`` Well , '' said I , `` but a river can be swum . '' `` By them that have the skill of it , '' returned he ; `` but I have yet to hear that either you or me is much of a hand at that exercise ; and for my own part , I swim like a stone . '' `` I 'm not up to you in talking back , Alan , '' I said ; `` but I can see we 're making bad worse . If it 's hard to pass a river , it stands to reason it must be worse to pass a sea . '' `` But there 's such a thing as a boat , '' says Alan , `` or I 'm the more deceived . '' `` Ay , and such a thing as money , '' says I. `` But for us that have neither one nor other , they might just as well not have been invented . '' `` Ye think so ? '' said Alan . `` I do that , '' said I. `` David , '' says he , `` ye 're a man of small invention and less faith . But let me set my wits upon the hone , and if I cannae beg , borrow , nor yet steal a boat , I 'll make one ! '' `` I think I see ye ! '' said I. `` And what 's more than all that : if ye pass a bridge , it can tell no tales ; but if we pass the firth , there 's the boat on the wrong side -- somebody must have brought it -- the country-side will all be in a bizz -- '' `` Man ! '' cried Alan , `` if I make a boat , I 'll make a body to take it back again ! So deave me with no more of your nonsense , but walk -LRB- for that 's what you 've got to do -RRB- -- and let Alan think for ye . '' All night , then , we walked through the north side of the Carse under the high line of the Ochil mountains ; and by Alloa and Clackmannan and Culross , all of which we avoided : and about ten in the morning , mighty hungry and tired , came to the little clachan of Limekilns . This is a place that sits near in by the water-side , and looks across the Hope to the town of the Queensferry . Smoke went up from both of these , and from other villages and farms upon all hands . The fields were being reaped ; two ships lay anchored , and boats were coming and going on the Hope . It was altogether a right pleasant sight to me ; and I could not take my fill of gazing at these comfortable , green , cultivated hills and the busy people both of the field and sea . For all that , there was Mr. Rankeillor 's house on the south shore , where I had no doubt wealth awaited me ; and here was I upon the north , clad in poor enough attire of an outlandish fashion , with three silver shillings left to me of all my fortune , a price set upon my head , and an outlawed man for my sole company .
`` O , XXXXX ! ''
Alan Alloa Ay Carse David Queensferry Rankeillor country-side morning right