Miss Gibbs's fears turned out to be only too well founded, for, on the morning but one following, there was a hue and cry in the camp. The larder had been raided during the night, and all the provisions stolen. The canteen matron and the cook were in despair, as nothing was left for breakfast, and the workers would have gone hungry, had not a deputation of them visited the farm, and begged sufficient bread and jam to provide a meal. "A lovely ham gone, and four pounds of butter, and a joint of cold beef, and all the bread!" mourned the distracted matron. "I shall have to go in to Ledcombe again this morning for fresh supplies, and I believe Mr. Cox wants the pony himself." "We ought to be able to track the thieves," said Miss Gibbs firmly. "There should be an inspection at lunch-time, and anyone seen eating ham should be under suspicion." "They'd be far too clever to eat it publicly," objected Miss Hoyle, the lady journalist. "Gipsies are an uncommonly tricky set. They probably had a midnight feast, and finished the last crumb of our provisions before daybreak. We shall get no satisfaction from Mr. Cox. He'll say he's not responsible." "Then we must take precautions that it doesn't happen again," decreed Miss Gibbs. "Isn't it possible to procure a lock-up meat safe? I never heard of a camp being without one." "Perhaps you haven't had much experience," remarked the canteen matron icily. She thought Miss Gibbs "bossy" and interfering, and considered that she knew her own business best, without suggestions from outsiders. The Grange girls chuckled inwardly to hear their teacher thus snubbed. They hoped a retort and even a wrangle might follow; but Miss Gibbs had too much common sense, and, restraining herself, stalked away with as unconcerned an aspect as possible. "Look here, old sport!" whispered Raymonde to Morvyth, "somebody ought to take this matter up. I consider it's a job for us. Let's watch to-night, and see if we can't catch the prowling sneaks. Are you game?" "Rather! It's a blossomy idea, only don't let Gibbie get wind of it." "Do I ever go and tell Gibbie my jinky little plans? It's not this child's usual way of proceeding."