be much better accommodated by himself in the room prepared for him. When they saw he could not be persuaded to alter his determination of passing the night with his men, they made beds for himself and men in the kiln (_àth_).[20] The men, being wearied, slept without care, but Donald Gorm did not close an eye. He had a friend, somehow, in his time of need (_caraid éiginn air chor-eiginn_), in the place, who came secretly to the kiln where he and his men lay, and called to him, “Is it a time to sleep, Donald?” (_An cadal dhuit, a Dhòmhnuill?_) “What if it is?” (_’Dé na ’m b’ è?_), he answered from within the kiln. “If it is, it will not be” (_na ’m b’ è cha bhì_), said the one outside. “Waken men, and rise quickly,” he said to his company. They got up at once and with all speed went out, shutting the door of the kiln behind them when they were all through to the outside. They fled straight to the shore and launched their boat; and fortunately for them the wind had calmed and they were able to put out oars and row the galley some distance from the shore before their flight was observed. They had not gone far to sea before they saw the kiln on fire. “In place of your father and grandfather you have left yourself without a house, and Donald Gorm is where you cannot reach him,” Donald Gorm said, and he got safely home to his own house without hurt or injury (_gun bheud gun mhilleadh_). NOTES: [18] The quarrel in which MacLeod was killed was caused, it is said, by Donald Gorm’s having repudiated his wife, who was a daughter of MacLeod, in order to marry MacKenzie of Kintail’s sister, and MacLeod resenting the insult attacked Donald Gorm, who killed him and his two sons by throwing them over precipices in the Coolin hills in Skye where the skirmish took place. A different version of this incident is given in an early account of the “Troubles in the isles betwixt the Clan Donald and the Seil Tormot, the year 1601,” and is to the effect that the feud was carried on by “Sir Rory MacLeod of the Herries,” brother-in-law of Donald Gorm MacDonald of Sleat, the reprisals being fierce and frequent until the MacLeods were beaten at “Binguillin,” where a brother of Sir Rory and other chief men of his party were taken prisoners by Donald Gorm, but on a reconciliation taking place they were set at liberty. (See Gregory’s History of the Western Highlands and Isles, p. 295). [19] In regard to the story and incident of the dagger, there was a song made, of which the writer has only been able to get the following verse:-- This is the dirk that killed your father, And it has not refused you yet, Farewell to you from the side of the channel. “Holoagaich h-ol-ò Sud a’ bhiodag a mharbh d’ athair, ’S cha do dhiùlt i ri thusa fhathast; Soraidh leat o thaobh a’ chaoil.”