The book Arran; - Cook Clan

FOLK LORE 281
bha an nighean dg a' cumail a sMa gu geur uirre, chionn cha robh ach
beagan earbsa aice ann am bana-chompanach na h-oidhche. SMI
d'an d'thug a' chailin faicear i le uamhas, crodhan dubh sinte mach
fo 'n aodach leapa. Ghabh i leithsgeul eiginn gu dol a mach, agus air
dhi taobh a mach a' bhothain a dheanamh, anns na buinn gabhar
i sios le beinn, cho luath 's a bheireadh a casan i, agus am madadh
'na cuideachd
Ach cha b'fhada ruith dhi nuair a chuala i farum 'na deidh, agus
thuig i an sin gu'n robh a' bhean-chrodhanach air a luirg. Stuig
i am madadh innte, agus thug e aghaidh dhanarra uirre ach stad cha
do chuir e air a siubhal. Bha 'bhean-chrodhanach a sior dheanamh
suas ris a' chaihn, agus nuair a rainig i taigh a h-athar, a h-anail as
an uchd agus a cridhe 'na sluigean, bha 'chailleach mhor cho dltith
dhi 's nach robh tiine aice ach an dorus a chrannadh air sr6in na
caillich, gun urrad 's am madadh fhaotainn a steach. Fhuaradh am
beathach bochd anns a' mhaduinn 'na mhirean as a' ch6ile, 's gun
aon ribeag fionnaidh air fhagail air.
THE HOOFED WOMAN
At the time of year when the cows were being put to the hillpastures,
two yotmg maidens belonging to the northern part of Arran
went with their cattle to a shieling on the upper part of Loch lorsa.
When they had a quantity of butter and cheese ready, one of the
girls would go home with it, returning to the shieling the foll6wing
day, and the other was left alone. One night, as one of them was
retiring to rest, a strange woman came to the door of the hut seeking
shelter for the night, as she had lost her way. Much against her
will the maiden opened the door, and in walked the stranger. She
was a very tall woman, and no sooner had she entered than the girl's
sheep-dog, with an angry look, betook himself to the farthest corner
of the hut. It was not long until the strange woman went to bed,
and the young girl was keeping a watchful eye on her, for she had but
little faith in her companion of the night. As she glanced round,
the girl sees with horror a black hoof stretched out from under the
bed-clothes. She made some excuse to go out, and on reaching the
outside of the hut, she took to her heels and down the hill she went
as fast as her feet would take her, and the dog in her company.
VOL. II.
2 N