The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

A Ceilidh. 6
" Well, this is how it was," said Callum, knocking the
ashes out of his clay pipe and putting a quid of tobacco
between his jaws, sailor fashion, " We had just gathered the
herring off the deck and put them into barrels, when I saw
something red pop out of the water right ahead and then
disappear between the vvaves. At first I thought it was a
man who had been washed overboard another boat, but
when I saw it again coming towards us, I knew it was
bodach na currachda deirge."
All eyes were now fixed on the speaker except those of
Aonghas Ban, who was working busily at his net.
" Well," continued Callum, pleased with the attention
paid him, " I kept my eyes on him as he swoom round the
stern of the boat to the port side, and on again in front
leaving the boat astern of him, though we were making
about nine knots an hour, till he was as far away as when
we saw him first, and he then faced us again."
By this time a look of awe was expressed on every
countenance, and even. Aonghas Ban ceased his work, and,
puffing away at his short pipe with all his might, gazed at
the speaker, who transferred his quid to the other side of
his mouth and placidly continued.
" On he comes again somewhat faster than before,
looking from side to side of him and sometimes up at the
boat, and went round us again the same way as before
against the sun, and he left the boat behind once more."
Horror was now depicted on every face, and Aonghas
Ban even stopped smoking, removed his pipe from his
mouth, and turned round so as to face the speaker. Though
the hero of the story was safe with us, every one seemed
to await in anxious expectation the conclusion of the story
that was to determine whether the boat was circumnavigated
the third time by this monster of the deep, and had gone
to the bottom with all hands. After another glance round
to see the effect of his words, Callum again proceeded.
" We watched him as long as he was in sight, thinking
every moment he would round on us again, but he didn't
We never saw him again."
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