and one of Bute, the last being the /Kraken/,
of which Allan Redmain was the master.

With these six galleys Sir Piers, leaving Gigha in advance of Kenric,
sailed for the isles that lie off the mainland of Argyll and Lorne,
agreeing to rejoin Kenric in three weeks' time in the sound of Iona.

The first island Sir Piers went to after leaving Gigha was the isle of
Jura. But there he soon found that Erland the Old was not so easily to
be won over as his neighbour of Islay, for he had already renounced all
allegiance to Scotland and was in open league with the King of Norway.
So when he saw the six ships of the Clyde sailing along his rugged
coasts he mustered all his retainers by the summons of the fiery cross
and gave fight. There was a vigorous battle in the sound of Jura, with
much slaughter on either side. The ship of Dunoon was captured by the
men of Jura, and all on board were brutally slain.

Then Sir Piers de Currie and Allan Redmain with their remaining galleys
sailed yet farther up the strait and landed on the north of Jura and
sacked many villages till the burns ran red with blood. The men of
Galloway fought as wild wolves, and much ado had their leader to stop
them from breaking into the monastery and chapels and plundering them of
the treasures that were therein stored.

In the midst of this bloody work Erland the Old again appeared with his
army of islanders from the south, and at last drove off the invaders,
capturing the galley of Galloway and dealing with her crew as the
gallant men of Dunoon had already been dealt with.

Thus repulsed, Sir Piers drew off and crossed to the mainland, taking
shelter in the loch of Crinan. The good master of Duntroon Castle, who
was for the Scots, gave succour to the wounded men, and supplied
reinforcements to the number of forty retainers.

After five days the four ships sailed off again, taking possession in
the name of the Scots king of the isles of Scarba, Luing, Seil, Kerrera,
and Lismore, besieging many castles and imposing oaths of fealty upon
their lords, and lastly to the great isle of Mull, whose king was a true
Scot and most friendly disposed.

By this time the three weeks were passed, and they sailed round the
south of Mull and anchored in the offing between Staffa and Iona. So
anchored, they waited for Kenric's squadron. But the days went by; the
month of August passed into September, and Kenric did not appear. A
watch was kept both night and day, yet th