Immediately the doctor’s dogcart was close to them, with Rob Dow for its only occupant.  He was driving slowly, or Whamond could not have escaped the horse’s hoofs.

“Is that you, Rob Dow?” said the precentor sourly.  “I tell you, you’ll be gaoled for stealing the doctor’s machine.”

“The Hielandman wasna muckle hurt, Rob,” Hendry said, more good-naturedly.

“I ken that,” replied Rob, scowling at the four of them.  “What are you doing here on sic a nicht?”

“Do you see anything strange in the nicht, Rob?” Tosh asked apprehensively.

“It’s setting to rain,” Dow replied.  “I dinna see it, but I feel it.”

“Ay,” said Tosh, eagerly, “but will it be a saft, cowdie sweet ding-on?”

“Let the heavens open if they will,” interposed Spens recklessly.  “I would swap the drought for rain, though it comes down in a sheet as in the year twelve.”

“And like a sheet it’ll come,” replied Dow, “and the deil’ll blaw it about wi’ his biggest bellowses.”

Tosh shivered, but Whamond shook him roughly, saying—­

“Keep your oaths to yoursel’, Rob Dow, and tell me, hae you seen Mr. Dishart?”

“I hinna,” Rob answered curtly, preparing to drive on.

“Nor the lassie they call the Egyptian?”

Rob leaped from the dogcart, crying, “What does that mean?”

“Hands off,” said the precentor, retreating from him.  “It means that Mr. Dishart neglected the prayer-meeting this nicht to philander after that heathen woman.”

“We’re no sure o’t, Tammas,” remonstrated the kirk officer.  Dow stood quite still.  “I believe Rob kens it’s true,” Hendry added sadly, “or he would hae flown at your throat, Tammas Whamond, for saying these words.”

Even this did not rouse Dow.

“Rob doesna worship the minister as he used to do,” said Spens.

“And what for no?” cried the precentor.  “Rob Dow, is it because you’ve found out about this woman?”

“You’re a pack o’ liars,” roared Rob, desperately, “and if you say again that ony wandering hussy has haud o’ the minister, I’ll let you see whether I can loup at throats.”

“You’ll swear by the Book.” asked Whamond, relentlessly, “that you’ve seen neither o’ them this nicht, nor them thegither at any time?”

“I so swear by the Book,” answered poor loyal Rob.  “But what makes you look for Mr. Dishart here?” he demanded, with an uneasy look at the light in the mudhouse.

“Go hame,” replied the precentor, “and deliver up the machine you stole, and leave this Session to do its duty.  John, we maun fathom the meaning o’ that licht.”

Dow started, and was probably at that moment within an ace of felling Whamond.

“I’ll come wi’ you,” he said, hunting in his mind for a better way of helping Gavin.

They were at Nanny’s garden, but in the darkness Whamond could not find the gate.  Rob climbed the paling, and was at once lost sight of.  Then they saw his head obscure the window.  They did not, however, hear the groan that startled Babbie.