Fast as we went, we never saw him again that memorable morning. Jonah must have gone like the wind.
As for us, we wasted no time.
We leapt through the village, dropped down the curling pass, snarled through Saint-Sauveur, left Luz staring, and sailed into Argelès as it was striking seven.
From Argelès to Lourdes is over eight miles. It was when we had covered exactly four of these in six minutes that the engine stuttered, sighed, and then just fainted away.
We had run out of petrol.
This was annoying, but not a serious matter, for there was a can on the step. The two gallons it was containing would easily bring us to Pau.
What was much more annoying and of considerable moment was that the can, when examined, proved to be dry as a bone.
After a moment's consideration of the unsavoury prospect, so suddenly unveiled, I straightened my back, pushed my ridiculous hat to the nape of my neck, and took out a cigarette-case.
Adèle and Berry stared.
"That's right," said the latter bitterly. "Take your blinking time.
Why don't you sit down on the bank and put your feet up?"