J. F. Campbell Collection > Popular tales of the West Highlands > Volume 1

O WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
" Eise up, king, till thou gettest a morsel of meat that
will strengthen thee, till thou wilt be going on thy
journey, Now," said the dog, " if hardship or difficulty
comes on thee, ask my aid, and I will be with thee in
an instant." They left a blessing with each other, and
he went away. In the time of dusk and lateness, he
came to a great precipice of rock, and there was the
forming of the site of a fire.
He thought he would gather dry fuel, and that he
would set on fire. He began to warm himself, and he
was not long thus when the hoary hawk of the grey
rock came on him. " Oov ! oov !" said she. " Bad
was the plight of thy wife and thy two horses last night
with the big giant." " There is no help for it," said
he. " I have got much of their trouble and Httle of
their benefit myself." " Catch courage," said she,
"Thou wilt get something of their benefit yet. Thou
must not be without meat here," said she, " There is
no contrivance for getting meat," said he, " We will
not be long getting meat," said the falcon. She went,
and she was not long when she came -wath three ducks
and eight blackcocks in her mouth. They set their
meat in order, and they took it. " Thou must not be
without sleep," said the falcon. " How shall I sleep
without a warranty over me, to keep me from any one
evil that is here." " Sleep thou, king, and I will
warrant thee." He let himself down, stretched out,
and he slept.
In the morning, the falcon set him on foot. " Hard-
ship or difficulty that comes on thee, mind, at any
time, that thou -wilt get my help." He went swiftly,
sturdily. The night was coming, and the little birds of
the forest of Brandling bushy trees, were taking about
the briar roots and the twig tops ; and if they were, it
was stillness, not peace for him, till he came to the side of