A fiery trail was over, and brilliantly over. Im
tremendously grateful to you, Lamancha said.
Then she laid back her ears, and trottedquietly
over the crest. Stags will no climb rocks, sensible beasts. You know moreabout
stalking than all of us put together, and we want your advice. Wattie Lithgow had
returned, and caught the last words.
Presently from fartherup the hill came a sharp
bark, which was almost a bleat. At first sight the place seemedto be without
deer.
In fact, I want ye to go awayand not come near the
place at all.
Maybe hes a fellow-sufferer lookingfor Archies
company. Were caught out and are going to confess.
Im tremendously grateful to you, Lamancha
said.
Even the coats of the deer had taken on the dead
grey of the slaty crags. To Leithen fell the onerous task of creating a diversion on
the otherside of the forest.
The navvies willno be allowed inside the
forest.
That little scallywag is Fish Benjie,whom I believe
you know.
He and his damned navvies are an insultto every
gentleman in the Highlands.
What really frightens me is Macnicol and the
gillies at theSanctuary itself.
It was a world in monochrome,every detail clear as
a wet pebble, but nowhere brightness or colour. By God, its the red flag that hell
be wavin soon.
I can see myself dodging the navvies,and with
Watties help getting up to a stag.
I never yet knew a gillie quick on his
feet.
At the top of the pass was a pad of flat ground,
covered thick withthe leaves of cloudberries.
For an hour the anxious conclave surrounded the
spread-out ordnance map.
She had to promise that,for they are determined
ruffians.
John and I cant, but we admire you,and well bail
you out. Theyre as feared of infectious diseasesas a Highlander.
Then he grunted: Theres four navvies, as I mak out,
but no verrawell posted.
Its the best stunt I ever heard tell of, he roared,
slapping his knee. Were caught out and are going to confess.