Тридцять дев’ять ступенів

           Ihadneithercoat,waistcoat,collar,norhat,mytrouserswerebadlytorn,andmyfaceandhandswereblackwiththeexplosion.IdaresayIhadotherbeauties,formyeyesfeltasiftheywerefuriouslybloodshot.AltogetherIwasnospectacleforGod-fearingcitizenstoseeonahighroad.

           VerysoonafterdaybreakImadeanattempttocleanmyselfinahillburn,andthenapproachedaherd’scottage,forIwasfeelingtheneedoffood.Theherdwasawayfromhome,andhiswifewasalone,withnoneighbourforfivemiles.Shewasadecentoldbody,andapluckyone,forthoughshegotafrightwhenshesawme,shehadanaxehandy,andwouldhaveuseditonanyevil-doer.ItoldherthatIhadhadafall—Ididn’tsayhow—andshesawbymylooksthatIwasprettysick.LikeatrueSamaritansheaskednoquestions,butgavemeabowlofmilkwithadashofwhiskyinit,andletmesitforalittlebyherkitchenfire.Shewouldhavebathedmyshoulder,butitachedsobadlythatIwouldnotlethertouchit.

           Idon’tknowwhatshetookmefor—arepentantburglar,perhaps;forwhenIwantedtopayherforthemilkandtenderedasovereignwhichwasthesmallestcoinIhad,sheshookherheadandsaidsomethingabout“givingittothemthathadarighttoit”.AtthisIprotestedsostronglythatIthinkshebelievedmehonest,forshetookthemoneyandgavemeawarmnewplaidforit,andanoldhatofherman’s.