.c.k. 'He kept sneezing whenever a car pa.s.sed us, because the dust got up his nose. Poor old Tim. You really are tired out with that long, long run!'

'Woof!' said Tim, suddenly sitting up straight and pawing vigorously at George. Everyone laughed.

'He says he's not at all tired, he wants a walk,' chuckled d.i.c.k.

'Well, if he's not tired, I am,' said Julian. 'It really was a job sorting out all our things at Kirrin - and cycling there and back. No, Timmy - I am NOT going to take you for a walk!'

Timmy whined, and at once Mischief the monkey leapt down from Tinker's shoulder and went to cuddle against the big dog, making small comforting noises. He even put his thin little arms round Timmy's neck!

'You're just being a little bit soppy, Mischief,' said Tinker, but Mischief didn't care. His big friend was sad about something, or he wouldn't have whined. Timmy put out a big red tongue and licked the little creature delicately on his nose. Then he suddenly p.r.i.c.ked up his ears, and sat straight up, He had heard a noise from somewhere. So had all the others.

'It's music of some kind,' said Anne. 'Oh - I believe I know what it is!'

'What?' said the others.

'It must be Tapper's Travelling Circus Band practising for opening night,' said Anne.

'Well, that's tomorrow,' yawned George. 'Yes - it does sound like a band. Maybe we shall see the bandsmen after tea, when we put up our tents. I'd like to see the Boneless Man, wouldn't you?'

'NO!' said Anne. 'He'd be all limp and wriggly and horrid - like a worm or a jellyfish! I shan't go and see him. But I'd love to see the horses and the Dancing Donkey. Does he dance to the band, do you think?'

'We'll find out when we go,' said d.i.c.k, 'as it opens tomorrow. If Mr Tapper isn't annoyed about Tinker trying to turn them out, he might let us wander round.'

'I don't think I want to come,' said Tinker. 'Mr Tapper was rude - and that boy knocked me flat.'

'Well, I expect I'd do the same if I thought you were being rude to my Grandad,' said Julian, lazily 'Now - it's settled, is it, that we go down with our things to the field after tea, and see if we can put up our tents in some sheltered corner?'

'Yes,' said everyone. d.i.c.k idly tickled Mischief's nose with a thin blade of gra.s.s. The monkey sneezed at once, and then again. He rubbed his little paw across his nose and stared disapprovingly at d.i.c.k. Then he sneezed once more.

'Borrow a hanky, old thing,' said Julian. And, to everyone's intense amus.e.m.e.nt, Mischief leapt across to d.i.c.k and neatly pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket! Then he pretended to blow his nose.

Everyone roared with laughter, and Mischief was delighted. 'You'll be stolen to act in a circus one day, if you behave like that!' said d.i.c.k, s.n.a.t.c.hing back his hanky. 'The Pick-pocket Monkey!'

'He'd be very good in a circus,' said Julian.

'I'd never let him join a circus!' said Tinker at once. 'He might have a dreadful life.'

'No. I don't think he would,' said Julian. 'Circus-folk love their animals and are proud of them. And after all, if they treated them unkindly, the animals wouldn't be happy or healthy, and couldn't enjoy their acts. Most circus people treat their animals like one of the family.'

'What! Even a chimpanzee!' said Anne, in horror.

'They're nice creatures - and very clever,' said Julian. 'Mischief, do not remove my handkerchief, please. It was funny the first time, but not a second time. Look at him now, trying to undo Timmy's collar.'

'Come and sit quietly by me, Mischief,' ordered Tinker, and the little creature obediently went to him and cuddled on to his knee, making a soft, crooning noise.

'You're a humbug,' said Tinker, fondling him. 'You be careful I don't give you away to the circus, and get an elephant in exchange!'

'Idiot!' said d.i.c.k, and everyone laughed at the thought of Tinker and an elephant. What in the world would he do with it?

A voice called from the house. 'Tinker! The carrier's come with all the camping things. He's put them in the hall, just where your father will fall over them. You'd better come and see to them now.'

'In a few minutes, Jenny!' called back Tinker. 'We're busy.'

