Chapter 3 ACROSS THE COUNTRYSIDE
　　They set off at last, Timmy running in front. School already seemed far behind them. The Octobersun shone down warmly, and the trees in the village glowed yellow and red and golden, dressed intheir autumn colourings. A few leaves floated down in the breeze, but not until there was a real frostwould many come whirling down.
　　'It's a heavenly day,' said George. 'I wish I hadn't got my blazer on. I'm cooked already.'
　　'Well, take it off and carry it over your shoulder,' said Julian. 'I'm going to do the same. Our jerseysare quite warm enough today!'
　　They took off their thick blazers and carried them. Each of them had a rucksack, a mac rolled uptightly and tied to it, and now a blazer to carry. But none of them noticed the weight at the outset oftheir day.
　　'I'm glad you girls took my advice and wore your thickest shoes,' said Julian, looking with approval attheir brogues. 'Some of our walking may be wet. Have you got changes of socks?'
　　'Yes. We brought everything you told us to,' said Anne. 'Your rucksack looks a bit fuller than ours,Ju!'
　　'Well, I've got maps and things in it,' said Julian. 'It's a queer place, this moor² - miles and miles andmiles of it! Queer names on it too - Blind Valley - Rabbit Hill - Lost Lake - Coney Copse!'
　　'Rabbit Hill! Timmy would love that,' said George, and Timmy pricked³ up his ears. Rabbits? Ah, thatwas the kind of place he liked!
　　'Well, actually we're going towards Rabbit Hill now,' said Julian, 'And after that there's Coney Copse,and as coney is a country word for rabbit, Timmy ought to enjoy himself!'
　　'Woof,' said Timmy joyfully⁴ and bounded ahead. He felt very happy. His four friends were with him,their rucksacks were full of delicious-smelling sandwiches, and a long, long walk lay ahead, teeming,he hoped with rabbits!
　　10
　　It was lovely walking along in the sun. They soon left the little village behind and took a windinglane. The hedges on either side became so high that the four couldn't see over the tops at all.
　　'What a sunken lane!' said Dick. 'I feel as if I'm walking in a tunnel! And how narrow! I wouldn't liketo drive a car along this lane. If I met another car I might have to back for miles!'
　　'We shan't meet anyone much,' said Julian, 'It's only in the summer that cars come along these lanes -people on holiday, touring round the countryside. Look - we take that path now - it leads to RabbitHill, according to the map!'

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