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

THE PEAT-FIRE FLAME
she would be permitted to go her ways without let or
hindrance.
Forthwith she began to bake in earnest; but, to her
astonishment, the more she baked, the less did the pickle of
meal seem to diminish. Day after day, without intermission,
she strove to finish this interminable baking. Yet, each
evening found her no nearer the end of her task than when
she had commenced in the morning.
One day the entire faery throng quitted the cavern on an
excursion to the world of ordinary men. The unfortunate
woman, left behind to see to it that they were provided with
an ample baking on their return, now was given an opportunity
of examining the faeries' dwelling closely. As she
proceeded toward its inmost recesses, she heard a moaning.
This she traced to an alcove where there was a bed, upon
which lay an old and sickly man, bed-ridden.
" What brings you here ? " inquired the old man.
" I was lured here to attend to a sick person," she
responded.
*' And what sort of work are they giving you to do ? " he
asked further.
"Baking, baking, eternally baking!" was
" And the more I bake, the less I am finished."
her reply.
" Begin once again," said the old man; " and stop putting
"
the pickle of dusting-meal back among the baking !
The poor woman reverted to the baking-board, and
carried out his instruction. In no time the meal was
finished; and thus she was able to quit the cavern ere its
inhabitants returned.
The Faeries of St. Kilda.
Scattered here and there about the village of Hirta (St.
Kilda), now unpeopled, are numerous green mounds that the
natives, up to the time of their leaving the island for homes
on the mainland of Scotland, used to regard as the abodes
of faeries. Many of these mounds in latter years were
removed, however, in the course of agricultural improvements.
Among the iris plants behind the village, and situated
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