[The Slowcoach by E. V. Lucas]@TWC D-Link bookThe Slowcoach CHAPTER 10 3/6
It is a good thing to prevent a stitch in your side to carry a little pebble in your mouth.
Squeezing a cork in each hand helps." "Another way to make walking easier," said the other young man, "is to sing as you go.
All sing together--marching songs, if you know any, such as 'Tramp, boys, tramp.' That's what soldiers do on long marches, and it makes all the difference." They didn't take the road to Chipping Norton, but stopped at the town, while Kink, who had no blisters, went into the town to get the evening's dinner; and meanwhile Janet persuaded the Beatrice stove to give them tea.
It was while here that they had their first experience of Diogenes as a guardian, for he frightened away two tramps who seemed likely to be troublesome. On Kink's return, Robert urged them on, for he had marked down on his map a spot called the Hollow, about five miles farther on, near Long Compton, which sounded exceedingly attractive as a campingground, especially to one who had read "Lavengro" and remembered the Dingle there, near Long Melton; and hither, very footsore, but still brave and happy, they came about half-past four, and made a very snug camp in it without asking anyone's leave. It was not time for supper, and they were very glad to lie about and be lazy while the stew was slowly cooking.
Robert and Janet and Mary consulted very deeply about the morrow, and at last decided that it would be best to remain there all the day and get their blisters cured with Mr.Lenox's ointment, and therefore a telegram would have to go to Mrs.Avory at once, telling her not to go to Stratford till Saturday, "and also," Robert added, "to bring my bicycle.
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