The book Arran; - Cook Clan

286 THE BOOK OF ARRAN
mhathair ! A
Mhathair ! thigibh agus faicibh an rud b6idheach a
tha aig m'athair falaichte anns a' chiiil-mhosain.' Is math a thuig
am mathair de an ' rud boidheach,' a bh' ann, agus thuiit i ris a*
chloinn, ' thoiribh a steach an so e agus bheir mise ceapaire math
6rdaig dhuibh.' Rinn na paisdean mar dh'iarradh orra, agus mar
bha dCiil aice, 'se an cochuU druidheachd a bh' ann da rireadh.
Rinn i greim air a' chochuU, 's cha luaithe fliuair i 'na lamhan e na
thugar aisde gus a seann dachaidh anns a' mhuir. Air uairean
thigeadh i gu Rudha'n-ldin a' gairm air a paisdean, agus chunnacas
iad 'na cuideachd 'us i 'cireadh am fuilt agus a' seinn dhuanagan
daibh. Aon latha lean am balachan a mhathair air a' mhuir, agus
cha 'n fhacas sealladh tuilleadh dheth, ach thill a' chaileag dachaidh.
Dh'fhas i suas 'na h-inghinn eireachdail, ph6s i, agus a r6ir an sgedil,
tha cuid d' a sliochd a lathair gus an la an ditigh.
ISLAND EABHRA
Innis Eabhra, according to tradition, is an enchanted island, lying
under the sea, near to the Iron Rock off the Corriecravie shore. At
times it would be seen so distinctly that the corn stooks were visible
in the fields, and the women putting out their clothes to dry. It is
now about fifty years since it was last seen. One day as a farmer was
out looking after his flock, what did he see but the island rising out
of the sea close to the shore, and in order to get a better sight of it
he ran towards the shore. For a short time he lost sight of the sea
in a hollow through which he had to pass, and on reaching the height
from which he could view the sea, the island was nowhere to be seen
—it had entirely disappeared.
An Arran boat at one time was about to leave Ayr quay, and
just before sailing, it is said that a certain man—a stranger— ^with a
grey filly by the halter came and asked to be taken on board. The
skipper took them on board, and the boat was put off to sea. When
they approached the Iron Rock, the filly began to neigh, and other
neighing was heard in response from the depths of the sea. Then the
stranger asked the crew to throw her over the side, and this being
done, he gave a sudden leap after her and both disappeared. A year
after this, who met the skipper at Ayr market but the same man to
whom he gave the passage on his boat. ' I saw you before now,'