Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 3
Theyaskedmenoquestions,fortheyhadtheperfectbreedingofalldwellersinthewilds,butIcouldseetheysetmedownasakindofdealer,andItooksometroubletoconfirmtheirview.Ispokealotaboutcattle,ofwhichmyhostknewlittle,andIpickedupfromhimagooddealaboutthelocalGallowaymarkets,whichItuckedawayinmymemoryforfutureuse.AttenIwasnoddinginmychair,andthe“bedintheloft”receivedawearymanwhoneveropenedhiseyestillfiveo’clocksetthelittlehomesteada-goingoncemore.
Theyrefusedanypayment,andbysixIhadbreakfastedandwasstridingsouthwardsagain.MynotionwastoreturntotherailwaylineastationortwofartheronthantheplacewhereIhadalightedyesterdayandtodoubleback.Ireckonedthatthatwasthesafestway,forthepolicewouldnaturallyassumethatIwasalwaysmakingfartherfromLondoninthedirectionofsomewesternport.IthoughtIhadstillagoodbitofastart,for,asIreasoned,itwouldtakesomehourstofixtheblameonme,andseveralmoretoidentifythefellowwhogotonboardthetrainatStPancras.
Itwasthesamejolly,clearspringweather,andIsimplycouldnotcontrivetofeelcareworn.IndeedIwasinbetterspiritsthanIhadbeenformonths.OveralongridgeofmoorlandItookmyroad,skirtingthesideofahighhillwhichtheherdhadcalledCairnsmoreofFleet.Nestingcurlewsandploverswerecryingeverywhere,andthelinksofgreenpasturebythestreamsweredottedwithyounglambs.
