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And they formed a great ring upon the level ground, in the midst of which stood Earl Roderic alone, with his great two-handed sword in his hand, and the sun glancing upon his helm as he held his head proudly aloft. And the cry went about: "Alpin! where is Alpin? Is he then afraid?" But soon a gap was made in the circle and Alpin strode boldly forward with a light step.
"Take this fatal knife," said she, "and before the blood is dry upon its blade drive it into the murderer's black heart." Then Alpin, holding the knife, raised his mother in his arms. "Dear mother," said he, "you have given me a great charge, and here I promise you I shall be avenged upon Earl Roderic ere long, and that do I promise to God and to you."
"And I think that is an idle word," said I. "We are too deep friends to make speech upon such trifles." "Is she not the girl of all the world?" she cried again. "I was never knowing such a girl, so honest and so beautiful." "And yet she cared no more for Alpin than what she did for a kale-stock," said I. "Ah, she will say so indeed!" cries Catriona.
If he challenge this man to mortal combat, then most surely he will be slain, for Roderic, as I have seen, is most powerful of arm, and it is his heart's desire that he should slay my brother, whose death he has already planned. If you would indeed have this man die, then I entreat you let me, and not Alpin, fulfill your behest.
He is over hasty, and his judgment is ofttimes wrong. He will not rule as did his father. The Lady Adela hath spoiled him with her caresses." "You are over hard upon my brother," said Kenric. "There lives not a man in the Western Isles better fitted than Alpin for the great office of kingship. He is just, and noble, and trusty.
And yesternight you were disposed to leave the guilty earl to whatever punishment the wise men should appoint." "Reflection has changed me, Dovenald; and were Roderic before me at this moment I would willingly lay him dead at my feet. Should Alpin fail to slay him, then will I fulfil my revenge. In fair fight or by stealth Roderic shall surely die."
Fingal comes like a watery column of mist! his heroes are around: and see the bards of song, gray-haired Ullin! stately Ryno! Alpin with the tuneful voice: the soft complaint of Minona! How are ye changed, my friends, since the days of Selma's feast! when we contended, like gales of spring as they fly along the hill, and bend by turns the feebly whistling grass.
Very soon the golden light of the rising sun kissed here and there the jagged peaks of Goatfell, and Dovenald bent his head and murmured a prayer, calling upon God to shed His light into the hearts of men and to guide them in the solemn work they were called upon to fulfil that day. Then he turned to Alpin. "Now kindle me the fire," he said. "Here are flint and steel.
Then the men of Bute, seeing what had befallen their young king, raised a wailing cry that rent the sunny air, and they closed in their ranks around their fallen chief. Earl Roderic looked but for a moment at Alpin, and then swinging his bloodstained sword from right to left he passed through the crowd of men. For the islanders, having just left the court of the mooting, were none of them armed.
"Tell me, Earl Roderic," said Alpin, running his fingers through his long hair "you have, you say, been in far-off Iceland tell me, is it true that in that land there be many mountains that shoot forth fire and brimstone?" "Ay, that is quite true, my lad," said his much-travelled uncle, "for I have myself seen such mountains.
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