time and invade that island.  Thence, with my lord Magnus of Man, he shall sail up the Clyde and lay waste whatever lands or castles may come in his path.  Meanwhile Earl Margad shall invade Arran with five other ships.  As to the rest, we shall remain in this isle of Gigha and complete our preparations for the final conquest of the mainland of Scotland.  Say, now, my noble lords, does our plan meet with your favour?”

“It does, your Majesty!” they all replied.

Then Earl Sweyn the Silent opened his lips and spoke.

“Methinks,” said he, “that as to the expedition against Bute, those who have most suffered by the atrocities committed by the young stripling lord of that isle should have the power to fulfil their own vengeance upon him.  And I for one, your Majesty, will not rest content unless I be of those who are to invade his lands.  With his own hand young Kenric of Bute slew a full score of the children of Colonsay, and in just revenge would I massacre with my own hands the children of Bute.  No child shall escape our swords.  We will slay every one, ay, even to the babe at the breast.  We will raze every dwelling to the ground.  And even their churches and their holy men shall not escape!”

On hearing these words Kenric waited not to learn more.  He already knew enough, and his heart beat furiously in dread alarm.  For a moment he felt impelled to take his sword and strike down the man who had last spoken; but the danger of revealing himself to those warriors was too great, and touching Aasta on the arm he drew her away.

Together they crept back to the ravine, found their difficult way into the cave, and regaining their boat returned to Bute by the same way that they had left it.

At daybreak on the following morning the fiery cross —­ the Highlanders’ summons to arms —­ was sent round to every dwelling in Bute.  Allan Redmain was despatched to Arran to warn Sir Piers de Currie.  Other boatmen were sent on a like errand to Toward, Dunoon, Largs, and all other villages and castles upon the banks of the Clyde, while a special messenger was sent into Scotland to warn King Alexander.

For three days and nights there was not a man in Bute who was not occupied in some fashion in preparing to meet the expected enemy.

CHAPTER XXIII.  THE INVASION OF BUTE.

The awful words that he had heard spoken by Earl Sweyn of Colonsay impressed Kenric with a terrible fear, and his knowledge of the overwhelming force of ships and men at the command of the Norse king assured him that the threatened invasion of Bute was no idle boast.  Not for his own castle of Rothesay did he fear, although he would defend his fortress to the end.  The thought of the terrible vengeance that was about to fall upon Bute on account of the bad work of the wild Scots of Galloway was a matter for far graver consideration.

On his return from Gigha he passed many hours pacing the great hall of his castle, racking his brain to discover a means whereby he might protect the lives of the women and children who were under his care.  He remembered how, on the day of his throning, those children had stood at the verge of the court to receive his blessing and to kiss his hand, and his heart bled at the thought that any of these little ones should be in danger.