north to Kintyre; here they encountered a strong force of Scots and both sides lost many men during the ensuing battle. Following this, the fleet sailed north to Lewis and came upon Þórmóðr Þórkelsson. Þórmóðr fled, his wife was taken as a captive of war, and all his treasure was seized. The Norwegians then travelled to Orkney, and most of the fleet sailed back to Norway. Páll, however, remained behind in the Hebrides, where he was slain several weeks later. Commentary There have been several proposed locations for Vestrajǫrðr, which translates from Old Norse as: "the western firth". Writing in 1871 of the history and traditions of Skye, Alexander Cameron noted the events surrounding Þórkell at Vestrajǫrðr, and stated that the location refers to Loch Bracadale. Some years later in 1886, historian Alexander MacKenzie also noted the battle, and stated that the location "was said to be" Loch Bracadale. In 1922, Anderson suggested that Vestrajǫrðr may equate to Loch Dunvegan. Recently Peder Gammeltoft has equated Vestrajǫrðr to either Loch Dunvegan or Loch Snizort. In the late 18th century, James Johnstone considered that Hattarskot refers to a promontory in Argyllshire or Ross. Later in the 19th century, antiquarian F.W.L Thomas stated that Hattarskot specifically refers to Applecross, and theorised that Hattarskot was a Norse attempt to render Aporcrosan—an early form of the placename. Gammeltoft suggested that Hattarskot referred to Gairloch. Thomas considered that Þórmóðr Þórkelsson was the surviving son of Þórkell; later at the beginning of the 20th century, historian William C. Mackenzie was of the same opinion. According to 19th-century Norwegian historian Peter Andreas Munch, it is unclear why Þórkell was singled out and attacked by members of the Norwegian-Hebridean fleet; although, he suggested that it might have had to do with a personal feud between Þórkell and Páll. Thomas stated that Þórkell seems to have backed the side of Guðrøðr, in opposition of Óláfr; since Páll's father, Balki, was a follower (a sheriff) of Óláfr, and Páll himself was a close companion of Óláfr. W.C. Mackenzie noted that not long after the fleet forced Þórmóðr from Lewis, Guðrøðr took revenge on Páll, who had mutilated him years before. W.C. Mackenzie stated that it appears that Guðrøðr was seated on Lewis, and noted that Guðrøðr killed Páll on Skye, before being slain himself on Lewis days later. Proposed connection with Ljótólfr, and Clan MacLeod Thomas proposed that Þórmóðr Þórkelsson, and