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Close at hand Bessie Bolstock, who was reputed to have designs on David, was giggling spitefully at the pair in the Kenmuir wagon, and singing: "Let a lad aloan, lass, Let a lad a-be." While her father, Teddy, dodged in and out among the crowd with tray and glasses: for Cup Day was the great day of the year for him.
Stan' oop!" The knot of Dalesmen round the fire rises like one. The old man waves his mug before him, reckless of the good ale that drips on to the floor. "The best sheep-dog i' th' North Owd Bob o' Kenmuir!" he cries. In an instant there is uproar: the merry applause of clinking pewters; the stamping of feet; the rattle of sticks.
"Tie up!" he cried almost indignantly, as Owd Bob came galloping up to his whistle; "I think I see myself chainin' yo', owd lad, like any murderer. Why, it's yo' has kept the Killer off Kenmuir so far, I'll lay." At the lodge-gate was M'Adam, for once without his familiar spirit, playing with the lodge-keeper's child; for the little man loved all children but his own, and was beloved of them.
The two were never separated except only when M'Adam came home by the path across Kenmuir. After that first misadventure he never allowed his friend to accompany him on the journey through the enemy's country; for well he knew that sheep-dogs have long memories. To the stile in the lane, then, Red Wull would follow him.
The supremacy of one would be decided once and for all. For win or lose, it was the last public appearance of the Gray Dog of Kenmuir. And as every hour brought the great day nearer, nothing else was talked of in the country-side. The heat of the Dalesmen's enthusiasm was only intensified by the fever of their apprehension.
"Ay, ay," the little man continued, "and in a day or two James Moore'll ha' anither tale to tell ye a better tale, ye'll think it mair laffable. And yet ay -no -I'll no believe it! I niver loved James Moore, but I think, as Mr. Hornbut aince said, he'd rather die than lie. Owd Bob o' Kenmuir!" he continued in a whisper. "Up till the end I canna shake him aff.
So the two must return to Kenmuir, one behind the other, like a lady and her footman. David's audacity had more than once already all but caused a rupture between the pair. And the occurrence behind the hedge set the cap on his impertinences. That was past enduring and Maggie by her bearing let him know it. David tolerated the girl's new attitude for exactly twelve minutes by the kitchen clock.
At the back of the enclosure was drawn up a formidable array of carts and carriages, varying as much in quality and character as did their owners. There was the squire's landau rubbing axle-boxes with Jem Burton's modest moke-cart; and there Viscount Birdsaye's flaring barouche side by side with the red-wheeled wagon of Kenmuir.
The earth was throwing off its ice-fetters; and the Dale was lost in a mourning mist. In the afternoon M'Adam was standing at the window of the kitchen, contemplating the infinite weariness of the scene, when the door of the house opened and shut noiselessly. Red Wull raised himself on to the sill and growled, and David hurried past the window making for Kenmuir.
"He's not come to Kenmuir yet, nor he'll not so long as Th' Owd Un's loose, I reck'n." "Loose or tied, for the matter o' that," the little man rejoined, "Kenmuir'll escape." He made the statement dogmatically, snapping his lips. The Master frowned. "Why that?" he asked. "Ha' ye no heard what they're sayin'?" the little man inquired with raised eyebrows. "Nay; what?"
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