hward.
Every cottage and farmstead that he could find he entered. But not in
one of them did he discover man, woman, or child. The men were all under
arms. The women and children were all in the safe refuge of the vaults
of St. Blane's.

Allan Redmain, finding that it was vain to attempt to save his father's
castle, remained for a time upon the scene of ruin and devastation. His
father, Sir Oscar, had been slain by an arrow, and his body was devoured
by the flames. When Allan had tended the wounded, both foes and friends,
he took six of his best men-at-arms with him, and by devious ways
marched south to St. Blane's, there to remain on guard with three
hundred others, whom Kenric had stationed at various points in the
vicinity of the abbey.

CHAPTER XXIV. THE SIEGE OF ROTHESAY CASTLE.

With the loss of twelve men slain and twenty wounded in the skirmish at
Kilmory, Kenric returned to his castle, and there completed his
preparations to resist the invaders. He had drawn off his ships. Three
of them were anchored in Dunagoil Bay, with many fishermen and
husbandmen -- untrained in battle -- ready at hand in case Allan Redmain
required them. A thousand men-at-arms were within the castle, while a
band of the best archers were stationed on the battlements. Along the
shoreline from Rothesay to Ardbeg five hundred archers were in ambush,
and beyond Ardbeg, in the bay of Kames, lay four galleys of war, well
equipped -- ready to dash out upon the enemy as they passed, and, if
possible, frustrate the landing of their forces.

The castle of Rothesay was so situated that it commanded a long view of
the waters through which the enemy's ships must approach from the north
of the island. The fortress, which was constructed of stone, had been
built in the year 1098 by Magnus Barelegs, king of Norway, who lived in
Bute for three years. It was a circular building, 150 feet in diameter.
The walls were nine feet thick and forty feet high, flanked by four
round towers. As a fortification it was ill designed, even upon ancient
principles. Though stronger than any other in all the Western Isles, it
had neither moat nor drawbridge. Even the gate, though it was of strong
oak, lined with iron bars, was ill protected. It was neither flanked nor
machicolated, and it might have been mined or assaulted at any point.
The enemy could approach under the walls without fear of being annoyed
by showers of boiling lead or tar, and, if they kept close