Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review Volumes 32 and 33.djvu/513

Rh, for the industrious fairies would not budge. The usual procedure of consulting a wise man was taken, and this latter advised his clients to bid the fairies roof a large barn with a certain kind of tree, only one of which existed. But the fairies, hungering for employment, and with a perseverance worthy of emulation, accomplished this task and returned cheerfully to their former quarters. Once more the wise man was taken into consultation, and this time he advised the expedient of bidding the fairies empty the sea with a creel. This sufficed. The angry fairies departed never to return.

(2) A relative of Donald Murchison, who was employed as a herd boy on the farm of Scorybreck, fell asleep on a hill known as Dun Torvaig. Awaking from a heavy sleep, he found himself surrounded by fairies, and was a delighted spectator of their feasting and dancing. Meanwhile, in his home, he was mourned for as dead, and sad funeral feasts and loud wailing (and the latter is most heartrending) filled the house. What was the astonishment of the mourners when he arrived home, safe and well. Three weeks had elapsed, but he refused to believe it, and said, "It was the fine long sleep I had, but who would be sleeping the three weeks? It was but half a day I was after sleeping." He was safe and well certainly, but never again the same lad, for he was ever distraught in manner, and ever sighing for the joys of the fairy-haunted Dun.

(3) Two hunchbacks lived at Edinbane, about fourteen miles from Portree. One of these fell ill, and asked his comrade in misfortune to go and feed his herd of cattle, the beautiful shaggy creatures one still sees in the Highlands. As the neighbour, a kindly, merry man, proceeded on his mission, he heard sounds coming from a small hill, and, listening, he heard a voice chanting continuously, "Monday, Tuesday." With a sudden impulse he joined in, "Wednesday, Thursday." A voice inquired, "Who will be adding nice verses to my song?" "A hunchback bodach," the man replied. "Come in to my house," said the voice, and the hunchback obeyed. An old fairy man greeted him, and in gratitude for the addition to his song he took off the disfiguring hump. We can picture the neighbour's astonishment when the transformed hunchback returned home.