Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-22
SCOTCH LEGEND.
Universally Believed Years Ago,
Almost Forgotten Now.

|
meet a highlander who will admit that
| such ever existed, though the belief In
spectral hunts was at one time widely
spread in the highlands Of Scotland.
Some half score of years ago l met
| in Glengarry an old stalker OF 80, and
to him owe the story of the phantom
deerstalker-a story originally told by
his father, Alastair Nor.
Alastair, then mere lad, but already
stalker of promise, had been sent to
the hi for venison for the castle, for
| in those days the laird often left the
shooting of the stays to his men, On
| this particular occasion he returned
| both empty handed and early, and SO
his old father, Rory, made no attempt
to conceal his displeasure.
Very well, father" at last said
Alastair, Il will tell you all. I saw him
and the hound today.
LAS you know, father, started early
for the ground below the Spidean, and
l was at Tom nabrock before the sun
was above Ben Tigh, so l had to wait
till the light was good enough for the
glass; l made out five middling beasts
slowly coming up from the river side.
1.-THE wind was steady, and Ossian
crawled along side me; but when we
got into dead ground and walked to the
hillock where I intended to leave the
dog, 1 found the deer gone.
LAS they neared the Ravens Rock
distinctly heard the long. wild howls of
a staghound, and some shouting as of
hunter. OSSian sat on his launches
and shivered as my little parcel made
for the pass. Their speed increased as
the sounds of dog and man rose high
er and higher and one of the stays
jumped clear over the Ravens Rock
falling to the bottom several hundred
feet below.
"All of a sudden, however. l caught
sight of a small herd far up Corrie
Mealach, just below the sheep-pass at
the top. l put on the glass and sure
enough therewere at least 80 good
stays, all quietly feeding as though
perfectly unconscious of what had just
happened lower down. l could not I'M
derstand it.
Il envied Ossian, who. now rather
subdued yet keen for work, had a bath
in every pool we passed. When at last
we came in sight of the deer l decided
to retrace my steps and come in on
them sideways. just below Clach More,
by Murdock's Pool.
Il lay full length at the pool, and
qenched my thirst with the fine spring
water. Just as ! lowered my head for
a second drink l saw reflected on the
calm surface of the pool the hunter of
the Craggan Cover, just as once
heard you describe him.
He was walking slowly. In front
was a brindled deerhound with a black
snout Man and dog seemed alike alb
sorbed in something just ahead of
them. The mans outline was perfectly
distinct. He wore rather short, gray
ish-yellow kilt. with his hose far below
his knees. His hair was black, and
came to his shoulders in long tresses
He carried a musket with a long, thin
barrel, and at his side a big hunting
knife like a short sword. l was much
struck also with the size of his powder
horn.
Il could look no longer, SO rose
from the pool My eyes naturally
sought the ridge not more than 80
yards above me; but there was nobody
there.
Il sat and watched for at least 10
minutes. then moved to the other side
of the ridge. But my deer were all
startled, and ran helter- SHELTER over the
near skyline for the southern slope of
Spidean Mealach. My courage finally
gave way. and Ossian and ran down
the hill in terror
Old Rory's face showed a rare mix
ture of fear and excitement; and he
fully recounted to Alastair, for the first
time, the origin of the forest specter.
It's now many years since Donald
Breac went out for his wedding veni-
son; he stalks for it yet He had long
courted Mary Ban of ,Glei CosaidhsI
He not only stalked for the chief, Alas
tair Ranaldson mcdonnell. but also
prayed soft, sad music to soothe him
to sleep after the days hunt was
over.
I'm fair fight he had the misfortune
to lay low one Of his rivals. who never
rose again. The Caillach Reag, the
later's mother, had an evil reputation
in the district
Everything seemed to 20 well with
the engaged couple. and all was in
readiness for the ceremony and the
feast of the morrow; only venison was
wanted. and naturally the bridegroom
would see to that himself.
Ho DC. oue lor the MIL With his
faithful Bran and Glengarry's fayorite
flintlock 1
The stalk promised to be an. easy
one, and he had in his own mind al
ready gralloched the beast. The stag
was royal and a magnificent beast
at that How his smoking launches
would grace the tables at the wedding
banquet.
IN his eagerness he spoke his
thoughts aloud: will have that stag
even though the devil and all the black
spirits in the glen should say no; moth
ing can prevent me-.
Inc shot was fired, but the stag fell
not; on the contrary. he trotted quietly