The Thirty-Nine Steps
engineered. A little soft about a mile off, and the edges want cleaning. See you look after that. Good morning. You’ll know me the next time you see me.’ Clearly my get-up was good enough for the dreaded Surveyor. I went on with my work, and as the morning grew towards noon I was cheered by a little traffic. A baker’s van breasted the hill, and sold me a bag of ginger biscuits which I stowed in my trouser- pockets against emergencies. Then a herd passed with sheep, and disturbed me somewhat by asking loudly, ‘What had become o’ Specky?’ ’In bed wi’ the colic,’ I replied, and the herd passed on ... just about mid-day a big car stole down the hill, glided past and drew up a hundred yards beyond. Its three occupants descended as if to stretch their legs, and sauntered towards me. Two of the men I had seen before from the window of the Galloway inn - one lean, sharp, and dark, the other comfortable and smiling. The third had the look of a countryman - a vet, perhaps, or a small farmer. He was dressed in ill-cut knickerbockers, and the eye in his head was as bright and wary as a hen’s. ‘Morning,’ said the last. ‘That’s a fine easy job o’ yours.’ 83 of 184 www.ReadBooksOnlineFree.org