Partly because they had planned to meet Jenny as soon as they could and partly because David felt that it would be wiser too to avoid the main road, he had chosen a rather roundabout route through lanes and over wild country. They had plenty of time before meeting the Warrenders at Craven Arms and he had been sure that the twins would keep going if they did not have to hurry and if they could have some good rests.

Once or twice David had to stop to consult his map. It was as well that he had allowed plenty of time because, after two experiments, Mary refused to ride her bicycle down any hills.

Even Dickie was surprised.

"You're just crackers," he said. "Down hills is the best part of all biking 'cos it's like flying... You always used to like going downhill, Mary. What's wrong?"

"You great stupid," Mary stormed at him. "Can't you see that it's Mackie? Every time I go downhill I go fast. Every time I go fast I bump. Every time I bump my poor darling is TORTURED AND TERRIFIED... You can all jolly well go on your own way. I don't care. I'll catch you up if I want to - and not unless!" she gulped.

"You're just not going for a bike ride at all," Dickie muttered. "All you're doing is to take your bicycle for a walk and give it some fresh air. You walk it up hills and now you walk it down hills too, it just doesn't make sense."

"Dickie!" Mary gasped. "I just can't believe it's you talkin'!... I'll wake up any minute now. You must be ill to go against me like that... Dickie!"

This discussion took place at the top of a long hill, and even David and Tom were silenced by Mary's wide-eyed horror of her twin's desertion.

Dickie began to fidget with his bicycle bell.

"Oh, well," he muttered after a horrible pause, "you don't want to get in a state over a bit of a joke, do you? 'Course I understand about Mackie... What other people round here forget, Mary, is that we've all sworn in blood as members of the Lone Pine Club that we'll always be kind to animals... We have, haven't we?"

"Well, Dickie, we didn't forget, but some people did, and I think it's jolly clever of you to remember that," Mary said in a more normal manner.

"An' there's another thing, twin... You know that joke I made just now about taking bikes for a walk?"

Mary nodded dismally.

"Well, if you and me want to take our bikes for a walk on this trip, I don't see why we shouldn't! I mean it's our holiday just as much as the others, however much they try and boss us about, isn't it, twin?"

Mary smiled cheerfully, for this was her real beloved Dickie again.

"O'course it is, Dickie..."