-ground of gusts which swept the puddles into spindrift and
gave to the stagnant bog-pools the appearance of running water. The
wind was behind the travellers, and Mrs. Morran, like a full-rigged
ship, was hustled before it, so that Dickson, who had linked arms with
her, was sometimes compelled to trot.

"However will you get home, mistress?" he murmured anxiously.

"Fine. The wind will fa' at the darkenin'. This'll be a sair time for
ships at sea."

Not a soul was about, so they breasted the ascent of the station road
and turned down the grassy bypath to the Laverfoot herd's. The herd's
wife saw them from afar and was at the door to receive them.

"Megsty! Phemie Morran!" she shrilled. "Wha wad ettle to see ye on a
day like this? John's awa' at Dumfries, buyin' tups. Come in, the
baith o' ye. The kettle's on the boil."

"This is my nevoy Dickson," said Mrs. Morran. "He's gaun to stretch
his legs ayont the burn, and come back by the Ayr road. But I'll be
blithe to tak' my tea wi' ye, Elspeth.... Now, Dickson, I'll expect ye
hame on the chap o' seeven."

He crossed the rising stream on a swaying plank and struck into the
moorland, as Dougal had ordered, keeping the bald top of Grey Carrick
before him. In that wild place with the tempest battling overhead he
had no fear of human enemies. Steadily he covered the ground, till he
reached the west-flowing burn, that was to lead him to the shore. He
found it an entertaining companion, swirling into black pools, foaming
over little falls, and lying in dark canal-like stretches in the flats.
Presently it began to descend steeply in a narrow green gully, where
the going was bad, and Dickson, weighted with pack and waterproof, had
much ado to keep his feet on the sodden slopes. Then, as he rounded a
crook of hill, the ground fell away from his feet, the burn swept in a
water-slide to the boulders of the shore, and the storm-tossed sea lay
before him.

It was now that he began to feel nervous. Being on the coast again
seemed to bring him inside his enemies' territory, and had not Dobson
specifically forbidden the shore? It was here that they might be
looking for him. He felt himself out of condition, very wet and very
warm, but he attained a creditable pace, for he struck a road which had
been used by manure-carts collecting seaweed. There were faint marks
on it, which he took to be the wheels of Dougal's "machine" carrying
the provision-box. Yes. On a pat