Chapter 20 EXCITEMENT IN THE MORNING
　　The dawn was coming now. The mist was no longer full of darkness, but was white, and thinningrapidly. The four children hurried to the horses, which were stamping impatiently by the trees.
　　George couldn't go very fast because of Timmy. He really was very heavy.
　　Suddenly he began to struggle. The fresh, cool air had revived him and he wanted to be set down.
　　George put him down thankfully, and he began to bark defiantly¹ at the gypsies who were nowcoming out of their caravans², their dogs with them.
　　The four children mounted hurriedly and the horses were surprised at the double weight. Williamswung his horse's head round and set off with George sitting behind him. Henry took Anne.
　　Timmy, feeling much better, ran after them, his legs no longer feeling so shaky.
　　The gypsies ran too, shaking their fists and shouting. Sniffer's father was amazed beyond measure.
　　Why, there were the two girls he had tied up - and that dog he had sent off to trick the other two boyson the moor³.
　　Then who were these on horse-back, and how had they found their way to the hill? How had theprisoners been able to find their way out of the hill, too? That was a real puzzle to Sniffer's father.
　　The gypsies tore after the horses, but the dogs contented⁴ themselves with excited barks. Not one ofthem dared to go after Timmy. They were afraid of him.
　　The horses went off as fast as they dared in the mist, Timmy running in front. He seemed very muchbetter, though George was afraid it was only the excitement that now kept him going. She glancedback at the gypsies. They would never catch up now, thank goodness!
　　Somewhere behind the mist the sun was shining. Soon it would disperse⁵ the strange fog that hadcome up so suddenly from the sea. She glanced down at her watch. Good gracious, could it really bealmost six o'clock in the morning. It was tomorrow now!
　　She wondered what had happened to Julian and Dick.
　　She thought of Sniffer gratefully, and all those patrins he had left in the hill. They would never havegot out but for those. She thought of Henry and William, and gave William a sudden tight hug roundthe waist for coming out in the middle of the night and rescuing them!

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