"We are going to let 'em go," Steve gasped. "You go back and lie down now, Davey."
"You can't do that with the new brands on them," Davey brushed him aside, irritably. "I'm all right now. I can take them to the Valley. It's a bit of luck M'Laughlin hasn't turned up yet. P'raps I upset his calculations—his and McNab's. He's not so fond of gettin' a move on, Johnny Mac. Might've guessed I'd got a notion he was going to be busy when I went round asking for Conal. Thought we'd give him the slip anyway and he'd save himself the trouble of coming!" He laughed a little unsteadily. "Think I'll get the calves along to the Valley, all the same."
The Schoolmaster took his arm.
"Go and lie down, Davey," he said. "If you go wandering about like this, you'll bring on the bleeding again. Besides, Deirdre—"
"Where is she?" His eyes flew searching the room for her.
"She"—it seemed difficult to say—"She has gone down to the Valley, so it'll be all right," he said.
Davey turned towards the door.
"Don't be a fool, Davey!" The Schoolmaster intercepted him.
Davey pushed him aside.
He strode into the stable yard as though nothing had happened to disable him. A moment later the Schoolmaster heard the rattle of hoofs on the road.