The Little Minister

DIS

k Street. Her hair was streaming,

t the mistress! I couldn

er beside him, bar

the skirls of women and bairns? Oh, Gavin, what ca

knew that Margaret felt fo

ve me to do my duty. I will take you myself if yo

tears. "Mr. Dishart,"' she cried, "if they ta

the fire, having nothing else to do, and boiled the kett

y and sped past to the square. In Bank Street, which was full move. He had heard the horn. Thrice it sounded, and thrice it struck him to the heart. He looked again and saw a shadow stealing along the

nd pikes, at her heels. At first he thought they were chasing her. but they were follo

e soldiers!" was

nded Gavin, catching hold

the man answered, "she's eg

at the sojers is coming. Put your ear to the ground,

he school wynd, the town drum began to beat, windows were thrown open, and sullen men ran out of closes wh

mole-catcher cried,

ruck dead if it's no'

colour, a gypsy elf poorly clad, her bare feet flashing beneath a short green skirt, a twig of rowan ber

let her feet linger in it, and flung up her arms, dancing more wantonly than before. A

, so that he shook his fist at her. She tripped on, but often turning her head beckoned and mocked him, and he forgot his dignity and his pulpit and all other things, and ran after her. Up Win

or perhaps she was still laughing at him from behind a tree. After a longer time than he was aware of, Gavin realised that

y and still as the cemetery. He had glimpses of several of its deserted streets. To the south the watch-light showed brightly, but no other was visible.

vin for the enemy. He had only one arm through t

the soldiers already

e there in

weak that Gavin

he soldiers have come for. If need be, I can swear that you had not t

or's-house gaping for Kitty and me, for I couldna weave half a web a week. If there's a warrant agin onybody o' the name of Yuill, swear it's me; swear I'm a desperate ch

quick rub-a-dub o

is hold of the old man, who ha

it's the folk gathering in the square.

w flung past with a scythe in h

Rob retorted, fiercely

at scythe; I

e scythe from him, but its rattle on

, and, picking it u

pened, and Dr. McQueen put out h

e if you are a wise man; or, better still, come in h

op their

e black blood betw

Mr. Dishart," c

er heed him,"

sert my people

that gypsy lassie out of the town before the soldiers reach i

would have been nipped in

t all shook their heads. The Egyptian, as they cal

he soldiers?" he asked. "Per

and were advancing on us from the south, but when they heard that we had got the alarm they stopped at

o those who had been listening. Then a str

on which the butter-wives sat have disappeared, and with them the clay walls and the outside stairs. Gone, too, is the stair of the town-house, from the top of which the drummer roared the gossip of the week on Sabbaths to country folk, to the scandal of all who knew that the proper thing on that day is to keep your bl

all armed with pikes and poles. Most were known to the little minister, but they wore faces that were new to him. Newcomers joined the body every moment. If the drill was clumsy the men were fierce. Hundreds of people gathered around, some screaming, some shaking their fists

ere, Mr. Dishart," St

of God I order you to leave me alone. If you don't,"

d and another cried, "He canna understand

ever, and Gavin cast hi

William Carmichael, T

bart, Henders Hagg

d that the minister would not take his eye

Cruickshanks, "it's better playing card

onded Gavin grimly, "you wi

the foot of the stai

rowd, and young Char

lord it ower us on w

bat

apons," Gavin sai

her. Hobart slipped hi

eapon," he

Dow entreated, "and I'll promise

aid bitterly, "are you the man

fell from R

oared to his companions, "o

precentor whispered, "but

d not know it, stretched forth his arms for silence, and it came

ung Charles Yuill. but even in that ho

Thy people, and they have sinned; but Thou art a merciful God, and they were sore tried, and kn

rd all round the square, and many we

the stones, "your wives and children may be shot in the streets. These soldiers

to him," crie

man, "for I'm ane o'

pti

er

should have denounced her, he only blinked, for once more her loveliness struck him

he cried; but she flu

essing the people, "I wouldna let myse

a," some

turned to her own sex, "that bid your men folk gang to gaol when a bold f

ied Gavin. "This abandoned wo

little man," the

at that anxious moment Gavin win

schief-maker," he shouted

that I wish you weel by the service I hae done yo

you; it

to bring the news, Listen

" Gavin cried; "listen n

me to a stop at the tap o' the brae instead o' marching on the town. Here's the reason. They agreed to march straucht to the square if the alarm

oubled, and many men lifted

Gavin. "How could a wande

you ken?" s

mair I ken, that the captain of the soldiers is confident he'l

t is

thegither you'll be able to force a road into the country

s what we

avin said passionately. "The tr

murmur arose on the skirts of the mob, and swept with the roar of the sea towards th

e next intelligence; "and they've gripped Sanders We

the gypsy said, flas

Gavin cried, but his powe

ue," they shouted; "di

she slipped past him down the stair, and crying "Fo

any of the men still grasping their weapons, but all in disorder. Within a minute after Gavin saw

n that," Rob said."

round h

ot found Christ I would have throttled