Тридцять дев’ять ступенів
Chapter 6
Twodivedintotheglenandbegantoclimbmyridge,whiletheotherskepttheirownsideofthehill.IfeltasifIweretakingpartinaschoolboygameofhareandhounds.
Butverysoonitbegantoseemlessofagame.Thosefellowsbehindwereheftymenontheirnativeheath.LookingbackIsawthatonlythreewerefollowingdirect,andIguessedthattheothershadfetchedacircuittocutmeoff.Mylackoflocalknowledgemightverywellbemyundoing,andIresolvedtogetoutofthistangleofglenstothepocketofmoorIhadseenfromthetops.Imustsoincreasemydistanceastogetclearawayfromthem,andIbelievedIcoulddothisifIcouldfindtherightgroundforit.IftherehadbeencoverIwouldhavetriedabitofstalking,butonthesebareslopesyoucouldseeaflyamileoff.Myhopemustbeinthelengthofmylegsandthesoundnessofmywind,butIneededeasiergroundforthat,forIwasnotbredamountaineer.HowIlongedforagoodAfrikanderpony!
Iputonagreatspurtandgotoffmyridgeanddownintothemoorbeforeanyfiguresappearedontheskylinebehindme.Icrossedaburn,andcameoutonahighroadwhichmadeapassbetweentwoglens.Allinfrontofmewasabigfieldofheatherslopinguptoacrestwhichwascrownedwithanoddfeatheroftrees.Inthedykebytheroadsidewasagate,fromwhichagrass-growntrackledoverthefirstwaveofthemoor.
