>
not, the result would be the reverse. This was a disheartening response

for the unhappy votary, his wife being a noted shrew.



The fatal morning arrived, and the hour for meeting the enemy approached,

but there appeared no symptoms of refreshment for Lochbuy and his men. At

length the unfortunate man was compelled to ask his wife to supply them

with food. She set down before them curds, but without spoons. When the

husband inquired how they were to eat them, she replied they should

assume the bills of hens. The men ate the curds, as well as they could,

with their hands; but Lochbuy himself ate none. After behaving with the

greatest bravery in the bloody conflict which ensued, he fell covered

with wounds, leaving his wife to the execration of the people. She is

still known in that district under the appellation of Corr-dhu, or the

Black Crane.



But the miseries brought on the luckless Lochbuy by his wife did not end

with his life, for he died fasting, and his ghost is frequently seen to

this day riding the very horse on which he was mounted when he was

killed. It was a small, but very neat and active pony, dun or

mouse-coloured, to which the Laird was much attached, and on which he had

ridden for many years before his death. Its appearance is as accurately

described in the island of Mull as any steed is at Newmarket. The prints

of its shoes are discerned by connoisseurs, and the rattling of its curb

is recognised in the darkest night. It is not particular with regard to

roads, for it goes up hill and down dale with equal velocity. Its hard-

fated rider still wears the same green cloak which covered him in his

last battle; and he is particularly distinguished by the small size of

his head, a peculiarity which, we suspect, the learned disciples of

Spurzheim have never yet had the sagacity to discover as indicative of an

extraordinary talent and incomparable perseverance in horsemanship.



It is now above three hundred years since Ewen-a-chin-vig (Anglice,

Hugh of the Little Head) fell in the field of honour; but neither the

vigour of the horse nor of the rider is yet diminished. His mournful

duty has always been to attend the dying moments of every member of his

own tribe, and to escort the departed spirit on its long and arduous

journey. He has been seen in the remotest of the Hebrides; and he has

found his way to Ireland on these occasions long before steam navigation

was invented. About a century ago he took a fancy for a young man of his

own race, and frequently did him the honour of placing him behind himself

on horseback. He entered into conversation with him, and foretold many

circumstances connected with the fate of his successors, which have

undoubtedly since come to pass.



Many a long winter night have I listened to the feats of Ewen-a-chin-vig,

the faithful and indefatigable guardian of his ancient family, in the

hour of their last and greatest trial, affording an example worthy the

imitation of every chief,--perhaps not beneath the notice of Glengarry

himself.



About a dozen years since some symptoms of Ewen's decay gave very general

alarm to his friends. He accosted one of his own people (indeed he never

has been known to notice any other), and, shaking him cordially by the

hand, he attempted to place him on the saddle behind him, but the

uncourteous dog declined the honour. Ewen struggled hard, but the clown

was a great, strong, clumsy fellow, and stuck to the earth with all his

might. He candidly acknowledged, however, that his chief would have

prevailed, had it not been for a birch-tree which stood by, and which he

got within the fold of his left arm. The contest became very warm

indeed, and the tree was certainly twisted like an osier, as thousands

can testify who saw it as well as myself. At length, however, Ewen lost

his seat for the first time, and the instant the pony found he was his

own master, he set off with the fleetness of lightning. Ewen immediately

pursued his steed, and the wearied rustic sped his way homeward. It was

the general opinion that Ewen found considerable difficulty in catching

the horse; but I am happy to learn that he has been lately seen riding

the old mouse-coloured pony without the least change in either the horse

or the rider. Long may he continue to do so!



Those who from motives of piety or curiosity have visited the sacred

island of Iona, must remember to have seen the guide point out the tomb

of Ewen, with his figure on horseback, very elegantly sculptured in alto-

relievo, and many of the above facts are on such occasions related.