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

FOLK-TALES OF DOUGHTY MEN AND DOUGHTY DEEDS
in the days with which we are deaHng—to meet his
antagonist at Dunvegan, the Greshornish swordsman tried
his hand on every object that beset his path, beheading every
reed and bulrush that came within the ambit of his claymore.
Nervous was his servant, however, lest by the time he
reached the Castle he should be too weary to stand up to
his opponent ; but all fears were soon dispelled when, to his
astonishment, his master clove in two a bumble-bee that
chanced to pass before him. On their arrival at Dunvegan,
Lady MacLeod brought forth her guest. Without any
preliminaries, the combat commenced in the presence of
many of the Dunvegan people. But scarcely had it begun
when Greshornish flicked a button out of the Sassenach's
shirt with the point of his sword. A second or two later,
he removed the Englishman's collar-stud in like manner.
" Now look out for the third time ! " said Greshornish,
whereupon MacLeod of MacLeod prevailed upon his Lady
to take her friend away while he was yet a living man.
This she immediately did. Thus the fight terminated ere
any blood was shed. The MacLeods lost their wager on
this occasion ; and Greshornish returned to his home in
great exultation, and with yet another laurel.
The Bumpering of Rory Mor's Horn.
Mention of Dunvegan recalls the stories of prowess
associated with the drinking-horn of Sir Rory MacLeod of
Dunvegan, commonly known in Highland history as Rory
Mor. According to one tradition, the horn itself was taken
from the head of a wild bull slain in the woods of Glen
Elg by Malcolm, third Chief of the MacLeods of
Dunvegan. From this incident is said to have originated
both the bull's head caboshed between two flags, which is
the crest of the MacLeods, and their device, " Hold Fast."
According to another tradition concerning the origin of the
horn, MacLeod of MacLeod had gone to Inveraray, where
he found within a fenced arena a young man whom Argyll
had condemned to be gored to death by a bull. MacLeod
remarked to Argyll that his victim was far too fine a fellow
p 225