186 IMPERFECT INCANTATION. 



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 

 Corbie's 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 running 

 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 prudent 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- 

 gerous sandbank over the spot where this curious iron 

 boat is deposited ; and, as the mode of dissipating shoals 



* 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. 



