Five Get Into Trouble Read Free Page B

joined her, dressed again, with their sweaters on for warmth. 'Look, she's got the food all ready. Proper little housewife, aren't you, Anne? I bet if we stayed here for more than one night Anne would have made some kind of larder, and have arranged a good place to wash everything —
    and be looking for somewhere to keep her dusters and broom!'

    'You're so sil y, Dick,' said Anne. 'You ought to be glad I like messing about with the food and getting it ready for you. Oh TIMMY! Shoo! Get away! Look at him, he's shaken mil ions and mil ions of drops of lakewater al over the food. You ought to have dried him, George.
    You know how he shakes himself after a swim.'

    'Sorry,' said George. 'Tim, say you're sorry. Why must you be so violent about everything?
    If I shook myself like that my ears and fingers would fly off into the air!'

    It was a lovely meal, sitting there in the evening light, watching the first stars come out in the sky. The children and Timmy were al tired but happy. This was the beginning of their trip — and beginnings were always lovely — the days stretched out before you endlessly, and somehow you felt certain that the sun would shine every single day!

    They were not long in snuggling into their sleeping-bags when they had finished the meal. They had set them all together in a row, so that they could talk if they wanted to.
    Timmy was thril ed. He walked solemnly across the whole lot, and was greeted with squeals and threats.

    'Timmy! How dare you! When I've had such a big supper too!'

    'TIMMY! You brute! You put all your great big feet down on me at once!'

    'George, you real y might stop Timmy from walking al over us like that! I only hope he's not going to do it all night long.'

    Timmy looked surprised at the shouts. He settled down beside George, after a vain attempt to get into her sleeping-bag with her. George turned her face away from his licks.

    'Oh Timmy, I do love you but I wish you wouldn't make my face so wet. Julian, look at that glorious star — like a little round lamp. What is it?'

    'It's not a star real y — it's Venus, one of the planets,' said Julian, sleepily. 'But it's cal ed the Evening Star. Fancy you not knowing that, George. Don't they teach you anything at your school?'

    George tried to kick Julian through her sleeping-bag, but she couldn't. She gave it up and yawned so loudly that she set al the others yawning too.

    Anne fel asleep first. She was the smallest and was more easily tired with long walks and rides than the others, though she always kept up with them valiantly. George gazed unblinkingly at the bright evening star for a minute and then fel asleep suddenly. Julian and Dick talked quietly for a few minutes. Timmy was quite silent. He was tired out with his miles and miles of running.

    Nobody stirred at all that night, not even Timmy. He took no notice of a horde of rabbits who played not far off. He hardly pricked an ear when an owl hooted nearby. He didn't even stir when a beetle ran over his head.

    But if George had waked and spoken his name Timmy would have been wide awake at once, standing over George and licking her, whining gently! George was the centre of his world, night and day.

    The next day was fair and bright. It was lovely to wake up and feel the warm sun on their cheeks, and hear a thrush singing his heart out. 'It might be the very same thrush,' thought Dick, drowsily. 'He's saying, "Mind how you do-it, do-it, do-it!" just like the other one did.'

    Anne sat up cautiously. She wondered if she should get up and have breakfast ready for the others — or would they want a bathe first?

    Julian sat up next and yawned as he wriggled himself half out of his sleeping-bag. He grinned at Anne.

    'Hallo,' he said. 'Had a good night? I feel fine this morning!'

    'I feel rather stiff,' said Anne. 'But it wil soon wear off. Hal o, George — you awake?'

    George grunted and snuggled down farther in her sleeping-bag. Timmy pawed at her, whining. He wanted