A witch who left home every night was followed by her husband, who wondered what she was doing. She became a cat and went to sea in a sieve with seven other cats, in the name of the devil. In the Skye story the husband upset the sieve by naming the Trinity. In the Sound of Mull the witches went on board 'against the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost' and the husband upset the vessel by putting his foot on board in that name. In Tiree the unfortunate women were crossing to Ireland in eggshells when the husband of one wished them God speed, and the eggshells sank.
The story is a formula tale that attached itself to local places. It is included as Hebridean witch belief rather than as an event.
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