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Halò a-rithist, a chàirdean. Tha mi airson eachdraidh thiamhaidh innse dhuibh an t-seachdain seo. Tha i a’ tighinn à Eilean Leòdhais, à sgìre na Pàirce ann an taobh an ear-dheas an eilein. Innsidh mi ro dheireadh na Litreach carson a tha mi ag aithris an sgeòil seo.

            Timcheall na bliadhna ochd ceud deug is seachdad (1870), bha dithis bhràithrean a-muigh sa mhonadh tuath air baile Leumrabhaigh. ’S e toiseach an t-samhraidh a bh’ ann. B’ iad na gillean Ruairidh Mhurchaidh Ruairidh à Leumrabhagh agus a bhràthair, Aonghas. Bha Ruairidh dìreach trì bliadhn’ deug a dh’aois.

            Bha an dithis a’ coimhead airson caoraich. Lorg iad sa mhonadh iad aig na Lochan Beaga a tha mu dhà mhìle bho Leumrabhagh. Tha na lochan sin clàraichte air a’ mhapa mar ‘Lochan na Beinne Buidhe’. Bha na gillean eòlach gu leòr air an àite. Thug Aonghas a bhrògan mòra dheth gus am biodh e na bu luaithe air a chasan. Dh’iarr e air Ruairidh fuireach far an robh e, fhad ʼs a bhiodh esan a’ dol gu luath gu taobh thall an trèid chaorach. Bhiodh Aonghas an uair sin ag iomain nan caorach air ais gu Leumrabhagh, seachad air Ruairidh. Dh’fhàg e a bhrògan mòra aig Ruairidh.

            Fhuair Aonghas seachad air na caoraich agus dh’iomain e iad air ais don àite far an do dh’fhàg e Ruairidh. Ach cha robh sgeul air Ruairidh. Bha Aonghas dhen bheachd gur dòcha gun robh a bhràthair air a dhol air thoiseach air. Mar sin, dh’iomain e na caoraich gu ruige an fhaing ann an Leumrabhagh. Ach cha robh sgeul air Ruairidh an sin na bu mhotha. Bha Aonghas dhen bheachd gun robh Ruairidh air a thrèigsinn agus gun robh e air a dhol dhachaigh. Dh’fhàg e an fhaing agus chaidh e fhèin dhachaigh.

            Aig an taigh ghabh e briseadh-dùil. Cha robh duine air Ruairidh fhaicinn on a dh’fhalbh an dithis bhràithrean sa mhadainn. Leis gun do thachair seo as t-samhradh, bha na làithean fada agus dh’fhalbh feadhainn a choimhead airson Ruairidh sa mhonadh. Ach cha do lorg iad an gille, no brògan Aonghais. Thàinig iad chun a’ bheachd gun robh Ruairidh air tuiteam a-steach a bhoglach faisg air na Lochan Beaga.

            Chaidh trì no ceithir mìosan seachad agus fhuair boireannach san sgìre aisling. ʼS e Bean Dhòmhnaill Aonghais an t-ainm a bh’ oirre. Anns an aisling, thàinig coigreach thuice. Dh’iarr e oirre a dhol do na h-àirighean agus a-steach air bothan far an robh caora ag ionaltradh aig an doras. Bhiodh an gille caillte na bhroinn.

            Dh’fhalbh sguad a choimhead air na h-àirighean faisg air a’ Bheinn Bhuidhe. Lorg iad bothan le caora ag ionaltradh aig an doras. Chaidh iad a-steach agus lorg iad corp Ruairidh Mhurchaidh Ruairidh. Bha e na laighe air an làr, agus brògan Aonghais fo a cheann. Ged a bha na daoine à Leumrabhagh air rùrachd air a shon feadh na mòintich, cha tug iad sùil am broinn nam bothan-àirigh.

            Tha an sgeulachd a’ nochdadh ann an leabhar grinn a chaidh fhoillseachadh am-bliadhna. ʼS e an tiotal air ‘The Historic Shielings of Pàirc’. Tha an t-ùghdar, John Randall, a tha a’ fuireach ann an Leumrabhagh, air cunntas air leth inntinneach a dhèanamh air na h-àirighean air feadh sgìre na Pàirce. Ma tha ùidh agaibh anns a’ chuspair, mholainn an leabhar gu mòr dhuibh. 

Faclan na Litreach: tiamhaidh: plaintive; Eilean Leòdhais: The Isle of Lewis; coigreach: stranger; sguad: squad; corp: body.

Abairtean na Litreach: sgìre na Pàirce ann an taobh an ear-dheas an eilein: from the area of Pàirc in the south-east of the island; a tha mi ag aithris an sgeòil seo: that I’m reporting this story; tuath air baile Leumrabhaigh: north of the village of Lemreway; toiseach an t-samhraidh: the start of the summer; clàraichte air a’ mhapa: recorded on the map; thug Aonghas a bhrògan mòra dheth gus am biodh e na bu luaithe air a chasan: Angus took his boots off so that he would be faster on his feet; taobh thall an trèid chaorach: the far side of the flock of sheep; ag iomain nan caorach: driving the sheep; far an do dh’fhàg e X: where he left X; gun robh X air a thrèigsinn agus gun robh e air a dhol dhachaigh: that X had abandoned him and gone home; ghabh e briseadh-dùil: he was disappointed; air tuiteam a-steach a bhoglach: had fallen into a bog; fhuair boireannach san sgìre aisling: a woman in the area had a dream; a-steach air bothan far an robh caora ag ionaltradh aig an doras: into a bothy where there was a sheep grazing at the door; bhiodh an gille caillte na bhroinn: the lost lad would be inside it; agus brògan Aonghais fo a cheann: with Angus’s shoes under his head; ged a bha X air rùrachd air a shon feadh na mòintich: although X had searched for him throughout the moor; cha tug iad sùil am broinn nam bothan-àirigh: they didn’t look inside the shieling bothies; mholainn an leabhar gu mòr dhuibh: I (would) warmly recommend the book to you.

Puing-chànain na Litreach: Bha Aonghas dhen bheachd gur dòcha gun robh a bhràthair air a dhol air thoiseach air: Angus was of the opinion that perhaps his brother had gone ahead of him. Toiseach is generally lenited in this expression, following an older grammatical model (although you will also hear it unlenited). Tha iad air a dhol air thoiseach oirnn ‘they have gone ahead of us’.

Gnàthas-cainnt na Litreach: cha robh sgeul air Ruairidh an sin na bu mhotha: there was no sign of Ruairidh there either.