Hoofbeats of ghostly steeds on every hill,

Mysterious, muffled hoofs on every bluff!

Spurred echo horses clattering up the rough

Confluent draws! These flying Jamie heard.

The lagging air droned like the drowsy word

Of one who tells weird stories late at night.

Half headlong joy and half delicious fright,

His day-dream’s pace outstripped the plunging steed’s.

Lean galloper in a wind of splendid deeds,

Like Hugh’s, he seemed unto himself, until,