The Night of August Fourth Bie

stop his rain. Mr. Dishart said You was mair
powerful than the devil, but it doesna look like
it. If You had the power, how did You no stop
this woman working her will on the minister?
You kent what she was doing, for You ken a’
things. Mr. Dishart says You ken a’ things. If
You do, the mair shame to You. Would a
shepherd, that could help it, let dogs worry his
sheep? Kill her! It’s fine to cry ‘ Kill her,’
but whaur’s the bonfire, whaur’s the pool? You
that made the heaven and the earth, and all that
in them is, can You no set fire to some wet
whins, or change this stane into a mill-dam ?”’

He struck the stone with his fist, and then
gave a cry of exultation. He raised the great
slab in his arms and flung it from him. In that
moment Babbie might have run away, but she
fainted. Almost simultaneously with Dow she
knew this was the stone which covered the Cad-
dam well. When she came to, Dow was speaking,
and his voice had become solemn.

“You said your master was mair powerful than
mine, and I said it, too, and all the time you was
sitting here wi’ the very pool aneath you that I
have been praying for. Listen!”

He dropped a stone into the well, and she
heard it strike the water.

“What are you shaking at?” he said, in
reproof. “Was it no yoursel’ that chose the
spot? Lassie, say your prayers. Are you saying
them?”

He put his hand over her face, to feel if her
lips were moving, and tore off the neckerchief.

And then again the rain came between them.