76 Encounter with Tramps. [CHAP. Iv: 
the rocks, while attempting to descend to the sea-shore; and 
of the Regalia of Scotland, which had been concealed there 
during the wars of the Commonwealth. Thoughts of these 
things helped him on his way; but the constant thought 
that recurred to him was, how he could sell his knife and 
raise the other penny. 
As he was approaching Bervie, he met some lads on the 
road, and asked them, “ Will you buy a knife?’ ‘ Where 
did you steal it?” said the lads. Off went Edward, fol- 
lowed by a volley of stones. He walked on for a long 
time, until he got hot and tired. By that time he had 
walked about twenty-five miles. Then he sat down by the 
side of a spring to eat his oatmeal, and swallow it down 
with water. , 
After resting himself for a time, he started up, and set 
off at full speed for Montrose. On his way he saw numer- 
ous things that he would have liked to take with him, and 
numerous woods that be would have gone into and searched 
with right good will; but the thought of the journey be- 
fore him put all other things aside. Kettle was still a long 
way off; and, besides, he still wanted the additional pontage 
penny, in order to cross Montrose bridge. He went on and 
overtook a girl. He asked her if she would buy a knife. 
6 No ee 
He next overtook a man and woman with a lot of bairns. 
They looked rather suspicious. He tried to avoid them, 
and walked faster, but the man addressed him: “Stop a 
minute, laddie; ye’re in an awfy hurry!” “Yes,” said 
Edward, “I am in a hurry.” “But have ye ony baccy ?” 
“No, I have no baccy.” “Try if he has ony clink,” said 
the woman. “ Have ye ony brass?’ “No.” “Take him, 
ye sheep,” said the woman to her husband, “and squeeze 
him.” Tom, on hearing this, immediately betook himself 
to his heels, and, being a good runner, soon left them far 
behind. . 
At length he reached Montrose. Secing some boys gaz- 
