'Right. Get to work, then,' he said, with a half smile."You said that you wanted to stay here and work, didn't you? So, you're the farner for today . And when I come back, I'll want to see that everything's all right.'
The truck drove away, and Mrs. Walsh and Jessica looked at Matty . Mrs. Walsh smile
'Well,' she said. 'There's a lot to do. Why don't you begin in the cow shed? I've got work to do in the house,'
So Matty began in the cow shed. He enjoyed the work very much, but Jessica followed him around, asking questions all the time. Where do you live? How old is you mother ? What is your father called? What did you like best in school? Do you like Mr.Funnell? How much money will you get in a ship-building job? When Matty told her the answer to the question, she was verry surprised. 'That's much more than you get when you work on a farm,' she said. Then she asked, 'have you got a girlfriend?
'What do I went with a girlfriend? Matty said angrily. Jessica moved away from him. 'Why are you always so cross and unfriendly? She said, in a small voice. 'You never say anything nice to anybody , do you?
She walked away, and Matty watched her unhappily. He wanted to call her back, but he knew that he didn't have the right words.
It was about three o'clock when Matty , who was working in the barn, beard the storm in the hills. It was still a long way away, but be could hear it clearly. Just then someone called him - "Matty! Matty!'
He ran from the barn. Mrs Walsh was standing outside the kitchen door and he hurried over to her. There was a man with her, and she said quickly , 'The is one of my brothers, Matty . My other brother is very ill , and we have to go to him now. Have you seen Jessica?
"No Mrs. Walsh. Not for some time.'
'I think she's the mountain at the back of the house. She was angry about something at lunch-time, and she always goes up there when she's angry. If she isn't back soon, send Betsy to get her. Mrs. Walsh stopped and looked up at the sky. 'No, get her now,' she said. 'There's a storm coming . Will you do that for me?
'Yes, of course, Mrs. Walsh ,' said Matty. 'I'll go now'
Mrs. Walsh hurried away to her brother's car. Matty called to betsy, who jumpped up immediately and follow him. They went round to the back of the farm and Matty looked up at the hills. Already the mist was coming down quickly, and he could see very little.
'Fetch ....Fetch Jessica,' said to the dog,and at once Betsy began to run fast up the hills.
Matty watched her, but a few minutes later the cold, wet mist was all around him, and he could see nothing. He began to shake with cold, so he ran to the camp and put on a pullover and a raincoat. Then he hurried back to the bottom of the hill and began to call Jessica's name. He called for half an hour, but Jessica and Betsy did not come. Matty was afraid. He knew that they were in trouble.
Hedecided to go and look for them, and began to climb quickly up the steep hillside, through a white wall of mist. Every few minutes he stopped , put his hands to his mouth and shouted Jessica's name. But everywhere was silent, and Matty felt very alone.
Higher up the mist was thinner, and when he got to the top, he stopped to rest and look round. But it wasn't the top! All around him, everywhere, there were more mountains, higher and higher. How could he find her here? 'Jessica! Jessica!' he shouted. But there was no reply.
Suddenly the mist came down again, colder and wetter than ever. 'I must go back ,' thought Matty , afraid. I'll never find my way in this,' But which way what back? He moved slowly and carefully, but the mist hid everything and once he nearly fell down some steep rocks. After that, he moved on his hands and knee. Then, somewhere infront of him, Matty heard a bark.
Betsy! Carefully , he moved nearer to the sound. Betsy barked again and Matty stopped. Just in time! Below him the rock fell away into nothing. He looked down. Betsy was lying on a narrow ledge about a foot below him. One of her legs was under a heavy rock, and she couldn't move.
'Quiet, Betsy. Quiet,' Matty said. He lay down and held on to the dog with one hand. With the other, he pushed the rock from her leg. Then he pulled her up on to her three feet, and, with one last pull, she was beside him. She licked Matty's face, and then began to lick her leg.
Matty could see that the leg was broken, Betsy stood up and began to walk on three legs. Then she stopped and turned to look at Matty. Her eyes were saying "Come on"
The mist moved away again and Matty followed Betsy along a steep path. After a time he began to call again, 'Jessica! Jessica!' And at last, he heard something.
'Oooo! Oooo!'
'That's her, Betsy!' He shouted excitedly. 'Find her!'
Matty could see that Betsy's lsg was hurting, but she didn't stop. Every few seconds Matty called Jessica's name, and each time the answer was nearer. And then, suddenly, he saw her! She was standing on a rock above him, and the next minute she was beside him.
'Oh, Matty!' She cried. And then she saw Betsy. 'Oh, no! Her leg's broken. Oh, Betsy , I'm sorry!
Then Jessica looked at Matty. 'I heard you when you called me, but I didn't answer,' she said. 'I just moved away and waited for you to find me. But you didn't ,and then I got afraid and began to run. And now I'm lost.'
'But why didn't you answer me? Matty asked.
'I was angry because you didn't want to talk to me this morning. . .and in gets so lonely in the holiday.' She began to cry. 'And now we're lost! I'm sorry, Matty!'
'Don't cry,' said Matty. 'Everything'll be all right. Betsy will take as home.'
But Betsy could no longer stand. She was lying under a rock, with her head on the ground. Only her eyes moved when she looked up at then.
It was now raining hand. Jessica was only wearing a thin summer dress and she was shaking with cold. Matty took off his raincoat gave it to her. 'Let's sit against this rock with Betsy,' he said. 'We won't get so wet then.'
The rain drove into their faces and they got wetter and wetter. For a whlie they called for help,but nobody came, and after half an hour they stopped shouting.
Then Matty said, 'When your mother and father get back ,they'll come and find us. We'll be home soon.'
'Thse storms can go on all right, and they'll never find us in all this rain and mist.' Jessica was nearly crying again, and Matty took her hand, It felt very cold.
'Look,'said Matty ,worried.'Put my pullover on too. Here push your legs into the arms of the pullover and pull it up under the raincoat . It'll help to keep you warm.'
'But what about you? Said Jessica . 'You'll get so cold.'
'My shirt 's already wet, so it doesn't matter,' said Matty. 'Now he down with your back against Betsy's back. She's nice and warn. I'll he on your other side, and you'll soon feel warmer.
It begin to get back. Matty lay with his back against Jessica, and the rain ran in rivers though his thin shirt and trousers. He felt two tired to shout any more. 'Will I ever see my mother again? He thought. Soon he no longer felt cold, only sleepy.