Here Inverawe left his guest.  The man was so overcome by terror that he clung on to Inverawe’s plaid, {158b} imploring him not to leave him alone.  Inverawe was filled with disgust at this cowardly conduct, and already almost repented having plighted his word to save such a worthless creature.

On Inverawe’s return home he found a man in a state of great excitement waiting to see him.  This man informed him of the murder of his (Inverawe’s) foster-brother by one Macniven.  “We have,” said he, “tracked the murderer to within a short distance of this place, and I am here to warn you in case he should seek your protection.”  Inverawe turned pale and remained silent, not knowing what answer to give.  The man, knowing the love that subsisted between the foster-brothers, thought this silence arose from grief alone, and left the house to pursue the search for Macniven further.

The compassion Inverawe felt for the trembling man he had left in the cave turned to hate when he thought of his beloved foster-brother murdered; but as he had plighted his word to save him, save him he must and would.  As soon, therefore, as night fell he went to the cave with food, and promised to return with more the next day.

Thoroughly worn out, as soon as he reached home he retired to rest, but sleep he could not.  So taking up a book he began to read.  A shadow fell across the page.  He looked up and saw his foster-brother standing by the bedside.  But, oh, how changed!  His fair hair clotted with blood; his face pale and drawn, and his garments all gory.  He uttered the following words:  “Inverawe, shield not the murderer; blood must flow for blood,” and then faded away out of sight.

In spite of the spirit’s commands, Inverawe remained true to his promise, and returned next day to Macniven with fresh provisions.  That night his foster-brother again appeared to him uttering the same warning:  “Inverawe, Inverawe, shield not the murderer; blood must flow for blood”.  At daybreak Inverawe hurried off to the cave, and said to Macniven:  “I can shield you no longer; you must escape as best you can”.  Inverawe now hoped to receive no further visit from the vengeful spirit.  In this he was disappointed, for at the usual hour the ghost appeared, and in anger said, “I have warned you once, I have warned you twice; it is too late now.  We shall meet again at TICONDEROGA.”

Inverawe rose before dawn and went straight to the cave.  Macniven was gone!

Inverawe saw no more of the ghost, but the adventure left him a gloomy, melancholy man.  Many a time he would wander on Cruachan hill side, brooding over his vision, and people passing him would see the far-away look in his eyes, and would say one to the other:  “The puir laird, he is aye thinking on him that is gone”.  Only his dearest friends knew the cause of his melancholy.