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

192 WEST HIGHLAJO) TALES.
of Islay, where tliere is a light-house now, but which was formerly
used for grazing cattle only. There is a fearful tide, and it is
dangerous to cross the Sound in bad weather. A man and a
woman had charge of a large herd of cattle there, and the woman
was left alone one night, for the man had to go to the mainland,
and a storm coming on, he could not return. She sat at her peat
fire in her cabin, when suddenly she heard a sound as of living
creatures all about the hut. She knew her fellow-servant could
not have returned, and, thinking it might be the cows, she glanced
at the window which she had left open. She saw a pair of large
round eyes fastened upon her malignantly, and heard a low
whining laugh. The door opened, and an unearthly creature
walked in. He was very tall and large, rough and hairy, with
no skin upon his face but a dark livid covering. He advanced
to the fire and asked the girl what her name was. She answered
as confidently as she could, " Mise in Fhin " — me myself. The
creature seized the girl, and she threw a large ladle full of boiling
water about him, and he, yelling, bounded out. A great noise
ensued of wild unearthly tongues, questioning their yelling
companion as to what was the matter with him, and who had
hurt him. " Mise mi Fhin, Mise mi Fhin — me myself, me my-
self," shouted the savage ; and thereupon arose a great shout of
laughter. No sooner did that pass than the girl rushed out in
terror, turned one of the cows that was lying outside from its
i-esting-place, and having made a circle about her, lay there her-
self The storm raged, and she heard the rushing of many foot-
steps, loud laughter, and sounds of strife. When morning dawned,
she was safe, protected by the consecrated circle, but the cow she
had disturbed was dead.
An Islay pilot told me this year that water-horses still haunt
a glen near the island. Eattling chains are heard there. An ac-
count was published some years ago in newspapers of the appear-
ance of a mermaid near the spot.
7. I myself heard the groundwork of this story long ago
from John Piper ; and I heard a similar story this year in l\Ian.
(See Introduction.) It is the same as the Brollachan. The creature
was scalded by a woman (who had said her name was Mi Fiim
when he came in), because he wanted to eat her porridge ; and