[The Railway Children by E. Nesbit]@TWC D-Link book
The Railway Children

CHAPTER XI
18/30

It was stiff work.
"It's like Alps," said Bobbie, breathlessly.
"Or Andes," said Peter.
"It's like Himmy what's its names ?" gasped Phyllis.

"Mount Everlasting.
Do let's stop." "Stick to it," panted Peter; "you'll get your second wind in a minute." Phyllis consented to stick to it--and on they went, running when the turf was smooth and the slope easy, climbing over stones, helping themselves up rocks by the branches of trees, creeping through narrow openings between tree trunks and rocks, and so on and on, up and up, till at last they stood on the very top of the hill where they had so often wished to be.
"Halt!" cried Peter, and threw himself flat on the grass.

For the very top of the hill was a smooth, turfed table-land, dotted with mossy rocks and little mountain-ash trees.
The girls also threw themselves down flat.
"Plenty of time," Peter panted; "the rest's all down hill." When they were rested enough to sit up and look round them, Bobbie cried:-- "Oh, look!" "What at ?" said Phyllis.
"The view," said Bobbie.
"I hate views," said Phyllis, "don't you, Peter ?" "Let's get on," said Peter.
"But this isn't like a view they take you to in carriages when you're at the seaside, all sea and sand and bare hills.

It's like the 'coloured counties' in one of Mother's poetry books." "It's not so dusty," said Peter; "look at the Aqueduct straddling slap across the valley like a giant centipede, and then the towns sticking their church spires up out of the trees like pens out of an inkstand.
_I_ think it's more like "There could he see the banners Of twelve fair cities shine." "I love it," said Bobbie; "it's worth the climb." "The paperchase is worth the climb," said Phyllis, "if we don't lose it.
Let's get on.

It's all down hill now." "_I_ said that ten minutes ago," said Peter.
"Well, I'VE said it now," said Phyllis; "come on." "Loads of time," said Peter.


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