DOW (threateningly). Do you say I’m no a RELIGIOUS MAN?
(CRUICKSHANKS draws back in fear, then moves a step. DOW’S expression changes.)
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth —
CRUICKSHANKS (following him, puzzled). What’s that?
DOW (turning slowly to cruickshanks). I promised him if I was in a fury to repeat these names and then he said my passion would have passed away. (Humbly) Joe, I’m ashamed o’ mysel’.
(Gazes at town.)
CRUICKSHANKS (looking after him, amazed at his sincerity). This beats cockfighting.
(The unseen town clock begins to strike ten.)
(At third strike) Ten o’clock, my watching is ended. (Heaps sticks on fire.)
(While the clock strikes, sergeant DAVIDson and another Soldier enter stealthily on rocks. At sight of watchers, DAVIDson signs to Soldier to retire. Soldier and DAVIDson retire. Clock stops.)
CRUICKSHANKS. Wake up, Snecky — Tammas, wake up!
(Shaking them.)
WHAMOND (a very stern tall man). Is all quiet?
CRUICKSHANKS. All’s quiet. We need have no fear o’ the red-coats coming this night.
WHAMOND. Whaur is Rob Dow?
CRUICKSHANKS. There he stands, watching the lights o’ the town go out. Rob Dow, the bonny swearer that was, and now not so much as one lonely damn on him!
WHAMOND (sternly). Joe Cruickshanks, swear not at all.
DOW (who had taken his cap off while clock was striking and has it now in his hand). I wasna watching the lights o’ the toon go out; I was watching one light that winna go out for hours.
WHAMOND (seated at fire and not looking round). Ay, the red light — that’s Mr. Dishart’s window. There he sits studying far into the night — a beacon, yes, a shining light to us all.
SNECKY (who is an echo of WHAMOND). A beacon, ay, it’s well said.
CRUICKSHANKS. It fair amazes me! The Little Minister — that insignificant man — hasna been in Thrums a month — and yet see what he has made o’ Rob Dow — roaring, drunken, cussin’ Rob Dow! How did he manage it, Rob?
DOW. I’ll tell you. It was the very first day he preached here. I was in the kirk making sport of him, when all at once he flung out his arm at me like this, and says he sternly, ‘Come forward.’ And when I wouldna budge, the little critter loupit out o’ the pulpit and grippit me by the neck: ‘Thou hulking man of sin,’ he roared, as if it were the Day of Judgment, ‘sit down on the stair and listen to me or I’ll run you out of the house of God!’ Then he shook me like a rat! It was grand.
WHAMOND. And ever since that day Rob Dow has been as one born again.
SNECKY. He has — oh ay. Drink is a terrible snare, except maybe on solemn occasions.
WHAMOND. I say unto you, drink not at all. But if I did touch this thing, it would need a mighty skite of drink to move me, something far beyond the possibilities of the likes of you.
SNECKY. Oh yes, it would, oh yes.
DOW. But I have a hard tussle wi’ mysel’ yet, when the craving for drink is on me. ‘Send your laddie, send little Micah for me at any hour of the day or night,’ he said,’ and I’ll come to you straight and sit wi’ you the long night through’ — and by God, he has kept his word. So now you see what that red light is to me.
WHAMOND. And to all of us. For it means that no temptation that is of the earth earthly, will draw Gavin Dishart from his heavenly studies.
(RED LIGHT SUDDENLY GOES OUT.)
CRUICKSHANKS. The light’s out!
(All are taken aback.)
SNECKY (rising). Losh, Tammas, what think you does this mean?
WHAMOND (pulling snecky down again). It only means that he has been called away on some errand of mercy.
CRUICKSHANKS (coming down from rocks). Dinna be so sure; what would you say if it meant he had gone out to meet the temptation that is of the earth earthly? Does that mean a woman, Tammas?
WHAMOND. Peace, thou blasphemer!
DOW (looking at his pike, considering whether he shall strike CRUICKSHANKS with it or not, then flinging it down he comes down to CRUICKSHANKS and takes him by the throat). You leering mole-catcher — (hurling him to ground and threatening.)
CRUICKSHANKS (dragging himself away, warningly). Genesis, Exodus, Joshua —
DOW. Eh? (succumbs.)
WHAMOND. I say to thee also, Rob Dow, peace — make not an idol of any man.
DOW (going towards WHAMOND). You mak’ an idol o’ him yoursel’.
WHAMOND (to SNECKY, ashamed). It’s true!
SNECKY (ashamed). I canna help it.
CRUICKSHANKS. Ay, ay, lads, you have A terrible faith in him, but it doesna keep you frae deceiving him —— —
OMNES. Eh?
CRUICKSHANKS. Yes, deceiving him, every one o’ you.
(All are angry.)
OMNES. Eh?
CRUICKSHANKS. What would he say, think you, if he was to find out that night after night when his window is a beacon — (Mimicking WHAMOND) — yea, a shining light to you all, you are up here, breaking the law?
(All are shamefaced.)
WHAMOND. Man’s law!
DOW and SNECKY. Ay, man’s law!
(DOW sits by fire.)
CRUICKSHANKS. Ay, and ready to break men’s heads. This is a simple-looking horn, but what would he say if he kent that three blasts on it is to be the signal to the town that the red-coats are coming? Some night when all is as still as the grave he’ll hear this horn blow three times, and then he’ll see that sleeping town waken into life and his holy congregation gathering to defy the sojers of the King.
OMNES. Ay, to defy them!
CRUICKSHANKS. What will he say to that — you religious critturs?
(By this time all the lights in the town are out.)
DOW (starting up). Whisht! (Moves on to rocks.)
WHAMOND. Did you hear anything?
(WHAMOND and SNECKY rise.)
CRUICKSHANKS. Quick! Quick!
(All seize weapons, micah dow, a boy, runs on excitedly up rocks.)
MICAH (running to dow). Father!
DOW. Is it the red-coats? Joe, the horn!
(CRUICKSHANKS picks up horn and is about to blow.)
MICAH. No, it’s Mr. Dishart.
WHAMOND. The Minister!
MICAH. NOW you’ll catch it, Tammas.
WHAMOND (PICKS UP HIS PIKE AND HELPS WITH FIRE). Down wi’ the horn!
(CRUICKSHANKS THROWS HORN DOWN AGAIN.)
Hide your pikes!
(MICAH CLIMBS TREE, CRUICKSHANKS HIDES HORN IN MOUND OF LEAVES, CROSSES TO FIRE, HELPS TO TRAMPLE IT OUT, THEN GETS UP ON ROCKS, WHAMOND TAKES PIKE, SNECKY DOES LIKEWISE, DOW ASSISTS WITH PUTTING OUT OF FIRE.)
SNECKY. If he prays, we ‘re done for.
(Enter gavin sternly.)
GAVIN (on rocks). Tammas Whamond, all of you — what do you here at this hour?
WHAMOND