'They will,' cried Dick. 'Now for the road again. We've got an uphill stretch before us, Chippy, according to the map.'
CHAPTER XXXIX
THE STORM—WHAT HAPPENED WHILE THEY DRIED THEIR CLOTHES
Within a mile again, the track they were following—a very ancient vicinal way—began to rise over a long stretch of moorland used mainly for sheep-walks, and covered in places with wide patches of low-growing bilberry-bushes. On some of these bushes the purple little berries were already ripe, and the boys gathered them in handfuls, and ate them as they walked.
Suddenly a low, heavy muttering called their attention to the western sky, and they saw a blue-black cloud rising swiftly.
'Thunder,' said Dick; 'that's what this terrific heat has meant.'
'Best step out,' remarked the Raven. 'No shelter about 'ere for a mile or two.'
They stayed no longer to gather bilberries, but pushed on at a steady swinging stride, looking back from time to time at the storm, which seemed to pursue them. A wind sprang up, and wild gusts raced past them, and howled across the moor. Light, swift clouds which seemed to be flying before the storm hurried across the sky, and the sunshine was swallowed up and the day darkened.
Dick looked back and whistled.