SCENERY OF THE BALLADS 107 



We are made to see that the ' morning sun is on 

 the dew,' to feel ' the cauler breeze frae off the 

 fells,' and to note here and there * the gryming of 

 a new-fa'n snaw.' When the king led his army 

 through Caddon ford, in pursuit of the outlaw 

 Murray, and came in sight of Ettrick forest, the 

 ballad tells how 



' They saw the darke Forest them before, 

 They thought it awsome for to see.' 



But perhaps the natural feature most frequently alluded 

 to in the tales of foray is the flooding of the rivers. In 

 those days bridges were few throughout the Border, 

 and thus a heavy downfall of rain might completely 

 sever all communication between the two sides of a 

 dale. To plunge into these swollen torrents was some- 

 times the only escape from pursuit, and required fully 

 as much courage and nerve as to stay and face the 

 approaching foe. In the famous ride to Carlisle for 

 the rescue of Kinmont Willie, the party found when 

 they came to the Eden that 



' The water was great and meikle of spate.' 



But they dashed into it, losing neither man nor 

 horse, but encountering still worse weather on the 

 English side — 



' The wind began fu' loud to blaw ; 

 But 'twas wind and weet and fire and sleet 

 When they came beneath the castle waV 



On their return with their rescued comrade to the 

 river, they saw that it ' flowed frae bank to brim,' but 

 nothing daunted, they plunged into the flood and 



