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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NORSE AND VIKING FOLK-TALES<br />
valiantly against <strong>the</strong> men <strong>of</strong> Assynt <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Isles, until one<br />
from Pol Gawn surprised Sweno himself, <strong>and</strong> put him to<br />
<strong>the</strong> sword. With <strong>the</strong> last breath <strong>of</strong> Sweno vanished <strong>the</strong><br />
keen spirit <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> men from Lochlann. In <strong>the</strong> hope <strong>of</strong><br />
being allowed to get away with <strong>the</strong>ir lives, <strong>and</strong> possibly with<br />
<strong>the</strong> ship, <strong>the</strong>y surrendered <strong>the</strong>ir gold treasure <strong>and</strong> all o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
valuable things aboard.<br />
<strong>The</strong> men <strong>of</strong> Assynt <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Isles now began to transfer<br />
<strong>the</strong> gold in plaids to <strong>the</strong>ir small boats, which meanwhile<br />
were moored alongside. But one plaid, owing to <strong>the</strong><br />
inordinate weight <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> treasure, tore in twain. This<br />
resulted in <strong>the</strong> treasure's slipping down between <strong>the</strong> gunwale<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> ship from Lochlann, <strong>and</strong> sinking to <strong>the</strong> sea's floor<br />
<strong>of</strong>f Pol Gawn.<br />
" To-day I go fishing <strong>of</strong>t' Pol Gawn." So said <strong>the</strong> man<br />
from Pol Dubh who had slain Sweno, <strong>the</strong> king's son, a<br />
year earlier. As he fished, <strong>the</strong>re came over <strong>the</strong> waters<br />
toward him, swiftly <strong>and</strong> secretly, a boat in which was a<br />
man armed with bow <strong>and</strong> arrow, <strong>and</strong> with copious gold<br />
embroidered on his apparel. As <strong>the</strong> boat neared, <strong>the</strong> fisher<br />
recognised that its sole occupant had on him <strong>the</strong> face <strong>of</strong><br />
Sweno, son <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> King <strong>of</strong> Lochlann. <strong>The</strong>reupon <strong>the</strong> fisher<br />
received an arrow in his breast; <strong>and</strong>, as he was sinking to<br />
death, he was heard to mutter :" Eh! Mes me hae, es me<br />
fiihr!" which is interpreted as<br />
"<br />
before, I receive it now !<br />
meaning "Ah, if I gave it<br />
<strong>The</strong> heart <strong>of</strong> Sweno was interred above <strong>the</strong> shore here,<br />
at Port an Stiivanaig, Sweno's Port. <strong>The</strong> fisher-<strong>folk</strong>s <strong>of</strong><br />
that beautiful Su<strong>the</strong>rl<strong>and</strong> fiord called Laxford say that his<br />
body was embalmed by his sailor-men, <strong>and</strong> taken home to<br />
Lochlann for burial beneath <strong>the</strong> flag-stones <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> king's<br />
choir.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Price <strong>of</strong> Deception.<br />
<strong>The</strong> story <strong>of</strong> Sweno recalls that associated with Eilean<br />
Maolrubha, one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> largest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong>s in Loch Maree,<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> one upon which st<strong>and</strong> two ancient stones still<br />
pointed out by <strong>the</strong> inhabitants <strong>of</strong> Wester Ross as marking<br />
two graves said to date back to Norse times. It is told<br />
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