yes , quite . Maureen , afraid he might think she had asked too many questions , said nothing for several minutes . they had turned the bend in the road and were walking along with Loch Eighe on their left . there &apos;s a road on the other side , MacLeod said . have you been about at all since you &apos;ve been here ? a few miles yesterday - to Dalloch and round that way , that &apos;s all . is there a ferry across the loch ? not for cars . it only goes when it &apos;s wanted . I should n&apos;t think that &apos;s very often . he pointed to the far shore of the loch where it met Loch Onaig . that &apos;s the ferryman &apos;s house there . Maureen was just able to make out a croft . can we go across some time ? she asked . I love ferries . if you &apos;d like to . please . rather diffidently she added , I &apos;m sorry , perhaps you &apos;d rather &amp;hellip; . I &apos;d like to , MacLeod assured her . the shore &apos;s rather fine along there , there are a lot of birches and bracken . they walked a little farther , then he said , we &apos;d better turn back if we &apos;re going to have that drink . and you &apos;ll be getting cold . as they retraced their steps he wondered what Maureen &apos;s fianc&amp;eacute; had been like . 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 . perhaps it had really been her who had broken off the engagement . they reached the jetty . Maureen crossed the yard or two of grass and stood on the beach , looking up Loch Onaig to the mountains rising round its head . MacLeod joined her . is n&apos;t it lovely ? she said . I feel I never want to go back . an hour ago you were telling me you should never have come . yes . I do n&apos;t feel like that any more . she picked up a stone and tossed it into the water . it fell with a dull plop and they watched the ripples spreading . how did you come ? she asked . train . she turned and walked back to the road . MacLeod followed her . they talked little on the way back to the hotel , walking slowly , each thinking . arrived there , Maureen went up to her room while MacLeod entered the bar . since his last stay there Alan had had it redecorated to suit the taste of his English patrons . the couple who had arrived that afternoon were sitting on a low couch against one wall . the contemporary furnishings seemed a more appropriate setting for them than the bright sunlight and sparser surroundings of the dining-room . the only other occupant apart from the barman , James , was a shortish , slightly-built man of about MacLeod &apos;s age . 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 . 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 . a gin and lime and an export , please , James , MacLeod said . still eyeing him the other man asked , is Mr Ferguson in , James ? the barman , busy with MacLeod &apos;s order , answered over his shoulder . no , Mr Martin , he &apos;s out just now . Martin , MacLeod reflected . he had heard that name somewhere recently . but where ? in what connection ? moreover , something about the man seemed vaguely familiar though he could not remember seeing him before . probably it was nothing more than a chance resemblance to someone else . it &apos;s been a grand day again , he remarked . damned hot , Martin agreed . MacLeod thought he looked worried . it was hot in the glen this morning , he said . Martin looked sideways at him . you were there this morning ? he demanded . yes . did you go far ? the barman put two glasses down on the counter . MacLeod paid him . Martin , he felt , was waiting impatiently for his answer . nearly to the top , he replied lightly . why ? the other did not answer at once . there are some birds up there , he explained after a moment . I &apos;ve been hoping no-one would disturb them . what sort of birds ? MacLeod asked curiously . capercaillies . the barman looked surprised . in Glen Onaig , Mr Martin ? he enquired . I &apos;ve been here all my life and I &apos;ve never known any round here before . well , they &apos;re here now , Martin said shortly . MacLeod eyed him . they &apos;re those big birds with a piercing cry , are n&apos;t they ? he asked . yes , Martin agreed without much grace . out of the corner of his eye MacLeod noticed that James looked surprised . I promise I will n&apos;t scare them , he said . I do n&apos;t suppose I shall go up the glen again while I &apos;m here . Martin looked relieved . it &apos;s just the top part beyond the fall , he explained . so many rare birds are driven away nowadays . like the ospreys ? MacLeod suggested . yes . over Martin &apos;s shoulder he saw Maureen come in . the woman sitting on the couch glanced up and eyed her with an almost insolent condescension as she crossed to join him . will you ask Mr Ferguson to give me a ring when he comes in ? Martin asked James . ay , I will , Mr Martin . with a curt nod to MacLeod the other went out . Maureen picked up her glass . good luck , she said . shall we sit down ? MacLeod dragged his thought back from the wild idea that had been forming in his mind . yes , of course , he agreed . had something happened before I came in ? Maureen asked when they were seated on the second of the two couches . no . why ? I thought there was a bit of an atmosphere . we were talking about capercaillies . what on earth are they ? large birds found in the Highlands . oh . when they had finished their drinks MacLeod asked , will you have another one ? on condition you &apos;ll let me pay . certainly not . then no , thank you . Maureen smiled sweetly . look here , he began . please . she looked so serious that he smiled . all right , he agreed . if you really mean you &apos;d rather . I do . he crossed to the bar . while James was pouring the drinks he asked him , was that the Mr Martin who &apos;s taken the Lodge ? ay , that was him . Mr Ferguson said something about him being a bird-watcher . he talks a great deal about them , James assented , managing to convey an impression of fine contempt . he put the glasses down on the bar . do you know where he comes from ? MacLeod asked . no , I do not . it is somewhere down south , I &apos;d be thinking . I &apos;ve a feeling I &apos;ve seen him somewhere before . Mr Ferguson might be able to tell you , James volunteered . he knows him well . I &apos;ll have to ask him . what do the people here think of Martin ? och , it &apos;s little enough they &apos;ve seen of him . he &apos;s not been here more than a few days altogether . they do n&apos;t mind him , he &apos;s a harmless enough wee man . which might be perfectly true , MacLeod reflected . on the other hand &amp;hellip; . as he turned away Alan Ferguson came through the door behind the bar . did you have a good walk this morning ? he enquired . ay , it &apos;s been a grand day again . Alan grinned broadly . man , you belong up here ! he exclaimed . you &apos;ve been back twenty-four hours and already you &apos;re forgetting your heathen English speech . MacLeod , grinning and not displeased returned to Maureen . Mr Martin was in just now , the barman told Alan . he seemed kind of nervy . he wants you to phone him . Alan stiffened slightly . what the devil does he want ? he muttered . MacLeod , hearing him , wondered if Martin was a nuisance . certainly Alan did not look pleased . 6 . during the night the weather broke . when MacLeod looked out of the window the next morning he found that it was drizzling steadily . dark grey clouds hung low over the loch and the hills on the other shore . it would probably last until the evening , he thought as he shaved . even if it did not there was little hope of its clearing before the afternoon . oh well , he would be happy enough in the lounge with a novel . he took his time over dressing and when he entered the dining-room it was empty . he had almost finished breakfast when Maureen came in . she was wearing a white raincoat belted tightly round her waist . a scarf was tied round her head but the rebellious curl had escaped and hung damply over her left eye . she pushed it back . it &apos;s pouring , she announced , perching on the edge of the chair facing him . I know . I had n&apos;t anything to read and I finished all the Scottish fields in the lounge on Sunday so I went to buy a paper . she pulled it out of her pocket and laid it on the table . it &apos;s yesterday &apos;s . it would be , he agreed . yes , I suppose so . I had n&apos;t thought . she watched him eating for a moment . I wondered if we might take the car and find somewhere where it &apos;s drier . he looked at her . for a moment she met his eye , then , flushing very slightly , she looked down at the table . I &apos;m sorry . perhaps you &apos;d rather stay here . no , it sounds a good idea . you want to go ? there was no mistaking the pleasure in her voice and MacLeod felt suddenly cheered . perhaps after all he had not been really looking forward to spending the morning cooped up in the lounge . I do n&apos;t like staying in when I &apos;m on holiday , she said with a hint of defiance . it seems such a waste . shall we take lunch or eat in style ? in style , I should think . she smiled . we might not be lucky and it &apos;s only a Morris minor , there &apos;s not all that much room . there &apos;s something I want to do before we go , MacLeod told her . will twenty minutes be all right for you ? fine . she stood up . he watched her walk to the door , her slim figure moving gracefully between the tables . when he had finished his coffee he went in search of Alan Ferguson . he found him in his office dealing with the day &apos;s correspondence . when MacLeod appeared in the doorway he was frowning over a letter . suddenly he swore and stuffed it into a pocket of his jacket . then he saw the other and grinned . you &apos;re not thinking of walking up the glen this morning ? he enquired . the path will be more like a river . no , I &apos;m going for a drive . a drive ? Alan stared . with Miss Forrester . oh , are you now ? ah well , you &apos;ll not be seeing the sun here today . I was wondering if you &apos;ve a book on birds I could borrow , MacLeod explained . birds ? ay , I believe there is one somewhere about . Alan rose to his feet . I was talking to Martin last night and there was something he mentioned I wanted to look up . the other stopped . you were talking to him about birds ? he asked . yes . he said there were capercaillies in the glen . he may be right at that . they climbed the back stairs to Alan &apos;s quarters . he had a bedroom and a small sitting-room at the end of the building . while MacLeod stood at the door of the latter Alan looked through the scanty collection of books on his shelves . it &apos;s not here , he announced . I maybe lent it to someone and they have n&apos;t returned it . thanks , anyway , MacLeod said . 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 . Maureen was waiting for him in the hall . her car was already outside the door . you &apos;d rather drive , she said . would n&apos;t you ? no . she shook her head and walked round to the other side . he drove down the road , only to pull up outside the post office . Maureen looked at him enquiringly . do you mind waiting ? he asked . I will n&apos;t be a minute . 