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

CHAPTER XVI
folk-tales of the bow and arrow
Little James of Loch Achray.
In olden times there lived in a diminutive stronghold on
an islet in Loch Achray a diminutive warrior named
Seumas Beag, or Little James. Seumas was as valiant as
he was diminutive ; and in recognition of his valour he had
been appointed keeper of the royal forests of Glen Finglas
and Glen Artney. One day a band of poaching Campbells
from Argyll, armed with bows and arrows, which of course
were the lethal weapons of the period, were passing by Loch
Achray with the trophies of their
they encountered Seumas Beag,
unlawful chase, when
whom they did not
recognise as being the king's forester.
Said one of the Campbells to Seumas, and he meanwhile
pointing to the tiny stronghold in Loch Achray " : What
hawk has built her nest on yon island? "
" A hawk less savage than the hawks from Argyll,"
retorted Seumas Beag.
" Tell that hawk from us," responded one of the
Campbells, " that before long we will be back to plunder her
"
nest !
" But for all you know," replied the king's forester, " that
hawk may be able to call upon other hawks for aid. It's
strange the way the hawks inhabiting these parts fly to the
protection of their own kind at the first sign of danger !
"
The Campbells went their way; and in due course they
returned to harry the nest on the isle in Loch Achray. But
Seumas Beag and his staff, with a plentiful supply of
arrows, made ready against their coming. Of those who
came down to the shore of Achray that day to harry the
hawk's nest, few returned alive to their homes in Argyll.
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