Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 7 1889.djvu/375

287 DEVIL STORIES.

I.

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T was a common belief that the devil took the shape of a beast, often that of a dog, and made his way in that shape to any spot where a great crime was to be committed or some tragic thing to take place. J R, farmer, in Milton of Glenbuck, was one Sunday morning strolling over his fields to view his crops, when a big black mastiff rushed past him at more than ordinary speed. The brute attracted the farmer's attention by his great sticking-out "allegrugous" eyes. He followed him as fast as he was able, never lost sight of him, and saw him enter the door of the farmhouse of Drumgarrow, where two brothers lived. At that moment he heard a shot inside. One of the brothers was shot dead. A mystery hangs over the man's death. (Told by Wm. Michie, Strathdon.)

II.

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The actor in the following story was Mr. Catnach, a teacher in Corgarff—

"Weel, Mr. Catnach, did ever ye gyang (go) to Mar Forrest t' sheet (shoot) deer?"

"Weel, I did that, an I got sumthing I'll never forget. It was a bad year, an a very, very bad year. There was no meal in the laan (land, country), but there was middlin' pitaties (potatoes). So I thocht I would tack ane o' my boys and go to Mar Forest, and try and get a deer to the pitaties. We geed (went) awa the nicht afore, landing in the Forest at the screek o' day. As soon as it was clear aneuch (enough) I saw a very, very fine stag. I fired at him, and