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Chapter 6
Ipretendedtoretreatovertheskyline,butinsteadwentbackthewayIhadcome,andintwentyminuteswasbehindtheridgeoverlookingmysleepingplace.FromthatviewpointIhadthesatisfactionofseeingthepursuitstreamingupthehillatthetopoftheglenonahopelesslyfalsescent.
Ihadbeforemeachoiceofroutes,andIchosearidgewhichmadeananglewiththeoneIwason,andsowouldsoonputadeepglenbetweenmeandmyenemies.Theexercisehadwarmedmyblood,andIwasbeginningtoenjoymyselfamazingly.AsIwentIbreakfastedonthedustyremnantsofthegingerbiscuits.
Iknewverylittleaboutthecountry,andIhadn’tanotionwhatIwasgoingtodo.Itrustedtothestrengthofmylegs,butIwaswellawarethatthosebehindmewouldbefamiliarwiththelieoftheland,andthatmyignorancewouldbeaheavyhandicap.Isawinfrontofmeaseaofhills,risingveryhightowardsthesouth,butnorthwardsbreakingdownintobroadridgeswhichseparatedwideandshallowdales.TheridgeIhadchosenseemedtosinkafteramileortwotoamoorwhichlaylikeapocketintheuplands.Thatseemedasgoodadirectiontotakeasanyother.
Mystratagemhadgivenmeafairstart—callittwentyminutes—andIhadthewidthofaglenbehindmebeforeIsawthefirstheadsofthepursuers.Thepolicehadevidentlycalledinlocaltalenttotheiraid,andthemenIcouldseehadtheappearanceofherdsorgamekeepers.Theyhallooedatthesightofme,andIwavedmyhand.
