THOMAS OF ERCILDOUNE 195 



formed the scoop of his shovel into an iron boat, in 

 which he 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 Doup 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 wizard with bell, book, and candle ; and they 

 would have run 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 the 

 devil beat them all hollow at Little-Dean stream, 



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

 salmon cast. 



