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

—
ANIMAL LORE
Included in Carmichael's precious collection of Gaelic
hvmns and pravers are no fewer than three ' Poems of the
Beetle ' (Duain nan Daol). The followini? fair translation
accompanies one of them
When Christ was under the wood,
And enemies were pursuing;- Him,
The crooked one of deception
Said to the black beetle and the butterfly
" Saw ye pass to-day or yesterday
The Son of my love, the Son of God? "
" We saw, we saw ! " said the black beetle,
" The Son of redemption pass yesterday."
" False ! false! false! "
Said the little clay beetle of horses :
" A full year yesterday
The Son of God went bv."
The Last Wolf.
Folk-tales of the last wolf in Scotland are as common as
are those of the last of the giants. Tradition in Moray
accredits a man of the name of MacOueen with having
killed the last wolf. Word had been conveyed to the
MacKintosh at Moy Hall that a " black beast," supposed
to have been a wolf, had carried off two children, who were
crossing the hills from Calder. Thereupon MacQueen, a
stalker of great strength and stature, was directed to arrange
for the ' driving ' of the countryside on a certain day, and
from a place agreed upon. On the appointed day the
MacKintosh and his tinchel assembled at the tryst, where,
hour after hour, they waited impatiently for MacOueen and
his dogs. Just as they were on the point of abandoning
the project and of returning to their respective homes, up
strolled MacQueen in a fashion so lackadaisical that the
MacKintosh lost his temper and addressed him angrily.
" Ciod e a' chahhagf "— "What's the hurry?" inquired
MacQueen.
135
—