In a little time
thereafter he stood upon the battlements, where Dovenald and his
companions of the bow were showering their arrows upon the invaders
without the walls. There, cutting down old Dovenald in a most cruel
fashion, Roderic tore down the honoured red lion of Scotland and hoisted
in its stead the blue and white falcon of the Norseman. This done, he
returned with his many followers to the hall and charged upon the men of
Rothesay in their rear.
Kenric, placed thus between two strong companies of his enemies, was
taken at a sore disadvantage. He felt that the men about him were
falling on every side. Soon those without the gates gave way, and the
men of Bute were fairly driven out of the castle at the spear's point.
Then Kenric and a few of his bodyguard, not knowing what had happened,
and believing that the stronghold was still in the hands of their own
garrison, pursued the retreating Norsemen to the ships. On the beach a
vigorous engagement took place.
The Norsemen scrambled on board from one vessel to its companions
alongside. Kenric, followed by Aasta and a crowd of their Scots, waded
deep into the water, still pressing behind the men of Jura and Islay.
They even climbed upon the first galleys' decks, and there stood
fighting for many minutes.
In the midst of this battling Kenric observed the viking's flag flying
above the battlements.
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