The Raasay Monster (2)
I was telling you the story of MacVurich of Raasay. The monster built a
causeway and peat-stack for MacVurich. But the hunter wasn’t satisfied.
‘Your child is still under ransom,’ he said.
‘I’ve paid twice,’ said the monster, angrily.
‘That was just the beginning,’ said MacVurich. ‘Now, you’ll build a big
house for me. The thatch will be made of bird feathers.’
‘A curse on you!’ said the monster. It arose and went to the wood. It
shouted, ‘Every tree in the wood except for the aspen of the
crucifixion and the blackthorn of the crown, come and build the house!’
Wood came from the trees. It wasn’t long until the house was built.
Flocks of birds came from every corner of the world. Every bird left a
feather on the roof of the new house. Within a day, the thatch was
ready.
When the monster returned, MacVurich threw his baby out the window. The
monster left. But it cursed MacVurich.
MacVurich married and he had three sons. They and their father were
always falling out. MacVurich only had one friend. That was his
servant, Finlay.
MacVurich, his sons and Finlay sailed to Moidart. On the way back, they
went to Canna. They were there too long. The Lady of Canna asked them
to leave, but there was no wind.
‘We’re not going to row to Raasay,’ said the sons to their father.
‘Won’t you call up the wind?’
MacVurich called for a ‘gentle wind from the east.’ The sons mocked him
for being timid. He called for a ‘hard wind from the north.’ That was
not favourable to them. The boys again mocked their father.
MacVurich was angry. He called for a wind so strong that it would pull a
limpet from a rock. His sons were all sick with seasickness. Only MacVurich
and Finlay stood up to the hardship. They reached Loch Aineort on Skye.
They beached their boat there. And what happened to them after that, I
don’t know.
Uilebheist Ratharsair (2)
Bha mi ag innse dhuibh an sgeulachd ‘MacMhuirich Ratharsair’. Thog an
t-Uilebheist cabhsair agus cruach-mhònach do MhacMhuirich. Ach cha robh an
sealgair riaraichte. ‘Tha an leanabh agad air èirig fhathast,’ thuirt e.
‘Phàigh mi i dà thuras,’ ars an t-Uilebheist, le fearg.
‘Cha robh an sin ach an toiseach,’ thuirt MacMhuirich. ‘A-nise, togaidh thu
taigh mòr dhomh. Bidh an tughadh air a dhèanamh de dh’itean eòin.’
‘Mo mhallachd ort!’ thuirt an t-Uilebheist. Dh’èirich e agus dh’fhalbh e
don choille. Dh’èigh e, ‘Gach craobh anns a’ choille ach a-mhàin critheann
a’ Chrainn-cheusaidh agus Droigheann-dubh a’ Chrùin, thigibh agus dèanaibh
an taigh!’ Thàinig fiodh bho na craobhan. Cha b’ fhada gus an robh an taigh
air a thogail.
Thàinig sgaothan de dh’eòin à gach oisean dhen domhan. Dh’fhàg gach eun ite
air mullach an taigh ùir. Taobh a-staigh latha, bha an tughadh deiseil.
Nuair a thill an t-Uilebheist, thilg MacMhuirich a leanabh a-mach air an
uinneig. Dh’fhalbh an t-Uilebheist. Ach rinn e mallachd air MacMhuirich.
Phòs MacMhuirich agus bha triùir mhac aige. Bha iad fhèin ʼs an athair
a-mach air a chèile fad na h-ùine. Cha robh ach aon charaid aig
MacMhuirich. B’ e sin an sgalag aige, Fionnlagh.
Sheòl MacMhuirich, a mhic agus Fionnlagh a Mhuideart. Air an t-slighe
dhachaigh, chaidh iad a Chanaigh. Bha iad ann ro fhada. Dh’iarr
Baintighearna Chanaigh orra falbh, ach cha robh gaoth ann.
‘Chan eil sinn a’ dol a dh’iomradh a Ratharsair,’ thuirt na mic ri an
athair. ‘Nach iarr sibh gun tig a’ ghaoth?’
Dh’èigh MacMhuirich airson ‘gaoth shocair às an àird an ear.’ Rinn na
gillean magadh air MacMhuirich airson a bhith meata. Dh’èigh e airson
‘gaoth chruaidh às an àird a tuath.’ Cha robh sin fàbharach dhaibh. Rinn na
gillean magadh air an athair a-rithist.
Bha MacMhuirich feargach. Dh’èigh e airson gaoth cho làidir ʼs gun
tàirnneadh i bàirneach à creag. Bha a mhic uile tinn le cur na mara. Cha
robh ach MacMhuirich agus Fionnlagh a sheas ris a’ chruadal. Ràinig iad
Loch Aineort anns an Eilean Sgitheanach. Chuir iad am bàta air tìr an sin.
Agus dè thachair dhaibh an uair sin, chan eil fhios domh.
