Chapter Nine

"Guys, look at this," Eugene whispered. He motioned for Jacob, Paul, and Daphne to climb up the tree he was in. He scooted over to make room for his friends. The tree they were in had huge branches. It was an Oak Tree.

"What is it?" Daphne asked loudly once she reached to where Eugene was. Paul and Jacob had climbed up before her.

"Keep your voice down," the brown haired boy said quietly. "Stand up and you will see."

The twin stood up carefully. "I see it!" They said excitedly at the same time.

"Sit down!" Daphne said angrily. "I cannot see anything. You two are in the way."

"Sorry," Jacob said. He and Paul sat down.

The brunette haired girl stood. She looked at the direction where Eugene was pointing. "Wow!" She exclaimed. "It is a gypsy camp."

Paul, Jacob, and Eugene looked at each other worriedly. "We cannot go much further," Jacob said.

"Why not?" Daphne asked.

"We don't want to get robbed," Paul told her.

Daphne gave them a confused look then she began to laugh. "W-w-w-what can they rob from us? We do not have anything."

"She has a point. Come on, let's get closer," Eugene said. He jumped down from the tree, and clutched his satchel tightly. The only thing that he had was the pieces of bread that he had stolen from the palace. He wished that there was a way he could return the stolen food, but he had no idea how to do it.

After traveling for a little bit, Paul and Jacob paused. "Do you smell that?" He asked.

The three children sniffed the air. They had no idea what the smell was, but it was stinky. It smelled like men who had never bathed before in their life! It was revolting!

"I think that is where it is coming from," Paul said. He pointed to a sign that said the Snuggly Duckling. "Let's go check it out."

"Paul, wait!" Jacob yelled as his brother ran to the inn. He sighed and followed after him. He looked back at Eugene and Daphne. "You, two, coming?" He asked.

The boy and girl looked at each other. They nodded and followed.

"I swear Paul is going to be the death of us one day," Daphne said.

"He sure is," Jacob said.

Eugene opened the door. The three children eyes widened at the sight they saw. The place was filled with thugs, and this place was definitely where the smell was coming from! They scanned the room for Paul. He was sitting in a chair, and was chatting with one of the men there. He seemed so comfortable.

Jacob walked passed some of the men, and walked to the table where his brother was sitting. He touched Paul's shoulder. Paul turned slightly and smiled at his twin. "Sit down, Jake, this man was telling me of way to get a lot of money," he said.

Jacob sat down. Money was something that he loved! He began to listen.

"If you want money," the man said. His speech was slurred. The poor man was drunk. "You steal something valuable and sell it."

The twins looked at each other. A greedy look was on both of their faces. Stealing sounded a whole lot better than working.

Eugene and Daphne glanced around nervously. They did not like this place. It was scary. "Daphne, go outside. I will get Paul and Jacob," he said.

"But-" she began.

"Do as say. This is no place for a lady."

Daphne was about to say something, but the look he gave her made her stop. It was a look of concern. "Be careful and do not do anything stupid," she told him.

Eugene grinned at her. "I won't," he replied. He watched her go out the door and walked toward his friends. "Come on, guys, we got to go."

The red headed boys rose from the table. "Well, sir, it has been nice talking to you, but we have to go," Paul said.

"What's your hurry?" The drunken man asked. He stumbled toward the children. "There is no need to leave."

"I-i-i-it is late. W-w-we have to go home," Jacob stammered as the three boys were backed up against the wall.

The drunken man glared at them. He was angry. He pulled out a knife and pointed it to the boys. "You are not going anywhere," he said

They boys looked at each other. Panic was in their eyes. They gulped. The man aimed his knife at Jacob's throat. He was going to slit it!

Eugene began to fill against the wall. There were knives everywhere in this place! He began to pull a knife out of the wall.

Jacob whimpered. Paul kicked the man. He landed on the floor. The man got up from the ground, and put Paul in a headlock.

Eugene pulled a knife out of the wall. "Let him go!" He yelled. He lunged toward the man. The man pushed Paul on the ground and went after Eugene.

Eugene sliced his knife in the air, and cut part of the man's wrist. Paul picked Eugene up and ran toward the door. The entire pub was chasing them.

"What did you do?" Daphne asked as she saw the boys running.

"No, time to explain," Jacob said. He slung Daphne over his shoulder like a rag doll, and together the Stabbington brothers ran carrying their friends until they ran right into the gypsy camp.

Well, I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I apologize for what I said about the gypsies possibly going to rob them earlier in the chapter. If a gypsy is reading this, I meant no offense at all. I know gypsies have a mix of people who rob just like other people do in their society. It is part of my plot and the gypsies are going to play a significant role in one of the children's life. Review please.