MAC VIC AILEIN OF MORAR (_Mòr-thìr_) was out in a shealing with his men, on a summer morning, and saw a young woman following cows, with her petticoats gathered to keep them dry, as the dew was heavy on the ground (_a còtaichean truiste, le truimead an driùchd, g’ an cumail tioram_). He said, “Would not that be a handsome young woman if her two legs were not so slender (_mur biodh caoilead a dà choise_).” She answered in his hearing, “Often a slender-shanked cow has a large udder[31] (_is minig a bha ùth mhòr aig bò chaol-chasach_).” He asked her to be brought where he was; she was his own dairymaid. She went away to Ireland, and named her son Murdoch after his foster-father (_oide_), whom she afterwards married. He was known as Little Murdoch MacRonald (_Murcha beag Mac Raonuill_). As he grew older his mother would be telling him about a brother he had in Alban (_an Albainn_) who was a strong and powerful man, and the lad, being a good wrestler, thought he would like to go and see him, to try a bout of wrestling (_car-gleachd_) with him, to find which of them was the strongest man, and watched for an opportunity to get to Alban. As there was frequent communication then between Ireland and the Western Highlands he had not long to wait till he saw a boat in which it was likely he would be taken. He went to the harbour and on reaching the boat, without knowing that it belonged to his brother, asked the first person he met, who was _Mac vic Ailein_ himself, if he would get ferried across to Scotland (_dh’ iarr e ’n t-aiseag_). _Mac vic Ailein_ said that he would take him with them. When they went away the day became stormy (_shéid an latha_), and no one who went to steer but was lifted from the helm,[32] _Mac vic Ailein_ being thrown aside as well as the others. When _Murcha beag Mac Raonuill_ saw that the strongest man among them could not stand at the helm, he asked to be allowed to try it. “You would get that,” _Mac vic Ailein_ said, “if you were like a man who was able to do it, but when it is beyond our strength (_’nuair a dh’ fhairtlich i oirnn fhéin_), you need not make the attempt.” “At any rate,” he said “I will give it a trial”: and it did not make him alter his position (_cha do chuir i thar a bhuinn e_) till they reached land. As he was the best seaman _Mac vic Ailein_ would not part with him. He took him to his house and entertained him as a guest. They entered into conversation and began to give news to each other (_chaidh iad gu seanachas agus gu naigheachdan_) till little Murdoch told him he was his brother and that it was for the express purpose (_a dh’ aon obair_) of seeing him he had come from Ireland, and that he would not return till they tried a bout of wrestling, since _Mac vic Ailein_ was so renowned for his prowess, and he would find out what strength he possessed before he left. The heroes rose and began to wrestle, but in a short time _Mac vic Ailein_ was thrown (_Dh’ éirich na suinn,