The Egyptian 49

The minister's one thought was to find her,
but he searched in vain. She might be crossing
the hill on her way to Thrums, or perhaps she
was still laughing at him from behind a tree.
After a longer time than he was aware of, Gavin
realised that his boots were chirping and his
trousers streaked with mud. Then he abandoned
the search and hastened homewards in a rage.

From the hill to the manse the nearest way is
down two fields, and the little minister descended
them rapidly. Thrums, which is red in daylight,
was gray and still as the cemetery. He had
glimpses of several of its deserted streets. Too
the south the watch-light showed brightly, but
no other was visible. So it seemed to Gavin,
and then — suddenly —he lost the power to
move. He had heard the horn. Thrice it
sounded, and thrice it struck him to the heart.
He looked again and saw a shadow stealing along
the Tenements, then another, then half a dozen.
He remembered Mr. Carfrae’s words, “If you
ever hear that horn, I implore you to hasten to
the square,” and in another minute he had reached
the Tenements.

Now again he saw the gypsy. She ran past
him, half a score of men, armed with staves and
pikes, at her heels. At first he thought they
were chasing her, but they were following her as
a leader. Her eyes sparkled as she waved them
to the square with her arms.

“ The soldiers, the soldiers !”” was the universal
cry.

“Who is that woman?” demanded Gavin,

catching hold of a frightened old man.