There was a time in the olden days when the cormorant and the bat took
counsel together to do something for the poor, as they had compassion
on them, and they went into the glens gathering wool to make clothing
for them. When they had a quantity gathered they took a boat and put
out to sea. It happened as they were sailing that a storm came on,
and the waves were breaking over the vessel, insomuch that the poor
bat had to leap from place to place to escape the water, and in the
darkness he was cast out of the boat clinging to an oar. At daybreak
he was near the shore and flew unto dry land. A seagull, standing
near by, inquired:
'Och, lil bat vogh, what's there doin on thee that thou are all of
a thriddle of thrimblin like this?' When he heard the bat's story,
he said:
'As sure as can be, if he will happen on thee, he will take thy
life.' They had given each other a promise that one would not leave
the other until they had completed their task.
The bat was so frightened that he hid himself in an old ruin until the
darkness came on; and from that time until now he will only venture
out under covering of the night.
The cormorant held on to the boat until she filled with water and sank
to the bottom of the sea. At last he flew to a rock, and there sat
for hours together, day after day, looking out for the bat. At other
times he would go for a season into the glens; and in this way they
continue from that storm to the present time--the one hides himself,
and the other seeks him.