“And naturally,” retorted Tosh, “for the nicht’s coming on as black as pick, and by the time we’re at Caddam we’ll no even see the trees.”

Toward Caddam, nevertheless, they advanced, hearing nothing but a distant wind and the whish of their legs in the broom.

“Whaur’s John Spens?” Hendry said suddenly.

They turned back and found Spens rooted to the ground, as a boy becomes motionless when he thinks he is within arm’s reach of a nest and the bird sitting on the eggs.

“What do you see, man?” Hendry whispered.

“As sure as death,” answered Spens, awe-struck, “I felt a drap o’ rain.”

“It’s no rain we’re here to look for,” said the precentor.

“Peter Tosh,” cried Spens, “it was a drap!  Oh, Peter! how are you looking at me so queer, Peter, when you should be thanking the Lord for the promise that’s in that drap?”

“Come away,” Whamond said, impatiently; “but Spens answered, “No till I’ve offered up a prayer for the promise that’s in that drap.  Peter Tosh, you’ve forgotten to take off your bonnet.”

“Think twice, John Spens,” gasped Tosh, “afore you pray for rain this nicht.”

The others thought him crazy, but he went on, with a catch in his voice: 

“I felt a drap o’ rain mysel’, just afore it came on dark so hurried, and my first impulse was to wish that I could carry that drap about wi’ me and look at it.  But, John Spens, when I looked up I saw sic a change running ower the sky that I thocht hell had taken the place o’ heaven, and that there was waterspouts gathering therein for the drowning o’ the world.”

“There’s no water in hell,” the precentor said grimly.

“Genesis ix.,” said Spens, “verses 8 to 17.  Ay, but, Peter, you’ve startled me, and I’m thinking we should be stepping hame.  Is that a licht?”

“It’ll be in Nanny Webster’s,” Hendry said, after they had all regarded the light.

“I never heard that Nanny needed a candle to licht her to her bed,” the precentor muttered.

“She was awa to meet Sanders the day as he came out o’ the Tilliedrum gaol,” Spens remembered, “and I daresay the licht means they’re hame again.”

“It’s well kent—­” began Hendry, and would have recalled his words.

Hendry Munn, “cried the precentor,” if you hae minded onything that may help us, out wi’t.”

“I was just minding,” the kirk officer answered reluctantly, “that Nanny allows it’s Mr. Dishart that has been keeping her frae the poorhouse.  You canna censure him for that, Tammas.”

“Can I no?” retorted Whamond.  “What business has he to befriend a woman that belongs to another denomination?  I’ll see to the bottom o’ that this nicht.  Lads, follow me to Nanny’s, and dinna be surprised if we find baith the minister and the Egyptian there.”

They had not advanced many yards when Spens jumped to the side, crying, “Be wary, that’s no the wind; it’s a machine!”