Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 1, 1893

14i5
THE OELTIC MONTHLY.
and we are sure Highlanders everywhere will
fervently join in the expression of the hope
that he may be long spared to assist in the
elucidation of matters Celtic, and contribute to
the discussion of those questions, the settlement
of which is sure to affect materially the welfare
and prosperity of the Highland people. Run do
ehridhe air do chuisle. Fionn.
THE TREACHEROUS SEA.
A Caithness Story.
By R. J. G. Mill*k, Editor, John 0' Groat, Journal.
|J=Fp|HE wind rose during the night, and in
yfe) the morning was blowing a regular
^^ "south-easter." The sea was running
mountains high all along the Caithness coast,
and the morning saw the pretty little village
of Dunbeath all astir, for it was well known
that two boats had gone out to sea on the pre-
vious evening Most of the fishermen had
sauntered down to the quay with a like intention,
but the mysterious whispering of the sea, which
only they understand, told them that a storm
was near, and they gathered in small knots to
discuss the situation, until at last the tide had
gone, and only two crews had ventured to hoist
the sail and make for the fishiug ground.
This feeliug on the part of the fishermen was
a little unaccountable. It was true there was
an unusual calm in the sea. Its murmur on
tin' shore was almost inaudible; it was as if
all its motion had ceased. The air was per-
vaded with a kind of solemn stillness ; but that
was all. In every other respect it seemed to
give promise of a good fishing night, and so
the fishermen who remained ashore chatted
away and gazed after the Dauntless and the
Ocean Pride till dusk covered them from sight.
John Munro, the skipper of the Dauntless,
was a typical young fisherman. Open as day,
with a handsome face and a manly expression,
he was admired by all his colleagues as a
splendid seaman; but they often shook their
heads when he laughed at what he called their
" superstitious aotions." He had been married,
only four weeks previously, to Annie Campbell,
the pride of the village, and was now ready to
do anything to prove his affection for the girl
he had won. His only rival had been Aliek
Gunn, the skipper of the Ocean Pride ; and it
was probably iliis I'ael that induced Gunn that
evening to hoist bis sad] and follow Munro to
the sea liuun himself was an excellent sea-
man: and although lie was what the folk called
a "dull" man, he had an honest heart, and
perhaps his worst failing was a little vanity.
He certainly had no superstitious ideas, and
laughed as heartily as the other at his com-
rades' fears.
But the fishermen were right this time. The
mysterious stillness was but a prelude to the
mighty fury of the wind and waves which was
shortly to be revealed once again to them in
all its majesty. The storm burst with terrible
suddenness, while most of them slept, and ere
the tide had turned.
Men and women hurried towards the har-
bour. They climbed the braes above it and
eagerly strained their eyes seaward.
" Oh, Jamie, do you think they could live in
that sea ? " asked Munro's young wife of the
old pilot who had seen many a storm and
weathered many a " sou'easter."
James Rae, the pilot at Dunbeath, was a
more than ordinary intelligent man. He had
seen a good deal of the world in his day ; and
there was probably no other man in the dis-
trict that possessed the confidence of the fisher-
men to the same extent as he.
" I think they could," he replied, cheerily.
" If they have kept well off in the centre of
the Firth, I believe they'll ride it out all right.
Anyhow they are good men at the helm ; and
if John Munro and Alick Gunn won't weather
the gale, then no man on this coast could."
" Ye're richt there, pilot," said an old fisher-
man, " and, for my pairt, I hev good hopes that
they're both safe ashore at Portmahomack."
There were six men in each boat, all of
whom were well known in the district; and
everybody seemed to have a friend or relation
on the sea that day. Each, therefore, had a
personal trouble, but a special degree of sym-
pathy was reserved for young Mrs. Munro.
They all knew her ; she had been " born and
brought up" among themselves, was always
spoken of as "a good lassie," was beloved for
her own goodness and kindness of heart ; and,
now, scarcely had her marriage festivities
passed away until the rough hand of fate seemed
to be laid upon her to crush all the sunshine
out of her hitherto happy life. The good old
minister who had so lately performed the mar-
riage ceremony for the young couple, whom
all agreed were well matched, was very sym-
pathetic.
No news came from any direction. Tele-
grams had been despatched to the coast towns
and to the Dornoch Firth asking if any boats
had arrived, and if any were in sight on the
sea. Replies came in some cases, but they
were cheerless messages every one — containing
no ray of hope, no words to cheer their hearts.
"No, no," said young Mrs. Munro, after a
long interval, during which she had swept
with eager eyes every square foot of the water