1914-15.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 395 



he having been one of them I had engadg'd. They told 

 me that it was some minuts after eleven and that the 

 Sentry was begun to call, but that nobody had gone up the 

 rock the Ladder not beeing as yet come, on which I scrambl'd 

 up to him as fast as I cou'd in order to encourage him. 

 Whenever he heard me he bid me welcome and letting 

 down a rope with four or five pieces of lead hanging at 

 the end of it desir'd me to dispatch supposeing I had the 

 ladder. I told him over and over as loud as I cou'd venture 

 that it was not yet come but he not seeing me nor hearing 

 what I said the wind then blowing so very high fell a 

 tugging, challenging me constantly say what I coud with the 

 most weaiysome repetition of these words. — 'Is it on, is 

 it fixt ? ' He told me he was not any of them my Brother 

 had spoke with but that he was imploy'd by Ainsly the 

 tothers being; reserv'd for another use and that all things 

 were in a noble dispo[siti]on for us but that we might 

 expect Lindsey at eleven and thus we spent a longer time 

 than twice our number might have gone in over. I desird 

 the Gentlemen below the Rock to send me up some body, 

 on which there came up two ; they told me that my 

 Brother and all the Company were as uneasy as the 

 Sentry or myself, on which I begd' they wou'd desire my 

 Brother ether to goe or send for it all in haste. In a litle 

 one of them return'd telling me my Brother had taken the 

 way as fast as he cou'd. Much about the time that I 

 reakone'd one hour near elaps'd which was all we desir'd 

 or expected I heard a confus'd noise of voices within, on 

 which I concluded our whole affair ruin'd but beeing rather 

 resolvt to perish than give the first suggestion of danger I 

 conceal'd it to the End beeing firmly resolv'd to push it to 

 the utmost counting it my glory to succumb in so honour- 

 able a design. Soon after my Brother dropt down at my 

 Feet in a worse pickle than Mr. M c Kenzie had been in with 

 this Expression ' My God, I'm quite spent.' After him 

 came one with the Ladder wrapt round his shouldiers on 

 the Sight of which I call'd up the Gentlemen who pleas d 

 me mightily with their alacrity. Whenever it was laid 

 down my Brother knot it to the string with all expedition 

 When the fellow was drawing it up I observ'd the blocks 

 were so small contrary to orders, that the wind twisted the 



