Читать книгу Five Go to Billycock Hill - Enid blyton - Страница 5

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The Five certainly cycled fast that afternoon, and would have arrived at Billycock Hill even sooner than they did if it hadn’t been for Timmy. He panted so much in the heat that they stopped for brief rests 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 at carrying him on our bikes.’

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 farther up 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 rambling old farm-building, with outhouses and stables and 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 rather hot 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—lying down in the stream and letting the water flow over him!

‘That’s better,’ said Dick, mopping his face with an enormous handkerchief. ‘Now let’s go and present ourselves at Billycock Farm. I hope Toby’s remembered that we’re coming—he promised to lend us all we wanted for camping out.’

They combed their hair, brushed down their clothes with their hands, and then, feeling more respectable, made their way across a field-path to a farm gate. The field was bumpy, so they rode slowly.

Soon they were in a big farmyard, with hens pecking around them, and ducks swimming on a round duck-pond. Farm dogs began barking from somewhere—and then something ran round the corner of the 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 squeals, and ran up to Timmy, who sat back on his haunches in surprise, staring at this unexpected little creature. He thought it must be some sort of dog without any hair.

The pigling butted Timmy gently and Timmy retreated backwards. Julian laughed. ‘Tim can’t make it out!’ he said. ‘No, don’t growl, Timmy—it’s quite harmless!’

‘Hallo—who’s this?’ said Dick as a small figure came round the house. It stopped when it saw the Five.

‘What a dear little boy!’ said Anne. ‘Is he Toby’s brother?’

The child didn’t look more than five years old. He had a head of bright yellow curls, big brown eyes, and a grin just like his big brother’s.

‘That’s my pig,’ he said, coming slowly towards them. ‘He runned away from me.’

Anne laughed. ‘What’s your pig’s name?’ she said.

‘Curly,’ said the small boy, and pointed at the pigling’s tail. ‘He’s got a curly tail. It won’t go straight.’

‘It’s a nice tail,’ said Anne. The pigling ran to the small boy, and he grabbed it by its tail. ‘You runned away again,’ he said. Then he picked up the pig and walked off.

‘Hey! Is this Billycock Farm?’ called Julian. ‘Have you got a brother called Toby?’

‘Toby? Yes, Toby’s over there,’ said the boy, and he pointed to a big barn. ‘Toby’s ratting with Binky.’

‘Right,’ said Julian. The little boy disappeared with his queer pet, and Julian laughed. ‘He’s rather a pet himself,’ he said. ‘Come on—let’s go and find Toby and Binky. Perhaps Binky is another brother.’

‘Or a dog,’ said George, and put her hand on Timmy’s collar. ‘Better be careful. He might go for Tim.’

‘Yes—Binky might be a dog, of course—probably a good ratter,’ said Julian. ‘Dick and I will go to the barn and you two girls stay here with Timmy.’

They went off to the barn. A great noise came from inside as the two boys approached. Shouts and barks and the rap of a stick came to their ears.

‘Get him, Binky—look, he went under that sack! Oh, you fathead, you’ve lost him again!’

Wuff-wuff-wuff! Rap-rap! More yells! In great curiosity Julian and Dick peered into the rather dark old barn. They saw Toby there, prodding under sacks, with a most excited collie beside him, barking incessantly.

‘Hey, Toby!’ yelled Julian, and Toby stood up and turned a red and perspiring face towards the two boys.

‘Oh—you’ve arrived!’ he said, going quickly to the door. ‘I thought you were never coming. Glad to see you! But are there only two of you? I got out tents and things for four.’

‘There are four of us—five counting Timmy,’ said Julian. ‘We’ve left the two girls over there with him—he’s our dog. Will yours be friendly or not?’

‘Oh, yes, so long as I introduce them,’ said Toby, and they all went out of the barn. As soon as Binky, Toby’s dog, saw Timmy, he stood still, made himself stiff, and growled, while the hackles on his neck slowly rose up.

‘It’s all right,’ shouted Toby to the girls. ‘Bring your dog here. He’ll be all right with Binky in half a minute.’

Rather doubtfully George brought Timmy across. Timmy was a bit doubtful himself of this big collie! Toby bent down and spoke into Binky’s ear.

‘Binky shake paws with this nice girl—she’s a friend.’

He nodded at George. ‘Hold out your hand,’ he said.

George bent down to the collie and held out her hand. At once the dog put up his paw and allowed her to shake it solemnly.

