Jamie held fast, though he knew not what he was holding, for the little folk turned the lady into all sorts of strange shapes. At one moment she was a black dog, barking and trying to bite; at another a glowing bar of iron, which yet had no heat; then again a sack of wool.
ut still Jamie held her, and the baffled elves were turning away when a tiny woman, the smallest of the party, exclaimed, “Jamie Freel has her awa frae us, but he sall nae hae gude of her, for I’ll mak’ her deaf and dumb,” and she threw something over the young girl.
While they rode off, disappointed, Jamie Freel lifted the latch and went in.
“Jamie man!” cried his mother, “you’ve been awa all night. What have they done on you?”
“Naething bad, mother; I hae the very best o’ gude luck. Here’s a beautiful young lady I hae brought you for company.”
“Bless us and save us!” exclaimed his mother; and for some minutes she was so astonished she could not think of anything else to say.
Jamie told the story of the night’s adventure, ending by saying, “Surely you wouldna have allowed me to let her gang with them to be lost for ever?”
“But a lady, Jamie! How can a lady eat we’er (our) poor diet and live in we’er poor way? I ax you that, you foolitch fellow!”
“Well, mother, sure it’s better for her to be over here nor yonder,” and he pointed in the direction of the castle.