Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 4

THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 433
by suggesting that if the aliens were hiding near, they might possibly soon
return, and that his life would be in danger if he was found alone. Uut the
brave youth only laughed at their counsel, and teUing them to inform his
father of the reason of his delay in returning to the castle, saw his com-
rades depart with a light heart, in which fear was unknown.
After spending the day, enjoying the excitement of the chase, the
evening found him wandering slowly and pensively along the shady
avenues and leafy groves, formed by the drooping bii'ch trees, admiring
the beauty of the scene, inhaling the sweet perfume of the floral treasures
which Nature had so profusely strewn around, while his ear was charmed
with the sweet notes of the nightingale, warbling her evening song.
As he stroUed along, drinking in deep draughts of pure delight at the
beauty and sweetness around him, he heard the refreshing, cooling sound
of running water, and, shaping his course towards it, he soon reached a
clear, limpid, bubbling spring, issuing from the rock, and which, as if
glad to get free, rushed impetuously from the narrow opening in the rock,
rattling down over the stones with a deal of noise and bustle, and then,
getting more subdued, spread out, and formed into a very bonnie stream
winding and meandering through the forest glades, growriig slower and
quieter as it proceeded, sometimes even coyly hiding underground for a
few yards only however to re-appear with renewed life and beauty, until
it lost itseK in the river. As William followed its devious -windings, his
ears were assailed by the sound of a sweet female voice, singing one of
those pathetic half-mournfid songs, peculiar to the Highlands. He stood
stiU with astonishment at hearing such a totally unexpected sound, and,
as he listened, he lelt a sort of superstitious awe stealing over him, for ho
could scarcely bring himself to believe that it was not some supernatural
being that was producing such enchanting strains. Curiosity, however,
getting the better of his fear of the uneartlily, he moved gently forward
to catch a glimpse of the singer — fairy or mermaid, or whatever else she
might be — saying in an undertone, " The cross be betwixt me and thee,"
and involuntarily laying his hand on his breast where he wore a charm
composed of a piece of singed cow-hide, called " Caisean-uchd," and
some beri'ies of the rowan tree, picked by moonlight, which was
a sovereign remedy against the arts and wiles of lairy, warlock,
or kelpie. Cautiously parting the bushes and intervening branches that
opposed his view, he caught sight of the vocalist. With suspended breath,
and dilated eyes, he gazed upon her. Again he pressed his hand on the
amulet ; again he mentally repeated his exorcism, for now he felt certain
that he beheld an inliabitant of another world, for nothing mortal could
be half so beautiful. Within a few yards of where he stood was a lovely
maiden, just budding into womanhood, sitting on the grassy bank of the
burn. She was cooling her feet in the clear running stream, while her
hands wex-e deftly entwining fresh cuUed wild flowers in her long silken
tresses of jet-black hair, while ever and anon she bent forward to see her
beautiful form reflected in the crystal water. Her plaid lay on the grass
beside her, and her fair white neck and bosom were seen undulating, as she
sang the sweet plaintive notes of a Gaelic love song. All the stories about
fairies and their dread enchantment he had ever heard flashed across his
mind, but he felt so fascinated, that he could not tear himself from the
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