Page:History of the Black Douglas.pdf/22

32 before proceeding on his voyage, went, accordingly, to a great battle against Osmyn, and had little difficulty in defeating the Saracens opposed to him. But, pursuing the chase too far, he was surrounded by the Moors, who seeing the Scots separated from each other, turned suddenly back, and with shouts of Allah, illah, Allah! their war-cry, surrounded such of the Scottish knights as had advanced too hastily.

Douglas, in the midst of the skirmish, saw William St. Clair of Roslin fighting desperately, surrounded by the Moors, who were hewing at him with their sabres, "Yonder brave knight will be slain," Douglas said, "unless he have present help."

With that he galloped to his rescue, but he was likewise instantly surrounded by many Moors. After performing prodigies of valour, and when the enemy pressed so thick around him as to leave him no chance of escaping, he took from his neck the Bruce's heart, and speaking to it, as he would have done to the king had he been alive, "Pass first in fight," he said, "as thou wert wont to do, and Douglas will follow thee or die!"

He then threw the king's heart among the enemy, and rushing forward to the place where it fell, was there slain. His body was found lying above the silver case, as if it had been his last object to defend the Bruce's heart.

The Good Lord James, as he was usually styled, was one of the best and wisest soldiers that ever drew a sword. He was said to have fought in seventy battles, being beaten in thirteen, and