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

THE LORE OE KIRK AXD KIRKVARD
chapel doorway may be seen the mark left by the hand of
the ghost as it struck the lintel in his great lunge to grasp
the fleeing tailor.
Pursued by the Devil.
To digress for a moment from kirks and kirkyards to
castles, tradition in Kintyre claims that the five large
indentations in one of the pillars supporting the entrance
gate to Saddell Castle are the finger and thumb imprint of
the devil. The story goes that the laird of Saddell, in
mischievous mood, wagered a wee tailor in the village to
spend the night alone among the tombstones in the
neighbouring graveyard by the Abbey of Saddell, which is
believed to be haunted. The wee tailor accepted the
challenge ; and it was agreed that he would take with him
sufficient material to make a pair of trousers during the
night. Ofif he went, and took up his position, tailorwise,
on a tombstone. Suddenly the earth began to rumble, and
a recumbent slab near at hand commenced to heave. Then
an enormous head appeared, and a voice was heard saying :
" Do you see this great head of mine ? "
" Ay, ay, I'm seeing it," responded the wee tailor; " but
I'm too busy making my breeks."
Then an enormous pair
voice enquired " : Do you
of shoulders appeared, and a
see these great shoulders of
mine? " And the wee tailor said : " Ay, ay," and went on
with his task.
Then the earth gave another rumble, and a great body
made its appearance, and a
great body of mine?
voice said : " Do you see this
"
" Ay, ay, I'm seeing it ; but I must get finished with mv
breeks," replied the wee tailor.
Then a great leg and foot appeared, and stamped on the
slab with such violence that the whole burying-ground
quaked. " Do you see this great foot of mine ? " asked the
apparition.
" Ay, ay, I do that," said the wee tailor ; " but my breeks
are finished, though the stitches may be ower long."
Tucking the trousers under his arm and putting the
185