CHAP. n. ATTRACTIONS OF THE DEN BURN. 23 



out, and run away, by cross streets, to the Denburn 

 or the Inches. 



But that kind of truant-playing also got to be 

 known ; and then grannie had to drag him to school. 

 When she seized him by the " scruff o' the neck," 

 she had him quite tight. It was of no use attempting 

 to lie down or sit down. Her hand was like a vice, 

 and she kept him straight upon his feet. He tried 

 to wriggle, twist, turn himself round as on a pivot, 

 and then make a bolt. She nevertheless held on, and 

 dragged him to school, into the presence of Bell Hill, 

 and said, " Here's your truant ! " Tom's only chance 

 was to go along very quietly, making no attempt to 

 escape grannie's clutches, and then, watching for an 

 opportunity, he would make a sudden dart and slip 

 through her fingers. He ran, and she ran ; but in 

 running, Tom far outstripped her, for though grannie's 

 legs were very much longer than his, they were also 

 very much stiffer. 



The boy was sent one morning to buy three rolls 

 for breakfast ; but after he had bought the rolls, 

 instead of going home, he forgathered with three 

 loons, and accompanied them to the Denburn. He 

 got a lot of horse-leeches, and was in the act of get- 

 ting another when, looking in the water, he saw the 

 reflection of grannie approaching. When he felt her 

 fingers touching his neck, he let go the stone under 

 which the horse-leech was, and made a sudden bound 

 to the other side of the burn. He heard a heavy 



