THE RAID. 195 



pleasant quarters, comfortable and cleanly rooms, sleep- 

 inviting beds, attentive landlord and landlady, and 

 daughters pleasant to look upon. What more could men 

 desire ? 



Half a mile above Dairy, the Ken turns abruptly to 

 the north, and entirely alters its character. Below that 

 place, and between it and Loch Ken, the river is generally 

 a somewhat slow-flowing stream with long deep pools, 

 and here and there a wide shallow ; above Dairy, except 

 in the neighbouiihood of the " Tinkler's Loup," already 

 mentioned, where a deep pool a quarter of a mile long 

 fills up a chasm in the tall rocks, it is a dancing stream, 

 broken up into rapid runs, eddies, pools, and shallows in 

 infinite variety. \\\ this stream the raiders found ample 

 room for the whole of them to fish, without interruption to 

 one another; and when evening came, their creels carried 

 greatly more weight than on the former day. Thus, in 

 healthful exercise and delightful occupation the time 

 passed away, and when they met around the dinner table 

 in the evening it was with appetites sharp as hunters', 

 hearts as merry and happy as children's, and heads free 

 from ache or care. Oft did the gentle Piscator replenish 

 the plates of his disciples, oft did the merry Venator 

 convulse his brethren with laughter, and render due 

 progress of the feast impossible. 



No friends are ever like those we have known as boys, 

 but these men turned lads once more, and their friendship 

 became as that of boys, to last, let us hope, as long. 



"When tlie dinner was over" — well, that was perhaps 

 not the least pleasant part of the time ; but Scholar, who 



