Nazarene，’’saidtheMoslem，inthistheGreeksandSyrianshavemuchbeliedus，seeingwedobutafterthewordofAbu-BekrEl-sideek，thesuccessoroftheProphet，and，afterhim，thefirstcommanderoftruebelievers。`Goforth，’hesaid，`YezedBenAbiSophyan，’whenhesentthatrenownedgeneraltotakeSyriafromtheinfidels，`quityourselveslikemeninbattle，butslayneithertheaged，theinfirm，thewomen，northechildren。Wastenottheland，neitherdestroycornandfruit-trees，theyarethegiftsofAllah。Keepfaithwhenyouhavemadeanycovenant，evenifitbetoyourownharm。Ifyefindholymenlabouringwiththeirhands，andservingGodinthedesert，hurtthemnot，neitherdestroytheirdwellings。Butwhenyoufindthemwithshavencrowns，theyareofthesynagogueofSatan！smitewiththesabre，slay，ceasenottilltheybecomebelieversortributaries。’AstheCaliph，companionoftheProphet，hathtoldus，sohavewedone，andthosewhomourjusticehassmittenarebutthepriestsofSatan。Butuntothegoodmenwho，withoutstirringupnationagainstnation，worshipsincerelyinthefaithofIssaBenMiriam，weareashadowand*[_Arabic_-Jesus，sonofMary。]
ashield；andsuchbeinghewhomyouseek，eventhoughthelightoftheProphethathnotreachedhim，frommehewillonlyhavelove，favour，andregard。’’
Theanchorite，whomIwouldnowvisit，’’saidthewarlikepilgrim，is，Ihaveheard，nopriest；butwereheofthatanointedandsacredorder，Iwouldprovewithmygoodlance，againstpaynimandinfidel’’-
Letusnotdefyeachother，brother，’’interruptedtheSaracen；weshallfind，eitherofus，enoughofFranksorofMoslemahonwhomtoexercisebothswordandlance。ThisTheodorickisprotectedbothbyTurkandArab；andthoughoneofstrangeconditionsatintervals，yet，onthewhole，hebearshimselfsowellasthefollowerofhisownprophet，thathemeritstheprotectionofhimwhowassent’’-
Now，byOurLady，Saracen，’’exclaimedtheChristian，ifthoudarestnameinthesamebreath，thecamel-driverofMeccawith’’-
AnelectricalshockofpassionthrilledthroughtheformoftheEmir；butitwasonlymomentary，andthecalmnessofhisreplyhadbothdignityandreasoninit，whenhesaid，Slandernothimwhomthouknowestnot；theratherthatweveneratethefounderofthyreligion，whilewecondemnthedoctrinewhichpriestshavespunfromit。Iwillmyselfguidetheetothecavernofthehermit，which，methinks，withoutmyhelp，thouwouldstfinditahardmattertoreach。And，ontheway，letusleavetomollahsandtomonks，todisputeaboutthedivinityofourfaith，andspeakonthemeswhichbelongtoyouthfulwarriors，-uponbattles，uponbeautifulwomen，uponsharpswords，anduponbrightarmour。’’
Thewarriorsarosefromtheirplaceofbriefrestandsimplerefreshment，andcourteouslyaidedeachotherwhiletheycarefullyreplacedandadjustedtheharness，fromwhichtheyhadrelievedforthetimetheirtrustysteeds。Eachseemedfamiliarwithanemployment，which，atthattime，wasapartofnecessary，and，indeed，ofindispensableduty。Eachalsoseemedtopossess，asfarasthedifferencebetweentheanimalandrationalspeciesadmitted，theconfidenceandaffectionofthehorse，whichwastheconstantcompanionofhistravelsandhiswarfare。
WiththeSaracen，thisfamiliarintimacywasapartofhisearlyhabits；for，inthetentsoftheEasternmilitarytribes，thehorseofthesoldierranksnextto，andalmostequalinimportancewith，hiswifeandhisfamily；and，withtheEuropeanwarrior，circumstances，andindeednecessity，renderedhiswar-horsescarcelylessthanhisbrother-in-arms。Thesteeds，therefore，sufferedthemselvesquietlytobetakenfromtheirfoodandliberty，andneighedandsnuffledfondlyaroundtheirmasters，whiletheywereadjustingtheiraccoutrementsforfarthertravelandadditionaltoil。Andeachwarrior，asheprosecutedhisowntask，orassistedwithcourtesyhiscompanion，lookedwithobservantcuriosityattheequipmentsofhisfellow-traveller，andnotedparticularlywhatstruckhimaspeculiarinthefashioninwhichhearrangedhisridingaccoutrements。
Eretheyremountedtoresumetheirjourney，theChristianknightagainmoistenedhislips，anddipthishandsinthelivingfountain，andsaidtohisPaganassociateofthejourney-I
wouldIknewthenameofthisdeliciousfountain，thatImightholditinmygratefulremembrance；forneverdidwaterslakemoredeliciouslyamoreoppressivethirstthanIhavethisdayexperienced。’’
ItiscalledintheArabiclanguage，’’answeredtheSaracen，byanamewhichsignifiestheDiamondoftheDesert。’’
Andwellisitsonamed，’’repliedtheChristian。Mynativevalleyhathathousandsprings，butnottooneofthemshallI
