ight have been, but really
the position was unbearable. We made no headway at all, and I suppose we
were scarce gotten a mile away from Cramond, when the whole _Senatus
Academicus_ was heard hailing, and doubling the pace to overtake us.

Some of them were fairly presentable; and they were all Christian
martyrs compared to Rowley; but they were in a frolicsome and rollicking
humour that promised danger as we approached the town. They sang songs,
they ran races, they fenced with their walking-sticks and umbrellas;
and, in spite of this violent exercise, the fun grew only the more
extravagant with the miles they traversed. Their drunkenness was
deep-seated and permanent, like fire in a peat; or rather--to be quite
just to them--it was not so much to be called drunkenness at all, as the
effect of youth and high spirits--a fine night, and the night young, a
good road under foot, and the world before you!

I had left them once somewhat unceremoniously; I could not attempt it a
second time; and, burthened as I was with Mr. Rowley, I was really glad
of assistance. But I saw the lamps of Edinburgh draw near on their
hill-top with a good deal of uneasiness, which increased, after we had
entered the lighted streets, to positive alarm. All the passers-by were
addressed, some of them by name. A worthy man was stopped by Forbes.
"Sir," said he, "in the name of the Senatus of the University of
Cramond, I confer upon you the degree of LL.D.," and with the words he
bonneted him. Conceive the predicament of St. Ives, committed to the
society of these outrageous youths, in a town where the police and his
cousin were both looking for him! So far we had pursued our way
unmolested, although raising a clamour fit to wake the dead; but at
last, in Abercromby Place, I believe--at least it was a crescent of
highly respectable houses fronting on a garden--Byfield and I, having
fallen somewhat in the rear with Rowley, came to a simultaneous halt.
Our ruffians were beginning to wrench off bells and door-plates!

"O, I say!" says Byfield, "this is too much of a good thing! Confound
it, I'm a respectable man--a public character, by George! I can't afford
to get taken up by the police."

"My own case exactly," said I.

"Here, let's bilk them," said he.

And we turned back and took our way down hill again.

It was none too soon: voices and alarm bells sounded; watchmen here and
there began to spring their rattles; it was plain the University of