snow；　and　in　summer　with　stones；　and　then　the　feud　between　the　old
  and　new　town！
  One　day　I　was　standing　on　the　ramparts　of　the　Castle　on　the　south…
  western　side　which　overhangs　the　green　brae；　where　it　slopes　down
  into　what　was　in　those　days　the　green　swamp　or　morass；　called　by
  the　natives　of　Auld　Reekie　the　Nor　Loch；　it　was　a　dark　gloomy　day；
  and　a　thin　veil　of　mist　was　beginning　to　settle　down　upon　the　brae
  and　the　morass。　　I　could　perceive；　however；　that　there　was　a
  skirmish　taking　place　in　the　latter　spot。　　I　had　an　indistinct　view
  of　two　parties　…　apparently　of　urchins　…　and　I　heard　whoops　and
  shrill　cries：　　eager　to　know　the　cause　of　this　disturbance；　I　left
  the　Castle；　and　descending　the　brae　reached　the　borders　of　the
  morass；　where　were　a　runnel　of　water　and　the　remains　of　an　old
  wall；　on　the　other　side　of　which　a　narrow　path　led　across　the
  swamp：　　upon　this　path　at　a　little　distance　before　me　there　was　'a
  bicker。'　　I　pushed　forward；　but　had　scarcely　crossed　the　ruined
  wall　and　runnel；　when　the　party　nearest　to　me　gave　way；　and　in
  great　confusion　came　running　in　my　direction。　　As　they　drew　nigh；
  one　of　them　shouted　to　me；　'Wha　are　ye；　man？　are　ye　o'　the　Auld
  Toon？'　　I　made　no　answer。　　'Ha！　ye　are　o'　the　New　Toon；　De'il　tak
  ye；　we'll　moorder　ye'；　and　the　next　moment　a　huge　stone　sung　past
  my　head。　　'Let　me　be；　ye　fule　bodies；'　said　I；　'I'm　no　of　either　of
  ye；　I　live　yonder　aboon　in　the　Castle。'　　'Ah！　ye　live　in　the
  Castle；　then　ye're　an　auld　tooner；　come　gie　us　your　help；　man；　and
  dinna　stand　there　staring　like　a　dunnot；　we　want　help　sair　eneugh。
  Here　are　stanes。'
  For　my　own　part　I　wished　for　nothing　better；　and；　rushing　forward；
  I　placed　myself　at　the　head　of　my　new　associates；　and　commenced
  flinging　stones　fast　and　desperately。　　The　other　party　now　gave　way
  in　their　turn；　closely　followed　by　ourselves；　I　was　in　the　van；　and
  about　to　stretch　out　my　hand　to　seize　the　hindermost　boy　of　the
  enemy；　when；　not　being　acquainted　with　the　miry　and　difficult　paths
  of　the　Nor　Loch；　and　in　my　eagerness　taking　no　heed　of　my　footing；
  I　plunged　into　a　quagmire；　into　which　I　sank　as　far　as　my
  shoulders。　　Our　adversaries　no　sooner　perceived　this　disaster；
  than；　setting　up　a　shout；　they　wheeled　round　and　attacked　us　most
  vehemently。　　Had　my　comrades　now　deserted　me；　my　life　had　not　been
  worth　a　straw's　purchase；　I　should　either　have　been　smothered　in
  the　quag；　or；　what　is　more　probable；　had　my　brains　beaten　out　with
  stones；　but　they　behaved　like　true　Scots；　and　fought　stoutly　around
  their　comrade；　until　I　was　extricated；　whereupon　both　parties
  retired；　the　night　being　near　at　hand。
  'Ye　are　na　a　bad　hand　at　flinging　stanes；'　said　the　lad　who　first
  addressed　me；　as　we　now　returned　up　the　brae；　'your　aim　is　right
  dangerous；　mon；　I　saw　how　ye　skelpit　them；　ye　maun　help　us　agin
  thae　New　Toon　blackguards　at　our　next　bicker。'
  So　to　the　next　bicker　I　went；　and　to　many　more；　which　speedily
  followed　as　the　summer　advanced；　the　party　to　which　I　had　given　my
  help　on　the　first　occasion　consisted　merely　of　outlyers；　posted
  about　half…way　up　the　hill；　for　the　purpose　of　overlooking　the
  movements　of　the　enemy。
  Did　the　latter　draw　nigh　in　any　considerable　force；　messengers　were
  forthwith　despatched　to　the　'Auld　Toon；'　especially　to　the　filthy
  alleys　and　closes　of　the　High　Street；　which　forthwith　would
  disgorge　swarms　of　bare…headed　and　bare…footed　'callants；'　who；
  with　gestures　wild　and　'eldrich　screech　and　hollo；'　might
  frequently　be　seen　pouring　down　the　sides　of　the　hill。　　I　have　seen
  upwards　of　a　thousand　engaged　on　either　side　in　these　frays；　which
  I　have　no　doubt　were　full　as　desperate　as　the　fights　described　in
  the　ILIAD；　and　which　were　certainly　much　more　bloody　than　the
  combats　of　modern　Greece　in　the　war　of　independence：　　the　callants
  not　only　employed　their　hands　in　hurling　stones；　but　not
  unfrequently　slings；　at　the　use　of　which　they　were　very　expert；　and
  which　occasionally　dislodged　teeth；　shattered　jaws；　or　knocked　out
  an　eye。　　Our　opponents　certainly　laboured　under　considerable
  disadvantage；　being　compelled　not　only　to　wade　across　a　deceitful
  bog；　but　likewise　to　clamber　up　part　of　a　steep　hill；　before　they
  could　attack　us；　nevertheless；　their　determination　was　such；　and
  such　their　impetuosity；　that　we　had　sometimes　difficulty　enough　to
  maintain　our　own。　　I　shall　never　forget　one　bicker；　the　last　indeed
