Leithen seriously doubted if Lamancha had ever
suffered from quitethe same malady.
When he was out of sight she turned her pony up the
hill and arrivedat Crask with an anxious face. Palliser-Yeates was greeted with
enthusiasm. They break his temper keepin him indoorsand feedin him ower high. If
these people are on the loose all day,she told Sir Archie, theyre bound to spoil
sport. It will all help to damage Macnicolstemper, and hes the chap were most afraid
of.
Leithen sat down on a stone and lit his pipe.
Crossby was called into consultation and admitted the gravity ofthe danger. Mr
Palliser-Yeates has allthe navvies in the Haripol woods.
Once the watershedhad been crossed Watties heart
lightened.
Poor Johnson has beenon the hill since breakfast. I
drove Miss Janet over, said the young man, explaining the obvious. What the devil
are you fellows doing here? But it might clear,and in that case he would have his
work cut out for him. Then a yelp from the side of Palliser-Yeates wrungfrom her an
answering cry.
Ill get the beast ower the first screesafore its
clear, and once Im in the burn Ill wait for ye. You poor devils must have been
having a rotten timeroosting up here.
Her bright hair,dabbled with raindrops, was
battened down under an ancient felt hat. He strode towards them with amagisterial
air. For a little all fourdisappeared from sight, and Janet and Archie looked
anxiouslyat each other. Hell tangle them up in the woods, and slip out at his
leisureand come home. You poor devils must have been having a rotten timeroosting up
here.
But that slender figure splashing in the tawny
eddiesmade a different appeal. He has easily the pace of those heavy-footed chaps.
Archie, his arms full of dripping maiden, stood in a happy trance.
It was that whichall his days he had been
confusedly seeking. Archie looked at his watch and found it after two-oclock. Master
and mistress have been so anxious about Wee Roguie.
Call me lucky when the beast is safe at Crask. Once
the watershedhad been crossed Watties heart lightened.