Ossian Collection > Peat-fire flame

RIEVERS AND CATERANS TALES
walled sepulchre of the MacNabs, at both ends -of which
is a stone image representing the head of MacNeish of
Loch Earn, so as to remind all. whom it may concern, of the
fate that befell that transgressor.
One wintry day, when returning home with provisions
from Crieff, the son of MacNab of Kinnell was waylaid and
robbed bv a MacNeish. MacNab anxiously awaited the
return of his son that wintry day. At length he turned
up, but without the provisions for which he had been sent
to Crieff. When he related his story. MacNab swore
vengeance on MacNeish. And, so, he hurried up the valley
of the burn known as Allt na Breadaich to the loch of the
same name, and carried off on his broad shoulders the boat
from which he used to fish that loch. Up hill and down
dale he went, until eventually he came to the eastern end of
Loch Earn. There he launched the boat, and rowed over
to what still goes by the name of Neish Island.
" Who's there ? " uttered a voice, when MacNab rapped at
MacNeish's door. " If its Smooth John that's in it, he'll
not be smooth to me this dav ! "
The story is told that Smooth John MacNab beheaded
MacNeish, and bore his head to Killin, that all might see
it, and duly take heed. Hence the head of MacNeish carved
in stone at both ends of the MacNabs' burying-place on
Tnnis Bhuidhe, at Killin. And the old folks of Killin
declare that, as the result of Smooth John's raid on Neish
Island, the MacNeishes would have become defunct, had
not a small boy escaped his sword that day.
How Black Roderic Died.
In the elfin Isle of Barra the story is told of how Black
Roderic the LTnjust, one of the MacNeil Chiefs of that
island, met his death. With his eight-oared galley and a
resolute crew. Black Roderic sailed to the Isle of Mull on
a rieving venture. Round the oars of the galley he wrapped
cloth, lest they should be noisy in the rowlocks ; and at
nightfall he and his men put ashore below Duart Castle, on
the Sound of Mull. Thev crept up to the Castle's walls;
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