Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 6
Mythoughtshoveredoverallvarietiesofmortaledible,andfinallysettledonaporterhousesteakandaquartofbitterwithawelshrabbittofollow.InlonginghopelesslyforthesedaintiesIfellasleep.
Iwokeverycoldandstiffaboutanhourafterdawn.IttookmealittlewhiletorememberwhereIwas,forIhadbeenverywearyandhadsleptheavily.Isawfirstthepaleblueskythroughanetofheather,thenabigshoulderofhill,andthenmyownbootsplacedneatlyinablaeberrybush.Iraisedmyselfonmyarmsandlookeddownintothevalley,andthatonelooksetmelacingupmybootsinmadhaste.
Forthereweremenbelow,notmorethanaquarterofamileoff,spacedoutonthehillsidelikeafan,andbeatingtheheather.Marmiehadnotbeenslowinlookingforhisrevenge.
Icrawledoutofmyshelfintothecoverofaboulder,andfromitgainedashallowtrenchwhichslantedupthemountainface.Thisledmepresentlyintothenarrowgullyofaburn,bywayofwhichIscrambledtothetopoftheridge.FromthereIlookedback,andsawthatIwasstillundiscovered.Mypursuerswerepatientlyquarteringthehillsideandmovingupwards.
KeepingbehindtheskylineIranformaybehalfamile,tillIjudgedIwasabovetheuppermostendoftheglen.ThenIshowedmyself,andwasinstantlynotedbyoneoftheflankers,whopassedthewordtotheothers.Iheardcriescomingupfrombelow,andsawthatthelineofsearchhadchangeditsdirection.
