Free John MacNab by John Buchan Page A

his decision isn’t any easier than mine. On the whole, I’m inclined to think he’ll plump for Carnmore, for he must think John Macnab a fairly desperate fellow who will aim first at killing his stag in peace, and will trust to Providence for the rest. So at the moment I favour Carnbeg.’
    Leithen wrinkled his brow. ‘There are three of us,’ he said. ‘That gives us a chance of a little finesse. What about letting Charles or me make a demonstration against Carnmore, while you wait at Carnbeg?’
    â€˜Good idea! I thought of that too.’
    â€˜You’d better assume Colonel Raden to be in very full possession of his wits,’ Leithen continued. ‘The simple bluff won’t do – he’ll see through it. He’ll think that John Macnab is the same wary kind of old bird as himself. I found out in the war that it didn’t do to underrate your opponent’s brains. He’s pretty certain to expect a feint and not to be taken in. I’m for something a little subtler.’
    â€˜Meaning?’
    â€˜Meaning that you feint in one place, so that your opponent believes it to be a feint and pays no attention – and then you sail in and get to work in that very place.’
    Palliser-Yeates whistled. ‘That wants thinking over . . . How about yourself?’
    â€˜I’ve studied the river, and you never in your life saw such a hopeless proposition. All the good pools are as open as the Serpentine. Wattie stated the odds correctly.’
    â€˜Nothing doing there?’
    â€˜Nothing doing, unless I take steps to shorten the odds. So I’ve taken in a partner.’
    The others stared, and even Lamancha woke up.
    â€˜Yes. I interviewed him in the stable before dinner. It’s the little ragamuffin who sells fish – Fish Benjie is the name he goes by. Archie, I hope you don’t mind, but I told him to resume his morning visits. They’re my best chance for consultations.’
    â€˜You’re taking a pretty big risk, Ned,’ said his host. ‘D’you mean to say you’ve let that boy into the whole secret?’
    â€˜I’ve told him everything. It was the only way, for he had begun to suspect. I admit it’s a gamble, but I believe I can trust the child. I think I know a sportsman when I see him.’
    Archie still shook his head. ‘There’s something else I may as well tell you. I met one of the Raden girls to-day – the younger – she was on the bank when I fell into the Larrig. She asked me point-blank if I knew anybody called John Macnab?’
    Lamancha was wide awake. ‘What did you say?’ he asked sharply.
    â€˜Oh, lied of course. Said I supposed she meant the distiller. Then she told me the whole story – said she had written the letter her father signed. She’s mad keen to win the extra fifty quid, for it means a hunter for her this winter down in Warwickshire. Yes, and she asked me to help. I talked a lot of rot about my game leg and that sort of thing, but I sort of promised to go and lunch at Glenraden the day after tomorrow.’
    â€˜That’s impossible,’ said Lamancha.
    â€˜I know it is, but there’s only one way out of it. I’ve got to have smallpox again.’
    â€˜You’ve got to go to bed and stay there for a month,’ said Palliser-Yeates severely. ‘Now, look here, Archie. We simply can’t have you getting mixed up with the enemy, especially the enemy women. You’re much too susceptible and far too great an ass.’
    â€˜Of course not,’ said Archie, with a touch of protest in his voice. ‘I see that well enough, but it’s a black look-out for me. I wish to Heaven you fellows had chosen to take your cure somewhere else. I’m simply wreckin’ all my political career. I had a letter from my agent tonight, and I should be touring the constituency instead of playin’ the goat here. All I’ve got