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

THE TALE OF SGIRE MO CHEALAG. 3*^7
sitting, now that it is dry. It did not astonish me that you should
go to shelter in the rain, but it must be that you are not diligent
for your master when you are sitting while you ought to be work-
ing."
" That is not it," said they ; " it is that our legs are all mingled
together, and not one of us can recognize his own legs.''
" What will you give me if 1 make you recognize your own
legs ? "
" What wilt thou ask ?"
"Half a hundred marg, marks."
"Thou shalt have that cha bu gheamha dhuinn air moh.\s
BARRACHD. It wcre no pledge for us by much more to be thus
away from our work."
He went down to a bramble hash, and he cut one as long and
as strong as he could see. He came up and thug e eallsabh
GU MATH TEANN ORRA, and he gave a good tight raking at them
about their legs, and it was not long till every one knew his own
legs.
(There is a double meaning in this which cannot be translated.
To know means also to feel).
"Though our legs are sore and scratched," said they, " it is
well for us to be able to go to our work rather than be seated
thus."
" You are strange enough," said he, " but I will go further."
And then he goes on to a house, and plays tricks to some
people there, and says his name is Saw ye ever my like. And
when the old man of the house came home, he found his people
tied upon tables, and said, " What's the reason of this? " " Sav\
ye ever my like ?" said the first. "No, never," said he. And
went to the second, " What 's the reason of this ?" said he.
" Saw ye ever my like ?" said the second.
" I saw thy like in the kitchen," said he; and he went to the
third. " What is the reason of this ?" said he. " Saw ye ever
my like ?" said the other. " I have seen plenty of thy likes," said
he, " but never before this day." And then he understood that
some one had been playing tricks on his people, and pursued ; but
the weaver played him a trick, which is almost the same as that
which is given in Norse Tales as part of the adventures of the
Master Thief, at page 286, second edition.