GENERAL DESCRIPTION 35 



Fergus, of Canna's castled bay, 



Mac-Duffith, Lord of Colonsay, 

 Soon as they saw the broadswords glance 



With ready weapons rose at ouce. 



The shores of Mull on the eastward lay, 



And Ulva dark and Colonsay, 

 And all the group of islets gay 



That guard famed Staffa round. 



Merrily, merrily, goes the bark, 



Before the gale she bounds ; 

 They left Loch-Tua on their lee, 



And they waken 'd the men of the wild Tiree, 

 And the Chief of the sandy Coll. 



Lochbuie's fierce and warlike Lord 

 Their signal saw, and grasped his sword, 



And verdant Hay call'd her host, 

 And the clans of Jura's rugged coast, 

 And louely Colonsay. 



Yet still on Colonsay's fierce lord, 



Who press'd the chase with gory sword, 

 He (De Argentine) rode with spear in rest, 



And through his bloody tartans bored, 

 And through his gallant breast. 



Nail'd to the earth, the mountaineer 

 Yet writhed him up against the spear, 



And swung his broadsword round ! 

 Stirrup, steel-boot, and cuish gave way, 



Beneath that blow's tremendous sway, 

 The blood gush'd from the wound ; 



And the grim Lord of Colonsay 

 Hath turn'd him on the ground, 



And laugh'd in death-pang, that his blade 

 The mortal thrust so well repaid. 



Funeral parties on their way to Oransay halted at the 

 Temple of the Glen and there awaited the ebb of the tide 

 before crossing. Half-way across the strand fragments of 

 lime-built stone-work show the foundation of the sanctuary 

 cross (Crois-an-Tearmaid) which marked the boundary of 



