The tonic air of the upland morning putvigour into
his blood. He retired to the inn at Starr to write out his notes andperpend the
situation.
Was there not capital to be made out ofthese novel
experiences? Nothing passedhim on the road except a dog-cart going up the valley,
and two farmlads on bicycles. At themoment I am travelling light and have little
money. Almost immediately he was rewarded by a remarkable sight.
It was a lonely place and anunfrequented road, but
to his surprise he knew the traveller. He was making for the highroad and his
motor-bicycle, but hetravelled barely fifty yards.
Iwonder when that beast last saw food, he observed.
His tone was resigned,almost philosophic.
Wasthat the sort of fox to be safely domesticated
by an innocent likeCraw? If we live by reason only we must often take a dark view of
theworld and lose hope. Hewould refuse to be bound over to silence.
Then he arose, to find shavingthings laid out for
him and all the necessaries of the toilet. The man was a journalist andmust be
always taking notes. Dickson laughed and poured himself out a third cup of
tea.
He yielded to the primeval instinct and
ran.
Tibbets scribbled busily, gulped down his cup of
now lukewarm tea,and rose to go. Mr Tibbets, like other conspirators,waited for the
darkness. His tone was resigned,almost philosophic.
Give me my flannel bags, said Jaikie, and Ill be on
the road inten minutes. By going to bedhe would be retiring into the keep of the
fortress. The journalistbegan to thaw, for he was very sleepy.
It must havebeen stolen, but it has come through a
lot of hands. Hewould refuse to be bound over to silence.
Foras he rounded the rhododendrons he was suddenly
challenged by avoice from above. His breath stopped short at the thought of his good
fortune. The infinite power and value of the unreasoned hasalways been one of my
master principles. He never read criticisms, but he was aware that he hadhis
critics. Im going to call him Woolworth, he said, forhes as woolly as a sheep, and
he didnt cost much.
Barbons voicegradually became more cordial. His
brain began to work happily at the delightful taskof composition.