"Wha are you rinnin awa from, my lad?"
"Sir!"
There was a moment's angry silence. Suddenly David raised his hand, shaded his eyes and peered keenly down the hills. Mr. Semple followed this movement with great interest.
"What are you looking at, Mr. Scott? Oh! I see. Two men coming up this way. Do you know who they are?"
"They may be gangers or they may be strangers, or they may be policemen—I dinna ken them mysel'."
"Mr. Scott! For God's sake, Mr. Scott! Don't give me up, and I will tell you the whole truth."
"I thought so!" said David, sternly. "Well, come up the hills wi' me; yon men will be here in ten minutes, whoever they are."
There were numerous places of partial shelter known to the shepherd, and he soon led the way to a kind of cave, pretty well concealed by overhanging rocks and trailing, briery stems.
The two sat down on a rude granite bowlder, and the elder having waited until his companion had regained his breath, said:
"You'll fare best wi' me, lad, if you tell the truth in as few words as may be; I dinna like fine speeches."