Before they started again Dick gave his foot another rubbing with vaseline, but found it hard going after the rest.
'Look here, Chippy,' he said, 'I mustn't halt again for any length of time. If I do, my foot may stiffen up till I can't move. We must make one long swing in this afternoon.'
The road that ran from Little Eston in the direction of Bardon had a broad strip of turf beside the way, and Dick found this a great ease to his aching foot. But after a time the road narrowed, and was dusty from hedge to hedge. They passed a sign-post which said, 'Two miles to Little Eston.'
'That's a couple scored off,' said Dick; 'the miles are less than double figures now, Chippy.'
'Yus,' said the latter; 'an' we'll get to Shotford Common soon. That'll be easier walkin' than the road.'
A short distance beyond the sign-post an old man leading a small donkey in a little cart met them, and they passed the time of day.
'Mortal hot, ain't it?' said the old man; and the scouts agreed with him. The heat was, indeed, sweltering. It was one of those days of early summer which seem borrowed from the dog-days, and the scouts, tough as they were, were dripping with sweat as they marched along with shirt-sleeves rolled nearly to their shoulders, their shoes and stockings thickly powdered with the white dust which lay deep under foot.
Suddenly Chippy pulled up. 'I'll 'ave that haversack o' yourn,' he remarked.
'You won't, old boy,' replied Dick. 'Every man shoulders his own pack on a day like this.'
'I'll have that haversack,' went on Chippy calmly. 'Bit too bad for a scout wi' a damaged foot to pull a load while another strolls along as easy as can be. So pass it over.'