Chapter 8 WHERE ARE THE CARAVANS¹?
　　FOR once in a way Julian was quite at a loss what to do! It looked as if someone had stolen the twocaravans - taken them right away somewhere!
　　'I suppose we'd better ring up the police,' he said. 'They'll watch out for the two caravans, and arrestthe thieves. But that won't help us much for tonight! We've got to find somewhere to sleep.'
　　'I think we ought to go and tackle one or two of the fair-folk,' said Dick. 'Even if they have gotnothing to do with the theft they must have seen the caravans being taken away.'
　　'Yes. I think you're right,' said Julian. They must know something about it. George, you stay herewith Anne, in case the fair people are rude. We'll take Timmy - he may be useful.'
　　George didn't want to stay behind - but she could see that Anne did! So she stayed with her, strainingher eyes after the two boys as they went back up the hill with Timmy close behind.
　　'Don't let's go to the snake-man,' said Dick. 'He might be playing with his snakes in his caravan²!'
　　'What possible game can you play with snakes?' said Julian. 'Or are you thinking of snakes and 33ladders?'
　　'Funny joke,' said Dick, politely. 'Look - there's somebody by a camp-fire - Bufflo, I think. No, it'sAlfredo. Well, we know he isn't as fierce as he looks - let's tackle him about the caravans.'
　　They went up to the big fire-eater, who was sitting smoking by the fire. He didn't hear them comingand jumped violently when Julian spoke³ to him.
　　'Mr. Alfredo,' began Julian, 'could you tell us where our two caravans have gone? We found themmissing when we got back just now.'
　　'Ask Bufflo,' said Alfredo, gruffly, not looking at them.
　　'But don't you know anything about them?' persisted Julian.
　　'Ask Bufflo,' said Alfredo, blowing out clouds of smoke. Julian and Dick turned away, annoyed, andwent over to Bufflo's caravan. It was shut. They knocked on the door, and Bufflo appeared, his mopof golden hair gleaming in the lamplight.
　　'Mr. Bufflo,' began Julian politely again. 'Mr. Alfredo told us to come and ask you about ourcaravans, which are missing, and...'
　　'Ask the rubber-man,' said Bufflo, shortly, and slammed the door. Julian was angry. He knockedagain. The window opened and Skippy, Bufflo's little wife, looked out.
　　'You go and ask Mr. India-rubber,' she called, and shut the window with what sounded suspiciouslylike a

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