CHAPTER I THE INVITATIONIt was late in the afternoon in the spring of the year 1630; thehilltops of the south of Scotland were covered with masses of cloud, anda fierce wind swept the driving rain before it with such force that itwas not easy to make way against it. It had been raining for three dayswithout intermission. Every little mountain burn had become a boilingtorrent, while the rivers had risen above their banks and flooded thelow lands in the valleys.The shades of evening were closing in, when a lad of some sixteen yearsof age stood gazing across the swollen waters of the Nith rushing pastin turbid flood. He scarce seemed conscious of the pouring rain; butwith his lowland bonnet pressed down over his eyes, and his plaidwrapped tightly round him, he stood on a rising hummock of ground at theedge of the flood, and looked across the stream.