EARLY BOTANICAL RAMBLES. 1/5 



tempting flower, and, like Cowper on a similar occasion 

 on the banks of the Ouse, 



" Their beauties he intent surveyed, 



And one he wished his own. 

 With staff extended far, he sought 



To steer it close to land, 

 But still the prize, though nearly caught, 



Escaped his eager hand." 



Having no kindly spaniel, like Beau, to bring it to his 

 master, John did what the gentle poet would never have 

 thought of doing, and would have been shocked to attempt 

 had the idea occurred to him ; he stripped himself of his 

 nether integuments called by him " his breeks " and 

 waded into the loch ! It was a risk he should not have 

 run on an unknown muddy shore like that of the Loch 

 of Drum. He soon felt the bottom to be none of the 

 safest, but loth to give up when he had gone so far, he 

 advanced, and had just clutched the prize, when he sank 

 irretrievably in the soft, tenacious mud, every step only 

 increasing his danger. He would undoubtedly have 

 perished, had not his involuntary cries attracted the atten- 

 tion of a gentleman who was fishing from a boat at some 

 distance. Pulling with all his might, he was just in time to 

 save the too venturous and ardent botanist from a watery 

 grave, and bring him soaking, but grateful, to the banks. 



After John had related the adventure to his friend, 

 with great dramatic detail, William naturally remarked, 

 " But ye had lost yer lily aifter a'." " Na, na," at once 

 replied the mettlesome little man, " I brocht it alang wi' 

 me!" speaking in tones that revealed no end of the courage 

 and will that formed such strong features in his character. 

 He had never relinquished his hold of what he sought even 



