Black-haired John of Lewis (2)
I’m telling you a story – Black-haired John of Lewis, the Sailor. John was on a ship for five years. He was getting a halfpenny at the end of the first month and two halfpennies at the end of the second month. His wages were going to double every month. He was going to get a fortune. But the ship folk [owners] didn’t have enough money.
“What shall we do?” said the captain.
“On his last day,” said a man who owned the ship, “keep away from land. Give these three bags to the lad. Ask that he goes to sea.”
The final day came.The ship was at sea. The captain gave the lad the three bags. One of the bags was full of gold, one was full of silver and the other one was full of copper. The lad left in a raft.
John spent three days on the raft. He reached land. He took the three bags to the upper part of the shore. He hid them in the sand. He walked all night. But he never saw a house or a person. At daybreak he reached a large house. He went inside.
A good-looking woman was there. John told her that he was a sailor and that he had swum to land
from a ship that went down. The
woman gave him food and drink. But
she asked him to leave. “Seven
robbers live here,” she said. “They’ll
be back soon.”
“I don’t care,” said John. The
robbers came. “We’re robbers,” said
one of them, “and we won’t let you
leave alive.”
“I’m pleased,” said Black-haired
John. “I was a robber. I’d like to work
with you.”
“Okay,” said the other robber.
“Each man will take his own road.
The one that brings home most
plunder over three nights will the
leader of the rest.”
Black-haired John saw his
opportunity. On the first night he
returned with a bag full of copper. On
the second [dara and dàrna both mean
“second”] night, he returned with a
bag full of silver. On the third night,
he returned with a bag full of gold.
What plunder! John was now the
leader of the others. But we haven’t
reached the end of the story yet....
Iain Dubh Leòdhasach (2)
Tha mi ag innse sgeulachd dhuibh –
Iain Dubh Leòdhasach, an Seòladair. Bha Iain air long fad còig bliadhna. Bha e a’ faighinn bonn-a-sia aig ceann a’ chiad mhìos agus dà bhonn-a-sia aig ceann an dara mìos. Bha an tuarastal aige a’ dol a dhùblachadh gach mìos. Bha e a’ dol a dh’fhaighinn fortan. Ach cha robh airgead gu leòr aig muinntir na luinge.
“Dè nì sinn?” thuirt an sgiobair.
“Air an latha mu dheireadh aige,” thuirt fear leis an robh an long,
“cùm air falbh bho thìr. Thoir na trì pocannan seo don ghille. Iarr air falbh gu muir.”
Thàinig an latha mu dheireadh. Bha an long aig muir. Thug an sgiobair na trì pocannan don ghille. Bha fear de na pocannan làn òir, bha fear làn airgid agus bha am fear eile làn copair. Dh’fhalbh an gille ann an ràth.
Chuir Iain trì latha seachad air an ràth. Ràinig e tìr. Thug e na pocannan gu bràigh a’ chladaich. Chuir e am falach iad anns a’ ghainmhich. Choisich e fad na h-oidhche. Ach chan fhaca e taigh no duine. Aig beul an latha ràinig e taigh mòr. Choisich e a-steach.
Bha boireannach dreachmhor ann. Thuirt Iain rithe gun robh e na
sheòladair agus gun robh e air snàmh
gu tìr bho long a chaidh fodha. Thug
am boireannach biadh is deoch dha. Ach dh’iarr i air falbh. “Tha seachd
robairean a’ fuireach an seo,” thuirt i.
“Bidh iad air ais a dh’aithghearr.”
“Tha mi coma,” thuirt Iain.
Thàinig na robairean. “’S e robairean a
th’ annainn,” thuirt fear dhiubh, “agus
cha leig sinn às thu beò.”
“Tha mi toilichte,” fhreagair
Iain Dubh. “Bha mise nam robair. Bu
mhath leam a bhith ag obair còmhla
ribh.”
“Ceart gu leòr,” arsa robair eile.
“Gabhaidh gach fear a rathad fhèin.
Am fear as motha a bheir dhachaigh de
chreach thar trì oidhcheannan, bidh e
na cheannard air càch.”
Chunnaic Iain Dubh
chothrom. Air a’ chiad oidhche thill e
le poca làn copair. Air an dàrna
oidhche, thill e le poca làn airgid. Air
an treas oidhche thill e le poca làn òir.
Abair creach! Bha Iain a-nise na
cheannard air càch. Ach cha do ràinig
sinn deireadh na sgeòil fhathast...
