"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 Dick; "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 ship the damaged machine to Hawick and to walk back across the hills.
On their return to Appleyard, Whitney watched Staffer closely when Dick 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 Dick and Staffer some letters.
"From Murray," Dick 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?"