by amron » Sat Jun 17, 2006 7:42 pm
According to the book Argyll's highlands printed 1902 there are a few stories of the Pipers Cave
The Pipers Cave at keil on the Mull of Cantire, is but a small one. to all appearance, compared to some of its neighbours. What the cave lacks in outward signs its vastness is fully made up of its interior depth and distance; for its ramifications are said to be so vast that although one of its outlets is at Keil, the other is at Kilellan, six miles away while a branch passage communicates with another cave in the hill of Bengullion a distance of 10 miles away.
A bold piper marched in accompanied by his terrier dog while hid friends watched at its mouth - how they heard the pipes get fainter and fainter till there came a wild skirl and a yeldritch laugh and all was still; how the dog came running out without his skin, in time he obtained a fresh skin but he never barked again. The piper was never seen though he is often heard under the hearthstone of a farmhouse at Kilellan, playing his favourite tune and stopping occasionally to exclaim "I doubt, I doubt I'll ne'er win out!"
Another version is A superstition existing amoung the country people that, if anyone ventures beyond a certain length the cave will close over the inquisitive explorer. A piper of the MCDonalds is said to have entered playing Cha till, Cha till, cha till mi tuille on his pipes and was heard underground for many miles, He never returned as the cave is said to have closed and held him fast inside the flinty walls.
The other version was 2 pipers MacLeod and MacCrimmon made a wager and they would enter the cave at keil and not cease playing until they reapeared at Kilkerran. The tune they played was a gaelic pibroach called MacCrimmons Lament and the translation of the words were "MacLeod won't return and MacCrimmon is dead". MacLeod was heard playing this about halfway through the cave in Coniglen when he was supposed to share the same fate as his companion for he was never seen again., however the little dog appeared at kilkerran much emaciated and without any hair
There is also a story called the Great Cave at Bolsa which also mentions A piper goes with a dog to explore a large cave. The dog comes out at a great distance, with the hair rubbed or singed off his body. the piper is heard playing but never reappears.