| Quote from the story |
| ""You can't have any fun with a cow. I've tried" |
| - William |
|---|
Ginger begins this adventure by telling William that "some sort of soci'ty" is paying from children from the slums are going to stay with Mrs. Camp at Eastbrook Farm. They've never seen cows or woods, or anything like that. Miss Milton's sister will have the slum children to tea on the first day, William things that the children will be better off in the slums. William, of course, votes that they take the children around the woods and cows.
The Outlaws are distracted by the news that Hubert Lane is selling piebald mice, given to him by an aunt but unwanted, for a shilling each. The outlaws actually have a shilling and head towards Hubert's house, the feud set aside for the present. However, their mission is rudely brought to an end when Hubert refuses to sell the one at any price. Mrs Lane suddenly appears before William can challenge Hubert's decision. Heading back down the road, the Outlaws hear Hubert shouting that he'd rather give the mice away than sell them one.
Conversation turns to making Hubert sell them a piebald mouse. Various schemes are shot down because it is now of all importance that Hubert not only sells the Outlaws a mouse, but is also seen to be selling them one.
The next day, the Outlaws go to Eastbrook Farm and take Bert and Syd out to visit various places. Of course, relations are cemented with the typical rough and tumble game that shows all parties that everyone is a good sport. The old barn then being the next location on the countryside tour, starting a fire and cooking a meal for their guests - of course including liquorice water.
Bert and Syd tell the Outlaws of the street gang they're members of back home. Their stories impress even the Outlaws. William then suggests a game of smugglers at the caves at Marleigh, but Bert and Syd remember they are due at Miss Milton's house. As William is known to do, he suggests that he takes the place of Bert and ( as Miss Milton's sister has seen all the other Outlaws) that Syd has a cold. Ginger, Henry, and Douglas are, typically, less than confident in William's abilities, but he ignores all objections and suggests that they all meet at the old barn so William can change clothes with Bert.
After making some changes and disguising himself, William manages to get past Miss Milton (the sister of regular Miss Milton) without a fuss - even managing to make her believe that slum kids don't know what grass is! Miss Milton treats William to a very poor tea of a single serving. Miss Milton sends for a local, well-behaved boy, to come and keep 'Bert' company - a certain Hubert Lane. William tries to make his escape, but cannot. However, William's disguise is so effective that Hubert doesn't actually recognise him as William! Although he does have his suspicions. Hubert tries to trick 'Bert' into breaking the tool shed window at William's house. However, William, when out of sight, slips into his house and changes into his usual attire and questions Hubert, who says the boy ran away from him - along with a multitude of other fabrications.
Hubert is now anxious that Bert has disappeared. William suggests that he may have fallen into the rain tub and drowned, scaring Hubert in the process, before finding that Bert isn't there! William then turns the situation to his advantage and requests one of those piebald mice from the beginning of the story. Hubert relents.
With his new piebald mouse in hand, Herbert helps William disguise himself as Bert. William, as Bert, and Hubert return to Miss Milton's house and hear her inviting someone and their little boy to meet the slum child - who she says looks better already after being out in the open air. This someone turns out to by Mrs. Brown.
While Hurbert and Miss Milton persist that the boy is Bert, Mrs Brown knows her son - and is validated when the real Bert shows up from his adventures in Marleigh (sent to give back the suit he was wearing).
While everyone talks over each other in an attempt to understand the situation, William knows just one thing; he has won this one - he has a piebald mouse.
| Characters |
Events |
| Ginger |
Visit from slum children. |
| William |
|
| Henry |
Places |
| Douglas |
Hubert Lane's House |
| Hubert Lane |
Miss Milton's House |
| Mrs Lane |
Old Barn |
| Bert |
William's House |
| Syd |
|
| Miss Milton (sister) |
| Mrs Brown |
|
