"I believe they think as 'ow we locked 'em in for the purpose," laughed
the woman, and then she explained to them what had happened, how they
always kept this caravan locked, for they did not use it for sleeping or
living in, but filled it with baskets and tins, which they sold as they
travelled through the villages. She told the twins, too, that three
policemen were out searching for them everywhere, and had come to make
inquiries of her husband, and of the man who sold the tickets, but they
could tell them nothing. And in their turn the twins had to explain how
it was that they had found their way into the caravan.
[Sidenote: An Early Breakfast]
It was just three o'clock now, and the men were all at work, for by four
o'clock they must be on the way to the next town, where they were
"billed" to give a performance that very afternoon.
"And now," said the woman, "you must 'ave a bite of breakfast, and then
Bill shall tike you 'ome. What'll your ma and pa say when they see you?
they'll be mighty pleased, I guess."
The twins had never been up so early in the morning before. They felt
ill and stiff all over from sleeping on the hard floor, and they were
very hungry, and cold too, for the morning air seemed chill and biting.
The women had made a fire of sticks, and a great black kettle was
hanging over it. The water was boiling and bubbling.
Soon the men left their work and came to join in the meal.
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