Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Life of St. Columba (Author: [unknown])

Chapter 28

Of the boat that was removed by the Saint's order

ANOTHER time, as the saint was travelling beyond the Dorsal ridge of Britain (Drumalban), he came to a small village, lying amid deserted fields, on the banks of a river, where it flows into a lake. There the saint took up his abode, and that same night, while they were yet but falling asleep, he awoke his companions, and said to them: ‘Go out this instant with all speed, bring hither quickly the boat you left on the other side of the stream, and put it in a house near us.’ They did at once as they were ordered, and soon after they were again asleep, the saint roused Diormit, and said to him: ‘Stand outside the door, and see what has happened to the village in which you had left your boat.’ Diormit went out accordingly and saw the whole village on fire, and returning to the saint he told him what was taking place. Then the saint told the brethren the name of the rancorous foe who had burnt the houses that night.