The inn of Dores (1)
The old inn at Dores, beside Loch Ness, is very historical. At one
time, people were travelling through the village on the military road
between Fort Augustus and Inverness.
After the Battle of Culloden, matters were difficult for those who were
running the inn. Not many locals were frequenting it. They were scared
of the redcoat soldiers who were often there.
The storyteller, Stuart McHardy, tells a story about it in his book
Tales of Loch Ness. The inn was run by two women – Hannah Fraser and
her daughter, Jean. Hannah was disabled. Jean was young and beautiful.
One day, a group of officers were travelling between Inverness and Fort
Augustus. They stopped at the inn. They were drunk. One of them took a
shine to Jean. He was handling her as he should not.
He put his arms around her and picked her up. He was making for the
front door with her, with evil intent. Hannah saw what was happening.
She scratched the face of the soldier with her nails. The soldier let
go of Jean. She ran out the door. The soldier put his hands around
Hannah’s throat. He was throttling her.
Jean took to the hills. She hid [there]. But the redcoat killed her
mother. Then, he and his companions wrecked the inn. They left on
horseback for Fort Augustus.
When Jean returned to the inn, she found her mother’s corpse. The
locals were incensed. Some of them were wanting to go after the
soldiers. But one of them, Fair John, said they should take it easy.
He, a companion and Jean went on horseback to Fort Augustus. They wore
black. They had another horse with Hannah’s body on it.
When sentries stopped them, Fair John said he was the landlord, Alexander
Fraser of Drumashie. Alexander supported the government. He was a cousin of
John’s. John was certain the sentries wouldn’t know him. And what was
John’s plan? We’ll see next week.
Taigh-seinnse Dhurais (1)
Tha an seann taigh-seinnse ann an Duras, taobh Loch Nis, gu math
eachdraidheil. Aig aon àm, bha daoine a’ siubhal tron bhaile air an rathad
airm eadar Cille Chuimein agus Inbhir Nis.
An dèidh Blàr Chùil Lodair, bha cùisean doirbh don fheadhainn a bha a’
ruith an taigh-seinnse. Cha robh mòran de mhuinntir an àite a’ dol ann. Bha
eagal orra ro na saighdearan dearga a bha gu tric ann.
Tha an sgeulaiche, Stiùbhart McHardy, ag innse stòiridh mu dheidhinn anns
an leabhar aige Tales of Loch Ness. Bha an taigh-seinnse air a
ruith le dithis bhoireannach – Hannah Fhriseal agus a nighean Sìne. Bha
Hannah ciorramach. Bha Sìne òg agus bòidheach.
Latha a bha seo, bha buidheann de dh’oifigearan a’ siubhal eadar Inbhir Nis
agus Cille Chuimein. Stad iad aig an taigh-seinnse. Bha iad air mhisg.
Ghabh fear dhiubh nòisean do Shìne. Bha e a’ cur a làmhan oirre mar nach bu
chòir.
Chuir e a ghàirdeanan timcheall oirre agus thog e i. Bha e a’ dèanamh air
an doras mhòr leatha, le droch rùn. Chunnaic Hannah na bha a’ dol. Reub i a
h-ìnean sìos aodann an t-saighdeir. Leig an saighdear Sìne às. Ruith ise
a-mach air an doras. Chuir an saighdear a làmhan timcheall sgòrnan Hannah.
Bha e ga tachdadh.
Rinn Sìne air a’ mhonadh. Chaidh i am falach. Ach mharbh an saighdear dearg
a màthair. An uair sin, rinn e fhèin agus a chompanaich sgrios air an
taigh-seinnse. Dh’fhalbh iad air muin-eich a Chille Chuimein.
Nuair a thill Sìne don taigh-seinnse, lorg i corp a màthar. Bha fearg air
muinntir an àite. Bha feadhainn dhiubh airson a dhol an dèidh nan
saighdearan. Ach thuirt fear dhiubh, Iain Bàn, gum bu chòir dhaibh gabhail
air an socair.
Chaidh e fhèin, companach agus Sìne air muin-eich a Chille Chuimein. Bha
aodach dubh orra. Bha each eile aca, le corp Hannah air.
Nuair a chuir freiceadain stad orra, thuirt Iain Bàn gum b’ esan an
t-uachdaran, Alasdair Friseal à Druim Aithisidh. Bha Alasdair taiceil don
riaghaltas. Bha e na cho-ogha do dh’Iain. Bha Iain cinnteach nach biodh na
freiceadain eòlach air. Agus dè am plana a bha aig Iain? Chì sinn
an-ath-sheachdain.
