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

THE PEAT-FIRE FLAME
sent to Berneray for John MacLeod, urging him to find his
way over to Rodil without delay.
" I will give him the choice of my swords," said the
Laird, " if he engage the Italian. And, what's more, if
he beat him, I will settle him on new lands."
MacLeod readily accepted the challenge of the Italian,
whose repute and warlike aspect hitherto had alarmed the
Highlands. Thereupon the Laird of Harris took both
swordsmen into his armoury, and invited them to choose
whatever weapons they fancied. The contestants engaged
each other furiously; but the Italian proved no match
whatever for the superior dexterity of John MacLeod, who
easily vanquished him.
The Laird of Harris now sought to implement his
promise of lands. But it is said that MacLeod, indignant
that the Italian should also have been given a choice of
sword from the armoury, handed back the weapon he
himself had chosen, and told the Laird that never again
would he be disposed to free him or his clans-people from
the exactions of any challenging warrior touring the Highlands.
Thereafter John MacLeod sailed across the Minch.
He landed at Assynt, where he soon put himself in
possession of certain lands. A little later, he set out for
Harris to collect his family and belongings ; but they say in
Berneray that, when only a gunshot from the Assynt shore,
he fell overboard and was drowned.
Black was the sorrow among MacLeod's kinsfolk, and
also among his many admirers throughout the Isles, when
they learned of his death. His corpse was recovered by the
seashore of the lands he had acquired in Assynt; and it was
interred at a spot near by.
A Renowned Swordsman.
In bygone days the Isle of Skye had a renowned
swordsman in the person of the tacksman of Greshornish.
On one occasion this swordsman accepted, for a wager, the
challenge to combat by an Englishman, who at the time
happened to be the guest of Lady MacLeod at Dunvegan
Castle. On his wa}' across the moors—there were no roads
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