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

3 i O WEST HIGHLAM) TALES.
to me to searcli for them in places where I thought
that they were ; and also in places where I did not
suppose them to be ; and there is no place where I
have less notion that they might be in than in the
thatch of the house."
And the carle said, " Adversity and calamity be
upon thee, lad."
Mac-a-Eusgaich said, " Adversity and calamity be
upon thyself, old carle ; art thou taking the rue that
thou desiredst me to search for the heifers in places
where I did not suppose them to be 1 "
" I am not, I am not," said the carle. " Go now
and seek them in places where it is likely that they
may be."
" I will do so," said Mac-a-Rusgaich ; and Mac-a-
Rusgaich Avent to seek the heifers, and he found them,
and brought them home.
Then his master desired Mac-a-Rusgaich to go to
put the thatch on the house, and to make the house as
water-tight to keep out rain as he was able. Mac-a-
Rusgaich did so, and they were pleasant for a while
after that.
The dour tenant was going to a wedding, and he
asked Mac-a-Rusgaich when the evening should come, to
put a saddle on the horse, and to go to the house of the
wedding to take liim home ; and he said to him,
" "\Vlaen it is near the twelfth hour, cast an ox eye
on the side where I am, and I will know that it is
near the time to go home." *
"I will do that," said Mac-a-Rusgaich.
*• Damli sbuil — an ox eye. To cast an ox eye at any one
means, according to Dewar, to look with a wry face, and open the
eyes wide, ;ind stare at a person — as a signal. The idiom, to
cast an eye, is common to Gaelic and English ; and so is the ex-
pression, to cast a sheep's eye.