204 THE HALY WIEL 



tables are turned. Once it behoved every Scot to keep 

 a good grip of his gear, and to hold his neighbours and 

 tenants ready to spring to the saddle at short notice, 

 unless he would have his cattle driven off by ' our auld 

 enemies of England.' But the golden tide sets north- 

 wards now, and what used to be reckoned an earl's 

 ransom is paid willingly by many a Southerner for the 

 right of fishing a mile or so of this famous stream, 

 whereby muckle and welcome siller comes among the 

 worthy dwellers on its banks ; which condition of 

 things doth mightily content those who own chartered 

 fishings, and they are not to blame if the chief interest 

 the wayfarer feels in them and their country has its 

 source in a social state, to return to which would bring 

 much discomfort to all of us. 



LXXVII 



Chief among the salmon casts in the Bemersyde 

 water is the Haly Wiel, or holy pool, so called, probably, 



The Haly because the monks of Dryburgh showed their 

 wiel discretion by annexing it. There is a tale of 

 dread connected with it, in which the present laird of 

 Bemersyde was one of the principal actors. I never 

 see that honourable gentleman without paying him 

 that tribute of silent respect which is due to one 

 who has passed through an irremediable sorrow. 



Now, the Haly Wiel is a long pool, into which the 

 Tweed, escaping from the unwonted turmoil of Gate- 

 heugh, rushes swiftly at right and, turning sharply to 

 the left, sweeps placidly round a steep wooded cliff on 



