250 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



them over to justice, in the hope of securing a pardon for 

 himself. The way in which he effected his purpose was 

 quite in accordance with the treacherous methods of the 

 times. " Honour among thieves " was not an axiom to 

 be found in Neil's ethical code. He had been feasted on 

 board the Priam, and he gave a return feast at Birsay ; 

 preliminaries, possibly, to the approaching nuptials of 

 Captain Love. As events happened, it was Love's last feast ; 

 Neil's banquet led to a scaffold, and not to a wedding. 

 For while Neil was entertaining the pirate chief and some 

 of his ship's company, Torquil Blair was bent on another 

 errand. While the ardent lover was, mayhap, basking in 

 the smiles of his future bride, the bride's father was pre- 

 paring to seize the ship of his intended son-in-law. The 

 plot succeeded, but not without bloodshed. Captain Love 

 and his companions found themselves trapped by their 

 quondam allies ; and the Priam, after a short but desperate 

 scuffle, in which several of the pirates were killed, became 

 the prize of Torquil Blair and his followers. Four Dutch- 

 men, who had been captured and enslaved by the pirates, 

 were released and sent across to Lewis, and a Scotsman, 

 who was in a like condition, was detained by Neil, pending 

 instructions from the Privy Council as to his disposal. 

 According to tradition, which is probably correct, a large 

 quantity of money was found on board the Priam, which 

 was divided among Neil and his followers, Donald Cam's 

 helmet being used to measure it out.* In the official 

 records, there is no mention of this money among the 

 articles found on board the Priam, and the inference is 

 obvious. Such articles as cochineal and pepper were of 

 little use to the outlaws, but hard coin was a welcome 

 addition to their resources. And here we find another 

 reason for Neil's betrayal of his ally. His cupidity was 

 probably aroused by the knowledge that this money was 

 on board the Priam ; so that the capture of the pirate 



* The Priam's name is not mentioned in the confused narrative of tradition, 

 but the episode appears to be connected with the attack on that vessel. In 

 1613, a pot of gold was dug up near Kirkibost. 



