J. F. Campbell Collection > Popular tales of the West Highlands > Volume 2

56 WEST HIGHLAXD TALES.
sniiddy on the pame errand, and this tune he took another
lad with him, hnt had the precaution to put the Bible in
his i^ocket. Well, in passing the mill the second tune, he
heard the same sounds of music and dancinc;. This time,
having the Bible in his hand, he ventured to look in,
when who should he see Ijut his companion whom he had
left standing there that day twelvemonths. He handed
him the Bible, and the moment he did so, the music and
dancing ceased, the lights went out, and all was darkness ;
but it is not said what his companion had seen or had been
doing all that time."
2. Another story he told me was about a boy of the name
of Williamson, whose father, an Irish linen packman, was
drowTied on his way from Ireland, where he had gone to
purchase linen ; so the boy was brought up by his mother
and grandfather, an old man of the name of Sproat, who
lived in Borgue. The boy disappeared often for two and
three, and often ten days at a time, and no one knew
where he went, as he never told when he retiu-ned, though
it was understood the fairies took him away. Upon one
occasion the Laird of Barmagachan was getting his peats
cast, and all the neighbours round were assisting. At this
time the boy had been aAvay for ten days, and they were
all wondering where he could be, when lo and behold, the
boy is sitting in the midst of them. " Johnny," said one
of the company, who were all seated in a ring, eatuig their
dinner, " where did ye come from ?" "I came with our
folks," said the boy (meaning the fairies). " Yoiu' folks ;
who are they ?" " Do you see yon barrow of peats a coup-
ing into yon hole ? there's where I came from." An old
man of the name of Brown, ancestor of the Bro^\^ls of
Langlands, who are still living in Borgue, ad\-ised the
grandfather to send the boy to the Papist priest, and he
woiild give him something that would frighten away the
fairies ; so they accordingly sent the boy, and Avhen he
returned home he wore a cross hung round his neck bv a