[1]. Donald of the Lakes.
[2]. Ellen-nan-Gall, an island contiguous to Island Stalker.
[3]. Green Colin.
[4]. This is a good axe, Alexander, if you could whittle well with it.
[5]. Do you think but I can do so.
[6]. The following is another version of the manner in which Donald was transferred to the protection of the smith. It is rot, however, so consistent with the previous part of the narrative as the first:
Donald, the only son of Alexander, being an infant, was, at the death of his father, carried away to Lochshiel side, in Moidart, to a smith’s family, commonly known by the name of ‘An Gothan Muidartsich.’ The smith was a descendant of the Clanronald family, and had a tack of both sides of Lochshiel, which, together with his trade, supported his family. His work principally consisted in the making of arms, hence the bye-word, when a warrior met with a sword that pleased him, ‘N’na claimbh Mudairstach than seodh.’ The smith, notwithstanding his mechanical employment, was considered a person in good circumstances; and it being customary at that age for the Highland chiefs to send their male family, in disguise, to farmers to rear them in hard hood and fatigue, a number of the neighbouring gentry sent their sons, ‘Air mhachaladh,’ to the smith to bring them up till the age of maturity. The smith would have none except the heirs of property. The peculiar family circumstances under which Donald was left to his protection, his life being in danger, rendered the smith more careful of him. The kindness thus shown by his supposed father, drew the attachment of the child towards him. The smith at last got fonder of him than any of his own family, and frequently brought him to the smithy to assist him in making swords, axes, and such other warlike instruments as were used in those times. As Donald grew up, his strength and intrepidity increased with his years. He was reckoned a good swimmer, and by diving, several times caught salmon in ‘Linidh Bhlathain,’ a pool immediately below the smith’s house, in the water of Shiel. On one occasion, he came up with one in each hand, and one in his teeth. One day, the smith having a piece of work to execute, and no other assistance being at hand, called upon Donald to aid him. The article he was engaged with required a man to hold it on the study, and two men, with hammers used by both hands, to beat it down. Donald seized one of these large hammers in each hand, and beat it down with great ease. The smith, admiring his strength and activity, could no longer contain himself: and after consulting his wife, sent for ‘Mhac Mhic Allen,’ the uncle of Donald, to reveal the secret. On the arrival of the uncle, the smith told him he wanted to show him what one of his sons, who was only eighteen years of age, could do. They went to the smithy, and Donald, in order to please his supposed chief, exerted himself in beating on the study with the two large hammers. They afterwards proceeded to the pool, the smith at the same time taking a sword with him, and telling Donald that he need not come ashore unless he brought a salmon in each hand. Donald dived into the water, and staying an unusual time, the smith drew nearer ‘Mhac Mhic Allen,’ and, unsheathing his sword in a great fury, the young man came out with a salmon in each hand. “What,” says ‘Mhac Mhic Allen,’ “are you going to kill me.” The smith replied, that unless the young man had come out of the water, he certainly would have been a dead man. Upon which ‘Mhac Mhic Allen’ said, he would rather than a ‘ceud mbare Ferin,’ a hundred marks of land, he had a son that could do the same thing. The smith, elevated with the young man’s safety, and the exploit before his chief and relation, revealed the secret of his birth, upon which ‘Mhac Mhic Allen’ embraced the young man—telling him he was his uncle. Donald was rather in a dilemma about the loss of his supposed father, whom he so dearly loved, and who so fondly cherished him; but when he recovered himself, he showed symptoms of indignation against the murderer of his father, and craved the assistance of his uncle to redeem his lawful possessions. His uncle considered him too young; but Donald said he was determined, even single-handed, to attempt the attainment of his rights. Upon which his uncle and the smith went to the smithy, made a sword, tempered it well, and presenting it to him, told him not to sheath it till he had redeemed his rights, and he revenged on his father’s enemies. The smith likewise sent his own sons to assist him, along with a party of select men from his uncle’s country, who were greatly attached to him, he having been brought up among them. Donald soon gained his rights, and returned to the smith to take farewell, and thank him for his kindness and protection. The smith gave him a bull and twelve cows, which Donald regarded as a high affront, knowing that he gave twenty and a bull to each of the other heirs of property that he reared. He asked the smith what was the reason, upon which the latter replied, that he was now getting old, and intended to divide his property between his own sons; but that he had as great a regard for him as any of the other young men, notwithstanding that he only gave him this number. Donald went to the fold and made out the twenty, that it might not be said that he got less than the rest; but, upon further consideration, returned them all, saying to the smith, he had taught him to be a warrior, and he would find sufficient cattle among the Campbells, his father’s enemies.
[7]. Donald the Hammerer.
[8]. Cailen Uaine was killed at the water of Lion, swimming over after having been defeated by ‘Donul nan Ord,’ by one of Donald’s men. One of Colin’s men who got safe to the other side said, that that was clean blood he gave to the salmon of Lion, seeing the arrow quivering in his breast. Upon which one of Donald’s men remarked, that he gave cleaner blood to the crabs of Island Stalker, without a cause.