"But," she said to them, "prepare yourselves and start
to-morrow for Gairloch, sail in the black birlinn, and you shall
regain it. I shall be a witness of your success when you return."
The men trusted her, believing she had the power of divination. In
the morning they set sail for Gairloch - the black galley was full
of the Macleods. It was evening when they entered the loch. They
were afraid to land on the mainland, for they remembered that
the descendants of Domhnull Greannach (a celebrated Macrae) were
still there, and they knew the prowess of these men only too well.
The Macleods therefore turned to the south side of the loch, and
fastened their birlinn to the Fraoch Eilean, in the well-sheltered
bay opposite Leac-nan-Saighead, between Shieldaig and Badachro.
Here they decided to wait until morning, then disembark, and walk
round the head of the loch.
But all their movements had been well and carefully watched.
Domhnull Odhar Mac lain Leith and his brother Ian, the celebrated
Macrae archers, recognised the birlinn of the Macleods, and
determined to oppose their landing. They walked round the head
of the loch by Shieldaig and posted themselves before daylight
behind the Leac, a projecting rock overlooking the Fraoch Eilean.
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