‘Now you,’ said Toby to Anne, and she did the same. She liked this dog Binky, with his bright brown eyes and long, sleek nose.

‘Does your dog shake hands, too?’ asked Toby. George nodded. ‘He does? Right—tell him to shake paws with Binky. Binky, shake!’

‘Timmy, shake,’ commanded George, and very politely and solemnly the two dogs shook paws, eyeing each other cautiously. Timmy gave a sudden little whine—and then the two were tearing round the yard together, barking furiously, chasing one another, rolling over, and having a wonderful game.

‘That’s all right, then,’ said Toby, pleased. ‘Binky’s quite all right with anyone, human or animal, so long as he can shake hands with them. I’ve taught him that. But he’s a dud ratter! He just can’t seem to nip a rat. Well—let’s go and see my mother. She’s expecting you. She’s got a whopping great tea.’

This was all very satisfactory! Just the kind of welcome the Five liked. Anne looked sideways at Toby. She thought he was rather nice. George wasn’t so sure. He had a rose in his button-hole—was it a trick one, and was he going to ask her to smell it?

‘We saw a little yellow-haired boy just now,’ said Anne. ‘With a tiny pigling.’

‘Oh, that’s Benny with his pet pig,’ said Toby, laughing. ‘He calls it Curly—and he adores it! We’ve offered him a kitten or a puppy—but no, he wants that pigling. They go everywhere together—like Mary and her lamb! Benny’s a pet—he really is. Kid brothers are usually a nuisance, you know, but Benny isn’t.’

‘Kid sisters are a bit of a nuisance sometimes, too,’ said Dick, glancing slyly at Anne, who at once gave him a determined punch. ‘Still—Anne’s not too bad, is she, Ju?’

Toby’s mother, Mrs Thomas, was a plump and jolly woman, with a smile as wide as Toby’s and Benny’s. She made them all very welcome.

‘Come along in,’ she said. ‘Toby’s pleased you’re going to camp hereabouts—he’s got all the tents and rugs you’ll need—and you can come every day and get eggs and milk and bread and butter and anything else you need from here. Don’t be afraid to ask!’

There was suddenly the scamper of little hooves and Curly the pigling came running indoors.

‘There, now!’ said Toby’s mother. ‘There’s that pigling again. Benny, Benny—you are NOT to let Curly come indoors. Cats I don’t mind, nor dogs—but pigs I won’t have. Benny!’

Benny appeared, looking most apologetic. ‘Sorry, Mum—but he’s lively today. Oooh, I say—what a tea! Can we have some yet?’

‘I’ll just make the tea—unless you’d rather have some of our creamy milk?’ said Toby’s mother.

‘Oh, milk, please, Mrs Thomas,’ said Anne, and they all said the same. Nothing could be nicer than icy-cold, creamy farm milk from the dairy on a hot day like this.

They all sat down to tea, and the four visitors wished they had not had such a big lunch! A large ham sat on the table, and there were crusty loaves of new bread. Crisp lettuces, dewy and cool, and red radishes were side by side in a big glass dish. On the sideboard was an enormous cake, and beside it a dish of scones. Great slabs of butter and jugs of creamy milk were there, too, with honey and home-made jam.

‘I wish I was hungry, really hungry,’ said Dick. This is just the kind of meal for a hungry day.’

‘I didn’t think you’d have had much lunch,’ said Mrs Thomas. ‘Now then, Toby—you’re the host. See to your guests, please—and, Benny, take the pigling off your knee. I will not have him at the table.’

‘Curly will be very upset if he sees that ham,’ said Toby slyly. ‘That’s his grandfather!’

Benny put Curly down hurriedly, afraid that his feelings might be hurt. The pigling went to sit beside Timmy, who, very much surprised, but rather pleased, at once made room for him.

It was a very happy meal, and Toby was a good host. Anne sat beside little Benny, and found herself liking him more than ever. ‘He’s like a little boy out of a story,’ she said to George. ‘He and Curly ought to be put into a book!’

‘Well now,’ said Mrs Thomas after everyone had eaten their fill, ‘what are your plans? Toby, show them where you have put their tents and everything. Then they can decide where they are going to camp.’

‘Come on, then,’ said Toby, and Benny and Curly and Binky all came along, too. ‘You can help to carry everything—and we’ll go up on Billycock Hill and find a fine camping place. How I wish I could camp out with you too!’

Away they all went, feeling rather full but very happy. Where should they camp? How lovely to sleep out at nights, and see the stars through the opening in the tent!