"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.
"There's nobody there," he said, coming back, "but Nanny and Sanders.
You'll mind Sanders was to be freed the day."
"I'll go in and see Sanders," said Hendry, but the precentor pulled
him back, saying, "You'll do nothing o' the kind, Hendry Munn; you'll
come awa wi' me now to the manse."
"It's mair than me and Peter'll do, then," said Spens, who had been
consulting with the other farmer. "We're gaun as straucht hame as the
darkness'll let us."
With few more words the Session parted, Spens and Tosh setting off for
their farms, and Hendry accompanying the precentor. No one will ever
know where Dow went. I can fancy him, however, returning to the wood,
and there drawing rein. I can fancy his mind made up to watch the
mudhouse until Gavin and the gypsy separated, and then pounce upon
her. I daresay his whole plot could be condensed into a sentence, "If
she's got rid o' this nicht, we may cheat the Session yet." But this
is mere surmise. All I know is that he waited near Nanny's house, and
by and by heard another trap coming up Windyghoul. That was just
before the ten o'clock bell began to ring.
Chapter Thirty-Two.