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

CAVE LORE
they might have remained undetected for a time, had not
one of them, weary of his confinement in the dark cavern,
come out into the open, and left his footprints in the
previous night's fall of snow. It is said that the fugitive,
on reaHsing the jeopardy into which he carelessly had
thrown himself and his clans-people, endeavoured to cover
up his tracks by retreating backwards toward the cave ; but
how it was imagined this would deceive anyone, no one can
explain. In any case, one of the Clan Campbell had
observed him, and had hurried off to Mingary Castle, which
was now in the possession of his kinsmen. Forthwith a
detachment of Campbells reconnoitred the footprints, and
traced them to the cave, wherein were huddled several of the
Maclans. At the mouth of the cave they kindled a great
fire, and thus sufifocated its occupants to death. If this
incident be true, as well it may be, it occurred just half a
century after the somewhat similar incident on the Island of
Eigg, when the MacLeods entrapped the MacDonalds in the
Cave of St. Frances, and at the entrance to that cave
maintained a fire " with unrelenting assiduity," to use Sir
Walter Scott's words.
The Great House of Alba.
Charlemange and Barbarossa and King Sebastian of
Portugal are by no means the only persons believed to be in
a long, deep sleep, and for whose awakening the world is
awaiting. Many of the giants of Celtic Scotland are said
to be far from dead. They are merely asleep in the Great
House of Alba.
Once upon a time an intrepid Highlander entered a large
cave, on the floor of which he found a number of mighty
men, fast asleep. In the centre of the cave stood a stone
table, upon which lay a huge bugle. This bugle the Highlander
placed to his lips, little thinking that his lungs could
bring any sound from it. But he blew a blast with such
ease that he was tempted to try again. As he blew a second
time, the slumbering giants stirred. One of them raised
himself on his elbow and, rubbing his eyes, warned the
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