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An robh sibh riamh anns an t-seann taigh-seinnse ann an Duras, air cladach Loch Nis? Tha e gu math eachdraidheil. Aig aon àm, bhiodh tòrr dhaoine a’ dol an rathad sin. Bha gu leòr a’ siubhal air Loch Nis airson faighinn gu deas, agus bha an rathad airm eadar na gearasdain ann an Cille Chuimein agus Inbhir Nis a’ dol tro Dhuras.

Ri linn nan Seumasach, bha gu leòr anns an sgìre a bha air taobh a’ Phrionnsa Òig. An dèidh Blàr Chùil Lodair, bha cùisean doirbh don fheadhainn a bha a’ ruith an taigh-seinnse ann an Duras. Cha robh mòran de mhuinntir an àite a’ dol ann, oir dh’fhaodadh gun tigeadh saighdearan dearga a-steach, agus bhiodh mì-rian ann an uair sin. 

Tha an sgeulaiche, Stiùbhart McHardy, ag innse stòiridh mu dheidhinn Taigh-seinnse Dhurais an dèidh Blàr Chùil Lodair, anns an leabhar aige Tales of Loch Ness. Bha an t-àite air a ruith le dithis bhoireannach – Hannah Fhriseal, a bha ciorramach, agus a nighean Sìne, a bha bòidheach agus beothail. 

Latha a bha seo, bha buidheann de dh’oifigearan òga a’ siubhal eadar Inbhir Nis agus Cille Chuimein. Stad iad aig an taigh-seinnse. Dh’òl iad barrachd deoch làidir na bu chòir, agus bha iad air mhisg. Bha fear dhiubh air nòisean a ghabhail do Shìne, agus bha e a’ cur a làmhan oirre mar nach bu chòir.

Mu dheireadh thall, chuir e a ghàirdeanan timcheall a’ bhoireannaich agus thog e i. Bha e a’ dèanamh air an doras mhòr leatha, le droch rùn. Chunnaic Hannah na bha a’ dol, agus ruith i a-mach às a’ chidsin. Reub i a h-ìnean sìos aodann an t-saighdeir, ag adhbharachadh sruthadh-fala. Leig an saighdear a ghreim air Sìne agus ruith ise a-mach air an doras. Bha an saighdear feargach, agus chuir e a dhà làimh timcheall sgòrnan Hannah, ga tachdadh.

Rinn Sìne air a’ mhonadh na deann. Bha fios aice far an robh àite iomallach, dìomhair anns an robh seann saighdearan Seumasach fhathast am falach. Bha ise saor, ach cha robh a màthair. Mharbh an saighdear dearg an seann bhoireannach. An uair sin, rinn e fhèin agus a chompanaich sgrios do-labhairt air an taigh-seinnse.

An dèidh sin, dh’fhalbh iad air muin-eich gu ruige Cille Chuimein. Nuair a thill Sìne don taigh-seinnse, lorg i corp a màthar. Bha fearg air muinntir an àite agus bha feadhainn dhiubh airson a dhol an dèidh nan saighdearan mus ruigeadh iad Cille Chuimein. Ach thuirt fear dhiubh, Frisealach air an robh ‘Iain Bàn’ mar ainm, gum bu chòir dhaibh gabhail air an socair agus plana ceart a chur air dòigh.

Bha fios aig Iain nach fhaigheadh iad ceartas le bhith a’ dol tro phròiseas laghail. Chuir e plana eile air dòigh a bhiodh stèidhichte air foill. Chaidh e fhèin, companach agus Sìne uile air muin-eich gu ruige Cille Chuimein. Bha each eile aca, le corp Hannah air. Bha iad uile sgeadaichte ann an aodach dubh.

Nuair a chuir freiceadain stad orra aig Gearasdan Cille Chuimein, thuirt Iain Bàn gum b’ esan an t-uachdaran, Alasdair Friseal à Druim Aithisidh. Bha Alasdair taiceil don riaghaltas, agus bha e na cho-ogha do dh’Iain. Bha fios aig Iain gun robh Alasdair air falbh bhon dachaigh, agus bha e cinnteach nach biodh na freiceadain eòlach air. Dè am plana a bh’ aig Iain Bàn? Chì sinn an-ath-sheachdain. 

Faclan na Litreach: taigh-seinnse: pub, inn; Blàr Chùil Lodair: The Battle of Culloden; bòidheach agus beothail: beautiful and outgoing; am falach: hiding; air muin-eich: on horseback; freiceadain: sentries.

Abairtean na Litreach: an rathad airm eadar na gearasdain ann an Cille Chuimein agus Inbhir Nis: the military road between the forts in Fort Augustus and Inverness; air taobh a’ Phrionnsa Òig: on the side of the Young Prince [Charles]; dh’fhaodadh gun tigeadh saighdearan dearga a-steach: redcoat soldiers could come in; bhiodh mì-rian ann an uair sin: then there would be disorder; bha fear dhiubh air nòisean a ghabhail do Shìne: one of them had taken a fancy to Jean; bha e a’ cur a làmhan oirre mar nach bu chòir: he was handling her as he should not; a’ dèanamh air an doras mhòr leatha, le droch rùn: making for the main door with her, with evil intent; reub i a h-ìnean sìos aodann an t-saighdeir, ag adhbharachadh sruthadh-fala: she scratched his face with her finger nails, causing it to bleed; chuir e a dhà làimh timcheall sgòrnan Hannah, ga tachdadh: he put his two hands around Hannah’s throat, strangling her; rinn Sìne air a’ mhonadh na deann: Jean headed rapidly to the hills; rinn e fhèin agus a chompanaich sgrios do-labhairt air an taigh-seinnse: he and his companions did unspeakable damage to the inn; Frisealach air an robh ‘Iain Bàn’ mar ainm: A Fraser called ‘Fair John’; gum bu chòir dhaibh gabhail air an socair agus plana ceart a chur air dòigh: that they should take it easy and construct a proper plan; nach fhaigheadh iad ceartas le bhith a’ dol tro phròiseas laghail: that they wouldn’t obtain justice by going through a legal process; sgeadaichte ann an aodach dubh: clothed in black; gum b’ esan an t-uachdaran, Alasdair Friseal à Druim Aithisidh: that he was the landlord, Alexander Fraser of Drumashie; bha X taiceil don riaghaltas, agus bha e na cho-ogha do dh’Iain: X was a supporter of the government, and he was a cousin of Iain’s; air falbh bhon dachaigh: away from home.

Puing-chànain na Litreach: Duras: Dores. The Gaelic spelling of the name of this village at the north-eastern end of Loch Ness reflects its modern pronunciation, but not its etymology. It is thought to come from Dubh-ros, but does that mean ‘dark wood’ or ‘dark promontory’? It might mean both. On the far end of Dores Beach, there is a point, now heavily wooded and dark (and which might have been forested in ancient times). 

Gnàthas-cainnt na Litreach: bha iad air mhisg: they were drunk.