THE LATE SALM0 SALAR, ESQ. 49 



" One or two failures occurred, but with little 

 difficulty we surmounted the obstacle, and, 

 passing rapidly onwards by the low green 

 meadows and woody banks above Melrose, we 

 made no further pause till we reached that long 

 extent of unrivalled water, where may still be 

 seen the foundations of the old bridge, the gate 

 of which, in the days when the Monastery ' 

 was still entire, was kept by the churlish Peter, 

 the bridgeward. Here, again, choosing our 

 station behind a projecting stone, we rested ; 

 and, whilst many of our companions passed 

 onwards, a considerable number, and those of 

 a large size, took up their position around us. 

 Indeed, the place was, in every respect, satis- 

 factory, and adapted to our requirements. 

 Shelving gradually from the southern side, the 

 for x ce of the stream increased proportionately 

 with its depth, so that, with the least trouble, 

 we could seek such depth and strength of 

 water as suited our tastes for the time : except- 

 ing a few large stones, behind which we usually 

 lay, the bottom of the stream was perfectly 

 level; and, as the river made a considerable 

 angle on the opposite side, beneath the steep, 

 wood-crowned bank, we could at any time bask 



E 



