Page:Buchan - The Thirty-Nine Steps (Grosset Dunlap, 1915).djvu/116

 dawn. But I had the sense to see my danger. I pretended to consider very deeply.

"I wasna up very early," I said. "Ye see my dochter was merrit last nicht, and we keepit it up late. I opened the house-door about seeven—and there was naebody on the road then. Since I cam up here there has been just the baker and the Ruchill herd, besides you gentlemen."

One of them gave me a cigar, which I smelled gingerly and stuck in Turnbull's bundle. They got into their car and were out of sight in three minutes.

My heart leaped with an enormous relief, but I went on wheeling my stones. It was as well, for ten minutes later the car returned, one of the occupants waving a hand to me. These gentry left nothing to chance.

I finished Turnbull's bread and cheese, and pretty soon I had finished the stones. The next step was what puzzled me. I could not keep up this road-making business for long. A merciful Providence had kept Mr, Turnbull indoors, but if he appeared on the scene