Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 5

343 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
the " fou." This performance was greeted with shouts of laughter from
the neighbours, who had been attracted to the spot by the previous
quarrel. Their laughter was renewed as they watched poor Donald
spluttering and floundering about in the mire, until he succeeded in
clambering out, a wretched object, on the other side, when, uttering
maledictions on his tormentors, he took to his heels and quickly ran out
of sight. He did not go to the marriage at Petty ; but after getting
himself somewhat cleaned, spent the day drinking and idling with his
worthless companions, and it was long after nightfall before he left them
to return home. He had a long way to go, for he was on the opposite
side of the river to the town, but he knew his way, and it being a bright,
moonlight night, he walked briskly on. It was with a feeling of relief
that he passed Tomnahurich, that strangely shaped hill, which rises so
abruptly from the surrounding level ground ; for it Avas reputed to be the
haunt of the fairies, indeed, its very name implied that fact. So with
a half-fearful glance up at the uncanny mountain, he hurried on.
After a while he began to feel weary. He did not think the way
was so long. Surely he ought to be able to see the river by this time 1
The night is growing cold and he is very sleepy ; but he stumbles on over
the uneven and broken ground a little longer, until he pulls himself up
short with an exclamation of supreme astonishment. " "Why ! what is this?"
Here he is again under the very shadow of the fairy hill. He has been
walking in a circle for the last hour. Tired out, perplexed, and annoyed,
he sits down trying to coUect his scattered ideas ; but fatigue and the
fumes of the drink he had taken overpower him, and he falls sound
How long he sleeps he does not know, but it is stiU moonlight when
he is aroused by some one shaking him and calling him by name. On
opening his eyes he sees an old gentleman very richly dressed in black
velvet, slashed with crimson satin, with a fine cloth cloak, trimmed with
fur, thrown over his shoulders, and a tall, peaked hat on his head. As
Donald rose to his feet rubbing his eyes, the old gentleman said, " Be
quick, Donald, and come along with me. I have often heard of your skill
as a fiddler, and as I have a large party of friends at my house to-night, I
want you to come and play for them. I will pay you well ; see, here is a
gold piece to begin with, and if you please me I wdl give you another
after you have done."
Donald was delighted at his good luck in meeting such a liberal
patron ; but asked the gentleman in a tone of surprise where his house
was, as he could not remember any house within some distance of where
they stood. "Oh!" replied the old gentleman, "my house is close
by, just a few steps this way and you will see it." And sure enough
there was a splendid mansion lighted up with innumerable lamps, the court-
yard fuU of servants in grand liveries, handsome carriages and spirited
horses, while more guests kept arriving every minute. Donald was quite
overwhelmed at the sight of aU this magnificence, and would have drawn
back ; but the old gentleman taking his hand drew him forward, and to-
gether they entered the mansion. If Donald was astonished before, he was
now doubly so. He was ushered into a sumptuous ball-room illuminated
with thousands of parti-coloured lamps, and filled with a gay assemblage
of handsome men and lovely ladies, all dressed in the richest materials,