"But," he said in puzzled tones, "what was yer idea?" and he stared at it again. "A michty colour that!"
I threw my bike down on the grass and sat down on the cairn.
"Between you and me," I said mysteriously, "I had to paint it blue."
He raised his eyebrows.
"Yea, man!"
"Government orders," I said carelessly, and began to throw stones at a tree trunk at the other side of the road.
"Government orders?" He looked very much surprised.
"Yes," I said airily. "You see, it's like this. The Coalition Government isn't very firmly placed these days, and, well, I'm an agent for it. Of course, you know that it is really a Tory government, and my bike, as it were, invites the electorate to vote True Blue."
"Yea, man! I thocht that you was maybe ane o' thae temperance lads frae
Americky."
"Ah!" I said solemnly, "that reminds me; Pussyfoot tried to induce me to make my tour a sort of joint thing. He suggested that I might carry on my Tory work, and at the same time take part in the blue ribbon campaign. Of course I refused."