THE RAID. 205 



on the way is reached, a toll-bar, which effectually bars 

 any further progress until the sum of ninepence is 

 forthcoming. This found, the toll-wife smilingly opens 

 the legal barriers on the highway, and after Peter and 

 Corydon had begged a drink of the gudewife's cow's 

 milk (which was produced as soon as asked for), the three, 

 now on the descending slope of the hill, shortly arrived at 

 the end of their pleasant mountain drive, and were safely 

 landed at the Fintry Inn. 



The proprietor of the soil, to whose residence they at 

 once proceeded in order to ask permission to angle, was 

 from home, but being assured by those in charge of the 

 mansion that the request would be granted, they got 

 their piscatorial trappings in order, and walking less than 

 a hundred yards, found themselves on the bank of the 

 Endrick. To their surprise and disappointment the 

 stream was unwontedly small. The late heavy and 

 continuous rains, which seemed to have prevailed every- 

 where, had not visited the Vale of Fintry. But faint 

 heart never won a fair lady, and a dispirited angler never 

 made a good basket ; the anglers, therefore, addressed 

 themselves earnestly to their work, whipping the river 

 for a couple of hours, until it grew dark, losing the while 

 divers lines and casts, or meeting with the sundry 

 mishaps which fishermen encounter in their much-loved 

 pursuit. When they returned to their inn, their creels 

 were somewhat scantily furnished, but their hearts were 

 undaunted. Evening was spent after the manner of 

 raiders, the mountain dew being religiously ordered in 

 the standard " measure." 



