Тридцять дев’ять ступенів

           ForalongtimeIlaymotionless,forthosehorriblefumesseemedtohaveloosenedmyjointsanddulledmybrain.Soundscametomefromthehouse—menspeakingthroatilyandthethrobbingofastationarycar.TherewasalittlegapintheparapettowhichIwriggled,andfromwhichIhadsomesortofprospectoftheyard.Isawfigurescomeout—aservantwithhisheadboundup,andthenayoungermaninknickerbockers.Theywerelookingforsomething,andmovedtowardsthemill.Thenoneofthemcaughtsightofthewispofclothonthenail,andcriedouttotheother.Theybothwentbacktothehouse,andbroughttwomoretolookatit.Isawtherotundfigureofmylatecaptor,andIthoughtImadeoutthemanwiththelisp.Inoticedthatallhadpistols.

           Forhalfanhourtheyransackedthemill.Icouldhearthemkickingoverthebarrelsandpullinguptherottenplanking.Thentheycameoutside,andstoodjustbelowthedovecotarguingfiercely.Theservantwiththebandagewasbeingsoundlyrated.IheardthemfiddlingwiththedoorofthedovecoteandforonehorridmomentIfanciedtheywerecomingup.Thentheythoughtbetterofit,andwentbacktothehouse.

           AllthatlongblisteringafternoonIlaybakingontherooftop.Thirstwasmychieftorment.Mytonguewaslikeastick,andtomakeitworseIcouldhearthecooldripofwaterfromthemill-lade.Iwatchedthecourseofthelittlestreamasitcameinfromthemoor,andmyfancyfollowedittothetopoftheglen,whereitmustissuefromanicyfountainfringedwithcoolfernsandmosses.