RAB AND HIS FRIENDS 



" Rab ! " he said roughly, and pointing with 

 his thumb to the bottom of the bed. Rab 

 leapt up, and settled himself, his head and eye 

 to the dead face. " Maister John, ye'll wait 

 for me," said the carrier ; and disappeared in 

 the darkness, thundering down stairs in his 

 heavy shoes. I ran to a front window : there 

 he was, already round the house, and out at 

 the gate, fleeing like a shadow. 



I was afraid about him, and yet not afraid ; 

 so I sat down beside Rab, and, being wearied, 

 fell asleep. I awoke from a sudden noise out- 

 side. It was November, and there had been 

 a heavy fall of snow. Rab was in statu quo ; he 

 heard the noise too, and plainly knew it, but 

 never moved. I looked out ; and there, at the 

 gate, in the dim morning, for the sun was not 

 up, was Jess and the cart a cloud of steam 

 rising from the old mare. I did not see James ; 

 he was already at the door, and came up the 

 stairs and met me. It was less than three 

 hours since he left, and he must have posted 

 out who knows how ? to Howgate, full nine 



39 



