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

THE PEAT-FIRE FLAME
the faeries were heard to say one to another during the
pursuit. As Luran was on the point of being overtaken, he
heard a propitious voice, saying :
—
" Luran, Son of the Black One,
Get thee among the black stones by the shore."
So Luran made for the shore, and found his way to safety
by scrambHng home among the rocks below high-tide mark,
since neither ghost nor elf can penetrate seaward beyond
the contour reached by the highest tide. And, when
scrambling home, Luran could hear the cries of a person
whom the faeries appeared to be beating, and whom he
believed to be the very one who had advised him to make
for the black stones below high-tide mark. In the morning
there was found at the base of the Culver a dead cow, in
the right shoulder of which was discovered a needle, just as
Luran had predicted to those who told him of its situation.
The faeries' persecution of Luran was not yet at an end,
however. While he was on his way to Inveraray by boat
some time later, carrying with him the faery cup he had
taken from the Culver, he was spirited away by some
mysterious power. And that was the last that human eye
ever saw of Luran and his cup.
The folk-lore of Tiree describes Luran's encounter with
the faeries somewhat differently. Luran entered a brugh,
wherein he found the faeries all asleep. On the fire was a
large copper kettle, which he sought to carry away with
him. In so doing, the kettle accidentally banged against
the doorway of the brugh ; and the noise it made woke the
faeries, sixteen of whom now set out in pursuit of him.
" Make for the black stones on the shore," Luran heard
someone say. So, he straightway made for the shore, and
escaped with the faery kettle.
A Faery Tale of Sandray.
The exploits of Luran recall another folk-tale, describing
how the wife of a herd on the Island of Sandray, in the
Outer Hebrides, made friends with a Woman of Peace,
who came to borrow her kettle. This Banshee, or Woman
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