King Magnus undertook an expedition out of the country, with many fine
men and a good assortment of shipping. With this armament he sailed out
into the West sea, and first came to the Orkney Islands. There he took
the two earls, Paul and Erlend, prisoners, and sent them east to Norway,
and placed his son Sigurd as chief over the islands, leaving some
counsellors to assist him. From thence King Magnus, with his followers,
proceeded to the Southern Hebudes, and when he came there began to burn
and lay waste the inhabited places, killing the people and plundering
wherever he came with his men; and the country people fled in all
directions, some into Scotland-fjord, others south to Cantire, or out to
Ireland; some obtained life and safety by entering into his service. So
says Bjorn Krephende:--
"In Lewis Isle with fearful blaze
The house-destroying fire plays;
To hills and rocks the people fly,
Fearing all shelter but the sky.
In Uist the king deep crimson made
The lightning of his glancing blade;
The peasant lost his land and life
Who dared to bide the Norseman's strife.
The hunger battle-birds were filled
In Skye with blood of foemen killed,
And wolves on Tyree's lonely shore
Dyed red their hairy jaws in gore.
The men of Mull were tired of flight;
The Scottish foemen would not fight,
And many an island-girl's wail
Was heard as through the isles we strife sail."