“You are welcome to have your wish freely gratified” (_’S e beatha le sainnseal_),[15] MacLean replied. “My wish is that I may get Finlay with me,” MacLeod said. In returning the compliment MacLean said, “My wish is that I may keep Finlay to myself.” “But I do not ask to keep him always,” MacLeod said. They then settled the wages, and agreed between them that Finlay should go to Dunvegan, on the west coast of Skye, for a year’s work, and lest he should be kept longer than that time, MacLean was to go with him. When Finlay went home and told his wife about the journey he was to take, she said to him, “You are very foolish to go so far away, when MacLean is giving you a good livelihood.” “I must go at any rate, and you must come with me,” he said, and told her how he was not to remain in Skye, and that MacLean himself was going with him to make sure he would not be kept there, and that she was to go with them. “How can I do that,” she said, “when MacLean will not allow a woman in the same boat with him?” “I will put you in a hogshead,” he said, “and when we reach Dunvegan there will be feasting and enjoyment, and when the nobility of MacLeod (_maithibh Siol Leòid_) are gathered, you will come in among the company as a poor woman, and I will manage the rest in such a way as that you may perhaps earn more than myself.” She consented to this, and he put her at night with sufficient provision in the boat. They reached Dunvegan safely (_le deadh shoirbheachadh_). Finlay’s wife got away unnoticed from the boat, and waited at a house near till the festivities began. When the crew and those who came in the boat reached the castle, there was much rejoicing; an abundant feast was provided, and company gathered, and the usual customs when tables were spread and guests invited, were observed. Among those who came to the gathering was a dependent of good position, who, through some trifling cause, had lost the favour of MacLeod. Finlay observed that he kept aloof from the company, and having ascertained the cause, advised him to pledge MacLeod’s health, and at the same time make his grievance known. He took the advice, and said, “Esteemed was I in MacLeod’s house When justice sat in his land, And I am a forgotten son to-night At the time of drawing in to wine (drinking), But this to you, son of Dark John, Who came in to-day or yesterday, I am the son of a hero Who was here in the past, Though I cannot to-day Get the hill for my cattle.” (“Bu mhùirneach mise ’an tigh Mhic Leòid ’Nuair shuidh a’ chòir ’n a thìr, ’S mac dì-chuimhnicht’ mi ’n nochd ’n a theach ’An àm tarruing a steach gu fion, Ach sud ortsa, mhic Iain Duibh, A thàinig stigh an diugh no ’n dé, Mise mac suinn a bh’ ann riamh Ged nach fhaigh mi ’n diugh an sliabh g’ am spréidh.”) “Good youth,” MacLean said, “go you to Mull and I will give you land (_fearann_) there.” He said,