BLACK MEG OF DARNWICK 237 



nightfall she would come doon the glen to seek thae 

 grey stanes* that the fairies cast their cantrips with, 

 and muckle scaith she wrought rotting the sheep 

 of ae body, and takkin the milk from the kye of 

 anither ; so the lads waylaid her wi' flails, and pitch- 

 forks, and sic-like gear. They chased her aw the 

 night in the glen, up and doon the braes and thickets, 

 and through the water ; but they could never grip 

 her, and they came back at skreigh o' day wi' torn 

 plaids and broken shins, all covered wi' mire ; and 

 some o' them had a sair sickness afterwards, and 

 repent it that they ever middled wi' her." 



" Oh, of course ; but what became of her at last, 

 Charlie ? " 



' Why, then, when she persistit in her foul ways, 

 some o' thae freebooters, who feared neither witch, 

 warlock, nor deil, made a raid into her country, and 

 pit a fire round each of the towers f, and made the 

 ane she was in too het to haud her, and out she ran 

 wi 1 awfu' yells, skelping owre the moor, and so doon 

 to the Elfin glen, where ane o' thoese same reivers, 

 who had a flaming firebrand in his bond, wounded 

 her ahint wi' it ; and the deidly nightshade still 

 grows in the place where her blood was spilt. Then 

 they drave her through the glen, and so doon the 



* These fairy stones, as they are called, are to be found in the 

 Elfin glen, where the maid of Avenel is said to have appeared. 

 This romantic spot belongs to Lord Somerville, and is in the orna- 

 mental grounds belonging to his house called the Pavilion. The 

 stones are of a grey colour, and of various curious shapes, sometimes 

 closely resembling articles in common use, such as tea cups, saucers, 

 etc. ; they are supposed to contain some charm, and are constantly 

 sought for to this day by all sorts of people. 



f The three towers are still standing in the place indicated. 



