"That is my father's horse." "No, it is my father's horse:" and they fell to fighting (for the horse looked different to each of them). The first jumped up. "There is room for two," said the second, and jumped up also. The others were angry. "It is a bonny horse, too," said a girl that came by, when they were all up but one. And she patted its shining skin, but her hand had stuck to it. "Oh! Annach," cried her brother, "will ye die with the others, or want your hand?" "Oh! take off the hand and let us run." So he took the hand off, and they two ran home, and the seven herds of Sallachie were never seen again.—(Mr. Young, Lairg.)
This is nearly the same as the legend of LochnaGillie; and a third story is current of Loch Badandarroch, or the loch of the oak branches, where two girls were the victims, and no one remained to tell the tale.
In Ben-na-Caulting one day, the Vaugh called to D. MacRobb, "Will you eat any charcoal, Donald?" "No," he said, "my wife will give me supper when I get home."
[Pliny speaks of a mysterious affinity between serpents and the hazel-tree.
In Brittany a stick or wand cut from an apple-tree leads by a mysterious wisdom. Repeat this rhyme:—
"Conduis-mois
Par les mers,
Par les terres,
Partout ou aller
Voudras."—Le Naer.
In the Lowlands of Scotland the bourtree or elder is revered. In Upper India a tree of the mimosa tribe is called wise. It sleeps all day, wakes all night, and is a charm against witches.—See Heber's Journal So much for the Rowan, or Mountain Ash of established reputation.]
The Otter King.
The mythical zoology of Sutherland contains also a white otter. These animals have a king, sometimes all white, sometimes dun with a white star. He has a jewel in his forehead, and is only vulnerable in one spot on the breast. I do not know whether it is an elective or hereditary sovereignty.
