Strideleg

An' strideleg o'er a cask , He saw the likeness o' himsell, Just i' the dress that he coost aff;.

Land with feet crossed or strideleg.

At other times they marched along singly, the lords of creation stepping out with elastic tread and graceful bearing, carrying their light weapons with perhaps some game, the weaker vessel loaded with the chattels and possibly a baby on the back in a loop of a rug or sitting stride-leg on a shoulder.

“Aye,” he cried, with enthusiasm. “Man, where hae ye comed frae that ye haena heard o' Alexander-Jonita, the lass wha can tame a wild stallion that horse-dealers winna tackle, and ride it stride-leg like a man.

Though it's so long ago, and the interval packed so full of all kinds of memories and incidents and experiences, I can see myself, juast as if it was yesterday, coming home from my work; washing the stains of my day's labour off my face and hands; swallowing my supper — my books on the table before me all the time — and setting out for the class, not, however, without receiving a bit of good-natured taunt from the old woman, who " won'ers what hobby I'll strideleg next, an' ride tae the deevil."

Tradition says that amid the excitement of an execution, the city arabs occasionally managed to slip into the Tolbooth and strideleg this beam, either in bravado, or to enjoy the swaying motion imparted to it when the last penalty of the law was put into operation.