Then, as Allan pushed the little craft into the water, Aasta bent by the young Norseman’s side, running her fingers through his flaxen hair.

“So bold a spirit,” said she, “is not oft inclosed in so fair a head.  But ah, my young master, beware how you let that spirit escape.  ’Twill do you no manner of good to have thus avoided the castle of Rothesay, for there in that castle are dungeons deeper than Loch Ascog, and colder than the snowy peak of Goatfell.”

“Oh, deceitful woman that you are!” muttered the youth, “to tell me that you were not of the people of this land.  Had it not been for you I might even now have been afloat!”

“Had it not been for me,” said Aasta, “you would even now have been dead, for if I had let you use your dirk as you intended, Allan Redmain, whose prisoner you now are, would certainly have slain you.”

“That would I,” said Allan, now bending down and taking hold of the lad in his strong arms and carrying him to the boat.

“’Tis a long pull round to Rothesay Bay,” said Aasta, “and it may be that you will yet have trouble with your charge.  Let me go with you.”

Allan, standing knee deep in the water, held out his hand and helped her into the boat.  Then as she sat down he pushed off and sprang on board, taking the oars.

Some four hours afterwards the boat rounded Bogany Point and entered the bay of Rothesay.  By this time many of the men of the castle, led by Kenric and Sir Piers de Currie, were scouring the island in search of the fugitive Harald, and when the boat touched at the little pier it was as though it were one of the fishing craft returning after a night at sea.  Allan carried his prisoner up to the castle gates, followed by a crowd of wondering children, and meeting the Lady Adela in the hail he told her how he had passed his first night as watchdog over at Scalpsie.

CHAPTER XVIII.  THE EXPEDITION TO THE ISLAND KINGS.

It was on a day in the month of August, 1262, that the armament of twelve gallant ships of war, under Sir Piers de Currie and Earl Kenric of Bute, entered the sound of Kilbrannan on their voyage to the outer isles.  There had passed six weeks of busy preparation, for there were stores to be got ready and put on board, small boats to be made trim, timbers to be caulked, sails to be mended, many hundreds of arrows to be cut, pointed, and feathered, and longbows to be strung, swords and battle-axes to be forged and sharpened, and bucklers to be stretched.  And now, with all these matters duly completed, the twelve vessels, with their sails brailed up to the yards, and their long oars moving with regular stride, crept down the channel between Kintyre and Arran.  Leading them was the great Dragon —­ the same that had sailed to Dumbarton —­ commanded by Earl Kenric himself, who stood on the poop clothed in armour of iron network and with the sword of Somerled at his side, and wearing his shining brass helm crested with gold wings.