intrigue with a beautiful young woman of his own clan, who bore a son
to him. In consequence of the child's being, by some accident, born in
a barn, he received the name of Allan-a-Sop, or Allan of the Straw, by
which he was distinguished from others of his clan. As his father and
mother were not married, Allan was of course a bastard or natural son,
and had no inheritance to look for, save that which he might win for
himself.

But the beauty of the boy's mother having captivated a man of rank in
the clan, called MacLean of Torloisk, he married her, and took her
to reside with him at his castle of Torloisk, situated on the shores
of the Sound, or small strait of the sea, which divides the smaller
island of Ulva from that of Mull. Allan-a-Sop paid his mother frequent
visits at her new residence, and she was naturally glad to see the
poor boy, both from affection, and on account of his personal strength
and beauty, which distinguished him above other youths of his age. But
she was obliged to confer marks of her attachment on him as privately
as she could, for Allan's visits were by no means so acceptable to
her husband as to herself. Indeed, Torloisk liked so little to see
the lad, that he determined to put some affront on him, which should
prevent his returning to the castle for some time. An opportunity for
executing his purpose soon occurred.

The lady one morning, looking from the window, saw her son coming
wandering down the hill, and hastened to put a girdle cake upon
the fire, that he might have hot bread to his breakfast. Something
called her out of the apartment after making this preparation, and
her husband entering at the same time, saw at once what she had been
about, and determined to give the boy such a reception as should
disgust him for the future. He snatched the cake from the girdle,