Towns > Helensburgh > 1875 - Battrum's guide and directory to Helensburgh and neighbourhood

THE HIGHLANDMAN's ROAD. 35
one rasli spectator has witnessed a fairy festival on that
green. But Jock Bateson, more than half a century since,
saw the last of them here. Indeed, Jock has the credit or
dishonour, whichever you will, of having banished them
from this favourite spot. Coming across the hill one harvest
night from the Chapel of Glen Fruin, and naturally anxious
to avoid any beaten path or stray traveller, by reason of a
small suspicious keg which he bore, strapped to his shoulders,
Jock, after wading through a mile or two of heather, struck
down by the Old Mains farm, right above there, and into
the channel of the burn. Resting the keg against a rock
for a little, to recruit his strength, and fortify himself for the
remainder of the road, Jock was startled by the sound of
* music, borne on the night breeze, mingled with the laughter
and the echoes of tiny voices, proceeding from a spot not far
distant. His first impulse was to leave his precious burden
and run for it; but second thoughts are best, and after a
short perplexing study of the question, Jock felt himself
impelled by some ungovernable desire to ascertain who the
musicians were. Again slinging the keg on his shoulders,
with no small trepidation he crept cautiously along the banks
of the streamlet, careful of every broken bough and loose
stone in his way, and peering through the branches of the
hazel as he went. Reaching this little dell, at a sudden
angle, he found himself behind a large boulder, a witness of
a scene bewildering and novel. In the beams of the bright
autumn moon, resting in full radiance on the green ring,
were scores of tiny men and women, some engaged in a fan-
tastic dance, others, seated on the grass and on the branches
of the broom and hazel, were playing a shrill unearthly
melody, from pipes of reed and corn. Round and round
in giddying circles the dancers flew, and tumbled over each