The Big Hill Chapter 1

Ricki, Tim, Mia and their parents were havehaving lunch on the verandahverandah of the cottage.cottage. They were lookinglooking out at a high, bush-coveredcovered hill, far awayaway acrossacross the river. It was the same hill that they could see when they went fishing,fishing, and the longerlonger they lookedlooked at it, the more the children wantedwanted to climb it.

Ricki said, “I wonderwonder what that hill is called.”

“It isIt’s a lovelylovely shape,” said Tim.

“How high do you think it is?” askedasked Mia.

“I do notdon’t  know its name, or how high it is,” said Mr Gale, “probableprobably about eight hundred metres,metres, but very steep. There should be a fine view from the top.”

“Mia and I have been talkingtalking about climbingclimbing it,” said Ricki. “Do you think we could?”

“I know I could!” said Tim, who was very big and strong for his six years, and who was always tryingtrying to show that he could climb and walk just as well as Ricki or Mia.

“It will be harderharder than it looks from here,” said Mr Gale, “but if you would reallyreally like to try, perhapsperhaps we can go tomorrowtomorrow if it is a nice day.”

• Next