"Day-time or night-time: what is the difference in the Uamh coilich na glaodhaich, when it is so dark that no man has ever been to the end of it, or knows to what it leads? Nor is any man likely to try to discover, since the one that went on and on, until he heard a cock crowing. Oh, God, that must have been a terrible thing, to be so near the edge of another world that you could hear a cock crowing there. And if the people had caught him and kept him—they would have taken him away to the place where the piper went when he played Cha till mi tuilich;[#] and that is a tale that is told of many caves; and it may be this, Calum, that all the great caves lead to that other world; but who can tell about such fearful things? A cock crowing—that is nothing—when you are in your own home, with the daylight around you; but to hear the crowing of a cock after you have gone away into the earth, then that tells you of wonderful things, for you know the saying, ’_Deep is the low of a cow upon strange pasture._’ Well, well, what the master says must be done; but many’s the time I am wishing that when the kegs have to be hidden, it was some other place we had for the hiding of them than the Cave of the Crowing Cock." [#] _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?"