for Sandy my brother.

As he came nearer the roar of greeting swelled and lifted. I declare I
was proud of him. Even Robert Hamilton had gotten no such greeting. I
had not thought that our Sandy was so well-kenned a man. And I forgave
him for flouting me.

"Mother," I said, "that is our Sandy they are cheering!"

"Think ye I kenned not that! Whaur has he come frae?" she said. "I
wonder if Jean Hamilton kens."

It was like my mother to think first of others; but in a little she
said,

"I trust I am not overproud, that my bairn is so honoured."

And indeed it made us all proud that Sandy was thus greatly thought of.
So in a little he also took his place on the Session Stone, and made
another young head among the grey beards. Soon he was called upon to
speak, and in his sounding voice he began to tell of his message from
the kirks of Holland, and to commend patience and faithfulness. They say
that every man that stood to arms among the Seven Thousand heard him
that day. Aye, and that even the watchers upon the tops caught many
blessed words and expressions, which the light winds blew them in wafts.
Saving Richard Cameron's alone, there was no such voice as Sandy's heard
in Scotland during all his time.

Then Robert Hamilton rose and spoke, counselling that since there were
so many present, they should once more and immediately fall to arms.

But one of the most venerable men there present, rose.

"Robin, ye are but one of the Council of Twelve, and ye know that our
decision is to wait the man and the hour. It beseems you, then, either
to speak within the order of the Society or to be silent."

Last of all the young man rose, he of the pale countenance and the
clustering hair.

"It is young Mr. James Renwick, who is going abroad to study and be
ordained at Groningen in the Low Countries," said one near to me. And
indeed he was mightily changed so that I had scarce known him.

The lad's voice was sweet and thrilling, persuasive beyond belief. In
especial, coming after the mighty roaring of the Bull of Earlstoun (so
they called Sandy) and the rasping shriek of Robin Hamilton, it had a
great effect upon me. There came a sough from the people as his words
ran over them, like a soothing and fanning wind blowing winningly among
the trees of the wood.

So the day passed and the gladness of the people increased, till some of
us felt that it was like the golden gates of heaven just to be there.
For the passion of a m