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Ern’s large family.
    ‘She said, “All right, Ducks, I’ll think of someone else,” ’ said Ern. ‘And she did.’
    ‘Who was it she thought of?” asked Bets. ‘Anyone we know?’
    ‘I don’t reckon so,’ said Ern. ‘It’s my father’s cousin - a Mrs. Woosh.’
    ‘What a wonderful name!’ said Daisy.
    They all tried it over. ‘Woosh! Mrs. Woosh. Whoooooosh!’
    ‘Sounds as if her husband ought to make rockets,’ said Larry, and everyone laughed.
    ‘Where does your Auntie Woosh live?’ asked Bets.
    ‘She’s in the cottage belonging to a Mrs. Daniels, who lives at High Chimneys,’ said Ern. ‘Her husband is the gardener, and she helps in the house. She’s got twins - girls they are, about the same age as Sid and Perce.’
    Ern stopped when he saw the sudden, intense interest on Fatty’s face, at the mention of the Daniels. He looked at Fatty in surprise.
    ‘What’s up?’ he said. ‘You look all sort of worked up, Fatty.’
    ‘I am,’ said Fatty. ‘I’m all of a dither, as our cook says when she falls over Buster. The Daniels! Did I really hear you say the Daniels, Ern?’
    ‘Yes,’ said Ern, puzzled. ‘What’s wrong with that?’
    ‘Nothing,’ said Fatty. ‘It’s perfect. It’s too good to be true! Don’t you know that the Daniels live next to the house that the Lorenzos rented, Ern? And we wanted to keep a watch on it, but it’s a good way from our own homes - and…’
    ‘COO!’ said Ern, light dawning on him suddenly. ‘You mean - I say, do you mean I can come into this because I’ll be able to pop my head over the hedge and watch any goings-on at the house next door?’
    ‘You’ve got it, Ern!’ said Fatty, and clapped him on the back. ‘We were almost on the point of giving up the mystery when you came in - now we’ll be on it full-speed! Wa bit of luck that you’ll be staying with the Wooshes!’
    Ern was so overcome that he was speechless for a moment. He stared round with bright eyes, and opened and shut his mouth like a goldfish.
    He suddenly found his voice. ‘I’ll do my bit,’ he said, in a suddenly solemn voice, just as if he were going off to war. ‘You just give me my orders, Fatty - and I’ll obey!’
    Thereupon a most animated conversation began. The newspapers were fetched from downstairs, and everyone pored over the reports of the Lorenzo case. The Five Find-Outers meant to get every single bit of information they could find.
    ‘It even says here that they left Poppet the poodle behind,’ said Bets. ‘And here’s a picture of her in Mrs. Lorenzo’s arms. And listen, it says: “Gloria Lorenzo is passionately attached to her little poodle, whom she has had for seven years. It is the first time she has ever left the little dog behind - and therefore it seems that the Lorenzos meant to flee the country.” ’
    ‘Ern could keep an eye on those awful Larkins, too,’ said Daisy, ‘and see that they don’t ill-treat dear little Poppet.’
    ‘I’ll keep an eye on them,’ promised Ern. ‘You just give me my orders!’
    ‘He could keep an eye on Tally-Ho, the house, as well,’ said Larry. ‘Just in case the picture has been left behind, hidden there somewhere after all. If he sees any suspicious strangers about, he’d have to report to us at once.’
    ‘Yes, I will,’ said the excited Ern. ‘I’ll have my bike, see - and I’ll keep it all pumped up and ready to fly off to Fatty’s if I’ve anything to report.’
    They talked and talked. It was all most exciting. Ern’s face grew redder and redder and his hair became more and more tousled. He had never had such a thrilling morning in his life!
    ‘I expect old Goon will be round there quite a bit,’ said Fatty. ‘He’ll keep an eye on the Larkins, and on the house too. So look out for him.’
    ‘Lovaduck!’ said Ern, suddenly doleful. ‘I forgot about my uncle. I’d better keep out of his sight. He’ll go mad if he sees me snooping around.’
    ‘He certainly will,’ agreed Fatty. ‘Don’t let him know you’re staying at the Wooshes if you can help it. Don’t let him see you at all, in