TheburningsunofSyriahadnotyetattaineditshighestpointinthehorizon，whenaknightoftheRed-cross，whohadlefthisdistantnorthernhome，andjoinedthehostoftheCrusadersinPalestine，waspacingslowlyalongthesandydesertswhichlieinthevicinityoftheDeadSea，or，asitiscalled，theLakeAsphaltites，wherethewavesoftheJordanpourthemselvesintoaninlandsea，fromwhichthereisnodischargeofwaters。
Thewarlikepilgrimhadtoiledamongcliffsandprecipicesduringtheearlierpartofthemorning；morelately，issuingfromthoserockyanddangerousdefiles，hehadentereduponthatgreatplain，wheretheaccursedcitiesprovoked，inancientdays，thedirectanddreadfulvengeanceoftheOmnipotent。
Thetoil，thethirst，thedangersoftheway，wereforgotten，asthetravellerrecalledthefearfulcatastrophe，whichhadconvertedintoanaridanddismalwildernessthefairandfertilevalleyofSiddim，oncewellwatered，evenastheGardenoftheLord，nowaparchedandblightedwaste，condemnedtoeternalsterility。
Crossinghimself，asheviewedthedarkmassofrollingwaters，incolourasinqualityunlikethoseofeveryotherlake，thetravellershudderedasheremembered，thatbeneaththesesluggishwaveslaytheonceproudcitiesoftheplain，whosegravewasdugbythethunderoftheheavens，ortheeruptionofsubterraneousfire，andwhoseremainswerehid，evenbythatseawhichholdsnolivingfishinitsbosom，bearsnoskiffonitssurface，and，asifitsowndreadfulbedweretheonlyfitreceptacleforitssullenwaters，sendsnot，likeotherlakes，atributetotheocean。Thewholelandaround，asinthedaysofMoses，wasbrimstoneandsalt；itisnotsown，norbeareth，noranygrassgroweththereon；’’thelandaswellasthelakemightbetermeddead，asproducingnothinghavingresemblancetovegetation，andeventheveryairwasentirelydevoidofitsordinarywingedinhabitants，deterredprobablybytheodourofbitumenandsulphur，whichtheburningsunexhaledfromthewatersofthelake，insteamingclouds，frequentlyassumingtheappearanceofwaterspouts。Massesoftheslimyandsulphuroussubstancecallednaphtha，whichfloatedidlyonthesluggishandsullenwaves，suppliedthoserollingcloudswithnewvapours，andaffordedawfultestimonytothetruthoftheMosaichistory。
Uponthissceneofdesolationthesunshonewithalmostintolerablesplendour，andalllivingnatureseemedtohavehiddenitselffromtherays，exceptingthesolitaryfigurewhichmovedthroughtheflittingsandatafoot’space，andappearedthesolebreathingthingonthewidesurfaceoftheplain。Thedressoftheriderandtheaccoutrementsofhishorse，werepeculiarlyunfitforthetravellerinsuchacountry。Acoatoflinkedmail，withlongsleeves，platedgauntlets，andasteelbreastplate，hadnotbeenesteemedasufficientweightofarmour；therewasalsohistriangularshieldsuspendedroundhisneck，andhisbarredhelmetofsteel，overwhichhehadahoodandcollarofmail，whichwasdrawnaroundthewarrior’sshouldersandthroat，andfilledupthevacancybetweenthehauberkandthehead-piece。Hislowerlimbsweresheathed，likehisbody，inflexiblemail，securingthelegsandthighs，whilethefeetrestedinplatedshoes，whichcorrespondedwiththegauntlets。Along，broad，straight-shaped，double-edgedfalchion，withahandleformedlikeacross，correspondedwithastoutponiard，ontheotherside。TheKnightalsobore，securedtohissaddle，withoneendrestingonhisstirrup，thelongsteel-headedlance，hisownproperweapon，which，asherode，projectedbackwards，anddisplayeditslittlepennoncelle，todallywiththefaintbreeze，ordropinthedeadcalm。Tothiscumbrousequipmentmustbeaddedasurcoatofembroideredcloth，muchfrayedandworn，whichwasthusfaruseful，thatitexcludedtheburningraysofthesunfromthearmour，whichtheywouldotherwisehaverenderedintolerabletothewearer。
Thesurcoatbore，inseveralplaces，thearmsoftheowner，althoughmuchdefaced。Theseseemedtobeacouchantleopard，withthemotto，Isleep-wakemenot。’’Anoutlineofthesamedevicemightbetracedonhisshield，thoughmanyablowhadalmosteffacedthepainting。Theflattopofhiscumbrouscylindricalhelmetwasunadornedwithanycrest。Inretainingtheirownunwieldydefensivearmour，thenorthernCrusaders，seemedtosetatdefiancethenatureoftheclimateandcountrytowhichtheyhadcometowar。
