FIVE ON A HIKE TOGETHER by Enid Blyton

02 SETTING OFF

Julian and Dick were also on their way, very pleased to have such an unexpectedly long week-end.

"I never liked Willis or Johnson much," said Dick, as they walked out of the school grounds. "Awful swotters they were - never had any time for games or fun. But I take my hat off to them today! Because of their swotting they've won medals and scholarships and goodness knows what - and we've got a week-end off in celebration! Good old Willis and Johnson!"

"Hear hear," said Dick. "But I bet they'll sit in a corner with their books all the week-end - they won't know if it's a brilliant day like this, or pouring with rain like yesterday! Poor mutts!"

"They'd hate to go off on a hike," said Julian. "It would be utter misery to them. Do you remember how awful Johnson was at rugger? He never knew which goal he was playing against - always ran the wrong way!"

"Yes. But he must have got terrific brains," said Dick. "Why are we talking about Willis and Johnson? I can think of plenty of more interesting things. Anne and George, for instance - and old Tim. I hope they'll manage to get off in time all right."

Julian had carefully looked up a large-scale map of the moors that lay between the two schools that he and the girls went to. They were vast stretches of lonely heathery land, dotted with farms here and there, with a few small cottages, and some inns.

"We'll keep right off the main roads, and the second-and third-grades," he said. "We'll take the little lanes and paths. I wonder what Timmy will say if we see deer. He'll wonder what in the world they are!"

"He'll only be interested in rabbits," said Dick. "I hope he's not as fat as he was last hols. I think we must have given him too many ice-creams and too much chocolate!"

"Well, he won't get that in term-time!" said Julian. "The girls don't get as much pocket money as we do. Buck up - there's the bus!"

They ran for the little country bus that rumbled along the country lanes, taking people to market, or to the tiny villages that lay here and there tucked away in the moor. It stopped most obligingly for them, and they leapt in.

"Ha! Running away from school?" said the conductor. "Have to report you, you know!"

"Very funny," said Julian, bored at this joke, which the conductor produced regularly every time a boy got on board with a rucksack over his shoulders.

They had to get out at the next village and cut across country to get to another bus-route, They managed to catch a bus there easily and settled down comfortably in their seats. It was half an hour's run from there to where they had planned to meet the girls.

"Here you are, young sirs," called the conductor, as the bus ran into a village. It had a wide green on which geese cackled, and a small pond for ducks. "You wanted Pippin Village, didn't you? We don't go any farther - we just turn round and go back."

"Thanks," said the boys and got out. "Now - are the girls here or not?" said Julian. "They have to walk from a tiny railway station about two miles away."

They were not there. Julian and Dick went to have a drink of orangeade at the village store. They had hardly finished when they saw the two girls looking in at the door.

"Julian! Dick! We guessed you'd be eating or drinking!" said Anne, and she rushed at her brothers. "We came as quickly as we could. The engine broke down - it was such a funny little train! All the passengers got out and advised the engine-driver what to do!"

"Hallo!" said Julian, and gave Anne a hug. He was very fond of his young sister. 'Hallo, George! My, you've grown fat, haven't you?"

"I have not," said George, indignantly. "And Timmy isn't fat either, so don't tell him he is."