Sitting half way up the Witches Hat, Billy Thomas was trying to comfort the young couple. They had tried to climb down the Hat, but had become stuck after a slip on the shale had left the young lady with a badly gashed leg.
Billy and his friends were on their Boxing Day trek and had been walking along gossamer trails, the hoar frost thick on the ground. A weak sun hung sulkily in the sky. He was always thankful to escape the aftermath of family Christmas Day.
As they were about to turn back, they heard muffled cries from the Hat. Investigating, they saw the people. Billy had often climbed there with the boy’s brigade, so he volunteered to try and reach them. Carefully he followed a sheep trail he knew, the rocks shining wet to the touch. Dai shouted up to him that he would go to Mr. Parry’s farm to get help and ropes .
On reaching them, Billy assessed their condition. Both were terrified. He always carried emergency equipment and set about bandaging the leg. He was worried that it was a deep cut. Dai set off and Billy thought of the mirror he carried. If he could angle it, he could send a morse code to the farm down in the valley Mr. Parry was used to the area, often having to lead sheep down. He also taught many of the boys how to abseil, climb, and use morse code.
He flashed the mirror, concentrating to get it right. Time after time he sent his message, not knowing if anyone had seen it. He wondered if maybe he could coax the young man down but he was frozen and convinced he was going to die there. Billy wrapped a blanket around him and gave his spare jumper to the girl. Billy got them to snuggle to warm up .
For what seemed like hours Mr. Parry and friends could be seen trudging up the hill. On arrival they were like a well-oiled machine, as they set to work and soon had everybody down. Two of them carried the young lady between them. The light had almost gone by the time they reached the farm. Loading up his van, Mr Parry drove the girl to the doctor’s house. He dropped the boys off in the village, and pulled Billy aside.
” You did well today but in the future don’t be a hero. You could have slipped and killed yourself. Wait for help to come . ”