Theaccoutrementsofthehorsewerescarcelylessmassiveandunwieldythanthoseoftherider。Theanimalhadaheavysaddleplatedwithsteel，unitinginfrontwithaspeciesofbreastplate，andbehindwithdefensivearmourmadetocovertheloins。Thentherewasasteelaxe，orhammer，calledamace-of-arms，andwhichhungtothesaddle-bow；thereinsweresecuredbychain-work，andthefront-stallofthebridlewasasteelplate，withaperturesfortheeyesandnostrils，havinginthemidstashortsharppike，projectingfromtheforeheadofthehorselikethehornofthefabulousunicorn。
Buthabithadmadetheenduranceofthisloadofpanoplyasecondnature，bothtotheknightandhisgallantcharger。
Numbers，indeed，ofthewesternwarriorswhohurriedtoPalestine，diederetheybecameinuredtotheburningclimate；buttherewereotherstowhomthatclimatebecameinnocentandevenfriendly，andamongthisfortunatenumberwasthesolitaryhorsemanwhonowtraversedtheborderoftheDeadSea。
Nature，whichcasthislimbsinamouldofuncommonstrength，fittedtowearhislinkedhauberkwithasmucheaseasifthemesheshadbeenformedofcobwebs，hadendowedhimwithaconstitutionasstrongashislimbs，andwhichbadedefiancetoalmostallchangesofclimate，aswellastofatigueandprivationsofeverykind。Hisdispositionseemed，insomedegree，topartakeofthequalitiesofhisbodilyframe；andastheonepossessedgreatstrengthandendurance，unitedwiththepowerofviolentexertion，theother，underacalmandundisturbedsemblance，hadmuchofthefieryandenthusiasticloveofglorywhichconstitutedtheprincipalattributeoftherenownedNormanline，andhadrenderedthemsovereignsineverycornerofEurope，wheretheyhaddrawntheiradventurousswords。
Itwasnot，however，toalltheracethatfortuneproposedsuchtemptingrewards；andthoseobtainedbythesolitaryknightduringtwoyears’campaigninPalestine，hadbeenonlytemporalfame，and，ashewastaughttobelieve，spiritualprivileges。Meantime，hisslenderstockofmoneyhadmeltedaway，theratherthathedidnotpursueanyoftheordinarymodesbywhichthefollowersoftheCrusadecondescendedtorecruittheirdiminishedresources，attheexpenseofthepeopleofPalestine；heexactednogiftsfromthewretchednativesforsparingtheirpossessionswhenengagedinwarfarewiththeSaracens，andhehadnotavailedhimselfofanyopportunityofenrichinghimselfbytheransomofprisonersofconsequence。
Thesmalltrainwhichhadfollowedhimfromhisnativecountryhadbeengraduallydiminished，asthemeansofmaintainingthemdisappeared，andhisonlyremainingsquirewasatpresentonasick-bed，andunabletoattendhismaster，whotravelled，aswehaveseen，singlyandalone。ThiswasoflittleconsequencetotheCrusader，whowasaccustomedtoconsiderhisgoodswordashissafestescort，anddevoutthoughtsashisbestcompanion。
Naturehad，however，herdemandsforrefreshmentandrepose，evenontheironframeandpatientdispositionoftheKnightoftheSleepingLeopard；andatnoon，whentheDeadSealayatsomedistanceonhisright，hejoyfullyhailedthesightoftwoorthreepalm-trees，whicharosebesidethewellwhichwasassignedforhismid-daystation。Hisgoodhorse，too，whichhadploddedforwardwiththesteadyenduranceofhismaster，nowliftedhishead，expandedhisnostrils，andquickenedhispace，asifhesnuffedafaroffthelivingwaters，whichmarkedtheplaceofreposeandrefreshment。Butlabouranddangerweredoomedtointerveneerethehorseorhorsemanreachedthedesiredspot。
AstheKnightoftheCouchantLeopardcontinuedtofixhiseyesattentivelyontheyetdistantclusterofpalm-trees，itseemedtohimasifsomeobjectwasmovingamongthem。Thedistantformseparateditselffromthetrees，whichpartlyhiditsmotions，andadvancedtowardstheknightwithaspeedwhichsoonshowedamountedhorseman，whomhisturban，longspear，andgreencaftanfloatinginthewind，onhisnearerapproach，showedtobeaSaracencavalier。Inthedesert，’’saithanEasternproverb，nomanmeetsafriend。’’TheCrusaderwastotallyindifferentwhethertheinfidel，whonowapproachedonhisgallantbarb，asifborneonthewingsofaneagle，cameasfriendorfoe-perhaps，asavowedchampionoftheCross，hemightratherhavepreferredthelatter。Hedisengagedhislancefromhissaddle，seizeditwiththerighthand，placeditinrestwithitspointhalfelevated，gatheredupthereinsintheleft，wakedhishorse’smettlewiththespur，andpreparedtoencounterthestrangerwiththecalmself-confidencebelongingtothevictorinmanycontests。
