s of them--for ye maun mind that I am one o'
the few surviving original members. We were a' sitting at our duty, when
in there came into the farm kitchen where we abode, Mr. Donald Cargill
himself. He was leaning upon his staff, and his head was hanging down.
We desisted from our worship and looked at him steadfastly, for we saw
that the hand of the Lord had been upon him and that for grief. So we
waited for the delivery of his testimony.

"'My heart is heavy,' he said at long and last, 'for the people of the
wilderness are delivered over to the gainsayer, and that by reason of
John Gib, called Muckle John, sailor in Borrowstounness, and presently
leading the silly folks astray.' Then he told them how he had wrestled
with the Gibbites mightily in the Spirit, and had been overthrown.
Whereat he was notified that the hearts of all those that hated the Way
would be lifted up.

"He also brought a copy of the foolish sheet called the 'Proclamation of
the Sweet Singers,' which was much handed about among all the
persecutors at this time, and made to bring terrible discredit on the
sober and God-fearing folk of the South and West, who had nothing
whatever to do with the matter.

"'Let me see it,' said Anton Lennox, holding out his hand for it.

"Mr. Cargill gave it to him, saying sadly, 'The Spirit will not always
strive with them!'

"'Na,' said Auld Anton, 'but I'll e'en strive wi' them mysel'! Reek me
doon Clickie!'

"He spoke of his great herd's stave that had a shank of a yard and a
half long and was as thick as my wrist.

"'Come you, Sandy,' he cried over his shoulder as he strode out, 'and ye
will get your bellyful of Sweet Singing this day!'

"Now I did not want to move for the exercise was exceeding pleasant. But
my father also bade me go with Auld Anton, and as you know, it was not
easy to say nay to my father.

"It was over a moor that we took our way--silent because all the wild
birds had by with their nesting, and where Mr. Cargill had left the
company of John Gib was in a very desert place where two counties met.
But Auld Anton went stegging[4] over the hills, till I was fair driven
out of my breath. And ever as he went he drove his staff deeper and
dourer into the sod.

[Footnote 4: Walking rapidly with long steps.]

"It was a long season before we arrived at the place, but at last we
came to the top of a little brow-face, and stood looking at the strange
company gathered beneath us.

"There was a