“Not much good against a machine-gun, you know!” he laughed. “But a weapon always gives one confidence.”
“I’ve had the flask filled with hot tea,” she said. “We shall, no doubt, want it.”
“Yes. It will be a coldish job. Are you quite warm enough—quite sure you are?” he asked, as the white-haired old waiter entered the snug, warm coffee-room.
“Quite,” she answered, as she drew on her fur-lined gloves.
“Well—good-evening, waiter!” exclaimed Ronnie cheerily.
“Good-evening, sir,” replied the old man pleasantly.
Ten minutes later, with Ronnie driving, Beryl snuggled at his side, and Collins seated under the rug in the back of the car, they had passed the dark, imposing façade of the grey, old cathedral and were well out upon the darkening road, through High Berrys and over Hutton Moor. At last they reached Baldersby Gate, where they turned into the long, straight Roman road which runs direct north from York, and, though a continuation of the old Watling Street, is there known as Leeming Lane.
With nightfall there had arisen a cutting north-east wind, that searching breeze which all dwellers in Yorkshire know far too well, comes over with the month of February.
From Baldersby Gate, past Sinderby Station, through Hope Town on to Leeming village, the ancient road ran straight as an arrow, then, with a slight curve to Leeming Station, it ran on to Catterick. By this time they had passed the race-course, which lay on the left of the road before coming to the cross-roads; it was already dark, and drawing up at Catterick Bridge Station, Collins got down and lit the head-lamps, Ronald Pryor having a written permission from Whitehall to use them.
Striking across through the town of Richmond they climbed the high hills over Hipswell and Barden Moor to Leyburn, and then down into Wensley Dale, famed for its cheeses, by the northern road which took them through the picturesque village of Redmire on to Askrigg as far as a darkened and lonely inn close to Hardraw Force. There they pulled up, and, entering, asked for something to eat.