Page 30 - Lauchie MacLellan Tells "Lauchie's Dream"

ISSUE : Issue 23

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1979/8/1

an clir a bhaithiseadh. Bha e cho mor, ag? us a' fits na bu mho tha a h-uile mionaid. .Thug e duibh-leum as gu ar smaladh gu tal- amh. Spion mise an t-ubh a' laimh Corra Chriostaig agus bhrist me e 'na phiosan ris a' chreig. Cho'luath 's a rinn mi sin, thuit am famhair mor marbh sios am measg nan creagan. Cha luaith' a thuit a' bheist sin na thi? onndaidh Cu Seang na Coill' Uaine 'na 6g- anach cho dreachmhor, briagh 's air a rosg siiil duine riamh, ann an eideadh oifigich airm. Dh'fhairich mi guth air mo chulaibh: "A Raghnaill, a Raghnaill, an tusa a th'ag? am?" Thionndaidh mise mun cuairt agus bha Corra Chriostag air tionndadh 'na h-ighean og, bhoidheach le cuailein bhoidheach 6rbhu- idhe sios m'a guaillibh direach mar a bha i an latha a thug i mise air b.ord an t- soithich. Bha iad ann an glacaibh a' cheile. Thuirt Raghnall, "An lath' a dh'fhag mis' thu 's a thuirt mi riut gu bithinn air ais an ath-latha, choinnich mi air Cailleach P6in nam Magan. Thilg i i cupa de dh'uisg' a' phoin 'nam aodann agus thuirt i rium, 'Bithidh tusa 'nad chu seang 'sa Choill' Uaine leat fhein gus an tig cuideiginn a bheir ort bruidhinn agus cha chreid mi gu'n tachair sin.'" • Niste, bha na geasan air falbh dhiubh le cheile, agus rinn sinn suas gu robh an t- am a bhith falbh. Chaidh sinn sios air bord a' bhkta agus dh'fhalbh sinn amach a dh'ionnsaidh na luinge. Chaidh sinn air bord. Chaidh na siuil a thogail agus bha sinn aig astar le soirbheas fabharrach. Cha chumadh gaoth luath Mhairt rinn. Thu? irt Raghnall ri Corra Chriostag, "An latha mu dheireadh a bha mi a' bruidhinn riutsa bha fainne-posaidh agam 'nam phoca airson gu pSsamaid air la'r-na-mhaireach nuair a thillinn far mo thurus. Cha'n eil sgeul air a nist, ge b'e de a dh'eirich dha. Nam bitheadh e againn an drasda, phbsadh ceap- tain an t-soithich sinn air an ochd-lar- aich." Sheall Corra Chriostag gu ciuin agus thu? irt i, "Nach truagh nach robh e againn an drasda." Thuirt mise an uair sin ri Corira Chriostag, "Nach d'thug Cailleach an t-Sloc tri sil? einean peasrach dhutsa?" "Thug," thuirt Corra Chriostag. "Thug thu a h-aon dhiubh do Chu Seang na Coill' Uaine, a h-aon eile anns a' phon a bha am mult ag bl as. C'aite bheil an treas silean?" "Tha i agam 'nam phoca," thuirt Corra' Chriostag, agus i 'cur a laimh' 'na pbca. Agus gu de a thug i amach as a pbca ach fainne bir cho eireachdail air na leig duine suil riamh. "Sin agaibh am fainne agamsa," thuirt Raghnall, "ge b'e ciamar a fhuair Cail? leach na t-Sloc greim air." "I have it in my pocket," said Corra Chriostag, putting her hand in her pocket. And what did she take out of her pocket but a gold ring as handsome as a man ever laid eyes on. "That's my ring," said Ranald, "however in the world the Hag of the Hollow got hold of it." The captain was fetched there quickly and Ranald asked me, "Will you be my best man?" At that very moment the black seagull was transformed into a beautiful young girl with a wedding-dress of the choicest silk. Said she, "I'm the creature they call the Otter of the Sea. I'm constantly giving help to people under enchantments and to sailors. I will be Corra Chriostag's bridesmaid." The marriage was performed without further delay, and when the marriage was finished the Otter of the Sea said, "You have no more need of me, so I will leave you now with my warmest farewell. And any time you should need me, all you have to do is call my name and I'll be with you," She departed then into the skies, and we lost sight of her in the clouds. The wedding began: all the sailors dancing, with wine and feasting and wax candles. The captain's wife and I, and Corra Chrios? tag and Ranald all danced a reel and one of the sailors played on a gold fife. PEUGEOT A different kind of luxury car from EUROCAR SERVICE LTD. Westmount, opposite Dobson Yacht Clul ' CO-OP DO-IT- YOURSELF home Improvement Centre • Complel* Mocks of hnnbar, building wppllas. Plumbing, HMting md Socltical materials. 'm' '''_ ' '' k'idi'M • ?*-** • Component Homes & Cottages • • |CX)-OP Building Supplies 'cJhey PortHawvtesbury 539-6410 625-2600

Cape Breton's Magazine