Passed under the rich blazonry of the white May-blossom, which, like creamy lace, covered the Three Thorns of Carlinwark, now deeply stained with rose colour from the clouds of sunset. [Illustration: WILLIAM OF DOUGLAS REINED UP DARNAWAY UNDERNEATH THE WHISPERING FOLIAGE OF A GREAT BEECH.] "Aye, aye," he said, "the Douglas badge is indeed a heart--but it is a bleeding heart. God avert the omen, and keep this young man safe--for though many love him, there be more that would rejoice at his fall." The rider on Black Darnaway rode right into the saffron eye of the sunset. On his left hand Carlinwark and its many islets burned rich with spring-green foliage, all splashed with the golden sunset light. Darnaway's well-shod hoofs sent the diamond drops flying, as, with obvious pleasure, he trampled through the shallows. Ben Gairn and Screel, boldly ridged against the southern horizon, stood out in dark amethyst against the glowing sky of even, but the young rider never so much as turned his head to look at them. Presently, however, he emerged from among the noble lakeside trees upon a more open space. Broom and whin blossom clustered yellow and orange beneath him, garrisoning with their green spears and golden banners every knoll and scaur. But there were broad spaces of turf here and there on which the conies fed, or fought terrible battles for the meek ear-twitching does, "spat-spatting" at each other with their fore paws and springing into the air in their mating fury. William of Douglas reined up Darnaway underneath the whispering foliage of a great b
