BOYHOOD IN GALLOWAY 27 



of the valley. There was no need, he said, to bear 

 to the right to where the road commenced, for 

 we might strike it at a point nearer to our des- 

 tination. 



It was an unlucky idea of the Skipper's, that 

 short-cut, as short-cuts often are ; for the farther we 

 advanced on the low ground, the worse the bogs 

 became. Having gone over a treacherous-looking 

 green carpet, the whole of which shook and quivered 

 for yards around, we were finally drawn up by a 

 deep, dark, and apparently bottomless, silently- 

 flowing stream, some yards wide ; evidently a side- 

 burn, swollen by the rains, taking its course to the 

 main river. Reluctantly, and with that dogged 

 taciturnity so well described by the good old Scotch 

 word "dourness," we retraced our steps, and made 

 for the commencement of the road. " At any rate," 

 we said, "where the road crosses that deep-flowing 

 and foul burn which has turned us back, there will 

 be a bridge." That was a foolish remark, bred of 

 the confidence of youth 1 There was no bridge ; 

 the road proudly ignored the existence of the burn, 

 wading straight through ; and we did likewise — 

 John and I nearly up to our waists. What did it 

 matter a little water more or less ? 



