Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 6
Ipretendedtoretreatovertheskyline,butinsteadwentbackthewayIhadcome,andintwentyminuteswasbehindtheridgeoverlookingmysleepingplace.FromthatviewpointIhadthesatisfactionofseeingthepursuitstreamingupthehillatthetopoftheglenonahopelesslyfalsescent.
Ihadbeforemeachoiceofroutes,andIchosearidgewhichmadeananglewiththeoneIwason,andsowouldsoonputadeepglenbetweenmeandmyenemies.Theexercisehadwarmedmyblood,andIwasbeginningtoenjoymyselfamazingly.AsIwentIbreakfastedonthedustyremnantsofthegingerbiscuits.
Iknewverylittleaboutthecountry,andIhadn’tanotionwhatIwasgoingtodo.Itrustedtothestrengthofmylegs,butIwaswellawarethatthosebehindmewouldbefamiliarwiththelieoftheland,andthatmyignorancewouldbeaheavyhandicap.Isawinfrontofmeaseaofhills,risingveryhightowardsthesouth,butnorthwardsbreakingdownintobroadridgeswhichseparatedwideandshallowdales.TheridgeIhadchosenseemedtosinkafteramileortwotoamoorwhichlaylikeapocketintheuplands.Thatseemedasgoodadirectiontotakeasanyother.
Mystratagemhadgivenmeafairstart—callittwentyminutes—andIhadthewidthofaglenbehindmebeforeIsawthefirstheadsofthepursuers.Thepolicehadevidentlycalledinlocaltalenttotheiraid,andthemenIcouldseehadtheappearanceofherdsorgamekeepers.Theyhallooedatthesightofme,andIwavedmyhand.
