One day on the Isle of Skye , Princess Mary was going about her usual business of collecting tolls from the ships and boats passing up down the Kyle. She and Chief MacKinnon had placed a large, heavy chain across the narrow stretch of water which could be lowered by a large winch to allow the ships to pass.
Now this business was a good business and made the Clan MacKinnon a lot of money. Every time someone wished to pass they would call out to Mary in the castle and she would row out in her little boat (for she was the best rower on the island) and collect a single piece of silver from the captain. When she had the money she would blow her cow horn trumpet and Chief MacKinnon would lower the chain below the water and let the ship pass.
If this sounds a little unfair, taking money just to let people sail up the Kyle to the outer isles, then think again. Mary’s chain meant that she could stop pirates and brigands from entering the quiet waters of these parts. Most of the local captains saw Mary’s chain as an excellent way of keeping them safe from danger. During darker times a fleet of ships carrying an invading army bound for Dunvegan was stopped at the chain and had to take the more dangerous route north through the stormy Minch. As this fleet was passing Elgol, in the shadow of the Cullin mountains, a great storm blew up and scattered them to the edge of the world or even further. Some ended up on Uist!
Storms were regular things in these lands and on these seas and on this day Mary could see a storm coming from the west. As darkness was falling the waves were rising and rowing back from the last toll collection of the day, Mary had difficulty in making the shore below castle Moil. Chief MacKinnon pulled up the chain as the ship rolled up the Kyle. “Don’t worry your big ginger head my chief.” said Mary to Chief MacKinnon seeing the concerned look on his face. “They are bound for Broadford and shall be in their bunks before the rain wets their sails.”
“Then we shall do the same Mary” he replied. The two then hurried inside before the wind chilled them too much. In the distance the ship disappeared into the gathering storm, her captain relieved to be just a few miles from home.
Now the ways of the sea are a knowledge held by many but understood by few. On this night of all nights one man and his family had found wanting in their understanding of the sea. Leaving late from Eilan Donan, the weather had slowed their progress, leaving them short of the home in Kyleakin by the time darkness fell. To make matters worse the storm was now blowing the sea into waves the size of drumlins and dancing on their tops were white horses which threatened to come crashing down into the small boat.
Mary woke with a start. The storm had blown the shutter of her bedroom window open and it was banging in the wind. As she was closing it she caught sight of a small light out in the middle of the Kyle. It was a boat and it looked like it was sinking. Mary rushed down to the shore, and dressed only in her night dress, leaped into her little boat and began to row furiously towards the stricken vessel. The waves were like black, oily hills now in the darkness of the night, the white horses had turned into great black bulls and their horns were smashing into Mary and her boat! Only by sheer determination did she make it to the stricken boat. “Are you a spirit of the water come to drown us?” cried the man on board the boat as he saw Mary appear alongside, her white nightgown stuck to her body and her yellow hair blowing wildly in the gale. “Have mercy on me and my family, the boat will stay afloat no more!”
“I am no more a spirit than you are a fish!” replied Mary “And unless your children have gills then I suggest you get them into my boat quickly.”
“But your boat is so small and we are so many.” said the man turning to his family who were clinging to the broken mast, knee-deep in the cold black water. Mary looked into the frightened eyes of three small children and their mother who was clutching a bundle that wailed louder than the wind. The boat was sinking fast and with every second that passed their chances of getting back to shore was fading. Mary thought quickly and realised what needed to be done.
“I shall stay with your vessel and you shall row my boat and your loved ones to safety, there is not enough room for us all.” Mary shouted. “Now quickly, before it is too late. Return for me when your kin are safe.” The man set off toward the shore with his family and Mary watched as he struggled towards the shore and to safety. Around her the waves were washing over the boat and only the mast was still visible above the water. Just when she thought no hope was left she heard a noise above the roar of the storm. Gentle and distant at first but drawing closer, “Mary….Mary….Mary my love, I am coming.” Through the mist and spray came Chief MacKinnon, rowing furiously in his boat. Pulling quickly alongside he grabbed Mary by the arm and pulled her on board just as a huge wave crashed down on the sinking ship to send it to the bottom.
The next day when all was calm and everyone was well slept, Chief MacKinnon explained how he had found Mary’s bed empty and gone to investigate. On the shore he found the soaking, half-drowned family who spoke of a water spirit with yellow hair who had rescued them from death. Chief MacKinnon new this had to be his Mary and set out with to find her, and find her he did, just in the nick of time!
“When we first saw you, you looked so pale and white I though you were dead,” said the Chief, “but you are strong Mary and I knew the waves could not take you from me.”
“Nothing can take me from you, my Chief,” replied Mary, “for together we are stronger than the sea herself.”
The End
