Part 45 (2/2)

The old dog's hurts proved less severe than had at first seemed possible. His good gray coat, forest-thick about his throat, had never served him in such good stead. And at length, the wounds washed and sewn up, he jumped down all in a hurry from the table and made for the door.

”Noo, owd lad, yo' may show us,” said the Master, and, with Andrew, hurried after him down the hill, along the stream, and over Langholm How. And as they neared the Stony Bottom, the sheep, herding in groups, raised frightened heads to stare.

Of a sudden a cloud of poisonous flies rose, buzzing, up before them; and there in a dimple of the ground lay a murdered sheep. Deserted by its comrades, the glazed eyes staring helplessly upward, the throat horribly worried, it slept its last sleep.

The matter was plain to see. At last the Black Killer had visited Kenmuir.

”I guessed as much,” said the Master, standing over the mangled body.

”Well, it's the worst night's work ever the Killer done. I reck'n Th'

Owd Un come on him while he was at it; and then they fought. And, ma word! it munn ha' bin a fight too.” For all around were traces of that terrible struggle: the earth torn up and tossed, bracken uprooted, and throughout little dabs of wool and tufts of tawny hair, mingling with dark-stained iron-gray wisps.

James Moore walked slowly over the battlefield, stooping down as though he were gleaning. And gleaning he was.

A long time he bent so, and at length raised himself.

”The Killer has killed his last,” he muttered; ”Red Wull has run his course.” Then, turning to Andrew: ”Run yo' home, lad, and fetch the men to carry yon away,” pointing to the carca.s.s, ”And Bob, lad, yo 'ye done your work for to-day, and right well too; go yo' home wi' him. I'm off to see to this!”

He turned and crossed the Stony Bottom. His face was set like a rock.

At length the proof was in his hand. Once and for all the hill-country should be rid of its scourge.

As he stalked up the hill, a dark head appeared at his knee. Two big grey eyes; half doubting, half penitent, wholly wistful, looked up at him, and a silvery brush signalled a mute request.

”Eh, Owd Un, but yo' should ha' gone wi' Andrew,” the Master said.

”Hooiver, as yo' are here, come along.” And he strode away up the hill, gaunt and menacing, with the gray dog at his heels.

As they approached the house, M'Adam was standing in the door, sucking his eternal twig. James Moore eyed him closely as he came, but the sour face framed in the door betrayed nothing. Sarcasm, surprise, challenge, were all writ there, plain to read; but no guilty consciousness of the other's errand, no storm of pa.s.sion to hide a failing heart. If it was acting it was splendidly done.

As man and dog pa.s.sed through the gap in the hedge, the expression on the little man's face changed again. He started forward.

”James Moore, as I live!” he cried, and advanced with both hands extended, as though welcoming a long-lost brother. ”'Deed and it's a weary while sin' ye've honored ma puir hoose.” And, in fact, it was nigh twenty years. ”I tak' it gey kind in ye to look in on a lonely auld man.

Come ben and let's ha' a crack. James Moore kens weel hoo welcome he aye is in ma bit biggin'.”

The Master ignored the greeting.

”One o' ma sheep been killed back o' t' d.y.k.e,” he announced shortly, jerking his thumb over his shoulder.

”The Killer?”

”The Killer.”

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