“It’s enough that I do ken,” the Egyptian answered.  “And this mair I ken, that the captain of the soldiers is confident he’ll nab every one o’ you that’s wanted anless you do one thing.”

“What is ’t?”

“If you a’ run different ways you’re lost, but if you keep thegither you’ll be able to force a road into the country, whaur you can scatter.  That’s what he’s fleid you’ll do.”

“Then it’s what we will do.”

“It is what you will not do,” Gavin said passionately.  “The truth is not in this wicked woman.”

But scarcely had he spoken when he knew that startling news had reached the square.  A murmur arose on the skirts of the mob, and swept with the roar of the sea towards the town-house.  A detachment of the soldiers were marching down the Roods from the north.

“There’s some coming frae the east-town end,” was the next intelligence; “and they’ve gripped Sanders Webster, and auld Charles Yuill has given himsel’ up.”

“You see, you see,” the gypsy said, flashing triumph at Gavin.

“Lay down your weapons,” Gavin cried, but his power over the people had gone.

“The Egyptian spoke true,” they shouted; “dinna heed the minister.”

Gavin tried to seize the gypsy by the shoulders, but she slipped past him down the stair, and crying “Follow me!” ran round the town-house and down the brae.

“Woman!” he shouted after her, but she only waved her arms scornfully.  The people followed her, many of the men still grasping their weapons, but all in disorder.  Within a minute after Gavin saw the gleam of the ring on her finger, as she waved her hands, he and Dow were alone in the square.

“She’s an awfu’ woman that,” Rob said.”  I saw her lauching.”

Gavin ground his teeth.

“Rob Dow,” he said, slowly, “if I had not found Christ I would have throttled that woman.  You saw how she flouted me?”

CHAPTER VI.

IN WHICH THE SOLDIERS MEET THE AMAZONS OF THRUMS

Dow looked shamefacedly at the minister, and then set off up the square.

“Where are you going, Rob?”

“To gie myself up.  I maun do something to let you see there’s one man in Thrums that has mair faith in you than in a fliskmahoy.”

“And only one, Rob.  But I don’t know that they want to arrest you.”

“Ay, I had a hand in tying the polissman to the—­”

“I want to hear nothing about that,” Gavin said, quickly.

“Will I hide, then?”

“I dare not advise you to do that.  It would be wrong.”

Half a score of fugitives tore past the town-house, and were out of sight without a cry.  There was a tread of heavier feet, and a dozen soldiers, with several policemen and two prisoners, appeared suddenly on the north side of the square.

“Rob,” cried the minister in desperation, “run!”