Part 11 (1/2)
”You know something. What is it, d.i.c.k?”
”I know the car,” d.i.c.k said grimly; ”but it isn't nice to think your own friends came near killing you.”
”You're sure?”
”Positive. I thought I recognized the hum she makes on the top gear, and when I was close behind them at the bottom of the glen, I saw the tail-lamp had a cracked gla.s.s and a dinge in the top. It isn't a coincidence that our lamp's like that. I remember when Watson dropped it.”
”Staffer certainly wouldn't lose control of his steering.”
”No,” said d.i.c.k; ”he's as steady as a rock. So's Watson. You don't often find a lowland Scot of his type jumpy.”
Whitney lighted a cigarette and leaned back, watching the others.
”Staffer was going to Glasgow,” Andrew argued.
”Yes; the hydraulic ram that pumps our water had broken down and he meant to see the makers. He told me he might not be back for a few days.”
”But would he return by Edinburgh? Had he any business there?”
”None that I know of; we deal with Glasgow. I wanted him to come up to Edinburgh not long ago, but he wouldn't. Said he didn't know anybody in the place and there was nothing to do.”
”After all, you may have been mistaken about the car.”
”Oh, no,” said d.i.c.k; ”but we'll talk about something else. I don't like to think that Staffer nearly finished me--and he wouldn't feel happy about it. Of course he didn't recognize us; and, on the whole, I think we'd better not mention it to him.”
”I agree with you,” Whitney said; and they planned to s.h.i.+p the damaged machine to Hawick and to walk back across the hills.
On their return to Appleyard, Whitney watched Staffer closely when d.i.c.k explained that they had been delayed by an accident in the glen at Teviot-head. He showed only a polite interest in the matter, and when Whitney talked about Edinburgh, he remarked that he found the city disappointing and seldom visited it.
A few days later, they all sat on the terrace one calm evening when Watson came back with the car and gave d.i.c.k and Staffer some letters.
”From Murray,” d.i.c.k announced when he had opened his. ”They're going to search the Colvend country next Thursday, and he suggests that we might like to join, though he hints that he's not allowed to give us much information.”
”What does he expect to find?” Staffer asked. His tone expressed indifference, but Whitney suspected that it covered a keen interest.
”He doesn't say. Somebody working a wireless installation, I imagine.”
”And is Thursday particularly suitable for that kind of thing?”
”It's Dumfries' early-closing day. They can get a lot of motorcyclists then. Murray states that the coast and moss-roads will be watched.”
”You ought to go,” Elsie interposed. ”Mr. Whitney would enjoy a day upon the heather.”
”An opportunity for combining a pleasant excursion with a patriotic duty!” Staffer remarked. ”Well, the high ground from Bengairn to Susie Hill will need some searching. No doubt, they'll push across the moors toward Black Beast?”
”Murray doesn't say, but it's probable. I don't know whether the military authorities have the spy mania; but if there is any ground for suspicion, it can do no harm to draw the Galloway moors. What do you think, Andrew?”
”I'd try the hills farther east.”
”About Eskdale, of course?” Staffer said with ironical humor.
”Well,” Andrew replied, ”I don't claim much strategical knowledge, but if we take it for granted that a hostile force could be landed on our east coast--”