184 Michael's imp. 



where he was commanded, and in two more journeys 

 formed the other two hills, just as we see them now, 

 only that they were bare of verdure. In his passage 

 a part fell out of the shovel, which is now called 

 Ruberslaw, which slovenly slip accounts for the in- 

 equality in point of size of the Eildons. At this slip 

 Michael was exceeding wrath, and pursued his imp 

 towards Tweedside to punish him. The imp had a 

 good start, and Michael lay rather out of his ground : 

 when the evil spirit came to old Melrose, he saw a 

 brave company of monks in the haugh, who had made 

 a kettle of Jish* , and were carousing with goodly 

 flagons of ale. It is said Thomas the Rhymer of 

 Ercildoune was with them, and that the prior, who 

 threw a long line, had been very successful with it 

 that morning, having had good sport in the Gateheugh 

 streams, and caught two clean fish in the Holy-wheel, 

 now called the Hally-wheel, a stream which he himself 

 tabooed upon the same principle that the Italians write 

 " Rispetto " on the walls, namely, to keep off intruders. 

 At the sight of so many pious men, the little imp 

 skulked behind a tree, and Michael himself was taken 

 aback, and ran cunning, making a cross cut over the 

 peninsula, in order to come in upon the imp below; 

 the latter being hardly pressed, made for the river, well 

 knowing that his task-master was not only a bad boat- 

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

 ning stream. Arrived there he formed the scoop of 



* It is still a custom to make parties and dress the salmon on 

 the spot immediately after their capture, which is called having a 

 kettle offish. 



