Ossian Collection > Folk tales and fairy lore in Gaelic and English

THE WATER-HORSE OF POLL NAN
CRAOBHAN.
In bygone days, Poll nan Craobhan, a pool on the river
Spey, in Cromdale, was haunted by a water-horse which
was the terror of the surrounding country. At certain
seasons he was to be seen feeding with the cattle on the
bank of the river; and then he seemed to be the most
beautiful horse that man ever beheld. His coat was as
black and glossy as the raven's wing. On his head
was a glittering bridle, and on his back a saddle with
stirrups of silver. But when any man, bolder than his
fellows, approached too near him, one glance of the
horse's fiery eye sent a thrill of tenor through him
that rooted him to the earth, so that he could not move
liand or foot. If, in his fear, the man then forgot to
cross himself, the black horse of the most beautiful
shape would draw nearer and nearer him, and the fierce
glance of his eye would change to the mild look of the
deer. When he would come up to the man, he would
fawn on him by rubbing his shining head against his
breast.
Soon the man's fear would vanish, and he would
spring into the saddle; and then, quick as an arrow
from the bow, the black horse would plunge into Poll
nan Craobhan. The man was to be seen no more, and
the black horse was not to be seen for a year and a day.
Near the river Spey lived a man named Little John.
Little John usually spent a great part of the year in the