36 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



vengeance. Fearing, perhaps, that Olaye's courage might 

 fail him at the last moment, and determined to make the 

 breach between him and Reginald irreparable, he took 

 the most effective means of accomplishing that end. 



Olave had burnt his boats with a vengeance, and there 

 was nothing for it but to take the next step, which was 

 obviously the invasion of Man. He therefore matured 

 his plans with the greatest expedition, and, to ensure the 

 fidelity of the Hebrideans, took hostages from all their 

 leaders. In 1224, he sailed for Man with thirty galleys, 

 but his hostility was disarmed by the smooth tongue of 

 Reginald, who offered him half of the Isles as a basis 

 of peace, an offer which Olave accepted. But Reginald 

 having deceived the Manxmen by preparing, with the 

 assistance of Allan, lord of Galloway, to annul the agree- 

 ment, the islanders threw off their allegiance, and sent 

 for Olave, who was installed in his brother's place. 

 Reginald invaded Man with his ally of Galloway, and 

 after patching up an illusory peace with his brother, 

 remained in the island for the purpose of fomenting a 

 conspiracy against him. He was ultimately killed in a 

 fight between Olave's party and the faction which he 

 had succeeded in forming to support his own claims. 

 According to the Qrkneyinga Saga, Reginald was one 

 of the most famous warriors in the West of Europe. 

 Emulating the example of the Vikings, he once passed 

 three successive years on board his ship without entering a 

 house. He conquered, or purchased, Caithness from Harald, 

 Jarl of Orkney. He was an able man, but his ambition 

 was limitless, and he was destitute of scruples or honour. 



After the death of Reginald, Olave deemed it politic 

 to pay a visit to the Court of Norway, at Bergen, to do 

 homage to his Superior, and to seek his help against 

 the growing power of Allan of Galloway. He was well 

 received by Hakon, and entertained right royally. 

 Evidently affairs in the Hebrides generally were getting 

 into a critical state. According to the account which 

 has been preserved of Olave's mission to Bergen, he 



