FOLK-LORE FROM UNST. 213 



The reason why Kirstan, and many a wise woman, 

 went willingly on such expeditions was, that "if a 

 person does what the Trows wish, everything prospers 

 with that person. Only she and hers must be well 

 sained about." 



One fine morning very early a young fisherman 

 got up to see how the sun rose, for by that he could 

 tell if it was to be a day for the haaf, and he saw two 

 grey-clad boys going along the road below the house. 

 He thought they were beach-boys, and that they were 

 off to their work early ; but when they came benorth 

 the house they left the road and went up to where 

 a cow was lying on the grass. They walked up to 

 the cow's face, then turned down again running, and 

 the cow ran, following as far as her tether would 

 allow. A neighbour coming to his door, also to see 

 how the sun rose, saw the same boys and the cow, 

 and it appeared to him that all three ran over the 

 cliffs. And that same day the cow died, so it was 

 evident the Trows took the real cow, and it was but a 

 semblance of her that was left to die. 



Two married brothers were living in one house, and 

 the wife of the one was expecting to become a mother. 

 Her brother-in-law, being informed of what was going 

 on, took up a fishing-rod and set off to the Craigs 

 (crag- fishing) to he out of the way. He had to pass a 

 plantiecrii, the favourite haunt of many Trows, and 

 when he got there he saw a number of them going as if 

 towards his house. Jaimie instantly turned back, for 

 he knew that they had power at such times, and the 



