In the early afternoon they found themselves at the beginning of the Third Green Lane; and here they decided to stop and have a short rest and some lunch. When they sat down on the soft grass by the side of the lane they suddenly discovered that they were really tired; and when they saw the tempting little sandwiches and cakes in the "snack for lunch" packets Glan had given them they realized that they were really hungry. They had been too busy and excited to realize these things before. Over lunch they got out the map again and studied it.
"What a lonely piece of country this seems," Jack remarked. "Do you know, we haven't seen a single person since we started searching!"
"Nor a single house," said Molly. "It's a good thing we have this map with us. How useful it is.... Let me look, Jack. Are there any houses or villages marked near here, because we shall have to find some place to stay to-night if possible."
"There seems to be some sort of village marked there ... um ... it's not very near, though," said Jack. "It's the other side of the Goblin's Heath.... There doesn't seem to be a house of any sort marked between here and that village, does there? Still, I daresay we could reach the village before dusk, if we are not delayed at all----"
"If it is and we can't find a cottage before the end of the Heath, we'll climb up a tree, Moll. It'll be great sport. And we shall be quite safe there till daylight."
They packed up the remains of the lunch, for it was a very generous "snack" that Glan had put in for each of them, and after resting a few minutes longer they rose to their feet and prepared to start on again.
"My word, I am thirsty," said Jack. At Molly's advice he tried one of the little sweet things in Old Nancy's packet, and though it was certainly refreshing Jack still craved for a drink of water. "Is there a stream of water marked anywhere near here. Give me the map again, Molly."
They were standing at the beginning of the Third Green Lane with the map in their hands, when the sound of some one singing came to them from a distance.
Jack and Molly looked at each other. This was the first human sound they had heard since they left the High Road. Perhaps this person, whoever it was, could tell them where they could get some water. The singer was evidently approaching, as the song grew louder and clearer, from the direction of the lane which they were just about to search. Then, just as they expected the singer to come round the corner of the lane--the singing ceased abruptly--and no one appeared.