The Thirsty Sword

ly Kenric

wards the sea. She, in her loose gown of gray woollen homespun and girdle of crimson silk, was then the only figure to be seen for miles around. Far to the south were the blue mountains of Arran, and westward

e but here!" s

f a heavy thud upon the heather at her feet. She looked round and saw that a large c

came bounding towards her. In his right hand he bore a longbow, and at his belt were hung a

girl as he came to secure the bird he had

he whom she had wished for, Kenric, the son of the brave Earl Hami

lky locks were a rich nut-brown, and his sparkling eyes were dark and gentle as those of a fallow deer. The sun and the bracing sea air ha

Ailsa," said he, looki

two poor ouzels, whose nest is far in under the roots of yonder birch tree. If you help not quickly, their

chicks," said he scornfully. "Why, I have this day slain a full half-sco

as the mavis, and I have watched them tenderly for many sunny days past. Rescue them for me, good

ross the short grass at the water's edge. Promptly he put an arrow to his bowstring and took deft aim. Th

Ailsa picked up the bleeding fledgling that the stoat had been carrying away in its teeth. She took the maimed little bird to the birch tree that Kenric might restore it to its nest. But

rey bade me be with him ere nightfall. Where is your brother Allan? Say, was he of

over the fate of her water o

amish of Bute, and Ailsa was even as a sister to the two lads of Rothesay Castle. With Kenric, the younger of the earl's sons, she had been taught what little there was to be lear

ad of the bank there walked an aged woman, bearing upon her bent back a bundle of faggots. Ailsa raised her blue eyes, and at sight of the

" said the old woman, seeing Kenric a

words Kenric's ch

trying to fathom her meaning in her wrinkled and grimy face,

y sooth, the time will surely come, and that full

d Kenric frowning; "and you shall win n

him back as though to keep him from the blig

he sign of the cross. "Let her not touch you with her

wed the one lonely tooth that was

said she to Kenric, "and tell me,

d an ouzel's nest and slew

the great God gives it, and the birds must die when their time comes. 'Tis alike with all God's creatures upon earth.

for they are harder to read even than the abbot's missals. What is your meaning?

bundle of faggots again; "Earl Hamish of Bute is in great danger, I say. Go to him

ittle wooden hut that was her home. As she went the red sun

vil hag," said Ailsa. "'Tis our own good fortune if she

said Kenric. "Only the witless carls and cottar folk are so s

r more than they would fear a band of armed Norsemen? She casts her spells upon our kine so that they give no milk, and upon the fountains so that the clear drinking water is turne

the superstition of that time, that deep in his heart he believed

arnings of an enemy in your

r never lived man in all the Western Isles

his very day, as I was returning from matins, a great ship of twelve banks of oars came in from the west through Kilbrannan Sound, and it let anchor in Sc

l warriors

of them, and he fled from their sight lest by chance they should learn that he was a Dane, and seek to carry him off. But now, Kenric, I must away, f

enric sped lightly over the heather to where the you