Тридцять дев’ять ступенів

           Whentheysawmetheywakenedup,andthepolicemanadvancedwithraisedhand,andcriedonmetostop.

           Inearlywasfoolenoughtoobey.Thenitflasheduponmethatthewirehadtodowithme;thatmyfriendsattheinnhadcometoanunderstanding,andwereunitedindesiringtoseemoreofme,andthatithadbeeneasyenoughforthemtowirethedescriptionofmeandthecartothirtyvillagesthroughwhichImightpass.Ireleasedthebrakesjustintime.Asitwas,thepolicemanmadeaclawatthehood,andonlydroppedoffwhenhegotmyleftinhiseye.

           Isawthatmainroadswerenoplaceforme,andturnedintothebyways.Itwasn’taneasyjobwithoutamap,fortherewastheriskofgettingontoafarmroadandendinginaduck-pondorastable-yard,andIcouldn’taffordthatkindofdelay.IbegantoseewhatanassIhadbeentostealthecar.ThebiggreenbrutewouldbethesafestkindofcluetomeoverthebreadthofScotland.IfIleftitandtooktomyfeet,itwouldbediscoveredinanhourortwoandIwouldgetnostartintherace.

           Theimmediatethingtodowastogettotheloneliestroads.TheseIsoonfoundwhenIstruckupatributaryofthebigriver,andgotintoaglenwithsteephillsallaboutme,andacorkscrewroadattheendwhichclimbedoverapass.HereImetnobody,butitwastakingmetoofarnorth,soIslewedeastalongabadtrackandfinallystruckabigdouble-linerailway.AwaybelowmeIsawanotherbroadishvalley,anditoccurredtomethatifIcrosseditImightfindsomeremoteinntopassthenight.