But for the rest of that winter, no more was heard of the wolf maid’s wanderings, either by day or by night, and when the glad springtime came, there was no more thought of wolves.

In that springtime Earl Kenric, now well able to get about, busied himself upon his farm lands, and did all manner of hard and manly toil, so that by healthy exercise of his limbs he might regain his strength.  In the early mornings he would sally out to the fields of Ardbeg, and there with the ponderous plough of those times, that was drawn by twelve shaggy, long-horned oxen —­ each with a wreath of rowan leaves round its neck as a charm against the spells of witchcraft —­ he would plough the stubborn ground for many hours together until the sweat bedewed his brow.  And from the fields he would perhaps walk over to Ascog to sit in his seat of assize, and there, with the clods of earth yet upon his feet and his arms yet tingling from their work at the heavy plough, he would administer the simple laws before his people.  Also he would often engage with Duncan his henchman —­ now recovered from his wounds —­ in the exercise of arms, or with Allan Redmain sail over to Arran to have a day’s hunting among the fells.  Every morning before he broke fast he was wont to undertake a curious exercise, which was that he took a young bull calf over his shoulders and carried it to the top of the hill of Barone; and each day as the calf grew older, so did its weight increase, and the burden become greater to bear.  Thus did Kenric make himself strong, until, at the end of that summer of 1263, there was no man in all Bute who could excel him in the use of arms or overcome him in feats of bodily exercise.

Meanwhile, unknown as yet to the people of Bute, King Hakon of Norway had been busily preparing his forces for the projected invasion of Scotland.  The extent of these preparations soon spread alarm even on the coasts of England.  It was said that an overwhelming fleet of ships had bent their course against the Scottish islands, and the final destination of so vast an armament was conjectured with consternation.

It was on the 7th of July that the fleet set sail from Herlover.  King Hakon commanded in person.  His flagship was of great dimensions, having seven-and-twenty banks of oars.  Countless banners, pennons, and gonfalons flaunted in the breeze from the masts and riggings of his many galleys.  The decks were crowded with knights and soldiers, whose armour glittered in the sun.  It was the most powerful and splendid armament that had ever set out from the fords of Scandinavia, and it bore proudly away with a light wind for Shetland and Orkney, where additional forces enlisted under the Norse banner.

Bearing down among the Western Isles, levying contribution of men and stores from all the chiefs who owed him tribute, Hakon was joined at the isle of Skye by the forces of Magnus, king of the island of Man.  The combined fleet now amounted to a hundred and sixty dragon ships, with over twenty thousand fighting men.