The peat-fire flame : folk-tales and traditions of the Highlands & Islands

THE PEAT-FIRE FLAME
" Pity on you, Dornoch ! " repeated St. Gilbert, as he
went forth to meet the monster, armed with his bow and the
sharpest of his arrows.
With the first arrow Gilbert pierced the hide of the
monster, as he sought to breathe fire upon Dornoch. Now,
the towns-folk buried it under a large stone situated on the
moor between Dornoch and Skibo, and known traditionally
as the Beast's Stone. And, until a few years ago, it was
quite usual for the folks of this neighbourhood to compute
local directions and distances in relation to their being in
such and such a direction and so many yards or miles from
the Beast's Stone.
COLANN THE HeADLESS.
The track of moorland about Morar known in olden times
as the Smooth Mile, just where Morar railway-station now
stands, used to be haunted by a spectre called by the natives
Colann the Headless. This evil thing was wont to ensnare
and destroy the inhabitants at odd times as they passed
along the Smooth Mile after dark. Efforts to rid the
countryside of this menace involved the mysterious disappearance
or death of all who made them. It was
recognised that the strength of creatures such as Colann the
Headless waned with the coming of daylight. And therefore
Iain Garbh, one of the most doughty of the celebrated
Chiefs of the MacLeods of Raasay, determined that he
would try to overcome the spectre about the hour of dawn,
since he was accustomed to pass this way when journeying
between his island home and the south. However, long
before dawn Iain Garbh and the headless one came to grips.
With the coming of dawn its strength and prowess began
to wane.
" Let me go ! " entreated Colann, as the morning sun
began to show above the hills of Morar.
" Not until thou swearest by the Book and the Seven
Candles to quit this land forever," rejoined MacLeod of
Raasay.
Accordingly, Colann the Headless swore on oath ; and he
was released. Ever since that dawn on the Smooth Mile,
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