Page:Laird of Ardenoaige and the Ghost of Fenhaglen.pdf/12

12 and they came and knew the body, to be the body of one Duncan McNab, tenant, Succoth. Till then no man knew how he met with his death. There was prior to that time a thief that lived in a cave on the top of craig ucaig, a high rock, standing on the confines of Glenlednick and Fenhaglen. He lived on the best and fattest of their sheep in both countries, to their great vexation, without knowing who was their depredator. One snowy morning as Duncan McNab went out to see if his sheep was safe in the fold, he saw the entrails of one of his best wedders on the ground, and a man’s track on the snow. Destracted with rage he took his sword in his hand, and followed the track on to the top of the rock. In he went, unconscious of fear; but when he saw the terrible appearance of the thief his strength and courage passed from him as a dream, and the thief had him down when he asked mercy, and the thief asked him how he came there? He told him he missed his way passing the hill, and came in on the track. The thief then gave him meat, then drew his sword and made him swear by his God, not to mention what he saw to any man, or he would dispatch him in a moment; and never to be so rash as to come to seek the place again; for his life was as little in his sight, when he came in, as the life of a cock—after he swore, he got off. Duncan was a righteous sort of a man, and never told any person, till the thief was long out of the place. Donald Macpherson met with great loss by the thief, and he found fault with Duncan for not letting him know in time that the thief was there. This was known to be the cause of the dispute between Donald Macpherson and Duncan Mcnab, while building a hut in Fenhaglen. The fame of the laird went far, and he was feared and respected by all, even by his mother, who had no power nor spirit to plot more against him.

FINIS.