138 THE GLENKENS IN THE OLDEN TIMES. 
wandering in disguise among the hills of Kells and Minnigaff in 
1306, waiting until his friends raised an army to free the country 
from the troops of Edward I., he came one evening, wet and 
weary, to the Mill of Polmaddy and asked hospitality for the night, 
which was readily granted. Next day English soldiers came search- 
ing for Bruce. The miller’s wife, who was a clever, capable 
woman and a true patriot, at once suspecting that the stranger 
would be Bruce, told the soldiers that no man of that name was 
there, but that he (Bruce) would be gone on to Lochmaben. After 
the soldiers left, the miller’s wife asked the stranger if he was 
Bruce. He said he was, but asked to be allowed to remain for a 
few days longer until he got intelligence of his brother. The 
miller was zo¢ told who the stranger was, but was instructed to 
conceal him among the wheels of the mill if any more soldiers 
came. After two days more soldiers came, when Bruce was hid 
among the wheels, and again escaped. When he was crowned 
King of Scotland the miller’s wife gathered together all her friends 
and neighbours, and had a glorious pic-nic and holiday. They 
ascended Castlemaddy hill, and on the top built a cairn to com- 
memorate the success of King Robert. The cairn still stands, and 
is named “ The Carlin’s Cairn.” . 
There is an excavation on the top of Altrye hill called ‘the 
Whig’s hole.” It is a large hole scooped out of the hill top, 
capable of holding 100 men, and was much resorted to as a 
hiding-place during the time of the persecution. The place was 
so deep that anyone standing in it could not be seen from a dis- 
tance, but yet had the advantage of seeing an enemy approaching 
either by the old riding road from Sanquhar or from the valley of 
the Ken on the other side. 
The very oldest public work in Galloway, and consequently 
in the Glenkens, was the “ Deil’s Dyke” or ‘“ Pict’s Wall,’ which 
is described as a vast rampart running through Galloway and 
Nithsdale. It is supposed to have been erected as the boundary 
between two tribes. Probably it was built by the Scots after they 
had gained possession of Galloway, to guard against the incursions 
of the Picts, whom the Scots had driven to the northward. The 
foundation of the wall was eight feet broad, and it was eight feet 
high. It is now only seen at intervals among the hills where no 
alterations have been made. Much of it has been carted away to 
build dykes, and in several places where I have seen it there was 
