With shout and cry Red Rowan bore him on his shoulders down the long ladder, the irons clanking at every stride.
"Many a time," said Kinmont Willie, "have I ridden a horse both wild and unruly, but never have my legs bestrode a rougher beast than Red Rowan. Many a time have I pricked a horse over the furrows, but never since I backed a steed have I worn such cumbrous spurs."
Scarcely had they won the Staneshaw-bank when all the bells in Carlisle were ringing and Lord Scroope was after them with a thousand men on horse and on foot. But—
"Buccleuch has turn'd to Eden water
Even where it flowed frae bank to brim,
And he has plunged in wi' a' his band,
And safely swam them through the stream.
He turn'd him on the other side,
And at Lord Scroope his glove flung he—
'If ye like na my visit to merry England,
In fair Scotland come visit me!'
All sore astonished stood Lord Scroope,
He stood as still as rock of stane;
He scarcely dared to trew[#] his eyes,
When through the water they had gane.
[#] Trust
'He is either himsell a devil frae hell,
Or else his mother a witch maun be;
I wadna have ridden that wan water,
For a' the gowd[#] in Christentie.'"
[#] Gold
Chapter XXVIII
Dick o' the Cow
"Fair Johnie Armstrong to Willie did say
'Billie, a-riding we will gae.'"