here they landed, looking out at their great ship
from under his wide flapping hat.

"Say, my good man," said Sir Piers, addressing him, "say if we may hope
to find my lord the Earl John in his castle of Bowmore?"

"That," said the man smiling as he swung his sickle from side to side,
"must needs depend upon whether I enter that castle before you or behind
you. But doubtless John of Islay will be right well pleased to give you
entertainment this night, for 'tis long since he had news from Scotland,
whence, if I mistake not, you are now come. How fares our sovereign lord
the King -- his Majesty Alexander?"

"Passing well," said Sir Piers, "for 'tis but a few weeks past that I
had speech with him at Dumbarton."

"Ah, then you heard also of my son -- my dear son Harald?" cried Earl
John eagerly. "The saints grant that you bring me no ill news of him!
But come, I beg you, for 'tis ill mannered in me thus to question you
ere you have broken bread."

Then the lord of Islay led his visitors to his castle, and there they
enjoyed a right lordly repast in the banqueting hall. And when the feast
was over Sir Piers de Currie, as ambassador from the King of Scots,
claimed the homage of Earl John, who solemnly swore upon his sword and
by the soul of his Majesty the King that he would be true to his fealty
to Scotland and abjure all allegiance to Hakon of Norway.

"My lord," said Sir Piers, "now that you have given us this assurance of
your faithfulness, it is my pleasure to tell you that your son is on
board our ship and will be at once restored to you. For these are his
Majesty's instructions."

In another hour young Harald the hostage was released from the care of
the guards who stood over him. But as the lad left the ship he shook his
closed fist at Kenric and swore an oath of vengeance upon him and upon
all the men of Scotland whom he should ever afterwards meet.

Kenric thought little of this threat, but it was not long ere the
hotheaded young viking put it into execution.

Now so easily had Sir Piers de Currie fared at Islay, and so much did he
pride himself upon the success of his first negotiation, that he thought
surely he would meet with equal favour in the other islands. Returning
to Gigha he ordered a division of his forces. Bidding Kenric proceed
with a squadron of six ships to Colonsay, Coll, and Tiree, he took under
his own command the six other galleys, namely, three of Arran, one of
Dunoon, one of Galloway,