[#] _Cha till mi tuilich_—I shall never more return.
"Coinneach," said the lad, and he also spoke in a hushed kind of way, "how long ago is it since that one heard the cock crowing?"
"How long? Who can answer such questions? Can you tell me when the Macarthurs came into the world? For you have heard the saying, Calum: ’_The hills and the streams and the Macalpines came together; but who can say when the Macarthurs came?_’ It is a long time ago: it is not any use asking. Ay, and there was something before all of these." He paused for a second: then he said darkly—"That was—that was when the Woman was in these islands."
"What woman?" said Calum, with the eager curiosity of youth.
But Coinneach seemed disinclined to answer.
"Have you not heard?" said he. "But it is wise not to speak of such things."
"What woman was that, Coinneach?" his companion persisted, fixing his eyes on Coinneach’s face, that was full of a sombre meditation.
"Did you never hear of her—the Woman that was here before there were any people in these islands or in the mainland either? But it is not prudent to speak."
"Who was she, Coinneach?" said Calum. "Surely she cannot hurt you if she was dead these many thousands of years?"
"Do not say that," he responded rather gloomily. "Who can tell?—for there are strange things. You know I am not a coward, Calum."
"That is what I know well!" said Calum, confidently. "How many days is it since you stood up against the French skipper, and he with four of them at his back?"
"Ay, but there are things that are more terrible than blows; and it is of these that I am afraid. Or perhaps not quite afraid; but I think. And that is the difference between one man and another man, Calum. There is always ill-luck happening; but one man will suffer it and not inquire, while the other man will ask what caused it or who it was that did him the harm. And if it is not always prudent to speak of such affairs, at least the truth is the safest: you know the saying ’_Speak the truth as if you were in the presence of kings_.’ And now I will tell you this, Calum, of a strange thing that happened to me when I was a boy."
He abated his voice, as if afraid of being overheard. Calum’s eyes ’glowered’ in the dusk.