And at that, with a yell, the long man leaped over the fire and had me by the throat.
My bones were too sore and weary to make resistance.

He dragged me to the ground before the tent, while the rest set up a skirling that deafened my wits.

There he plumped me down, and stood glowering at me like a cat with a sparrow.
"Who are ye, and what do ye here, disturbing the remnant of Israel ?" says he.
I had no breath in me to speak, so one of the men answered.
"Some gangrel body, precious Mr.John," he said.
"Nay," said another; "it's a spy o' the Amalekites." "It's a herd frae Linton way," spoke up a woman.

"He favours the look of one Zebedee Linklater." The long man silenced her.

"The word of the Lord came unto His prophet Gib, saying, Smite and spare not, for the cup of the abominations of Babylon is now full.