IN ASSYNT. 159 



Doraoch on an errand. The man rather hung back. It was a 

 wild night, and he would have to cross the Tain, which is 

 always a mischancy river, with many dangers round it of ford 

 and evil things. McLeod noticed his hesitation, and roared 

 out at him, * Tak' the grey horse, and the deil himself will not 

 stap ye ! ' He took it with sair misgivings, and rode into the 

 darkness till he reached the ford over the Tain. In the midst 

 of this he found his bridle seized by two witches, one on each 

 side. Says he (for he was fery bold), ' I have been waiting to 

 see you of this long time.' Says they, ' And we are fery welcome 

 to see you ; all you have to do is to sign your name in blood in 

 this parchment book in the name of the devil.' Well, he did 

 not make more ado, but took a pin and pricked himself till the 

 blood came, and then, laying the book open on the saddle be- 

 fore him, was about to write, when all at once he gave the grey 

 a slap behind with his open hand ; up he sprang, far in the air, 

 and threw down both witches into the water, and then sprang 

 round and sped home like the wind, while the man held the 

 book tight under his arm. He was soon at McLeod's house, as 

 you may suppose, and gives him the book. He opens it, and, 

 believe me, sir," here it is hopeless to express the mysterious 

 tones and agitated manner of Roderick as he held up his hand, 

 with close-set lips and staring eyes " believe me, sir, there was 

 the names written therein of all the richest women of Ross-shire. 

 Yes ; he had them all down there ! McLeod next proclaimed 

 on the ensuing Sabbath, in the kirk, that if any harm were done 

 to him or his by witches, he should know who had done it ; 

 and sure enough no harm was ever done him. He was very 

 intimate, sure enough, with the witches. 



" Now, when the young men who had murdered the Mhor 

 Venn were seized and taken to prison, nothing could save them. 

 Being, however, clansmen of McLeod of Girvan, Ross-shire, they 

 managed to send a man to tell him of their plight and ask his 

 help. McLeod's son met them outside the window of the room 



