re fairly driven out of the castle at the spear's point.
Then Kenric and a few of his bodyguard, not knowing what had happened,
and believing that the stronghold was still in the hands of their own
garrison, pursued the retreating Norsemen to the ships. On the beach a
vigorous engagement took place.

The Norsemen scrambled on board from one vessel to its companions
alongside. Kenric, followed by Aasta and a crowd of their Scots, waded
deep into the water, still pressing behind the men of Jura and Islay.
They even climbed upon the first galleys' decks, and there stood
fighting for many minutes.

In the midst of this battling Kenric observed the viking's flag flying
above the battlements. He called his men off the ships, and as they
returned to the castle Roderic and some of his warriors passed round by
the rear of the building and regained their vessels. The galleys were
then pushed off into the deeper water, and not till they were afloat did
Kenric realize that he had not for some minutes seen the brave girl
Aasta. In truth, the maiden was at that time struggling on board one of
the galleys with Roderic the Outlaw, who soon disarmed her and thrust
her as a captive into the cabin of one of his ships.

Kenric returned to his castle, only to find that it had fallen entirely
into the hands of the enemy, who had put the remainder of the garrison
to the sword.

Utterly defeated, but himself scarcely wounded, the young lord of Bute
rallied what men he could and drew them off to the high ground where
Roderic had stood. The arrows of a few Norsemen from the battlements
pursued him, and seeing that there was now no chance of regaining
possession of his stronghold, he could only think of the safety of his
people and try to protect them from the ravages of the victors. The
villagers of Rothesay had already deserted their homes, which so far had
remained unmolested, though sadly battered about by stray stones and
other missiles.

And now did Kenric fully see the wisdom of what he had done in securing
his helpless islanders under the safe keeping of the abbot of St.
Blane's. Had he advised them to take refuge in the castle they would
assuredly have fallen victims to the wanton swords of their enemies. Had
he failed to act with prompt foresight upon the information gained in
Gigha, the men of Colonsay, with other vengeful warriors, would have
massacred every woman and child in the island, for such was assuredly
their intent. Hap