'You're a real fibber, Tinker,' said d.i.c.k. 'We are not busy. You could easily go to find out where the things are, and see if they're all there. There are quite a lot.'

'We'll go in twenty minutes or so,' said Anne, yawning. 'I bet Tinker's father is asleep this hot afternoon. He won't stir out of his study.'

But she was wrong. Professor Hayling was wide awake, and when he had finished his work, he wanted a drink of very cold water. He threw open his study door, strode out towards the kitchen - and fell over a pile of all kinds of camping gear, bringing them down with a tremendous noise.

Jenny rushed out of the kitchen with loud screams of fright, and the Professor bellowed in anger as he took a ground-sheet off his head, and a tent-pole off his back. 'WHAT ARE THESE THINGS? I WILL NOT HAVE THEM IN THE HALL! JENNY! JENNY! Take them down to the bonfire and burn the lot!'

'Our camping things!' cried George, listening in horror. 'Quick! We must get them! Oh, I do hope Tinker's father hasn't hurt himself. Blow, blow, blow!'

While Julian and d.i.c.k deftly removed everything that had fallen on to the angry Professor and took them down the garden, Anne and George comforted him, and made such a fuss of him that he began to feel decidedly less angry. He sat down in a chair and wiped his forehead. 'I hope you've taken all those things down to the bottom of the garden?' he asked, after a while.

'Yes,' said Tinker, truthfully. 'Er - they're all by the bonfire, but it's not lighted yet.'

'I'll light it myself tomorrow,' said his father, and Tinker heaved a sigh of relief. His father would forget, of course - and anyhow, everything was going to be taken into the camping field after tea.

'Have a cup of nice hot tea, sir,' said Jenny, appearing with a tray of tea-things. 'Sit you down and drink this. It's newly made. Best thing to have after a fall and a shock.'

She turned and whispered crossly to Tinker. 'Didn't I call to you and tell you the Professor would trip over those things, the poor man? Now you just get your own tea, while I take him into the dining-room and comfort him with a nice hot scone, and a cup of tea!'

'I'll get our tea,' said Anne. 'Then we'll set up the tents down in the field, and enjoy ourselves. And Tinker, don't you get into any more trouble with the circus folk.'

'I'll see he doesn't,' said George, firmly. 'Come on - let's go down to the field while Anne gets the tea. I could do with a bun or two!'

Between them, d.i.c.k and Julian had lugged all the things down the garden - two tents, ground-sheets, blankets, tent-pegs and all the rest. Timmy ran with them in excitement, wondering what all the fuss was about. Mischief, of course, leapt to the top of whatever was being carried, and chattered excitedly all the way down the garden.

He got into trouble when he ran off with a tentpeg, but Timmy managed to catch him and make him drop it. Then, very solemnly, Timmy carried the tent-peg to Julian.

'Good dog!' said Julian. 'Just keep an eye on that wicked little monkey, Tim, will you? There are all sorts of things he might run off with!'

So Timmy kept an eye on Mischief, nosing him away whenever he thought the monkey was going to pick up something he shouldn't. Finally Mischief became tired of Timmy's nose and leapt on his back, where, clinging to the dog's collar, he rode just as if he were on horseback. 'Only it's dogback, not horseback,' said Anne, with a laugh.

'They would make quite a good pair for the circus,' said d.i.c.k. 'I bet Mischief could hold on to reins, if Timmy had any!'

'Well, he's not going to have any,' said George. 'The next thing would be a whip! Whew! What a lot of things we've got - is that the lot?'

It was, thank goodness. A bell rang out from the house at that moment, and everyone heaved a sigh of relief.

'Tea at last!' said d.i.c.k. 'I could drink a whole potful. Come on - we've finished piling up all the things. We'll get busy after tea with them, I can't do a thing more. Don't you agree, Timmy?'

'WOOF!' said Timmy, heartily, and galloped up the garden path at top speed, with Mischief scampering after him.

'Talk about a circus!' said d.i.c.k. 'We've a ready-made one here! All right, Anne - we're coming! We're coming!'

Chapter Seven

IN THE CIRCUS FIELD

n.o.body wanted to spend a long time over tea. They all longed to go down to the field and set up their little camp.