OSMUNDA. 141 



peace. Others,, again, have thought it commemorative, as 

 the following legendary passage bears evidence. The point 

 involved, however, we must leave antiquarians and philolo- 

 gists to settle. 



At Loch Tyne dwelt the waterman old Osmund. Fairest 

 among maidens was the daughter of Osmund the waterman. 

 Her light brown hair and glowing cheek told of her Saxon 

 origin, and her light steps bounded over the green turf like 

 a young fawn in his native glades. Often, in the stillness 

 of a summer's even, did the mother and her fair-haired 

 child sit beside the lake, to watch the dripping and the 

 flashing of the father's oars, as he skimmed right merrily 

 towards them over the deep blue waters. Sounds, as of 

 hasty steps, were heard one day, and presently a company 

 of fugitives told with breathless haste that the cruel Danes 

 were making way towards the ferry. Osmund heard them 

 with fear. Suddenly the shouts of furious men came 

 remotely on the ear. The fugitives rushed on ; and 

 Osmund stood for a moment, when snatching up his oars 

 he rowed his trembling wife and fair child to a small island 

 covered with the great Osmund Eoyal, and assisting them 

 to land, enjoined them to lie down beneath the tall Perns. 

 Scarcely had the ferryman returned to his cottage, than a 



