“But this uproar of fighting and shouting alarmed the people within the castle, and thinking full surely that a host of the reserve garrison were coming to avenge the death of their comrades slain, coward that I am, I retreated without the gates, leaving my dear master within.

“Now it befell, Master Allan, that, as I had slain those three men who alone knew where my lord had been imprisoned, and as I had not the wit to speak with any of those Norse folk, it was little that I could do —­”

“You have done well, Duncan, in coming for what aid we now can give,” said Allan Redmain.  “But say, how long time is it since my lord was thus made captive?”

“Five days as I count,” said Duncan, “and had it not been for the thing that I next discovered he had not been there five hours.  When I found myself outside the castle and with the bridge drawn up, I hied me over the hill towards the ships.  Alas! they were no longer there in the bay where we had left them.  They were standing out to sea, with seven great Norse galleys and as many fishing boats pursuing them.”

“Alas!” said Allan; “and whose ships were those?”

“They were three galleys of Coll and four of Colonsay,” said Duncan, “as I learned three days past when they returned to Breacacha.  Our own four ships of Bute came not within sight again, and I fear they have gone back to Rothesay.”

“Not so,” said Allan confidently.  “Our men would never return without truthfully knowing how it had fared with Earl Kenric.  But what of the four galleys of Colonsay?”

“They left for the north two days ago, and the men of Coll went some into the castle and some to their homes, leaving their ships at anchor in the shelter of the isle of Gunna.”

“And say you that those in the castle know not that our lord is in the dungeon?”

“Even so, for who could tell them?  Five days have passed since our fight in Coll.  Like a beast of the field have I lived since then, feeding upon the wild roots and berries, and waiting that our ships might come back.  But by good fortune I came across the poor fisherman who brought me over in his boat.  He could speak the Gaelic, and with promise of reward I bade him bring me to the place where Earl Kenric had told me we were to rejoin Sir Piers de Currie.  Had the man refused me I would have slain him; but now that he has kept his word, I beg you to give him the reward that is his due.”

“That will I do,” said Allan, “for well does he deserve it.  A good boat with oars and sails shall be his reward.”

By the time that Duncan had told his tale, Allan Redmain’s two strong galleys were abreast of the isle of Coll, and steering into a beauteous bay that Duncan had told of, they were rowed far in until they stood under the strong-built fortress of Breacacha.