Black Pool of the Hill. "Guidheam ort le laimh chlìth," ars easan, agus e breith oirre. ("Let me beseech with a left hand," said he, while taking hold of her.) "Is cairreagach a rug thu orm?" ars ise. ("How left-handed you have caught me? "said she.) "A làmh a thàchair," ars easan. ("The hand that happened," said he.) "Is math a fhreagair," ars ise. ("Well answered !" said she).
He. "What were you doing here ? "
She. "I was washing the clothes of those who are to be drowned this year in the island. There is a boat's crew from North Tolsta to be drowned this year, and I was washing their clothes here ; but, as I have been caught, I shall not be seen any more here." "Leig as mi," ars ise, "agus bheir mi dhuit buaidh 'sam bith de thri a dh'iarreas tu. ("Let me go, and I shall give you any of three gifts you may choose to ask.")
He. "Thoir dhomh," ars easan, "buaidh codach." ("Give me," said he, "the gift of wealth.")
She. "Is bochd a bhuaidh a dh'iarr thu. Carson nach do dh'iarr thu buidh nan daoine." ("It is a poor gift you have asked. Why did you not ask the gift of a family ?")
He. "Give me both."
She. "No, I cannot, but you shall have what you have asked, but no son shall ever sit in his father's place in your house."[1] So it happened, our legend says. He got what he wanted. He was wealthy up to the level of his social position. The writer, in his young days, was acquainted with his three daughters. He had no sons. This incident was supposed to verify the authenticity of the legend.
{{center|XIV. — Eolas Smùirnean (The Mote Science.)}
This (Eolas) science was used in extracting a mote from one's eye. It was done in the following curious manner. The exorcist put something into his own mouth, and looked straight into the eye affected. What it was he put into his mouth, or whether he used
- ↑ A variant obtained from another district of Lewis inserts here : "'But how shall I know that what you have promised shall come to pass ?' said he. 'You will get home,' said she, 'all right ; but after opening your door, and before you reach your fireside, the blood of your brow shall be on your shoes.' And so it happened. A child, who had been playing with a piece of hard wood, had left it hanging above the door on the inside, so that when he was passing through the doorway, his brow struck violently against it, and bled profusely."
