Page:Buchan - The Thirty-Nine Steps (Grosset Dunlap, 1915).djvu/113

 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 midday 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 toward 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.