COQUET SIDE. 497 



respectful manner to Menie Temple ; for setting aside that she her- 

 self might possibly be able to chastise any town-bred impertinence, 

 she possesseth in her husband a stalwarth young shepherd, who has 

 at least a score of belts and medals to show as tokens of his success in 

 athletic exercises. The myriads of sheep which find, among the 

 sweet short herbage of these verdant hills, the food which seems to be 

 peculiarly favourable for the breed denominated " the Cheviot," are 

 never counted but once a-year ; viz. at shearing time. Yet, though 

 this seems to give one the idea rather of the " wild flock that never 

 needs a fold," and that depredations might with ease be committed 

 upon them undiscovered, the fact itself is widely different. The 

 shepherd's dog is here found more sagacious than in any other dis- 

 trict. The shepherd sends his dog through among the flock, and in 

 storms or sunshine he will know, by the expression of the faithful and 

 sagacious animal, on his return, whether all is well or not with his 

 flock. If a sheep or lamb is dead or in distress, and the dog himself 

 cannot extricate it, he leads his master to the spot. The anecdotes 

 of the sagacity of these animals among the Cheviots are innumerable, 

 and surpassing the belief of those who only see him in towns and 

 sophisticated by human society alone. But here, at the bend of this 

 burn, is a record of the terrible calamities which sometimes befal the 

 flocks among the mountains. Here the bones of at least half a hun- 

 dred sheep are scattered about, having evidently been swept into the 

 burn in a flood, and deposited by some former eddy of the swollen 

 waters. The storm has burst unexpectedly upon the hills, and 

 while doubtless many of the poor animals were overwhelmed in the 

 snow-drifts, others have sought the shelter of the steep mountain-side 

 at a little distance. A rapid thaw has succeeded, a thousand streams 

 have at once torn down the descent, and the helpless flock swept 

 down and drowned in the boiling and foaming depths of this very 

 burn which now trickles clear and shallow over the scarcely covered 

 pebbles. 



Here is Milkhope-spout ! Hark, through the din of the falling 

 water, how the hoarse raven croaks ; and lo ! at that shout what innu- 

 merable " corby caws," hawks, kites, and other birds of prey have 

 issued from their unhallowed retreats and darken the very air. In 

 the maws of these voracious birds will be the grave of many a tender 

 lamb before June is out. One would think the souls of all the most 

 ferocious moss-troopers were winging about us in these obscene fowls, 

 condemned to perform for ever, in successive shapes, the deeds of 

 blood and butchery which formed the occupation of their human 

 lives. A deadly hatred does the Cheviot shepherd bear to Milkhope- 

 spout, and to the vulture inhabitants of its dark and terrific recesses. 



The shadows are now striding over the valley, and beginning to 

 creep up the sides of the mountains. The curlew is filling all the 

 hollows with his long musical melancholy wail, and the moorcock is 

 calling his family to evening prayer. The " bonny lucken-gowan 

 has faulded up her e'e," and the sheep and lambs are lying on the 

 mountain side, grouped like the stars in the firmament. The young 

 moon is peering pale over the edge of the hills, waiting timidly, like 

 an eastern bride, till her lord disappears, that she may shine out in 



