In the ranks of the Norsemen, Kenric espied Earl Sweyn of Colonsay.

“Traitor! slayer of my people’s children!” cried Sweyn, pressing forward.  “Let me at you that I may smite you to the earth!”

Kenric stood on guard.  Sweyn raised his heavy battle-axe; but, before he could strike, Kenric so wounded him on the shoulder that he dropped his weapon.  Then a crowd of men pressing in between, separated them.

For an hour’s time the skirmish continued, Kenric and Allan Redmain fighting side by side.  But meanwhile the Norse leader, Rudri, had called off the larger number of his men to the ships, leaving but a few score behind under Sweyn of Colonsay and another.

In the thick of the fight Duncan Graham sought his master’s side.

“Back, back, my lord!” he cried, “Back to the castle of Rothesay!  The ships have already left the bay.  In two hours’ time they will be round at Rothesay!”

Kenric then rallied his men and charged his foes most vigorously, and those who were not cut down took to flight.  Earl Sweyn, retreating towards the hill of Quien with two score of his followers took ambush until the men of Rothesay had left Kilmory.  Then, full of angry vengeance and intent upon slaughter, he led his small troop northward.  Every cottage and farmstead that he could find he entered.  But not in one of them did he discover man, woman, or child.  The men were all under arms.  The women and children were all in the safe refuge of the vaults of St. Blane’s.

Allan Redmain, finding that it was vain to attempt to save his father’s castle, remained for a time upon the scene of ruin and devastation.  His father, Sir Oscar, had been slain by an arrow, and his body was devoured by the flames.  When Allan had tended the wounded, both foes and friends, he took six of his best men-at-arms with him, and by devious ways marched south to St. Blane’s, there to remain on guard with three hundred others, whom Kenric had stationed at various points in the vicinity of the abbey.

CHAPTER XXIV.  THE SIEGE OF ROTHESAY CASTLE.

With the loss of twelve men slain and twenty wounded in the skirmish at Kilmory, Kenric returned to his castle, and there completed his preparations to resist the invaders.  He had drawn off his ships.  Three of them were anchored in Dunagoil Bay, with many fishermen and husbandmen —­ untrained in battle —­ ready at hand in case Allan Redmain required them.  A thousand men-at-arms were within the castle, while a band of the best archers were stationed on the battlements.  Along the shoreline from Rothesay to Ardbeg five hundred archers were in ambush, and beyond Ardbeg, in the bay of Kames, lay four galleys of war, well equipped —­ ready to dash out upon the enemy as they passed, and, if possible, frustrate the landing of their forces.