PART III.

Good fortune still attends the brave, As at an early hour, Intelligence a stranger gave, Where to extend my tour: I sprung my gelding to full speed, ’Till I explor’d the spot, And found by dint of heels my steed To the rear rank had got. First three I found on Thropton Hill, There basking with their brood; The rest were seen from Snitter Mill, Past Cartington to crowd: From Silverside, by Lorbottle, To Trewhit Mains I march’d, By Netherton, through Screnwood Dell, And Fawdon Fell I search’d. To Prendick Peak, and Alnham Moor, And all adjacent grounds; O’er Ingram Edge, I stretch’d my tour, To seek that spacious bounds: From Revely, Greenshaws, Hartside Hill, To Linhope Spout with speed; On Shillmoor Shank found strayers still, To Rawhope Rig recede. To Milkhope, Memmer Kirk, and Haigh, And Cushet Law I por’d; To Carlcroft, and Kidlandlea, Dryhope, and Usway Ford: The Maiden’s Cross, and Windy Gyle, And Cheviot’s skirts curv’d round; To Fleehope—but the front-rank file At Langlee Ford I found. Benighted, where these brutes did browse, Upon the border bent; I could not retrogade my ewes, Some couchant seem’d content: At the stock-farmer of that place, For lodgings did enquire, And there receiv’d a sweet solace, Next morning to retire. I ask’d both master and his men, For one a-wanting still; Who all declar’d they did not ken. Of stray sheep on their hill: Squads to collect I did remount, O’er hills and dales I cross’d; And that one short of my account, I then gave up for lost.