Chapter 11 A STORMY NIGHT
The Five soon began to prepare for their evening meal, and Timmy trotted¹ about pretending to 43help, always hopeful of being allowed to carry a loaf of bread or piece of cold ham in his mouth.
But he was never lucky!
As they sat eating their meal, Julian glanced uneasily at the western sky again. 'The rain's certainlycoming,' he said. 'That cloud has covered half the sky now, and swallowed up the evening sun. I thinkwe ought to put up the tents.'
'Blow! I suppose we ought,' said George.
'And we'd better do it quickly,' said Dick. 'I distinctly felt a nasty cold wind just then - the first reallycold air since we came here. We shall certainly want to roll up in our rugs tonight!'
'Well, let's get the things out from under the old gorse-bush,' said Julian. 'It won't take long to put upthe tents if we all get to work.'
In three-quarters of an hour the tents were up, set nicely in the shelter of the giant gorse-bush. 'Agood, business-like job,' said Dick, pleased. 'It would take a hurricane to blow the tents away -we'll be quite all right here. Let's pull up some more heather and pile it in the tents. We shall want ourrugs to wrap ourselves in, not to lie on tonight, so we might as well make our beds as soft aspossible.'
They piled heather into the tents, spread their macs there, too, and then looked at the sky. Yes, therewas no doubt about it - there was rain coming and probably a storm! Still, it might clear tomorrow,and be as fine as ever. If it wasn't they would go and explore the caves that Toby had told them about.
It was now almost dark and the children decided² that they would all get into one tent and have theradio on again. They called Timmy, but he preferred to be outside.
They set the radio going - but almost immediately Timmy began to bark. George switched off atonce.
'That's the bark he gives when somebody is coming,' she said. 'I wonder who it is?'
'Toby, to say we'd better go to the farm for the night,' guessed Dick. 'Mr. Gringle hunting for moths³!'
said Anne with a giggle⁴.
'Old Mrs. Janes looking for things to make spells with!' said George.
Everyone laughed. 'Idiot!' said Dick. 'Though I must say this looks a night for witches!'
Timmy went on barking, and Julian put his head out of the tent. 'What's up, Tim?' he said. 'Who'scoming?'
'Wuff, wuff,' said Timmy, not turning his head to Julian, but seeming to watch something or 44someone in the half-light.

分享到：