Is nar a Phillis mi air mais
Mas a mo a thaghain dhiot.”[[10]]
In the course of conversation, it would appear that Donald not unfrequently indulged in a loud hoarse laugh—a habit which some of his descendants were noted for, as far down as the eighth generation. To rally Donald a little upon this, Argyle desired him to look at a rock in a hill above Ardkinglass, then in their view, which resembles a man’s face reclined backwards, the mouth being considerably expanded. He asked if he knew the name that rock went by. Donald answered in the negative. Argyle then told him it was Gaire Granda.[[11]] Donald perceiving the allusion, and, with his other qualifications, being no mean poet, replied off hand—
“Gaire Granda as ainm don Chreig,
Is fanaidh i mar sin a ghna;
Gheabh a leitheid agad fein,
Nan sealadh tu nan eadan do mhna.”[[12]]
When at length they came to talk of business, the terms upon which Argyle offered peace were, that Donald should raise a hership in Moidart, and another in Athole, thinking probably that he would be cut off in these attempts; or if successful against such powerful people, that his disgrace would be less in what was done to his own lands. Donald readily agreed to the terms. He set out openly for Moidart, discovered to his uncle the engagement he had come under, and asked his advice. His uncle told him that the people of certain farms in that neighbourhood having offended him, to go and spoil them; that he, to save appearance, when it came to his knowledge, should pursue him to retake the spoil; but should not be in such haste that Donald ran any risk of being overtaken. Donald did so; carried off his spoil; set fire to two or three farms, and got safe off. The affair made a great noise, and reached Argyle’s ears, who was astonished at Donald’s rashness. He went next to Athole, and played the same card with equal success; came back to Argyle, and a peace was concluded, though not with much cordiality upon either side.
There is a well-known anecdote, which we cannot pass over in silence. Donald was, on a time, returning from an expedition into Stirlingshire, and, passing through Monteith, called at a tenant’s house, where they were preparing a wedding dinner. The Earl of Monteith was at the marriage, and was to partake of the dinner. Donald and his men were hungry, and asked for a supply of meat, which being refused, they were so unpolite as step in and eat up the whole dinner. Upon the Earl’s arrival with the marriage people, they were enraged at the affront put upon them. They pursued Donald, and soon came up with him. They called to him to halt, which he did, and one of the Earl’s men cried out ironically to Donald and his men, alluding, no doubt, to the quantity of broth they had consumed—
“Stuarticdh bhuidh nan tapan,