"Thanks!" said Blair. "I'll remember it, and come back that way."
As he spoke, a man, who had been climbing the hill behind Blair and the two fishermen, came suddenly, as it were, upon them. He stopped short, and in an adept fashion sunk easily to the ground, where he lay and listened, within almost touch of them, and yet unseen.
"Yes, I understand," said Blair; "nice day, isn't it. You fellows have a cigar?"
A fisherman may be a teetotaler, but he always smokes.
Blair took out his cigar case; there were just two cigars left, and he gave them to the men.
"Bean't we robbing you, sir?" said one of the men, rather shyly, offering the case back; but Blair pushed it toward them.
"Plenty more in 'Combe," he said, with a smile, "and this will last me some time."
Then he rode on, having made, by a few pleasant words and two cigars, two friends who would have risked their lives on his behalf.
He reached 'Combe at last, the colt having settled down to a steady pace, and putting him up at the hotel stables, he went into the town to buy Margaret's things, even before he had his lunch.