“ Sensible of his mother’s, and the whole company’s disposition towards him, he left the room without giving them much satisfaction, and retired to his own room, to meditate on the subject at his own leisure, as he never thought a Ghost could be conquered by the strength of man, he was therefore thunder-sruck with what he heard, and as his noble mind could ill put up with such insulting reproofs, and being unaccustomed to such reproachful language, his mind did arouse, much that he was determined, whatever would be the result, to wage war with the Ghost. ”

“ Duncan was a righteous sort of a man, and never told any person, till the thief was long out of the place. Donald Macpherson met with great loss by the thief, and he found fault with Duncan for not letting him know in time that the thief was there. This was known to be the cause of the dispute between Donald Macpherson and Duncan Mcnab, while building a hut in Fenhaglen. The fame of the laird went far, and he was feared and respected by all, even by his mother, who had no power nor spirit to plot more against him. ”

“ He that confined that Ghost to that lonely abode where it is, and in his mercies withheld it from extending its ravages farther, here among us, must be the same that can draw it from us, when He fulfilled his purposes here with it. And it is likely you may be the one that will be instrumental in subduing it, and bringing to light the cause of its appearance; for we have heard of many a Ghost sent to rest by man. ”

“ Man and beast alike became the victims of this unearthly destroyer. It was quite evident that it had no power while it was day, nor until the sun went down; consequently the benighted traveller was sure to become a prey, to the fury of this spirit. The laird of Ardenoaige had a person whom he employed for carrying parcels to and from the south, commonly called the post, he was benighted coming through Fenhaglen, and was met by the Ghost, and torn to pieces. Part of him was found in a linn in the burn of Fenhaglen. ”

“ But as I said before, you must not go in your own strength. It may come in the shape of some fierce animal, and crush you to death in a moment. But take your sword, and mark out a compass right round about you, and stand right in the centre, with your confidence placed in the Almighty's protection, so you can stand in that position, against whatever form it may appear unto you, until such time as it will transform itself into the form of a person like yourself ”

“ But how to put her atrocious design into execution, became a matter difficult and dangerous both to herself and family, as she knew his father and every other person that knew him, was most affectionately attached to him; yet she still made him the object of her hatred and cruel design, and remained in the expectation that she would be the means of puting death in his way some way or other. ”

“ Yet on the other hand, he would rather suffer death in any shape, than lose the honour to which he had aspired, and to become that indocible person, told him by his insiduous friends; but if happily he would come off the victor, he would be more dreaded than envied by his enemies, or rather by her his enemy. ”

“ Now you must be aware, that you are going as if you were to descend down the face of a steep rock, by means of a rope, and it is that mighty preserver that is to hold the rope; and if you will still trust him, he will guide you safe to the bottom, but if you fail in the confidence, He will let you go, and you will be dashed to pieces. ”

“ This is your situation, go then, and may He that guides our sun by day, and our moon by night go with you, but you must take some person with you, and you will leave them with your dog at a distance, and instruct him to let your dog go if you are like to be overpowered by the Ghost; for I have heard old men say, that a grey hound was a good guard, if one was going the way of Ghosts ”

“ Go then, and take his body and bury him with his father’s, and make my crime known to man, and I will trouble man no more.” At which it vanished out of sight. Colin went and actually found the body and the spade in the very spot told by the Ghost. He then went and told his sad tale to the men of Ardenoaige, and they came and knew the body, to be the body of one Duncan McNab, tenant, Succoth. Till then no man knew how he met with his death. There was prior to that time a thief that lived in a cave on the top of craig ucaig, a high rock, standing on the confines of Glenlednick and Fenhaglen. ”

“ You will take Donald Ban, your own man with you, as he is a fit person.” Accordingly Colin went to Donald—known by the name of “Domuhull Ban Achleibh,” [1] he lived in the uppermost house in Ardenoaige, called the Tomodhar, when Colin came to the house, Donald told him there was a deer that went west along the side of the hill, and they would go and follow, but the laird told him that he was to direct his chase another course. ”