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Bha sinn ann an Àird Chlach an t-seachdain sa chaidh. Tha an sgìre sin gu deas air Inbhir Narann. Bha mi ag innse dhuibh mun tarbh-uisge. Bha e a’ fuireach ann an Loch Buaile Fhiodhaid. Aig amannan, bha an tarbh-uisge a’ fàgail an locha. Bha e cunnartach an uair sin. Bha e ag ithe dhaoine.

Uaireannan, ge-tà, cha robh coltas tairbh air. Bha coltas eich air. Latha a bha seo, dh’fhàg e an loch. Bha coltas eich air. Bha diollaid is srian air. Chunnaic e clann faisg air an loch. Chunnaic a’ chlann each brèagha. Bha iad toilichte. Leig an t-each leis a’ chloinn marcachd air. Cha robh fios aig a’ chloinn nach e each ceart a bh’ ann.

Nuair a bha a’ chlann a’ marcachd air, chaidh an t-each – an tarbh-uisge – faisg air lochan beag dubh. Bha an lochan sin uabhasach domhainn. Bha na daoine ag ràdh gun robh e ceangailte ri Loch Buaile Fhiodhaid fon talamh. Leum an t-each a-steach don lochan. Thug e a’ chlann leis. Dh’ith e a’ chlann.

Cha robh an tarbh-uisge an-còmhnaidh cunnartach. Air làithean teth samhraidh, bha e a’ faighinn cadal faisg air an loch. Bha spòrs aig na gillean an uair sin. Bha iad a’ faighinn faisg air an tarbh-uisge, agus e na chadal. Bha iad a’ tarraing gaoisidean far an tairbh agus a’ ruith air falbh!

Bha an tarbh-uisge a’ fàs aonaranach uaireannan. Bho àm gu àm bha e a’ falbh a-mach a’ sireadh bò. Bha cothrom aige as t-samhradh. Bha an crodh sa mhonadh an uair sin.

Bha laoigh annasach a’ tighinn às an aonadh eadar tarbh-uisge agus bò. Bha na cluasan aca eagach. Bha na h-earbaill aca goirid. Agus bha na ladhran aca dubh is gleansach. Bha coltas fiadhaich air na sùilean aca cuideachd.

Bha dà laogh dhen t-seòrsa sin aig tuathanach. Thàinig an samhradh. Bha an crodh sa mhonadh. Mhothaich an tuathanach gu robh an dà laogh a’ fàs mì-shocrach. Latha a bha seo, theich iad. Ruith an tuathanach às an dèidh. Ach bha na laoigh ro luath. Ràinig iad Loch nan Doirb. Leum iad a-steach don loch. Chan fhaca duine a-rithist iad.

Faclan is abairtean: Àird Chlach: Ardclach; Inbhir Narann: Nairn; bha mi ag innse dhuibh mun tarbh-uisge: I was telling you about the water-bull; Loch Buaile Fhiodhaid: Loch Belivat; a’ fàgail an locha: leaving the loch; cunnartach: dangerous; uaireannan, ge-tà, cha robh coltas tairbh air: sometimes, however, it didn’t have the appearance of a bull; bha coltas eich air: it had the appearance of a horse; diollaid is srian: a saddle and bridle; chunnaic a’ chlann each: the children saw a horse; leig an t-each leis a’ chloinn marcachd air: the horse let the children ride on him; nach e each ceart a bh’ ann: that it wasn’t a proper horse; uabhasach domhainn: very deep; gun robh e ceangailte ri Loch Buaile Fhiodhaid fon talamh: that it was connected to Loch Belivat under the ground; leum an t-each a-steach don lochan: the horse jumped into the loch; thug e a’ chlann leis: he took the children with him; dh’ith e a’ chlann: he ate the children; an-còmhnaidh: always; air làithean teth samhraidh bha e a’ faighinn cadal: on hot summer days he was sleeping; bha spòrs aig na gillean: the lads had fun; a’ tarraing gaoisidean far an tairbh agus a’ ruith air falbh: pulling hairs out of the bull [’s hide] and running away; aonaranach: lonely; a’ sireadh bò: looking for a cow; bha an crodh sa mhonadh: the cattle were on the hill; annasach: unusual; às an aonadh: from the union; bha na cluasan aca eagach: their ears were notched; bha na h-earbaill aca goirid: their tails were short; bha na ladhran aca dubh is gleansach: their hooves were black and shiny; bha coltas fiadhaich air na sùilean aca: their eyes had a wild look; bha dà laogh dhen t-seòrsa sin aig tuathanach: a farmer had two calves of that type; mhothaich an tuathanach gu robh X a’ fàs mì-shocrach: the farmer noticed that X were growing uneasy; theich iad: they fled; ruith an tuathanach às an dèidh: the farmer ran after them; ràinig iad Loch nan Doirb: they reached Lochindorb; chan fhaca duine a-rithist iad: nobody saw them again.