“Aa’ll catch him some neet betwixt here and the burn [stream], and finish him.  That’ll stop his taak aboot the Almighty takin’ ma bairns frae me!”

Jimmy’s idea was that Turnbull was in communion with the Almighty for the removal of his children, and if he were put out of the way there would be an end to it.  Jenny was no less ignorant than her husband, and therefore no less superstitious about meddling with this mysterious person who had come amongst them and wrought such extraordinary changes in the lives of many of her class.  She doubted the wisdom of killing the preacher, as she had heard that these people lived after they were killed, and might wreak more terrible vengeance when their lives assumed another form.  She urged her husband to leave well alone; not because she in any way differed from his views in regard to Turnbull’s preaching and his attitude generally towards evil-doers, or objected to his being put to death; but she preferred some person other than her husband should do it.  Hence, she disagreed with his policy, and he in turn raged at her for taking sides against him.

“This interloper’s spyin’ into everythin’ we dee and say,” said he.  “We had nee taak aboot religion afore he cum, and noo there’s nowt but religion spoken, so that we can hardly get a man or a woman t’ dee any trootin’ inside the limit; an’ when we dee get a chance we hev t’ put wor catches into th’ oven, for feor him or his gang gan sneakin’ aboot and faal in wi’ summat they hae nee reet t’ see.  Forbye that, within the last few months he’s driven the smugglers off the coast, and deprived us o’ monny an honest soverin’ in helpin’ them t’ and theor stuff.  And then he’s got the gob t’ tell me that if aa divvent change me ways, the Almighty’ll dee God knaw’s what tiv us!  He’ll myek sickness cum, and mebbies tyek sum o’ th’ bairns frae us.  It’ll be warse for him if harm cums t’ th’ bairns, or me either!  Aa tell’t him that this mornin’, an’ aa said he might tell his Almighty that he taaked see much aboot, if he liked.”

Jenny secretly disapproved of carrying retaliation any further, but dared not openly say another word in favour of her views, for, as she afterwards said, “Aa was afeared ye might kill me afore ye got a chance o’ killin’ the preacher.”

Mr. Turnbull knew what Jimmy’s intentions were, and purposely put himself in his way, so that he might say a cheery word to him in passing; but he never got more than a grunt in response.  He knew that this wild creature was in league with a gang of the most desperate smugglers that the “Preventer men” had to contend with.  No landing, however, had been seriously attempted during the time that Turnbull had been at the station.  Craft had been sighted and signals exchanged, and then the suspected craft disappeared for weeks.  The men who guarded the coast knew these buccaneers had emissaries, and could have laid hands on them, but preferred to catch them red-handed.