Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review Volumes 32 and 33.djvu/626

316 his early years he had a warning of the death of a young boy who shared his bed, and who was killed shortly after.

(7) Fishermen, coming home late from herring fishing, frequently leave their boats, nets and herring till the next morning, and so honest are the people that these are hardly ever disturbed. But on one occasion a neighbour, not a fisher, thought that he would like a few herring for breakfast. Accordingly he stole down to the beach, when what was his alarm to see sitting in the boat the figure of the owner, the very man he had seen go into his house not long before. Not long after, the owner of the boat died. The seer never again forgot his honesty.

(8) Lights are sometimes regarded as warnings. Such a light was seen at one place where, shortly after, an unfortunate young man, who had become insane, committed suicide. In some cases these lights are regarded with favour, as they are supposed to indicate good fortune for the dying or his relatives. In the case of persons of importance a special light is seen which is called "dreag." It has a different form from other lights, and is more like a comet, having a long tail. It either rests on the house where the person is to die, or hovers between it and the churchyard.

Some years ago great excitement took place in Portree over a mysterious light which appeared in the neighbourhood. To me, for I saw it, it looked like a lantern held near the ground and moving slowly along. It was most probably a " Will 0' the Wisp," though the place where I saw it was quite dry ground. The story current in Skye of the origin of this light is as follows:

A girl who was anxious to begin some dyeing work early on Monday, wished to go out on the Sabbath to gather the necessary plants. Her mother forbade, but she persisted in her intention. Her mother then, driven beyond herself at the proposed sinful deed, solemnly cursed her, saying, "Go forth, nor return here." She was never seen again; but at a certain place her creel and hook were found, and all around were signs of conflict. From henceforth there was a light which appeared, but it is said only to three people together. It is said to jump three times, and to look like a light within a light. This light is generally avoided by all, as it is understood to carry mis-