Talking was the only way to pass the time. There was nothing else for them to do. They couldn't argue; they had all agreed on paying only three pence for the fare. Now they could only talk, and stare fearfully into the sea-mist blowing up from the shore. They had heard stories of the wild men of Benbecula. And were there not ghosts in these island of the strange language? In Uist, stories were told of water spirits, and of lights flying through the darkness, held in the hands of the undead. What a place to come to even for th best Highland cattle at excellent prices! The drovers had bought many Highland cattle over the years, but they never felt comfortable in these islands. It was hard to understand or speak the language for one thing.