9 A GOOD IDEA – AND A DISAPPOINTMENT

CHAPTER NINE A GOOD IDEA– AND A DISAPPOINTMENT THE ACROBATS came in, turning cartwheels and springing high into the air. One came in with his body bent so far over backwards that he was able to put his head between his legs. He looked very peculiar indeed. Peter nudged Colin. 'Colin! See that fellow with his head between his legs– he's clean- shaven like the man I saw hidden in the bush– and he's got black hair!' Colin nodded. 'Yes– he may be the one! All the others have moustaches. Let's watch him carefully and see if he could really leap up a

high wall, and over the top.' All the Secret Seven kept their eyes glued on this one acrobat. They had seen that the others had moustaches, so that ruled them out– but this one fitted the bill– he was dark- haired and had no moustache! Could he leap high? Would he show them that he could easily leap up a steep wall to the top? They watched eagerly. The clean-shaven acrobat was easily the best of them all. He was as light as a feather. When he sprang across the ring it almost seemed as if his feet did not even touch the ground. He was a very clever tight-rope walker too. A long ladder was put up, and fixed to a wire high up in the roof of the tent. The children watched the acrobat spring lightly up the ladder, and they turned to look at one another– yes– if he could leap up a ladder like that, hardly touching the rungs with feet or hands, he could most certainly leap up a three-metre

wall to the top! 'I'm sure that one's the thief,' whispered Janet to Peter. He nodded. He was sure, too. He was so sure, that he settled down to enjoy the circus properly, not bothering to look out for a thief any longer, now that he had made up his mind this was the one.

It was quite a good circus. The performing bears came on, and really seemed to enjoy themselves boxing with each other and with their trainer. One little bear was so fond of its trainer that it kept hugging his legs, and

wouldn't let him go! Janet wished she had a little bear like that for a pet. 'He's just like a big teddy,' she said to Pam, and Pam nodded. The clowns came in again– and then the two stilt-walkers, with three of the clowns. The stilt-walkers were ridiculous. They wore long skirts over their stilts, so that they looked like tremendously tall people, and they walked stiffly about with the little clowns teasing them and jeering at them. Then a strong cage was put up, and the lions were brought in, snarling. Janet shrank back. 'I don't like this,' she said. 'Lions aren't meant to act about. They only look silly. Oh dear– look at that one– he won't get up on his stool. I know he's going to pounce on his keeper.' But he didn't, of course. He knew his performance and went through it very haughtily with the others. They ambled away afterwards, still snarling.

Then a big elephant came in and began to play cricket with his trainer. He really enjoyed that, and when he hit the ball into the audience six times running, everyone clapped like mad. Altogether, the children enjoyed themselves enormously. They were sorry when they found themselves going out into the big field again. 'If we could only hunt for thieves in circuses every time, it would be very enjoyable,' said Janet. 'Peter– what do you think? Is that dark- haired, clean-shaven acrobat the thief? He's the only likely one of the acrobats, really.' 'Yes– all the others have moustaches,' said Peter. 'I wonder what we ought to do next? It would be a good thing, perhaps, to go and find him and talk to him. He might let something slip that would help us.' 'But what excuse can we give for going to find him?' said George. 'Oh– ask him for his autograph!' said Peter.