I would have pleasure in meeting you in the same spirit, but I reckon that all means are counted legitimate in the capture of poachers.

Cordially,
JUNIUS THEODORE BANDICOTT.

Mr J. Macnab.

‘That’s the young ‘un,’ Archie observed. ‘The old man was christened “Acheson”, and don’t take any interest in fishin’. He spends his time in lookin’ for Norse remains.’

‘He seems a decent sort of fellow,’ said Palliser-Yeates, ‘but I don’t quite like the last sentence. He’ll probably try shooting, same as his countrymen once did on the Beauly. Whoever gets this job will have some excitement for his money.’

Lamancha read out the last letter:

227 NORTH MELVILLE STREET,
EDINBURGH,
Aug. –, 19–.

SIR,

Re Haripol Forest

Our client, the Right Honourable Lord Claybody, has read to us on the telephone your letter of Aug. – and has desired us to reply to it. We are instructed to say that our client is at a loss to understand how to take your communication, whether as a piece of impertinence or as a serious threat. If it is the latter, and you persist in your intention, we are instructed to apply to the Court for a summary interdict to prevent your entering upon his lands. We would also point out that under the Criminal Law of Scotland, any person whatsoever who commits a trespass in the daytime by entering upon any land without leave of the proprietor, in pursuit of, inter alia, deer, is liable to a fine of £2, while, if such person have his face blackened, or if five or more persons acting in concert commit the trespass, the penalty is £5 (2 & 3 William IV, c. 68).

We are, sir,

Your obedient servants,

PROSSER, MCKELPIE, AND MACLYMONT.

John Macnab, Esq.

Lamancha laughed. ‘Is that good law, Ned?’

Leithen read the letter again. ‘I suppose so. Deer being ferae naturae, there is no private property in them or common law crime in killing them, and the only remedy is to prevent trespass in pursuit of them or to punish the trespasser.’

‘It seems to me that you get off pretty lightly,’ said Archie. ‘Two quid is not much in the way of a fine, for I don’t suppose you want to black your faces or march five deep into Haripol. . . But what a rotten sportsman old Claybody is!’

Palliser-Yeates heaved a sigh of apparent relief. ‘I am bound to say the replies are better than I expected. It will be a devil of a business, though, to circumvent that old Highland chief, and that young American sounds formidable. Only, if we’re caught out there, we’re dealing with sportsmen and can appeal to their higher nature, you know. Claybody is probably the easiest proposition so far as getting a stag is concerned, but if we’re nobbled by him we needn’t look for mercy. Still, it’s only a couple of pounds.’

‘You’re an ass, John,’ said Leithen. ‘It’s only a couple of pounds for John Macnab. But if these infernal Edinburgh lawyers get on the job, it will be a case of producing the person of John Macnab, and then we’re all in the cart. Don’t you realise that in this fool’s game we simply cannot afford to lose – none of us?’

‘That,’ said Lamancha, ‘is beyond doubt the truth, and it’s just there that the fun comes in.’

The reception of the three letters had brightened the atmosphere. Each man had now something to think about, and, till it was time to dress for dinner, each was busy with sheets of the Ordnance maps. The rain had begun again, the curtains were drawn, and round a good fire of peats they read and smoked and dozed. Then they had hot baths, and it was a comparatively cheerful and very hungry party that assembled in the dining-room.