The peat-fire flame : folk-tales and traditions of the Highlands & Islands
The peat-fire flame : folk-tales and traditions of the Highlands & Islands
The peat-fire flame : folk-tales and traditions of the Highlands & Islands
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FOLK-TALES OF DOUGHTY MEN AND DOIT.HTY DEEDS<br />
failed, methods <strong>of</strong> peaceful persuasion were resorted to in<br />
<strong>the</strong> hope <strong>of</strong> inducing him to restore <strong>the</strong> child to its parents.<br />
MacNicol, however, would not listen to <strong>the</strong> chief until such<br />
time as <strong>the</strong> latter gave him complete remission for <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong>ifence alleged against him. <strong>The</strong> chief yielded eventually;<br />
<strong>and</strong> MacNicol, when he saw that he had gained his point,<br />
shouted aloud in <strong>the</strong> Gaelic " : / shall have no heir : nei<strong>the</strong>r<br />
will he! " <strong>The</strong>reupon he lept over <strong>the</strong> cliffs <strong>of</strong> Dun Othail<br />
into <strong>the</strong> sea, taking <strong>the</strong> child with him to certain death.<br />
A <strong>folk</strong>-tale very similar is told <strong>of</strong> a place in South Uist,<br />
<strong>and</strong> also <strong>of</strong> a place at Glen Elg. And here is <strong>the</strong> story<br />
as it still is recounted in Mull.<br />
Gorrie's Leap.<br />
Located near Carsaig, on <strong>the</strong> Isle <strong>of</strong> Mull, is Gorrie's<br />
Leap. Gorrie was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> retainers <strong>of</strong> MacLaine <strong>of</strong><br />
Lochbuie; <strong>and</strong> he had been instructed by <strong>the</strong> chief <strong>of</strong> that<br />
sept to prevent <strong>the</strong> deer from escaping through a certain<br />
ravine during a deer-drive on his territory. Hard as Gorrie<br />
strove to comply with his chief's instructions, several deer<br />
eluded him <strong>and</strong> made <strong>the</strong>ir way to safety. <strong>The</strong> chief now<br />
decided to punish Gorrie for his incompetence ; but Gorrie,<br />
greatly dreading such punishment, snatched Lochbuie's heir<br />
from <strong>the</strong> arms <strong>of</strong> his nurse, <strong>and</strong> leapt with him over a<br />
chasm among <strong>the</strong> rocks at <strong>the</strong> spot to this day known as<br />
Gorrie's Leap.<br />
Since none <strong>of</strong> Gorrie's pursuers dared venture to cross,<br />
<strong>and</strong> since Lochbuie was now reduced to utter despair for <strong>the</strong><br />
life <strong>of</strong> his heir, <strong>the</strong> latter was obliged to concede to Gorrie's<br />
terms that <strong>the</strong> heir would be returned to him, unscai<strong>the</strong>d, on<br />
condition that Lochbuie ab<strong>and</strong>oned any intention <strong>of</strong><br />
inflicting harm on Gorrie.<br />
Whe<strong>the</strong>r Gorrie mistrusted <strong>the</strong> word <strong>of</strong> MacLaine or not,<br />
we have no means <strong>of</strong> knowing. But it would appear as<br />
though he did, when he leapt from <strong>the</strong> ledge <strong>of</strong> rock to his<br />
destruction in <strong>the</strong> dark chasm below, carrying <strong>the</strong> infant<br />
Lochbuie with him.<br />
And <strong>the</strong>y say in Mull that, at misty <strong>and</strong> mysterious<br />
twilight, echoes may be heard <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> shrieks emitted by<br />
Gorrie in his death-leap.<br />
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