She gave him a string with three knots. The first would bring a favourable wind, the second a stronger one but only when he was near the mainland, and the third he must never untie. He set sail the same morning, undid the first knot at sea and the second near the mouth of Loch Ewe.
At Ploc-ard at the head of the loch he told his helper Donald M'Lean that no great harm could come if he undid the third knot so close to shore. At once a hurricane struck, most houses in Poolewe and Londubh lost their thatch, and the boat was thrown high on the beach at Dal Cruaidh below Kirkton. The crew escaped unhurt. Dixon says there were then several women around Stornoway who could make the wind fair.
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