TheSaracencameonatthespeedygallopofanArabhorseman，managinghissteedmorebyhislimbs，andtheinflectionofhisbody，thanbyanyuseofthereins，whichhunglooseinhislefthand；sothathewasenabledtowieldthelightroundbuckleroftheskinoftherhinoceros，ornamentedwithsilverloops，whichheworeonhisarm，swingingitasifhemeanttoopposeitsslendercircletotheformidablethrustofthewesternlance。Hisownlongspearwasnotcouchedorlevelledlikethatofhisantagonist，butgraspedbythemiddlewithhisrighthand，andbrandishedatarm’slengthabovehishead。Asthecavalierapproachedhisenemyatfullcareer，heseemedtoexpectthattheKnightoftheLeopardshouldputhishorsetothegalloptoencounterhim。ButtheChristianknight，wellacquaintedwiththecustomsofEasternwarriors，didnotmeantoexhausthisgoodhorsebyanyunnecessaryexertion；and，onthecontrary，madeadeadhalt，confidentthatiftheenemyadvancedtotheactualshock，hisownweight，andthatofhispowerfulcharger，wouldgivehimsufficientadvantage，withouttheadditionalmomentumofrapidmotion。Equallysensibleandapprehensiveofsuchaprobableresult，theSaracencavalier，whenhehadapproachedtowardstheChristianwithintwicethelengthofhislance，wheeledhissteedtotheleftwithinimitabledexterity，androdetwiceroundhisantagonist，who，turningwithoutquittinghisground，andpresentinghisfrontconstantlytohisenemy，frustratedhisattemptstoattackhimonanunguardedpointsothattheSaracen，wheelinghishorse，wasfaintoretreattothedistanceofahundredyards。Asecondtime，likeahawkattackingaheron，theHeathenrenewedthecharge，andasecondtimewasfaintoretreatwithoutcomingtoaclosestruggle。Athirdtimeheapproachedinthesamemanner，whentheChristianknight，desiroustoterminatethiselusorywarfare，inwhichhemightatlengthhavebeenwornoutbytheactivityofhisfoeman，suddenlyseizedthemacewhichhungathissaddlebow，and，withastronghandandunerringaim，hurleditagainsttheheadoftheEmir，forsuchandnotlesshisenemyappeared。TheSaracenwasjustawareoftheformidablemissileintimetointerposehislightbucklerbetwixtthemaceandhishead；buttheviolenceoftheblowforcedthebucklerdownonhisturban，andthoughthatdefencealsocontributedtodeadenitsviolence，theSaracenwasbeatenfromhishorse。EretheChristiancouldavailhimselfofthismishap，hisnimblefoemansprungfromtheground，andcallingonhishorse，whichinstantlyreturnedtohisside，heleapedintohisseatwithouttouchingthestirrup，andregainedalltheadvantageofwhichtheKnightoftheLeopardhopedtodeprivehim。Butthelatterhadinthemeanwhilerecoveredhismace，andtheEasterncavalier，whorememberedthestrengthanddexteritywithwhichhisantagonisthadaimedit，seemedtokeepcautiouslyoutofreachofthatweapon，ofwhichhehadsolatelyfelttheforce，whileheshowedhispurposeofwagingadistantwarfarewithmissileweaponsofhisown。Plantinghislongspearinthesandatadistancefromthesceneofcombat，hestrung，withgreataddress，ashortbowwhichhecarriedathisback，andputtinghishorsetothegallop，oncemoredescribedtwoorthreecirclesofawiderextentthanformerly，inthecourseofwhichhedischargedsixarrowsattheChristianwithsuchunerringskill，thatthegoodnessofhisharnessalonesavedhimfrombeingwoundedinasmanyplaces。Theseventhshaftapparentlyfoundalessperfectpartofthearmour，andtheChristiandroppedheavilyfromhishorse。
ButwhatwasthesurpriseoftheSaracen，when，dismountingtoexaminetheconditionofhisprostrateenemy，hefoundhimselfsuddenlywithinthegraspoftheEuropean，whohadhadrecoursetothisartificetobringhisenemywithinhisreach！Eveninthisdeadlygrapple，theSaracenwassavedbyhisagilityandpresenceofmind。Heunloosedthesword-belt，inwhichtheKnightoftheLeopardhadfixedhishold，andthuseludinghisfatalgrasp，mountedhishorse，whichseemedtowatchhismotionswiththeintelligenceofahumanbeing，andagainrodeoff。ButinthelastencountertheSaracenhadlosthisswordandhisquiverofarrows，bothofwhichwereattachedtothegirdlewhichhewasobligedtoabandon。Hehadalsolosthisturbaninthestruggle。ThesedisadvantagesseemedtoinclinetheMoslemtoatruce。HeapproachedtheChristianwithhisrighthandextended，butnolongerinamenacingattitude。
Thereistrucebetwixtournations，’’hesaid，intheLinguaFranca，commonlyusedforthepurposeofcommunicationwiththeCrusaders；whereforeshouldtherebewarbetwixttheeandme？-Lettherebepeacebetwixtus。’’
Iamwellcontented，’’answeredheoftheCouchantLeopard；
butwhatsecuritydostthouofferthatthouwiltobservethetruce？’’
ThewordofafolloweroftheProphetwasneverbroken，’’
answeredtheEmir。Itisthou，braveNazarene，fromwhomIshoulddemandsecurity，didInotknowthattreasonseldomdwellswithcourage。’’