206 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



the devil beat them all hollow at Little-Dean stream, 

 which, being swift, rocky, and shallow, suited his style 

 of navigation admirably. Now there was, and still is, 

 a witch dwelling on the craigs near Makerstoun, at the 

 Corbies Nest, who, by a deception in magic called 

 glamour, assumes the semblance of a crow. She was 

 a sort of ally of Michael Scott, and flew forth, croaking 

 her hoarsest and best upon the occasion. How far her 

 power extended, and what she did, I have never heard ; 

 but certain it is that the wizard landed that his magic 

 might have effect, and with or without her assistance, 

 endeavoured to "bridle the Tweed with a curb of 

 stone;" but his left foot insensibly touching the run- 

 ning stream, the work was imperfect and disunited, so 

 that the whole volume of the river gushed through 

 the rocks in gorges with such appalling violence, that 

 neither he of Ercildoune or the Frati thought it pru- 

 dent to follow." 



Michael now, seeing the pursuit after his familiar 

 was vain on the water, remained ashore, and summoned 

 another spirit who was subservient to him, in the shape 

 of a coal-black horse, and springing on him, said, as was 

 his custom, " Mount, Diabolus, and fly ;" but he was 

 scarcely firm in his seat before the little devil got down 

 to sea, where he sunk his boat, and vanished to the 

 bad place from whence he came. There is still a dan- 



* These rocks are called the "troughs," or in Scotch, "trows," 

 and are under the beautiful grounds of Makerstoun. A very active 

 gentleman, who resides a few miles higher up the river, has in very 

 low water leaped from rock to rock, and thus crossed the Tweed 

 without wetting his feet. 



