A figure, muffled in a greatcoat, was seen stealing off through the shadows.
"God's curse on whoever that is," snarled Gourlay, "creeping up to listen to our talk!"
"I don't think so," said Johnny; "it seemed a young chap trying to hide himself."
Gourlay failed to get his securities. The baker, though a poor man, would have stood for him, if Tam Wylie would have joined; but Tam would not budge. He was as clean as gray granite, and as hard.
So Gourlay trudged home through the darkness, beaten at last, mad with shame and anger and foreboding.
The first thing he saw on entering the kitchen was his son—sitting muffled in his coat by the great fender.
FOOTNOTE:
[7] Stot, a bullock; to stot, to bound.