THOMAS OF ERCILDOUNE. 185 



liis shovel into an iron boat, in which lie sat and 

 launched himself, using the handle as a rudder, round 

 which he twisted his tail that he might steer with the 

 greater nicety — tali auxilio — Michael, forgetting, in 

 the heat of his wrath, his impotence of enchantment in 

 a river, got into a fisherman's boat above Dryburgh, 

 and gave chase. Now this boat being more buoyant 

 than the imp's iron one, he gained fast upon him, and 

 just got hold of his tail in a long reach above Mertoun, 

 called ever after from that event " the Doiip Roads.'''' As 

 to whether the said usual appendage to a devil was 

 greased or not, tradition has left us in ignorance ; but it 

 eluded the grip, and the imp shot down a cauld, 

 through so rapid a gorge, that the warlock hesitated to 

 follow. 



And now a new scene presented itself; a third boat 

 came sweeping under the scaurs in their rear, and joined 

 the chase, its crew consisting of Thomas the Rhymer, 

 and two zealous fathers, who pursued the wnzard with 

 bell, book, and candle ; and they would have ran into 

 him a little below Craigover, but that he shot ashore ; 

 and then being on dry land, threw up by his art a bay 

 behind him to obstruct their passage, and thus jocky * 

 them ; but Thomas of Ercildoune, who was also a 

 powerful magician, opened a passage on the south side 

 of the river, and the monks only received a slight check. 

 In the meantime Michael launched again ; but tlic 

 devil beat them all hollow at Little-Dean stream, which, 



* This spot still goes by the name of Jocky Bay, and is a good 

 salmon cast. 



