The Crowing Of The Black Cock

A woman in Islay (the story was heard in Tiree) was taken by the Fairies, leaving an infant who was baptised by the name of Julia (_Sìle_). To appearance the mother died and was buried. Every night, however, she came back, and was heard singing to her child. Her husband watched one night and caught her. She told that by going to a hillock, which she named, on a certain night he might recover her. He went, taking with him, according to her instructions, a black cock born in the busy time of year (_coileach du màrt_)[31] and a piece of steel (_cruaidh_). He found the door of the brugh open, put steel in one of the posts, entered, having the cock in his arms, and hid himself in a corner. Towards morning the cock crew. The head or principal Fairy caused a search to be made, and ‘Big Martin without clemency or mercy’ (_Martuinn Mòr gun iochd gun tròcair_) was found in the brugh. On withdrawing the steel he was allowed to go home, and his wife along with him.