Folk Tales of Scotland by William Montgomerie

Author:William Montgomerie
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780857905956
Publisher: Birlinn
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Now, far away in the fisherman’s house, they had seen the first tree planted from the mermaid’s grains withering. The second son said that his elder brother must be dead. He swore he would go and find out where his brother lay. He mounted his black horse and, with his black dog by his side, followed his brother’s footsteps to the King’s castle.

He was so like his elder brother that the King at first thought he was the Princess’s husband. When he was told what had happened to his brother, he went to the little castle by the loch and, just as it had happened to his elder brother, so it happened to him. With one blow the old woman stretched him out dead.

When the youngest brother saw the second tree behind the house begin to wither, he decided to find out how death had come to his two brothers. He mounted his black horse and followed his black dog to the King’s castle.

The King was pleased to see him and told him all that had happened to his two brothers. At first he was not allowed to go to the castle by the loch. At last he went, and was met by the old woman.

‘Welcome, fisherman’s son,’ said she. ‘I’m pleased to see you. Come in and rest.’

‘Go in before me, old woman,’ said he. ‘Go in, and let me hear what you have to say.’

The old woman went on. He drew his sword and cut off her head. But the sword flew out of his hand. The old woman caught her head with both hands, and stuck it on again. The black dog sprang at her, but she struck the dog a blow with her magic club, and there he lay.

The youngest brother caught the old carlin, seized her magic club, and struck her one blow on the top of her head. She fell down dead.

He saw his brothers lying side by side. He touched each of them with the magic club, and they sprang to their feet, alive and well. Then he touched the black dog with the magic club, and up he jumped. They found gold and silver in the old witch’s castle, and returned to the Princess and the King with the treasure. There was enough for them all, including their mother and their father, the old fisherman.

When the King grew old, the fisherman’s eldest son and his wife were crowned King and Queen. They all lived happily ever after.

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