176 NETHER LOCHABER. 



burning it about her ears, not caring very much either even if the 

 " evil-eyed witch " herself, as they called her, should be buried under 

 the burning rafters of her cottage. As the young men noiselessly 

 surrounded the hut, they found that the old woman was just about 

 retiring for the night, and as some of them stood at her window, 

 and looked and listened, they could see her, by the light of a bog 

 pine fire, kneel at her bedside, and after a little they heard her 

 repeat the following prayer : — 



*' Tha 'n la nis air falbh iiainn, 

 Tha 'n oidhche 'tighinn orm dliith ; 

 'S ni mise luidhe gu dion 

 Fo dhubhar sgiath mo rtiin. 

 gach cunnart 's o gach bkg, 

 'S gach nkmhaid th'aig Mac Dhe, 

 O nadur dhaoine borba, 

 'S o choirbteachd mo nkduir fMn, 

 Gabhaidh mis' a nis armachd Dhe, 

 Gun bhi reubta no brisd', 

 'Sge b'oil leis an t'sktan 's le phMrt 

 Bi'dh mis' air mo ghekrd a nis." 



Which, literally rendered into English, will read thus ; — 



" The day has now departed from us ; 

 Dark night gathers around, 

 And I will lay me safely down (to sleep) 

 Under shadow of my Beloved One's wing. 

 Against all dangers, and death in every form, 

 Against each enemy of God's good Son, 

 Against the anger of the turbulent people, 

 And against the corruption of my own nature, 

 I will take unto me the armour of God — 

 That shall protect me from all assaults : 

 And in spite of Satan and all his following, 

 I shall be well and surely guarded." 



The old woman's confidence in the Divine protection was not mis- 

 placed ; the heart of youth is generous, and the beauty and 

 solemnity of the scene carried it captive. T^he young men felt 

 that one who could thus, on retiring to rest, commend herself to 



