FIVE ON A HIKE TOGETHER by Enid Blyton

11 JULIAN'S IDEA

Once outside the farm-house Julian looked round at the others. "We'll find out how far Two-Trees is and see if we've got time to pay it a visit," he said. "If we have, we'll go along there and snoop round. If we haven't we'll go tomorrow."

"How can we find out how far it is?" said Dick eagerly. "Will it be on your map?"

"It may be marked there if the lake is big enough," said Julian. They walked down the hill, and took a path that led once more over the moors. As soon as they were out of sight and hearing of anyone Julian stopped and took out his big map. He unfolded it and the four of them crouched over it as he spread it out on the heather.

"That nice old lady said it was in the middle of the moors," said Julian. "Also we know there's a lake or at any rate a big pool of some kind."

His finger traced its way here and there on the map. Then George gave a cry and dabbed her finger down.

"There, look! It's not really in the middle. See - Gloomy Water! That must be it. Is Two-Trees marked as well?"

"No," said Julian, "But perhaps it wouldn't be if it's in ruins. Ruins aren't marked on maps unless they are important in some way. This can't be important. Well - that's certainly Gloomy Water marked there. What do you say? Shall we have a shot at going there this afternoon? I wonder exactly how far it is."

"We could ask at the post-office," said George. "Probably once upon a time the postman had to take letters there. They might know, They could tell us the way to go."

They went back to the village and found the post-office. It was part of the village store. The old man who kept it looked over the top of his glasses at the children.

"Gloomy Water! Now what be you wanting that for? A real miserable place it is, for all it was so fine years ago."

"What happened to it?" asked Dick,

"It was burnt," said the old man. "The owner was away, and only a couple of servants were there. It flared up one night, no one knows how or why - and was burnt almost to a shell. Couldn't get a fire-engine out there, you see. There was only a cart-track to the place."

"And wasn't it ever built up again?" asked Julian. The old man shook his head.

"No. It wasn't worth it, The owner just let it fall to rack and ruin. The jackdaws and the owls nest there now, and the wild animals snuggle in the ruins. It's a queer place. I once went out to see it, hearing tales of lights being seen there. But there was nothing to see but the shell of the place, and the dark blue water. Ah, Gloomy Water's a good name for that lake!"

"Could you tell us the way? And how long would it take us to get there?" asked Julian.

"What for do you want to go and gaze at a poor old ruin?" said the old man. "Or do you want to bathe in the lake? Well, don't you do so - it's freezing cold!"

"We just thought we'd go and see Gloomy Water," said Julian. "Such a strange name. Which is the way, did you say?"

"I didn't say," said the old fellow. "But I will if so be you're set on it. Where's your map? Is that one in your hand?"

Julian spread it out. The old fellow took a pen from his waistcoat pocket and began to trace a path over the moor. He put crosses here and there.

"See them crosses? They mark marshland. Don't go treading there, or you'll be up to your knees in muddy water! You follow these paths I've inked in for you and you'll be all right. Keep your eyes open for deer - there's plenty about those parts, and pretty things they are too."