The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

iic Legend of the DaiLc Lock. 739
Graham, were sitting round the turf fire in one end of the
hut, busily engaged knitting stockings after having finished
their day's work. To wile away the hours they chatted
pleasantly and sang shatches of Gaelic songs. Ultimately
the conversation turned on their lovers, who would
undoubtedly have been highly elated could they have heard
the enconiums passed upon them by their respective fair
admirers. Morag concluded a rather lengthened eulogium
on her own " Jack " by remarking " How I wish they were
both here now !"
" Hush !" replied Molly, " you should have added, ' with
the blessing of God.' "
" Well, I wish they were here at anyrate," returned the
other, " but as they left us only yesterday I am afraid we
need not expect them to turn up to-night."
In a short time after, sounds of approaching footsteps
were heard, and the next minute two goodlooking young
men, strangers to the girls, entered the hut and asked per-
mission to spend a few hours with the fair inmates. This
was readily granted, for the girls were under the impression
that their guests were ordinary travellers who had accident-
ally discovered the hut and wished to rest for some time
before proceeding on their journey, and no suspicion of evil
crossed their minds. The strangers made themselves very
agreeable. They told amusing stories, and sang songs. In
this manner several hours passed quickly, when Molly,
searching for a knitting wire she had dropped on the floor,
was horrified to see the feet of one of their visitors—he who
had paid particular attention to herself—encased, not in
boots but in hoofs ! Glancing at the feet of the other
stranger a similar startling sight met her gaze. Instantly
the terrible truth flashed through her mind. She remembered
the unguarded wish expressed by her companion
immediately before the arrival of their guests, and she now
knew that in response to that rash wish two water-kelpies
the dreaded eich uisge—had visited them in the guise of
human beings. On making this awful discovery the poor
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