HISTORY OF THE LINLITHGOW 



But see, for a moment, the good hounds are out : 

 Not so Tom Rintoul,^ who has wheel'd them about, 



While one blast of the horn 



Brings them back to yon thorn, 

 Round which the old villain has doubled no doubt. 



" Down the strip, for a thousand ! — old Bedford ^ has spoken, 



I ne'er knew him utter such language in vain ; 

 And see ! — in a phalanx compact and unbroken, 



Away bursts the pack on their quarry again." — 

 Away to the northward, — away thro' Bangour, 

 West Binny is passed ; — " will he earth in the Muir 1 " 

 " Who is that on his back, 

 In that deep boggy slack 1 " 

 " I think it is ' Gamus ' (a), but am not quite sure." 



He'll have none of the Long Muir, this prince of a beast. 



Spurns Eiccarton wood, and disdains Cockleroi, 

 Turns his brush to the covers, — his head to the east, 



And passes the old tower of Ochiltree bye : 

 Who shall tell of the scores that pull'd up in despair, 

 When grim Binny crag rear'd his head in the air 1 

 " Five guineas I'll wager 

 That yonder's the Major,^ 

 Gone down like a diver, along with his mare ! " 



The pace is too good for condolence to utter 



One word of enquiry ; — " head, — leg, — collar-bone 1 " 



The motto seems here, — " every man his own shutter," 

 And here even Johnny (h) is deaf to a groan. 



(a) The Hon. James Sandilands. 



(6) Professor John Lizars ; who asserts that he is deaf in one ear, and 



invariable/ chances to have that ear in the right direction on 



these occasions. 



1 Tom Rintoul, first whipper-in. 



2 Bedford. Vide p. 134. 



' Probably Major Shairp of Houstoun. 



138 



