skeps, and in the hurry o' tumbling them into a large grey plaid, they
tumbled Jock in alang wi' them. So aff they set, wi' Jock and the skeps
on their backs. On the way, they had to cross the burn where Jock lost
his bonnet. Ane o' the thieves cries, "Oh, I hae fand a bonnet!" and
Jock, on hearing that, cries out, "Oh, that's mine!" They thocht they
had got the deil on their backs. So they let a' fa' in the burn; and
Jock, being tied in the plaid, couldna get out; so he and the bees were
a' drowned thegither.

If a' tales be true, that's nae lee.




SAINT COLUMBA.


Soon after Saint Columba established his residence in Iona, tradition
says that he paid a visit to a great seminary of Druids, then in the
vicinity, at a place called Camusnan Ceul, or Bay of Cells, in the
district of Ardnamurchan. Several remains of Druidical circles are still
to be seen there, and on that bay and the neighbourhood many places are
still named after their rites and ceremonies; such as _Ardintibert_, the
Mount of Sacrifice, and others. The fame of the Saint had been for some
time well known to the people, and his intention of instructing them in
the doctrines of Christianity was announced to them. The ancient
priesthood made every exertion to dissuade the inhabitants from hearing
the powerful eloquence of Columba, and in this they were seconded by the
principal man then in that country, whose name was Donald, a son of
Connal.