" Yes , quite .sx " Maureen , afraid he might think she had asked too many questions , said nothing for several minutes .sx They had turned the bend in the road and were walking along with Loch Eighe on their left .sx " There's a road on the other side , " MacLeod said .sx " Have you been about at all since you've been here ?sx " " A few miles yesterday- to Dalloch and round that way , that's all .sx Is there a ferry across the loch ?sx " " Not for cars .sx It only goes when it's wanted .sx I shouldn't think that's very often .sx " He pointed to the far shore of the loch where it met Loch Onaig .sx " That's the ferryman's house there .sx " Maureen was just able to make out a croft .sx " Can we go across some time ?sx " she asked .sx " I love ferries .sx " " If you'd like to .sx " " Please .sx " Rather diffidently she added , " I'm sorry , perhaps you'd rather .sx . " " I'd like to , " MacLeod assured her .sx " The shore's rather fine along there , there are a lot of birches and bracken .sx " They walked a little farther , then he said , " We'd better turn back if we're going to have that drink .sx And you'll be getting cold .sx " As they retraced their steps he wondered what Maureen's fiance@2 had been like .sx He had been a policeman too long to judge people too swiftly but he would have thought most men would have been more than happy to marry the girl beside him .sx Perhaps it had really been her who had broken off the engagement .sx They reached the jetty .sx Maureen crossed the yard or two of grass and stood on the beach , looking up Loch Onaig to the mountains rising round its head .sx MacLeod joined her .sx " Isn't it lovely ?sx " she said .sx " I feel I never want to go back .sx " " An hour ago you were telling me you should never have come .sx " " Yes .sx I don't feel like that any more .sx " She picked up a stone and tossed it into the water .sx It fell with a dull plop and they watched the ripples spreading .sx " How did you come ?sx " she asked .sx " Train .sx " She turned and walked back to the road .sx MacLeod followed her .sx They talked little on the way back to the hotel , walking slowly , each thinking .sx Arrived there , Maureen went up to her room while MacLeod entered the bar .sx Since his last stay there Alan had had it redecorated to suit the taste of his English patrons .sx The couple who had arrived that afternoon were sitting on a low couch against one wall .sx The contemporary furnishings seemed a more appropriate setting for them than the bright sunlight and sparser surroundings of the dining-room .sx The only other occupant apart from the barman , James , was a shortish , slightly-built man of about MacLeod's age .sx He had rather small eyes and thinning fair hair and he was wearing a tweed sports jacket that somehow did not look quite right on him .sx He was leaning against the end of the bar and when MacLeod came up to it he eyed him as a man will in such circumstances when he had nothing better to do .sx " A gin and lime and an Export , please , James , " MacLeod said .sx Still eyeing him the other man asked , " Is Mr. Ferguson in , James ?sx " The barman , busy with MacLeod's order , answered over his shoulder .sx " No , Mr. Martin , he's out just now .sx " Martin , MacLeod reflected .sx He had heard that name somewhere recently .sx But where ?sx In what connection ?sx Moreover , something about the man seemed vaguely familiar though he could not remember seeing him before .sx Probably it was nothing more than a chance resemblance to someone else .sx " It's been a grand day again , " he remarked .sx " Damned hot , " Martin agreed .sx MacLeod thought he looked worried .sx " It was hot in the glen this morning , " he said .sx Martin looked sideways at him .sx " You were there this morning ?sx " he demanded .sx " Yes .sx " " Did you go far ?sx " The barman put two glasses down on the counter .sx MacLeod paid him .sx Martin , he felt , was waiting impatiently for his answer .sx " Nearly to the top , " he replied lightly .sx " Why ?sx " The other did not answer at once .sx " There are some birds up there , " he explained after a moment .sx " I've been hoping no-one would disturb them .sx " " What sort of birds ?sx " MacLeod asked curiously .sx " Capercaillies .sx " The barman looked surprised .sx " In Glen Onaig , Mr. Martin ?sx " he enquired .sx " I've been here all my life and I've never known any round here before .sx " " Well , they're here now , " Martin said shortly .sx MacLeod eyed him .sx " They're those big birds with a piercing cry , aren't they ?sx " he asked .sx " Yes , " Martin agreed without much grace .sx Out of the corner of his eye MacLeod noticed that James looked surprised .sx " I promise I won't scare them , " he said .sx " I don't suppose I shall go up the glen again while I'm here .sx " Martin looked relieved .sx " It's just the top part beyond the fall , " he explained .sx " So many rare birds are driven away nowadays .sx " " Like the ospreys ?sx " MacLeod suggested .sx " Yes .sx " Over Martin's shoulder he saw Maureen come in .sx The woman sitting on the couch glanced up and eyed her with an almost insolent condescension as she crossed to join him .sx " Will you ask Mr. Ferguson to give me a ring when he comes in ?sx " Martin asked James .sx " Ay , I will , Mr. Martin .sx " With a curt nod to MacLeod the other went out .sx Maureen picked up her glass .sx " Good luck , " she said .sx " Shall we sit down ?sx " MacLeod dragged his thought back from the wild idea that had been forming in his mind .sx " Yes , of course , " he agreed .sx " Had something happened before I came in ?sx " Maureen asked when they were seated on the second of the two couches .sx " No .sx Why ?sx " " I thought there was a bit of an atmosphere .sx " " We were talking about capercaillies .sx " " What on earth are they ?sx " " Large birds found in the Highlands .sx " " Oh .sx " When they had finished their drinks MacLeod asked , " Will you have another one ?sx " " On condition you'll let me pay .sx " " Certainly not .sx " " Then no , thank you .sx " Maureen smiled sweetly .sx " Look here , " he began .sx " Please .sx " She looked so serious that he smiled .sx " All right , " he agreed .sx " If you really mean you'd rather .sx " " I do .sx " He crossed to the bar .sx While James was pouring the drinks he asked him , " Was that the Mr. Martin who's taken the Lodge ?sx " " Ay , that was him .sx " " Mr. Ferguson said something about him being a bird-watcher .sx " " He talks a great deal about them , " James assented , managing to convey an impression of fine contempt .sx He put the glasses down on the bar .sx " Do you know where he comes from ?sx " MacLeod asked .sx " No , I do not .sx It is somewhere down south , I'd be thinking .sx " " I've a feeling I've seen him somewhere before .sx " " Mr. Ferguson might be able to tell you , " James volunteered .sx " He knows him well .sx " " I'll have to ask him .sx What do the people here think of Martin ?sx " " Och , it's little enough they've seen of him .sx He's not been here more than a few days altogether .sx They don't mind him , he's a harmless enough wee man .sx " " Which might be perfectly true , " MacLeod reflected .sx On the other hand .sx . As he turned away Alan Ferguson came through the door behind the bar .sx " Did you have a good walk this morning ?sx " he enquired .sx " Ay , it's been a grand day again .sx " Alan grinned broadly .sx " Man , you belong up here !sx " he exclaimed .sx " You've been back twenty-four hours and already you're forgetting your heathen English speech .sx " MacLeod , grinning and not displeased returned to Maureen .sx " Mr. Martin was in just now , " the barman told Alan .sx " He seemed kind of nervy .sx He wants you to phone him .sx " Alan stiffened slightly .sx " What the devil does he want ?sx " he muttered .sx MacLeod , hearing him , wondered if Martin was a nuisance .sx Certainly Alan did not look pleased .sx =6 .sx During the night the weather broke .sx When MacLeod looked out of the window the next morning he found that it was drizzling steadily .sx Dark grey clouds hung low over the loch and the hills on the other shore .sx It would probably last until the evening , he thought as he shaved .sx Even if it did not there was little hope of its clearing before the afternoon .sx Oh well , he would be happy enough in the lounge with a novel .sx He took his time over dressing and when he entered the dining-room it was empty .sx He had almost finished breakfast when Maureen came in .sx She was wearing a white raincoat belted tightly round her waist .sx A scarf was tied round her head but the rebellious curl had escaped and hung damply over her left eye .sx She pushed it back .sx " It's pouring , " she announced , perching on the edge of the chair facing him .sx " I know .sx " " I hadn't anything to read and I finished all the Scottish Fields in the lounge on Sunday so I went to buy a paper .sx " She pulled it out of her pocket and laid it on the table .sx " It's yesterday's .sx " " It would be , " he agreed .sx " Yes , I suppose so .sx I hadn't thought .sx " She watched him eating for a moment .sx " I wondered if we might take the car and find somewhere where it's drier .sx " He looked at her .sx For a moment she met his eye , then , flushing very slightly , she looked down at the table .sx " I'm sorry .sx Perhaps you'd rather stay here .sx " " No , it sounds a good idea .sx " " You want to go ?sx " There was no mistaking the pleasure in her voice and MacLeod felt suddenly cheered .sx Perhaps after all he had not been really looking forward to spending the morning cooped up in the lounge .sx " I don't like staying in when I'm on holiday , " she said with a hint of defiance .sx " It seems such a waste .sx " " Shall we take lunch or eat in style ?sx " " In style , I should think .sx " She smiled .sx " We might not be lucky and it's only a Morris Minor , there's not all that much room .sx " " There's something I want to do before we go , " MacLeod told her .sx " Will twenty minutes be all right for you ?sx " " Fine .sx " She stood up .sx He watched her walk to the door , her slim figure moving gracefully between the tables .sx When he had finished his coffee he went in search of Alan Ferguson .sx He found him in his office dealing with the day's correspondence .sx When MacLeod appeared in the doorway he was frowning over a letter .sx Suddenly he swore and stuffed it into a pocket of his jacket .sx Then he saw the other and grinned .sx " You're not thinking of walking up the glen this morning ?sx " he enquired .sx " The path will be more like a river .sx " " No , I'm going for a drive .sx " " A drive ?sx " Alan stared .sx " With Miss Forrester .sx " " Oh , are you now ?sx Ah well , you'll not be seeing the sun here today .sx " " I was wondering if you've a book on birds I could borrow , " MacLeod explained .sx " Birds ?sx Ay , I believe there is one somewhere about .sx " Alan rose to his feet .sx " I was talking to Martin last night and there was something he mentioned I wanted to look up .sx " The other stopped .sx " You were talking to him about birds ?sx " he asked .sx " Yes .sx He said there were capercaillies in the glen .sx " " He may be right at that .sx " They climbed the back stairs to Alan's quarters .sx He had a bedroom and a small sitting-room at the end of the building .sx While MacLeod stood at the door of the latter Alan looked through the scanty collection of books on his shelves .sx " It's not here , " he announced .sx " I maybe lent it to someone and they haven't returned it .sx " " Thanks , anyway , " MacLeod said .sx He made his way to his own room and collected the things he wanted to take with him , his camera , a cap he wore only on holiday and then only when it rained and a pair of powerful binoculars he had bought second-hand years before .sx Maureen was waiting for him in the hall .sx Her car was already outside the door .sx " You'd rather drive , " she said .sx " Wouldn't you ?sx " " No .sx " She shook her head and walked round to the other side .sx He drove down the road , only to pull up outside the post office .sx Maureen looked at him enquiringly .sx " Do you mind waiting ?sx " he asked .sx " I won't be a minute .sx "