Blair Collection > Popular tales of the West Highlands > Volume 2

XXXV.
C N A L L.
From Alexander MacNeill, tenant and fisherman, Barra.
THERE was an old king before now in Erin,* and a
sister of Ms, wliose name was IVIaobh, had three
sons. The eldest of them was Ferghus, the middle-
most Lagh an Laidh, and the youngest one Conall.
He thought he would make an heir of the eldest
one, Ferghus. He gave him the schooling of the son
of a Idng and a " ridere," and when he was satisfied
with school and learning he brought him home to the
palace. Now they were in the palace.
Said the king, " I have passed tliis year well ; the
end of the year is coming now, and trouble and care
are coming on me with it."
" Wliat trouble or care is coming on thee ?" said the
young man. " The vassals of the country are coming
to reckon with me to-day." '• Thou hast no need to
be in trouble. It is proclaimed that I am the young
heir, and it is set down in papers and in letters in
each end of the realm. I will build a fine castle in
front of the palace for thee. I will get carpenters, and
stonemasons, and smiths to build that castle."
* In this tale Erin is spelt instead of Eirinn and Eireann ;
Alha and Sassun, Scotland and England, express the sound of
the Gaelic words.