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

GHOST TALES AND HAUNTED PLACES
Captain of Clan Ranald of the Isles—was forewarned of
the death of his valient and beloved chieftain. This henchman
was known as the GiUe-cas-fltiich, the Lad of the Wet
Foot, simply because it was his duty to be walking constantly
in front of his master, so as to take the dew or the rain off
grass and heather that otherwise would be soaking his
master's feet.
Now, it was the Lad of the Wet Foot who, having come
on the washing-woman, while she was wailing a death-dirge
by one of the Benbecula fords, seized hold of her, and
refused to let her go until he learned of her for whom she
was washing the death-shroud and singing the dirge.
" Let me go," said she. " and give me the freedom of my
feet, and that the breeze of reek coming from thy grizzled
tawny beard is anear putting a stop to the breath of my
throat. Much more would my nose prefer, and much rather
would my heart desire, the air of the fragrant incense of
the mist of the mountains."
" I will not allow thee away," replied the Lad of the Wet
"
Foot, " till thou promise me my three choice desires I
" Let me hear them, ill man ! " said the hean-nighe.
" That thou wilt tell to me for whom thou art washing
the shroud and crooning the dirge, that thou wilt give me
my choice spouse, and that thou wilt keep abundant seaweed
in the creek of our townland as long as the carle of Sgeirrois
shall continue his moaning."
Then answered the hean-nighe : " I am washing the shroud
and crooning the dirge for Great Clan Ranald of the Isles
and he shall never again in his living life of the world go
thither nor come hither across the clachan of Dun Borve."
Instantly the Lad of the Wet Foot grasped the deathshroud,
and flung it into the loch. And he hastened home to
the stronghold of Dun Borve, home to the bedside of Clan
Ranald himself. And he related to his master all that the
washing-woman had told him at the stepping-stones by the
ford, in the dead of night.
Clan Ranald immediately directed that a cow be killed,
and that without delay a new coracle be made with the hide,
so that he might be taking a long, long sail—no one knew
whither. In no time the coracle was brought to him. And
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