TheyarethepriestlysoldiersoftheTemple，’’answeredElHakim，whosevowlimitsthemtoknowneithertrucenorfaithwiththeworshippersofIslam。MaytheProphetblightthem，bothroot，branch，andtwig！-Theirpeaceiswar，andtheirfaithisfalsehood。OtherinvadersofPalestinehavetheirtimesandmoodsofcourtesy。TheLionRichardwillsparewhenhehasconquered-theeaglePhilipwillclosehiswingwhenhehasstrickenaprey-eventheAustrianbearwillsleepwhenheisgorged；butthishordeofever-hungrywolvesknowneitherpausenorsatietyintheirrapine-Seestthounotthattheyaredetachingapartyfromtheirmainbody，andthattheytakeaneasterndirection？Yonaretheirpagesandsquires，whomtheytrainupintheiraccursedmysteries，andwhom，aslightermounted，theysendtocutusofffromourwatering-place。
Buttheywillbedisappointed；Iknowthewarofthedesertyetbetterthanthey。’’
Hespokeafewwordstohisprincipalofficer，andhiswholedemeanourandcountenancewasatoncechangedfromthesolemnreposeofaneasternsage，accustomedmoretocontemplationthantoaction，intothepromptandproudexpressionofagallantsoldier，whoseenergiesarerousedbythenearapproachofadanger，whichheatonceforeseesanddespises。
ToSirKenneth’seyestheapproachingcrisishadadifferentaspect，andwhenAdonbecsaidtohim，Thoumusttarryclosebymyside，’’heansweredsolemnlyinthenegative。
Yonder，’’hesaid，aremycomradesinarms-themeninwhosesocietyIhavevowedtofightorfall-ontheirbannergleamsthesignofourmostblessedredemption-IcannotflyfromtheCrossincompanywiththeCrescent。’’