A rabbit hopped nimbly across the road ahead of them and disappeared, with a taunting flick of his little white tail, in the bushes.

Further on a chipmunk chattered at them from the top of the wall and then, with long leaps, raced ahead to stop and eye them inquiringly, finally disappearing with a last squeal of alarm.

A second sign-post renewed their courage.

Wharton, it declared, was but a mile distant.

But that was a long, long last mile! They were no longer sleepy, but their legs were very tired and the chilly breeze still bored through their coats.