THOMAS OF ERCILDOUNE. 205 



man, but that no enchantment could subsist in a run- 

 ning stream. Arrived there, he 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 abos 7 e Dry burgh, 

 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 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 



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

 salmon cast. 



