"
"Infamous dogs!" muttered Kenric. "Oh to think that I should be doomed
to be the leader of men so wicked!"
Leading the way to the priory, which was to the south of the village, he
found that even this sacred edifice had not escaped sacrilege. The
priory grange had been sacked and pillaged. Two of the friars had been
slain whilst defending the villagers who had taken refuge in the
sanctuary, and when Kenric appeared at the head of his troops a band of
the men of Galloway were in the act of setting the chapel in flames; a
heap of straw was piled before the arched door. But just as the flints
were being struck to make a light Duncan Graham fell upon the men,
throwing them aside, and the building was saved.
Many hours did it occupy Kenric ere he could, even in a small way,
appease the wrath of the much-injured islanders and restore to them
their devastated homes. His men of Bute returned to their ships without
so much as a sword wound.
Twelve of the Gallwegians had been slain and many wounded, but even the
most unruly now bowed before the commands of the young lord of Bute, and
went back in submission to their posts.
The isle of Colonsay had been taken; but, saving only at the moment of
landing, there had been no fair fighting, and with such forces behind
him, Kenric might have taken the ill-protected island without the
drawing of a sword.
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