John Macnab

VII. — THE OLD ETONIAN TRAMP-2

“Anyhow, it made no difference to your nerves,” said Colonel Raden.

“I hope not. I expect that was because I enjoyed the beastly thing. Perhaps I’m naturally a bit of a bandit—like Miss Janet.”

“Perhaps you’re John Macnab,” said that lady.

“Well, you’ve seen him and can judge.”

“No. I’ll be a witness for the defence if you’re ever accused. But you mustn’t be offended at the idea. I suppose poor John Macnab is now crawling round Strathlarrig trying to find a gap between the gillies to cast a fly.”

“That’s about the size of it,” Junius laughed. “And there’s twenty special correspondents in the neighbourhood cursing his name. If they get hold of him, they’ll be savager than old Angus.”

Mr Bandicott, after calling his guests’ attention to the merits of a hock which he had just acquired—i