Then Vara would briskly leave the room to bid Boy Hugh hush his noisy calls to the chickens outside. Whereat Cleg Kelly would shake his head; but whether because Vara had left the room, or because he liked the simple, cheerful sounds of the yard coming into his chamber, Mirren Douglas did not know.
It was a clear morning, about seven o'clock, when Cleg came fully to himself. The trees upon the slope opposite stood black and hard against a pale green midwinter sky. Cleg watched the light grow clearer behind them as a chill wind from the south swayed the branches away from him. He had a delicious sense of reposefulness and physical well-being. But this was suddenly crossed and obliterated by the thought which came to him that he had lost his place. How long had he been lying here? He could not remember. His master—where was he? That hideous vision of his old life which swept over him like a very eruption of devildom—was it a dream, or a reality?
"The doctor! the doctor!" cried Cleg; "send for him quickly. I have something I must tell him."
And Vara sped obediently away, putting forth all the strength in her lithe young limbs to bring Doctor Sidey to Cleg Kelly as quickly as possible.
When he came in he looked at Cleg quickly.
"Worse?" he queried, half to the patient and half to Mirren Douglas, who stood by with folded hands.
"No," said Cleg, "not worse, doctor. But I have something to tell you which cannot wait."
The doctor motioned Vara and Mirren out of the room. And then, in hurried, breathless sentences, Cleg told the doctor of all that had taken place on the night of the attack. He still thought that it had been just the night before, and the doctor did not undeceive him.
"And the robbers are still in the house wi' my maister," Cleg asserted. "I think he is shut up in the strong-room. If he doesna come oot soon the room must be forced. But he never stays in it more than a night at a time, so he is sure to come oot in the mornin'."
"What did you say?" cried the doctor, surprised out of himself. "General Ruff in the strong-room—two robbers with him in the house! Why, it is plainly impossible—it is three weeks on Tuesday since you were hurt."