An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Deo-gréine > Volume 17, October 1921 to September 1922

154
AN DEO-GMNE.
Anns a’ cheud dol-a-mach, shaoileadh an
duine iruagh, an drasda ’us a rithisd, gu’n
d’fhuair e saor ’us i, agus theagamh, mu’n
cuireadh e an ath char dheth fhein, gur ann
a bhitheadh i ri a thaobh no ri a aodann.
Bha aon oidhche gu h-araidh, le uisge agus
sian a bha air a bhi ann fad thri laithean—
bha na h-uillt air bhuaireadh ’nan caoir, is
'nan deann-ruith sios thar gach bruaich, agus
cha robh dol a null no a nail ann do dhuine
beo.
Thainig gean is gaire air Domhnull an uair
a chunnaic e an oidhche a bh’ann. Shaoil
leis, bho nach robh comas aig muinntir an
t-saoghail-fo-thuinn* dol thairis air uisge
ruith, gu’m faigheadh e aon oidhche fhois,
agus leis cho math ’us a bha e air a dhoigh,
agus gu’n robh nithean ann air an do
leigeadh dearmad ro fhad leis an an-shocair
anns an robh e air a chumail, chaidh e ’na
tharruing, agus shin e air an cur ceart.
Thog e sunnt leis an obair, agus bha e ag
gabhail air agus fonn aige, an uair a
mhothaich e do ni-eiginn a bhi ’tighinn an
gar da.
Bha bocan Dhomhnuill an sin mar a
b’abhaist.
“ Obh, obh!” arsa Domhnull, “am bheil
thu ann agus a leithid so a dh’oidhche?
Ciamar idir fhuair thu seachad air na tuiltean
mora, ruadha so? ”
“ Thainig mi mu’n cuairt,” ars am bocan,
cho ciuin, socrach ’us ged nach deanadh e
ach tighinn a ceann eile an tighe.
Cha robh aig Dbmhnull air ach a bhi ag cur
suas leis an droch charamh a bha am bocan
a’ deanamh air, mar a b’abhaist.
Bha e, gidheadh, a’ feuchainn a h-uile
sebltachd air sith ’fhaotuinn.
Ghabh e dbchas, aon uair, nan teideadh e
air imrich gu tigh eile, gu’m fanadh am
bocan, theagamh, aig an t-seann larach.
Anns a’ bheachd so, fhuair e daoine, agus
sgioblaich iad leotha a h-uile ball beairt, ach
da chliath-chliata a bha ri taobh an tighe.
Mu’n do rainig na daoine an larach ur, thug
fear dhiubh eigh as, agus ghlaodh e—
[When the matter was] in its first stages,
the wretched man would imagine now and
again, that he had got quit of the ghost,
[when lo!] perhaps before he could turn
•round again, there it was [once more], close
at his side or facing him.
There was one night in particular [when
he thought he had got rid of it. It was a
wild night, for] rain and storms had been
going on for three days—the burns had
been roused to fury and foaming, and were
rushing down headlong over every bank, so
that there was no going to and fro for living
man.
Donald became quite good humoured and
smiling when he saw what sort of a night it
was. As the people of the other world* have
not the power of crossing running water, he
thought he should now get one night’s rest,
and he was in such high feather, and [so
taken up with] certain matters that had been
neglected for so long a time in consequence
of the disquiet in which he had been kept,
that he buckled to, and began putting things
right.
His spirits rose as he worked, and he was
hard at it and full of glee, when he noticed
something drawing near him.
There was Donald’s bogle as usual.
“ Oov, oov! ” said Donald, “ can it indeed
be thou and on such a night as this? How
in the world didst thou pass over these great
raging floods? ”
“ I came round,” said the bogle, as mildly
and quietly as though he had only come
from the other end of the house.
Donald had nothing for it but to put up
with the ill-treatment that the bogle, as usual,
inflicted on him.
He continued, nevertheless, to try ever^
stratagem [he knew] to get peace.
At one time, he entertained a hope that
if he removed to another house, the bogle
would perhaps remain at the old stance.
With this idea, he gathered some people
together, and they brought away every stick
of furniture and implements [he had], all
except two harrows that were standing at the
side of the house. But before they could
arrive at the new stance, one of the men gave
a shout, and cried—
* Lit. the people of the world-under-waves. See W. H. Tales, II. 317—III., 421—1V., 293-5 (ed. 1892). An
R&sarnach, I., 211; see also Nicolson, 206, 363.