I looked where he pointed with his eyes, but could see nothing save a black dot, which seemed to rise and fall steadily. Nevertheless, the old man spoke the truth. It was, indeed, a swift rider making straight for the house of Kerse. As the man came nearer we saw him spur his horse till it stumbled and fell at the park dykes, weary or wounded, we could not tell which. This roused David Crauford, and he shouted to the man who now came on lamely on foot. ’Man, is the sow flitted?’ he cried. The man, peching and blown with his haste, could not answer till he came near. ’Is the sow flitted?’ again shouted the old man. ’Oh, Laird Kerse,’ cried the messenger, the tears trickling down his face, ’pity this sorrowfu’ day! There has been a waesome slaughter o’ your folk—ten o’ them are dead—’ ’Is the sow flitted?’ cried Crauford, louder than ever. ’Can you no answer, yea or nay?’ ’Oh, Kerse, hear me and weep; your braw and bonny son Jock, the flower of Kyle, is stricken through the heart, and lies cauld and dead on the ground.’ ’Scoundrel, dolt, yammering calf, answer or die. Is the sow flitted?’ The patriarch stood up on his feet, fiercely threatening the messenger with his staff. ’The sow is flitted,’ cried the man. That and no more. The old man fairly danced in a whirling triumph, cracking his fingers in the air with joy like a boy. ’My thumb for Jock!’ cried he, ’the sow’s flitted!’ And with that he dropped slack and senseless upon his great chair. The Minister took my arm and led me to the louping-on stone. ’Come away,’ he said sadly, ’it is no use. Ephraim hath too long been joined to his idols. Let him alone. It is as guid Maister Knox foretold. The Word of God is indeed made of none effect in Kyle and Carrick.’ *CHAPTER XIII* *THE TRYST AT MIDNIGHT* From Robert Harburgh I got the tidings of the disaster that had befallen the Cassillis’ arms soon after I had ridden away with the Minister of Edinburgh. The Craufords were in no hurry to come on in spite of all the taunts of the Earl, and the disordered noise of the foul beast which for despite he had tied on their lands. But they kept outposts on the hills about, and they looked often this way and that way—even I had seen them. Then began a waving of flags and crying of words, till once more their line settled into place, and from the north and the south at once fresh bands of horsemen came riding towards us. And as they came nearer, the Cassillis folk saw that they from the North were led on by James Mure the younger of Auchendrayne, and from the south there came the band of outlaws and robbers that called Thomas of Drummurchie their captain. On two sides these beset us, with only the river between, and the Craufords began to gather more closely than ever on our front.