He was a
Highland ghost, a Campbell, and desired vengeance on a Macniven, who
murdered him. The ghost, practically, "cried Cruachan," and tried to
rouse the clan. Failing in this, owing to Inverawe's loyalty to his
oath, the ghost uttered a prophecy.
The tale is given in the words of Miss Elspeth Campbell, who collected
it at Inverawe from a Highland narrator. She adds a curious
supplementary tradition in the Argyle family.
TICONDEROGA
It was one evening in the summer of the year 1755 that Campbell of
Inverawe {157} was on Cruachan hill side. He was startled by seeing a
man coming towards him at full speed; a man ragged, bleeding, and
evidently suffering agonies of terror. "The avengers of blood are on
my track, Oh, save me!" the poor wretch managed to gasp out.
Inverawe, filled with pity for the miserable man, swore "By the word
of an Inverawe which never failed friend or foe yet" to save him.
Inverawe then led the stranger to the secret cave on Cruachan hill
side.
None knew of this cave but the laird of Inverawe himself, as the
secret was most carefully kept and had been handed down from father to
son for many generations.
Pages:
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204