take the road by the links, but made for the nearest
human habitation. This was a farm about half a mile inland, and when
we reached it we lay down by the stack-yard gate and panted.

'I've lost my lantern,' said Tam. 'The big black brute! See if I
don't tell my father.'

'Ye'll do nothing of the kind,' said Archie fiercely. 'He knows
nothing about us and can't do us any harm. But if the story got out
and he found out who we were, he'd murder the lot of US.'

He made us swear secrecy, which we were willing enough to do, seeing
very clearly the sense in his argument. Then we struck the highroad
and trotted back at our best pace to Kirkcaple, fear of our families
gradually ousting fear of pursuit. In our excitement Archie and I
forgot about our Sabbath hats, reposing quietly below a whin bush on
the links.

We were not destined to escape without detection. As ill luck would
have it, Mr Murdoch had been taken ill with the stomach-ache after the
second psalm, and the congregation had been abruptly dispersed. My
mother had waited for me at the church door, and, seeing no signs of
her son, had searched the gallery. Then the truth came out, and, had I
been only for a mild walk on the links, retribution would have
overtaken my truantry. But to add to this I arrived home with a
scratched face, no hat, and several rents in my best trousers. I was
well cuffed and sent to bed, with the promise of full-dress
chastisement when my father should come home in the morning.

My father arrived before breakfast next day, and I was duly and soundly
whipped. I set out for school with aching bones to add to the usual
depression of Monday morning. At the corner of the Nethergate I fell
in with Archie, who was staring at a trap carrying two men which was
coming down the street. It was the Free Church minister--he had married
a rich wife and kept a horse--driving the preacher of yesterday to the
railway station. Archie and I were in behind a doorpost in a
twinkling, so that we could see in safety the last of our enemy. He was
dressed in minister's clothes, with a heavy fur-coat and a brand new
yellow-leather Gladstone bag. He was talking loudly as he passed, and
the Free Church minister seemed to be listening attentively. I heard
his deep voice saying something about the 'work of God in this place.'
But what I noticed specially--and the sight made me forget my aching
hinder parts--was that he had a swollen eye, and two strip