`` My Heather wo n't protect you here . We shall all be killed ! '' His legs trembled like his voice . Back we went -- back across the heather under the moon , till it was nearly morning , and our poor beasts stumbled on some ruins . ` When we woke , very stiff and cold , Allo was mixing the meal and water . One does not light fires in the Pict country except near a village . The little men are always signalling to each other with smokes , and a strange smoke brings them out buzzing like bees . They can sting , too ! ' `` What we saw last night was a trading-station , '' said Allo . `` Nothing but a trading-station . '' ' `` I do not like lies on an empty stomach , '' said Pertinax . `` I suppose '' -LRB- he had eyes like an eagle 's -RRB- -- `` I suppose that is a trading-station also ? '' He pointed to a smoke far off on a hill-top , ascending in what we call the Picts ' Call : -- Puff -- double-puff : double-puff -- puff ! They make it by raising and dropping a wet hide on a fire . ' `` No , '' said Allo , pushing the platter back into the bag . `` That is for you and me . Your fate is fixed . Come . '' ` We came . When one takes Heather , one must obey one 's Pict -- but that wretched smoke was twenty miles distant , well over on the East coast , and the day was as hot as a bath . '
`` Whatever happens , '' said XXXXX , while our ponies grunted along , `` I want you to remember me . '' '
Allo Heather Pertinax Pict Picts coast hill-top morning night trading-station