Chapter 3 BILLYCOCK FARM
The Five certainly cycled fast that afternoon, and would have arrived at Billycock Hill even soonerthan they did if it hadn't been for Timmy. He panted so much in the heat that they stopped for briefrests every fifteen minutes.
'It's a pity he's so big and heavy,' said Anne. 'If he had been a small dog we could have taken turns atcarrying him in our bicycle baskets.'
Billycock Hill was soon very near. It certainly was a queer shape, very like an old-fashioned hat.
It was partly heather-clad and partly sloping meadow land. Cows grazed in the meadows, and fartherup the hill, where there was shorter, wiry grass, the farmer had put a good many sheep.
Nestling down at the foot of the hill was a rambling¹ old farm-building, with outhouses and stablesand a big greenhouse. 'That must be Billycock Farm,' said Julian. 'Well, we've made very good time,you know - it's only half past three. Let's wash our faces in that stream over there - we all look ratherhot and dirty. Timmy, you can have a bathe if you want to!'
The water was cool and silky to the touch, and the children laved it over their faces and necks,wishing they could do as Timmy was doing - lie down in the stream and let the water flow over him!
'That's better,' said Dick, mopping his face with an enormous handkerchief. 'Now let's go and presentourselves at Billycock Farm. I hope Toby's remembered that we're coming - he promised to lend usall we wanted for camping out.'
They combed their hair, brushed down their clothes with their hands, and then, feeling morerespectable, made their way across a field-path to a farm gate. The field was bumpy², so they rodeslowly.
Soon they were in a big farmyard, with hens pecking around them, and ducks swimming on a roundduckpond. Farm dogs began barking from somewhere - and then something ran round the corner ofthe old house - something very small and pink.
'Whatever is it?' said Anne. 'Oh - it's a pigling! What a pet! Oh, it's come right up to us - little pigling,have you escaped from your sty? How clean you are!'
The tiny pig gave funny little squeals³, and ran up to Timmy, who sat back on his haunches insurprise, staring at this unexpected little creature. He thought it must be some sort of dog without 10any hair.
The pigling butted⁴ Timmy gently and Timmy retreated

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