Says—"Honest man, will the water ride?

Tell us in haste, if that ye can."

"I wat weel no," quo' the gude auld man;

"I hae lived here threty years and thrie,

And I ne'er yet saw the Tyne sae big,

Nor running anes sae like a sea."

[223]

Then out and spak the Laird's saft Wat,

The greatest coward in the cumpanie;

"Now halt, now halt! we need na try't;