182 FIELD AND FERN. 



Musselburgh, lie was through the hands of half the 

 cadgers of Edinburgh, and landed at last in a great 

 terrier-home at Birsieslees. The Doctor had a fearful 

 character with him, and as, after buying him, he 

 declined to pass a cart on any consideration, 

 a few half-crowns would have parted them. Once in 

 Hawick be declined to leave his stable for a fort- 

 night, and, when he did consent to go a mile out of 

 the town, he suddenly desired to return. The 

 Doctor was glad to let him come, though he did go 

 shopping all the way ; and then an eye-shade or 

 a pistol were the two last alternatives. 



Ancrum Bridge, where the Doctor may be often 

 seen sitting and waiting for the dawn and a sprink- 

 ling of the Border chivalry as well, and the Abbey 

 Bridge, near Jedburgh, are the favourite meets. The 

 Jeddites are especially keen of the fun, and somehow 

 or other they always seem to have the office. Three 

 hundred will often turn out to see the otter " die a 

 natural death,^^ and the Doctor finds no crowd so 

 accommodating and manageable. The late Duke of 

 Athole and Lord John Scott hunted a great deal in 

 these streams, and the Leader as well; and therefore 

 with such tutors, past and present, it is no wonder 

 that many of "the lads^' have the winds of 

 Arabs both for running by day and recounting by 

 nio'ht " the great worries in the water" ; how Billy 

 brought him out from under a root, and how Teddy, 

 Tom, and Shammy are always getting drowned, and 

 coming up again like a cork. Each hound hunts 



