Page:Laird of Ardenoaige and the Ghost of Fenhaglen.pdf/6

6 departed person, doomed to such a state for some secret crime committed while on earth. To this mysterious appearance became the object of much conjecture among the people of Ardenoaige, except the wiser sort who remained in silent amazement,’knowing it to be the doing of the all-wise for some unhuman cause. It had its abode in the very centre of the glen, in the most lonely part of it. It appeared that it could not extend its rapacious designs beyond a limited space of the glen; but sad were the effects of its outrages there. Man and beast alike became the victims of this unearthly destroyer. It was quite evident that it had no power while it was day, nor until the sun went down; consequently the benighted traveller was sure to become a prey, to the fury of this spirit. The laird of Ardenoaige had a person whom he employed for carrying parcels to and from the south, commonly called the post, he was benighted coming through Fenhaglen, and was met by the Ghost, and torn to pieces. Part of him was found in a linn in the burn of Fenhaglen. The linn is called the post’s linn to this day. The tenants of Ardenoaige had huts built in Fenhaglen, which they called the sheahngs, to which they all resorted with their cattle and sheep in the warm months of summer. They were obliged to withdraw from this pleasant habitation with their flocks on account of the ravagings of the fiend. Some of these huts or houses were thrown down; stones were tumbled out of their places; heather, bushes, and earth, torn up and scattered abroad, these, and many more, were the depredations committed by the Ghost of Fenhaglen. There is a deep rocky den on the side of the glen, which it was supposed, was the centre of its abode. Horrible were the moanings and roarings, that were heard by the inhabitants of Ardenoaige on the calm gloamings, when they met together after the toils of the day; or that were carried to their ears by the stormy wind that roll’d through the glen. About this time the laird was called from the bosom of his family and from his domestic enjoyments, in consequence of the disturbance in which Scotland was