Now the wild Scots of Galloway, whom Alexander had sent as a contribution to the forces, were as yet little known to Kenric, and he was not long in discovering that he might have done far better without them.  They had joined the expedition with minds bent upon pillage and slaughter.  They were by nature a people of wild and ferocious habits, a fierce and ungovernable set of men who fought half naked, and were wont to commit acts of untold cruelty upon the inhabitants of the countries they invaded.  Also, as both Sir Piers de Currie and Kenric discovered to their cost, they were never content but in leading the van in battle.

Ere Kenric and his well-ordered men arrived at the castle the Gallwegians had already assailed the gate, and in despite of many arrows that fell about them from the towers and loopholes, they hammered with great clubs and iron battering bars, clamouring for blood.  The gate soon gave way before the assault of their vigorous blows.  Then the Gallwegians, with cries of triumph, rushed in upon the defending garrison, followed presently by Kenric and his retainers of Bute.  A guard of some fifty men met them within the fallen gates and boldly defended their stronghold with swords and pikes.  The men of Galloway leading, mowed them down and passed over their dead bodies, until, finding no further resistance, they proceeded to their work of plunder.

Kenric, leaving his men with Duncan, and calling but a dozen to follow him, ascended to the battlements and tore down the Norwegian flag.  He searched about for Earl Sweyn, believing he was in hiding.  But neither Sweyn nor his steward could he find, nor any living man who could tell him where the lord of Colonsay might be.

His men, ranked in order now without the gates, awaited him, and, returning, he led them in the direction of the beach.  But as he passed through the little settlement of wooden huts a fearful scene presented itself.  The men of Galloway whom he had left upon their two galleys, had boldly followed their countrymen ashore, led by their under-captain.  While Kenric, who had himself not yet struck a blow, was within the castle, these wild men had fallen upon the village.  They had burst open the doors of the cottages and ferociously slain the innocent people.  Every threshold was bespattered with blood.  Before Kenric had time to interfere, or even to realize what had taken place, many of the homes had been plundered and laid waste.

On a little knoll above the village a band of the Gallwegians had gathered in a crowd.  As Kenric went towards them he heard screams of terror and of pain.  With his buckler on his left arm, and in his hand the Thirsty Sword that had not yet been used, he led his men onward and forced his way into the crowd.  Three women, who had been with others escaping to the hills, now lay slain upon the grass, with their slaughtered infants by their sides.  A shock of horror overcame Kenric as he saw two burly Gallwegians in their wanton fury raise each a small child upon the point of his spear, and shake the spear until the child, pierced through the body, fell down to his hands.