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s to the sky； and bend his body in the direction of the moon。 But he never uttered a word。
'It's magic；' said Archie。 'He's going to raise Satan。 We must bide here and see what happens； for he'll grip us if we try to go back。 The moon's ower high。'
The procession continued as if to some slow music。 I had been in no fear of the adventure back there by our cave； but now that I saw the thing from close at hand； my courage began to ebb。 There was something desperately uncanny about this great negro； who had shed his clerical garments； and was now practising some strange magic alone by the sea。 I had no doubt it was the black art； for there was that in the air and the scene which spelled the unlawful。 As we watched； the circles stopped； and the man threw something on the fire。 A thick smoke rose of which we could feel the aromatic scent； and when it was gone the flame burned with a silvery blueness like moonlight。 Still no sound came from the minister； but he took something from his belt； and began to make odd markings in the sand between the inner circle and the fire。 As he turned； the moon gleamed on the implement； and we saw it was a great knife。
We were now scared in real earnest。 Here were we； three boys； at night in a lonely place a few yards from a savage with a knife。 The adventure was far past my liking； and even the intrepid Archie was having qualms； if I could judge from his set face。 As for Tam； his teeth were chattering like a threshing…mill。
Suddenly I felt something soft and warm on the rock at my right hand。 I felt again； and； lo！ it was the man's clothes。 There were his boots and socks； his minister's coat and his minister's hat。
This made the predicament worse； for if we waited till he finished his rites we should for certain be found by him。 At the same time； to return over the boulders in the bright moonlight seemed an equally sure way to discovery。 I whispered to Archie； who was for waiting a little longer。 'Something may turn up；' he said。 It was always his way。
I do not know what would have turned up； for we had no chance of testing it。 The situation had proved too much for the nerves of Tam Dyke。 As the man turned towards us in his bowings and bendings； Tam suddenly sprang to his feet and shouted at him a piece of schoolboy rudeness then fashionable in Kirkcaple。
'Wha called ye partan…face； my bonny man？' Then； clutching his lantern； he ran for dear life； while Archie and I raced at his heels。 As I turned I had a glimpse of a huge figure； knife in hand； bounding towards us。
Though I only saw it in the turn of a head； the face stamped itself indelibly upon my mind。 It was black； black as ebony； but it was different from the ordinary negro。 There were no thick lips and flat nostrils； rather； if I could trust my eyes； the nose was high…bridged； and the lines of the mouth sharp and firm。 But it was distorted into an expression of such a devilish fury and amazement that my heart became like water。
We had a start； as I have said； of some twenty or thirty yards。 Among the boulders we were not at a great disadvantage； for a boy can flit quickly over them； while a grown man must pick his way。 Archie； as ever； kept his wits the best of us。 'Make straight for the burn；' he shouted in a hoarse whisper； we'll beat him on the slope。'
We passed the boulders and slithered over the outcrop of red rock and the patches of sea…pink till we reached the channel of the Dyve water； which flows gently among pebbles after leaving the gully。 Here for the first time I looked back and saw nothing。 I stopped involuntarily； and that halt was nearly my undoing。 For our pursuer had reached the burn before us； but lower down； and was coming up its bank to cut us off。
At most times I am a notable coward； and in these days I was still more of one； owing to a quick and easily…heated imagination。 But now I think I did a brave thing； though more by instinct than resolution。 Archie was running first； and had already splashed through the burn； Tam came next； just about to cross； and the black man was almost at his elbow。 Another second and Tam would have been in his clutches had I not yelled out a warning and made straight up the bank of the burn。 Tam fell into the pool … I could hear his spluttering cry … but he got across； for I heard Archie call to him； and the two vanished into the thicket which clothes all the left bank of the gully。 The pursuer； seeing me on his own side of the water； followed straight on； and before I knew it had become a race between the two of us。
I was hideously frightened； but not without hope； for the screes and shelves of this right side of the gully were known to me from many a day's exploring。 I was light on my feet and uncommonly sound in wind； being by far the best long… distance runner in Kirkcaple。 If I could only keep my lead till I reached a certain corner I knew of； I could outwit my enemy； for it was possible from that place to make a detour behind a waterfall and get into a secret path of ours among the bushes。 I flew up the steep screes； not daring to look round； but at the top； where the rocks begin； I had a glimpse of my pursuer。 The man could run。 Heavy in build though he was he was not six yards behind me； and I could see the white of his eyes and the red of his gums。 I saw something else … a glint of white metal in his hand。 He still had his knife。
Fear sent me up the rocks like a seagull； and I scrambled and leaped； making for the corner I knew of。 Something told me that the pursuit was slackening； and for a moment I halted to look round。 A second time a halt was nearly the end of me。 A great stone flew through the air； and took the cliff an inch from my head； half…blinding me with splinters。 And now I began to get angry。 I pulled myself into cover； skirted a rock till I came to my corner； and looked back for the enemy。 There he was scrambling by the way I had come； and making a prodigious clatter among the stones。 I picked up a loose bit of rock and hurled it with all my force in his direction。 It broke before it reached him； but a considerable lump； to my joy； took him full in the face。 Then my terrors revived。 I slipped behind the waterfall and was soon in the thicket； and toiling towards the top。
I think this last bit was the worst in the race； for my strength was failing； and I seemed to hear those horrid steps at my heels。 My heart was in my mouth as； careless of my best clothes； I tore through the hawthorn bushes。 Then I struck the path and； to my relief； came on Archie and Tam； who were running slowly in desperate anxiety about my fate。 We then took hands and soon reached the top of the gully。
For a second we looked back。 The pursuit had ceased； and far down the burn we could hear the sounds as of some one going back to the sands。
'Your face is bleeding； Davie。 Did he get near enough to hit you？' Archie asked。
'He hit me with a stone。 But I gave him better。 He's got a bleeding nose to remember this night by。'
We did not dare take the road by the links； but made for the nearest human habitation。 This was a farm about half a mile inland； and when we reached it we lay down by the stack… yard