The book Arran; - Cook Clan

FOLK LORE 305
a rainig iad Bealach-a-chro mhothaich an t-6ganach a chridhe 'f^s
fann, agus a chorp a' f^s cho lag ris an luachair. ' Cronachas do
shtila ort,' ars an gille, is cha luaithe 'thubhairt na mhothaich e mar
gu'm biodh uallach air a thogail dheth. Air dhaibh abhainn Chatacoil
a ruigheachd thubhairt an Dotair, ' O'n tha leithid a dheifir anns
a' chilis, 'us gun aobhar deifir ortsa, deanamaid malairt each,' ' Gu'n
robh math agaibh,' ars' an gille, 'ach 's feumaile mo bheatha fh^in
dhomhsa na beatha neach eile.' ^ Thug e buille eile do'n chapull
bhuidhe, is lean e roimhe gun mhoille gus an robh taigh a' Ghaidseir
an sealladh. Air do'n Dotair an taigh a ruigheachd. ' Carson,' ars
esan ris a' Ghaidseir, is e Ian feirge, ' a chuir thu fios ormsa le neach a
bha cho e61ach rium fhein ?—cha 'n urrainn mi ni sam bith a dheanadh
airson do mhic' Mar thubhairt b'fhior—shiubhail mac a' Ghaidseir
goirid an dheidh sin.
THE DOCTOR BAN AND THE GAUGEu's SON
A long time ago a certain Ganger lived in Loch Ranza who had
one son. It happened that this lad was laid down with a heavy
illness, and every means were used towards his healing. Every old
wife that resided in the north end of Arran tried her healing-art, but
instead of the youth getting better, he was continually getting worse.
At last when every means which they had used failed, they said to
the boy's father to send a message to Shedag for the Doctor Ban,
and if good is in store, it may be that he will heal the lad, and if not,
there will be no cause for recrimination in the matter. The youth's
father took their advice, and early next day he sent a young lad who
was in the neighbourhood on the back of his own yellow mare, and in
a mad gallop off went the lad to Shedag in search of the Doctor Ban.
The Doctor was namely as a physician, and it was said of him that
he got his leamiag from the fairies that lived under the castle hill,
and that he obtained the ' skill of rebuking ' from the big old wife of
Torlin, When the lad reached Tormore an old man met him who was
putting the cows to the hill.
' Where,' said the old man, ' are you
going now in such a hurry on the Sabbath morning ? ' The lad
answered, ' The Gauger's son at Loch Ranza to all appearance is
approaching death, and I am going in search of the Doctor Ban.'
' The preservation of my own life is more to me than the life of another.
VOL. n,
2 Q