The first knot was called 'Come gently', and when he loosened it on leaving the shore a gentle breeze sprang up. The second was called 'Come better', and the breeze came stiffer. As he neared the harbour he was curious and loosened the last knot, named 'Hardship' (Cruaidh-chas). A wind came to blow the hillocks out of their places, sent the thatch of the houses into the furrows of the ploughland and drowned the boatman. Campbell adds that in Harris they said the boat was drawn up on land and secured before the last knot was untied, and that it was capsized and smashed to pieces.
Selling winds tied in knots is an old motif found in many countries. Campbell connects it with the Finnish witches' trade in wind.
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