Тридцять дев’ять ступенів

           Suddenlyitbegantoriseinswiftwhorls,andthenextIknewitwasspeedingeastwardagaintillitbecameaspeckinthebluemorning.

           Thatmademedosomesavagethinking.Myenemieshadlocatedme,andthenextthingwouldbeacordonroundme.Ididn’tknowwhatforcetheycouldcommand,butIwascertainitwouldbesufficient.Theaeroplanehadseenmybicycle,andwouldconcludethatIwouldtrytoescapebytheroad.Inthatcasetheremightbeachanceonthemoorstotherightorleft.Iwheeledthemachineahundredyardsfromthehighway,andplungeditintoamoss-hole,whereitsankamongpond-weedandwater-buttercups.ThenIclimbedtoaknollwhichgavemeaviewofthetwovalleys.Nothingwasstirringonthelongwhiteribbonthatthreadedthem.

           Ihavesaidtherewasnotcoverinthewholeplacetohidearat.AsthedayadvanceditwasfloodedwithsoftfreshlighttillithadthefragrantsunninessoftheSouthAfricanveld.AtothertimesIwouldhavelikedtheplace,butnowitseemedtosuffocateme.Thefreemoorlandswereprisonwalls,andthekeenhillairwasthebreathofadungeon.

           Itossedacoin—headsright,tailsleft—anditfellheads,soIturnedtothenorth.InalittleIcametothebrowoftheridgewhichwasthecontainingwallofthepass.Isawthehighroadformaybetenmiles,andfardownitsomethingthatwasmoving,andthatItooktobeamotor-car.BeyondtheridgeIlookedonarollinggreenmoor,whichfellawayintowoodedglens.