178 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



like hunter f Mr. M'Kenzie Grieve was on the flower of his flock, but 

 the name has Hkewise escaped me. 



The day's alloy was now at hand — namely, the ride home, nearly 

 twenty miles, with a horse in a doubtful state. He carried me, however, 

 tolerably well when in company with the party who were making their 

 way for Cornhill, where their hacks were awaiting their arrival ; but 

 after having stopped at a blacksmith's shop, at the end of about four 

 miles, my situation was by no means an enviable one. Losing the ex- 

 citement of good company, my nag began to exhibit awful symptoms of 

 being tired when I got him under weigh again, and one which I had 

 never experienced before. This was, " his forming up," a-la-dragoon, to 

 every coal-carthorse he overtook on the road, and scraping acquaintance 

 with him, by a neigh. However, by easing him of my weight for the 

 greater part of the distance, and coaxing him along over the remainder, 

 I got him to Cornhill, with the intention of leaving him there for the 

 night; but as there was not a hack to be procured, a pint of sherry 

 and an hour's rest, enabled him to carry me to Kelso. 



The party from Dunse had not left Cornhill when I arrived there on my 

 tired horse, having been detained by two separate causes — first, to 

 refresh themselves after the fatigues of the day, for independently of the 

 run, the morning had been rude and tempestuous ; and secondly, they were 

 under alarm for the safety of Mr. Charles Lamb, who by his not having 

 made his appearence either at the finish, or at Cornhill, where his hack 

 was planted, it was feared might have been left in the Till; the alarm, 

 however, was groundless ; but how he disposed of his time, or where else 

 he crossed the Tweed, I forgot, subsequently, to inquire. 



