ach ann an tiota bha Mac ’ic Ailein ’s a dhruim ri talamh_). “I am pleased to have taken the trouble of coming from Ireland (_toilichte as mo shaothair_),” Murdoch said. Next day at dinner they had beef on the table, and little Murdoch said, “Let us try which of us can break the shank bone[33] (_a’ chama-dhubh_) with the hand closed.” “I am willing,” _Mac vic Ailein_ said. “Well, try it, then,” Murdoch said. _Mac vic Ailein_ tried as hard as his strength would permit, and it defied him (_dh’ fhairtlich i air_). Murdoch broke it at the first blow. _Mac vic Ailein_ then said, “You will not return to Ireland any more; you will stay with me, and we will divide the estate between us.” Murdoch replied, “I am well to do as it is (_glé mhath dheth mar thà_), my mother and stepfather have sufficient worldly means (_gu leòir de ’n t-saoghal_), and I will not stay away from them though you were to give me the whole estate,” and wishing _Mac vic Ailein_ enjoyment and prosperity, he bade him farewell and returned to Ireland, and friendly communication was kept up between them ever afterwards during their lives. IV.--CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN J. F. CAMPBELL OF ISLAY AND J. G. CAMPBELL. Among the treasures regarding folk-lore that I have been able to collect are a few letters of the late J. F. Campbell of Islay to the Rev. J. G. Campbell, late Minister of Tiree. They deal with various questions and traditions. _Inter alia_ is a discussion concerning the word sàil versus sìol Dhiarmaid. I give the letters as written. A. CAMPBELL. SÀIL OR SÌOL DHIARMAID. The late Campbell of Islay to the late J. G. Campbell. TRAVELLERS’ CLUB, Feb. 27, 1871. MY DEAR SIR, I’ll get you the books you name and send them soon. With regard to sàil there was once an actor who amused an audience by putting his head under his cloak and squealing like a pig. A countryman rose and said that he would squeal better next day. So a match was made and tried. The audience applauded the actor and hissed the countryman. But he produced a pig from under his cloak. I know what the man meant who signed Sàil Dhiarmaid. The man who spoke no other language pointed to the place in his foot which he meant by Sàil, so I learned the lesson, and anybody who will try may learn a good deal about Gaelic in the same fashion. [Illustration] If a man starts with the conviction that knowledge is to the unknown as a drop in the ocean--he will get on. I have MacNicol, and know his remark about Ossian’s leg.