206 DAYS OF DEEE-STALKING. 



Several of the forest anecdotes in Sutherland refer to a 

 person known by the name of Our-na-Kelig, who resided 

 in the parish of Loth, and who appears to have been not 

 only a most successful and constant hunter of deer, but also 

 a most stout and valiant clansman. His history is involved 

 in considerable mystery, but his memory does not appear to 

 have been tarnished with anything like secret assassination, 

 or other serious crime. His proper name is unknown ; that 

 of Our-na-Kelig, by which alone he is referred to in tradi- 

 tion, is, I am told, descriptive of the grey, or light colour 

 of his dress, and of his being a great eater of cod fish, or 

 often engaged in catching it. 



In a bloody skirmish between some Strathnaver men and 

 those of the eastern coast of Sutherland, at Drumderg, in Glen 

 Loth, Our-ria-Kelig engaged one of the Strathnaver men, 

 whose two sons also were present. He always laid about 

 him with a two-handed sword, swinging it around with 

 great fury, and letting it fall on his adversary with irresist- 

 ible violence; giving such a stroke as Ariosto describes, 

 when he says, " Cola un fendente :" Anglice, " Lets fall a 

 cleaver." With this formidable weapon he soon despatched 

 the Strathnaver man, whether or not he divided him from 

 head to foot into two equal parts, tradition does not say ; 

 but it relates that the sons of the slain man rushed instantly 

 on the victor with desperate rage, but only to meet the 

 death of their father. 



The Strathnaver men were defeated ; and the fame pre- 

 viously acquired by Our-na-Kelig as a formidable swords- 

 man, was prodigiously increased by the slaughter of three 

 powerful men in open combat. 



Soon after this onslaught, Our-na-Kelig went into the 

 Ben Ormin forest to kill himself some venison, as he was 

 wont to do, without being very particular about the laws 

 of property. 



" The good old rule 



Sufficed him ; the simple plan, 

 That they should take who have the power, 

 And they should keep who can." 



He bent the best and the stiffest bow in the country, killed 

 a deer when he was hungry, and would devour a whole 