  which　occurred　at　that　time；　as　the　authorities　of　the　town；
  alarmed　by　the　desperation　of　its　character；　stationed　forthwith　a
  body　of　police　on　the　hill…side；　to　prevent；　in　future；　any　such
  breaches　of　the　peace。
  It　was　a　beautiful　Sunday　evening；　the　rays　of　the　descending　sun
  were　reflected　redly　from　the　gray　walls　of　the　Castle；　and　from
  the　black　rocks　on　which　it　was　founded。　　The　bicker　had　long　since
  commenced；　stones　from　sling　and　hand　were　flying；　but　the　callants
  of　the　New　Town　were　now　carrying　everything　before　them。
  A　full…grown　baker's　apprentice　was　at　their　head；　he　was　foaming
  with　rage；　and　had　taken　the　field；　as　I　was　told；　in　order　to
  avenge　his　brother；　whose　eye　had　been　knocked　out　in　one　of　the
  late　bickers。　　He　was　no　slinger　or　flinger；　but　brandished　in　his
  right　hand　the　spoke　of　a　cart…wheel；　like　my　countryman　Tom
  Hickathrift　of　old　in　his　encounter　with　the　giant　of　the
  Lincolnshire　fen。　　Protected　by　a　piece　of　wicker…work　attached　to
  his　left　arm；　he　rushed　on　to　the　fray；　disregarding　the　stones
  which　were　showered　against　him；　and　was　ably　seconded　by　his
  followers。　　Our　own　party　was　chased　half…way　up　the　hill；　where　I
  was　struck　to　the　ground　by　the　baker；　after　having　been　foiled　in
  an　attempt　which　I　had　made　to　fling　a　handful　of　earth　into　his
  eyes。　　All　now　appeared　lost；　the　Auld　Toon　was　in　full　retreat。　　I
  myself　lay　at　the　baker's　feet；　who　had　just　raised　his　spoke；
  probably　to　give　me　the　COUP　DE　GRACE；　…　it　was　an　awful　moment。
  Just　then　I　heard　a　shout　and　a　rushing　sound；　a　wild…looking
  figure　is　descending　the　hill　with　terrible　bounds；　it　is　a　lad　of
  some　fifteen　years；　he　is　bare…headed；　and　his　red　uncombed　hair
  stands　on　end　like　hedgehogs'　bristles：　　his　frame　is　lithy；　like
  that　of　an　antelope；　but　he　has　prodigious　breadth　of　chest；　he
  wears　a　military　undress；　that　of　the　regiment；　even　of　a　drummer；
  for　it　is　wild　Davy；　whom　a　month　before　I　had　seen　enlisted　on
  Leith　Links　to　serve　King　George　with　drum　and　drumstick　as　long　as
  his　services　might　be　required；　and　who；　ere　a　week　had　elapsed；
  had　smitten　with　his　fist　Drum…Major　Elzigood；　who；　incensed　at　his
  inaptitude；　had　threatened　him　with　his　cane；　he　has　been　in
  confinement　for　weeks；　this　is　the　first　day　of　his　liberation；　and
  he　is　now　descending　the　hill　with　horrid　bounds　and　shoutings；　he
  is　now　about　five　yards　distant；　and　the　baker；　who　apprehends　that
  something　dangerous　is　at　hand；　prepares　himself　for　the　encounter；
  but　what　avails　the　strength　of　a　baker；　even　full　grown？　…　what
  avails　the　defence　of　a　wicker　shield？　…　what　avails　the　wheel…
  spoke；　should　there　be　an　opportunity　of　using　it；　against　the
  impetus　of　an　avalanche　or　a　cannon…ball？　…　for　to　either　of　these
  might　that　wild　figure　be　compared；　which；　at　the　distance　of　five
  yards；　sprang　at　once　with　head；　hands；　feet　and　body；　all
  together；　upon　the　champion　of　the　New　Town；　tumbling　him　to　the
  earth　amain。　　And　now　it　was　the　turn　of　the　Old　Town　to　triumph。
  Our　late　discomfited　host；　returning　on　its　steps；　overwhelmed　the
  fallen　champion　with　blows　of　every　kind；　and　then；　led　on　by　his
  vanquisher；　who　had　assumed　his　arms；　namely；　the　wheel…spoke　and
  wicker　shield；　fairly　cleared　the　brae　of　their　adversaries；　whom
  they　drove　down　headlong　into　the　morass。
  CHAPTER　VIII
  Expert　climbers　…　The　crags　…　Something　red　…　The　horrible　edge　…
  David　Haggart　…　Fine　materials　…　The　greatest　victory　…
  Extraordinary　robber　…　The　ruling　passion。
  MEANWHILE　I　had　become　a　daring　cragsman；　a　character　to　which　an
  English　lad　has　seldom　opportunities　of　aspiring；　for　in　England
  there　are　neither　crags　nor　mountains。　　Of　these；　however；　as　is
  well　known；　there　is　no　lack　in　Scotland；　and　the　habits　of
  individuals　are　invariably　in　harmony　with　the　country　in　which
  they　dwell。　　The　Scotch　are　expert　climbers；　and　I　was　now　a　Scot
  in　most　things；　particularly　in　language。　　The　Castle　in　which　I
  dwelt　stood　upon　a　rock；　a　bold　and　craggy　one；　which；　at　first
  sight；　would　seem　to　bid　defiance　to　any　feet　save　those　of　goats
  and　chamois；　but　patience　and　perseverance　generally　enable　mankind
  to　overcome　things　which；　at　first　sight；　appear　impossible。
  Indeed；　what　is　there　above　man's　exertions？　　Unwearied
  determination　will　enable　him　to　run　with　the　horse；　to　swim　with
  the　fis