When Finlay went to get payment from MacLeod before leaving, and as they were conversing together after settling between them, MacLeod said he would lay a wager that the peats of Tiree would not burn so well as the peats of Skye. “What is your opinion, Finlay?” MacLean asked; “Shall I accept the wager?” “Well, as a matter of indifference I will wager they will not burn as well as those of the White Moss in Tiree (_Leòra! cuiridh mise geall uach gabh iad co maith ri mòine Bhlàir-bhàin ’an Tireadh_),” Finlay said, and the wager was laid. “I will try another wager,” MacLeod said, “that our dogs will thrash the MacLean dogs.” This wager was also accepted, and MacLeod came to Tiree with them, bringing peats and dogs with him in the galley. On putting the wagers to the test, the Skye peat when kindled lighted brightly with a great flare, but was soon burnt out. MacLean then asked if they would try the Tiree kind now. As none had been brought by the servants, and as it had previously been agreed on between them, MacLean asked Finlay to go for them himself. Finlay said perhaps it would not be the best that he would bring in. He went out, and gathering an armful of peats took and steeped them one by one (_fòid an déigh fòid_) in a cask of oil. When MacLeod saw them he said, “O man, how wet they are! (_O dhuine, nach iad a tha fliuch_).” “The wetter they are, the livelier they will burn (_mar a’ s fliuiche ’s ann a’ s braise iad_),” Finlay replied, putting them on; and when they took fire they nearly burned the house. “Did I not say they would burn better than those of Skye,” Finlay said to MacLeod, “and you have lost the wager.” “Undoubtedly I have,” the other replied. Next day the dog fight (_tabaid chon_) was to be tried. Finlay rose early and gave his dogs the strongest “crowdie” (_fuarag_, a mixture of milk and meal), and though they were smaller when the fight began, MacLeod’s dogs could not hold one bout with them. “It is surprising,” MacLeod said, “when one of my dogs is as big as two of MacLean’s dogs.” “You need not be at all surprised,” Finlay said, “those here are of the race of dogs that were in the land of the Fians (_so sìolachadh nan con a bh’ aca ’s an Fhéinn_), and no other kind need try their strength against them.” “If you were in the land of the Fians, you came back, and no one need lay a wager with MacLean so long as he has you with him.” MacLeod bade them farewell and returned home (_Dh’ fhàg e beannachd aca ’s thill e dhachaidh_). NOTES: [15] _Sainnseal_ means the giving of a free gift, or handsel. BIG DEWAR OF BALEMARTIN, TIREE.