FOLK-LORE FROM UNST. 205 



Another legend which was told me is that of " The 

 white sea-bird." A boat started one summer morning 

 from the Broch of Colviedell, intending to remain at 

 the haaf-fishing for two days. But the men had 

 scarcely launched their boat, had scarcely stepped the 

 mast, when a white gull came hovering overhead, and 

 as soon as the boat was fairly under way, alighted on 

 the rigging. Folding its wings, it fixed its dark eyes 

 upon the boat with an almost human intelligence in its 

 expression, and as the boat sailed on, the bird sat 

 motionless overhead. Night came down, but still the 

 bird remained watching the men at their work. About 

 midnight a sudden squall came on, which grew into a 

 storm that lasted two nights and a day. The boat 

 dared not attempt reaching the shore for the tideways 

 across her path. The only safety was in remaining out 

 at sea, and during all that time the little boat lay 

 tossing among the billows, with the white bird sitting 

 upon the mast. When the storm abated the boat 

 sought her haven, and not until she reached the beach 

 did the bird take wing. As soon as they landed, 

 one of the men said, " Give the bird the best cut of our 

 ling, for she never left us in our trouble, and likely 

 she has been our preservation ; for yesterday, when we 

 were in the heart of the storm, I saw an old woman 

 sitting on the water a little way from the boat, and 

 she appeared not good. But of course she had no 

 power to come nearer us while the bird stayed by us. 

 No doubt she was a witch, and the bird was a good 

 spirit." 



