them. A
splendid tent was erected on the brae north of the town, and round that
the countless congregation assembled. When they were all waiting
anxiously for the great preacher, behold, Robin Ruthven set up his head
in the tent, and warned his countrymen to beware of the doctrines they
were about to hear, for he could prove, to their satisfaction, that
they were all false, and tended to their destruction!

"'The whole multitude raised a cry of indignation against Robin, and
dragged him from the tent, the elders rebuking him, and the multitude
threatening to resort to stronger measures; and, though he told them a
plain and unsophisticated tale of the black corbies, he was only
derided. The great preacher appeared once more, and went through his
two discourses with increased energy and approbation. All who heard him
were amazed, and many of them went into fits, writhing and foaming in a
state of the most horrid agitation. Robin Ruthven sat on the outskirts
of the great assembly, listening with the rest, and perceived what
they, in the height of their enthusiasm, perceived not the ruinous
tendency of the tenets so sublimely inculcated. Robin kenned the voice
of his friend the corby-craw again, and was sure he could not be wrong:
sae, when public worship was finished, a' the elders an' a' the gentry
flocked about the great preacher, as he stood on the green brae in the
sight of the hale congregation, an' a' war alike anxious to pay him
some mark o' respect. Robin Ruthven came in amang the thrang, to try to
effect what he had promised; and, with the greatest readiness and
simplicity, just took baud o' the side o' the wide gown, and, in sight
of a' present, held it aside as high as the preacher's knee, and,
behold, there was a pair o' cloven feet! The auld thief was fairly
catched in the very height o' his proud conquest, an' put down by an
auld carl. He could feign nae mair, but, gnashing on Robin wi' his
teeth, he dartit into the air like a fiery dragon, an' keust a reid
rainbow o'er the taps o' the Lowmonds.

"'A' the auld wives an weavers o' Auchtermuchty fell down flat wi'
affright, an' betook them to their prayers aince again, for they saw
the dreadfu' danger they had escapit, an' frae that day to this it is a
hard matter to gar an Auchtermuchty man listen to a sermon at a', an' a
harder ane still to gar him applaud ane, for he thinks aye that he sees
the cloven foot peeping out frae aneath ilka sentence.

"'Now, th