attachhereaftersuchpreciousrecollectionastothissolitaryfount，whichbestowsitsliquidtreasureswheretheyarenotonlydelightful，butnearlyindispensable。’’
Yousaytruth，’’saidtheSaracen；forthecurseisstillonyonderseaofdeath，andneithermannorbeastdrinksofitswaves，noroftheriverwhichfeedswithoutfillingit，untilthisinhospitabledesertbepassed。’’
Theymounted，andpursuedtheirjourneyacrossthesandywaste。Theardourofnoonwasnowpast，andalightbreezesomewhatalleviatedtheterrorsofthedesert，thoughnotwithoutbearingonitswingsanimpalpabledust，whichtheSaracenlittleheeded，thoughhisheavily-armedcompanionfeltitassuchanannoyance，thathehunghisironcasqueathissaddle-bow，andsubstitutedthelightriding-cap，termedinthelanguageofthetimea_mortier，_fromitsresemblanceinshapetoanordinarymortar。Theyrodetogetherforsometimeinsilence，theSaracenperformingthepartofdirectorandguideofthejourney，whichhedidbyobservingminutemarksandbearingsofthedistantrocks，toaridgeofwhichtheyweregraduallyapproaching。Foralittletimeheseemedabsorbedinthetask，asapilotwhennavigatingavesselthroughadifficultchannel；
buttheyhadnotproceededhalf-a-league，whenheseemedsecureofhisroute，anddisposed，withmorefranknessthanwasusualtohisnation，toenterintoconversation。
Youhaveaskedthename，’’hesaid，ofamutefountain，whichhaththesemblance，butnotthereality，ofalivingthing。
LetmebepardonedtoaskthenameofthecompanionwithwhomIhavethisdayencountered，bothindangerandinrepose，andwhichIcannotfancyunknown，evenhereamongthedesertsofPalestine？’’
Itisnotyetworthpublishing，’’saidtheChristian。Know，however，thatamongthesoldiersoftheCrossIamcalledKenneth-KennethoftheCouchingLeopard；athomeIhaveothertitles，buttheywouldsoundharshinanEasternear。BraveSaracen，letmeaskwhichofthetribesofArabiaclaimsyourdescent，andbywhatnameyouareknown？’’
SirKenneth，’’saidtheMoslem，Ijoythatyournameissuchasmylipscaneasilyutter。Forme，IamnoArab，yetderivemydescentfromalineneitherlesswildnorlesswarlike。
Know，SirKnightoftheLeopard，thatIamSheerkohf，theLionoftheMountain，andthatKurdistan，fromwhichI
derivemydescent，holdsnofamilymorenoblethanthatofSeljook。’’
Ihaveheard，’’answeredtheChristian，thatyourgreatSoldanclaimshisbloodfromthesamesource？’’
ThankstotheProphetthathathsofarhonouredourmountains，astosendfromtheirbosomhimwhosewordisvictory，’’answeredthePaynim。IambutasawormbeforetheKingofEgyptandSyria，andyetinmyownlandsomethingmynamemayavail-Stranger，withhowmanymendidstthoucomeonthiswarfare？’’
Bymyfaith，’’saidSirKenneth，withaidoffriendsandkinsmen，Iwashardlypinchedtofurnishforthtenwell-appointedlances，withmaybesomefiftymoremen，archersandvarletsincluded。Somehavedesertedmyunluckypennon-
somehavefalleninbattle-severalhavediedofdisease-
andonetrustyarmour-bearer，forwhoselifeIamnowdoingmypilgrimage，liesonthebedofsickness。’’
Christian，’’saidSheerkohf，hereIhavefivearrowsinmyquiver，eachfeatheredfromthewingofaneagle。WhenI
sendoneofthemtomytents，athousandwarriorsmountonhorseback-whenIsendanother，anequalforcewillarise-forthefiveIcancommandfivethousandmen；andifIsendmybow，tenthousandmountedriderswillshakethedesert。AndwiththyfiftyfollowersthouhastcometoinvadealandinwhichIamoneofthemeanest！’’
Now，bytherood，Saracen，’’retortedthewesternwarrior，thoushouldstknow，erethouvauntestthyself，thatonesteelglovecancrushawholehandfulofhornets。’’
Ay，butitmustfirstenclosethemwithinitsgrasp，’’saidtheSaracen，withasmilewhichmighthaveendangeredtheirnewalliance，hadhenotchangedthesubjectbyadding，AndisbraverysomuchesteemedamongsttheChristianprinces，thatthou，thusvoidofmeansandofmen，canstoffer，asthoudidstoflate，tobemyprotectorandsecurityinthecampofthybrethren？’’
Know，Saracen，’’saidtheChristian，sincesuchisthystyle，thatthenameofaknight，andthebloodofagentleman，entitlehimtoplacehimselfonthesamerankwithsovereignsevenofthefirstdegree，insofarasregardsallbutregalauthorityanddominion。WereRichardofEnglandhimselftowoundthehonourofaknightaspoorasIam，hecouldnot，bythelawofchivalry，denyhimthecombat。’’
MethinksIshouldliketolookuponsostrangeascene，’’
saidtheEmir，inwhichaleathernbeltandapairofspursputthepoorestonalevelwiththemostpowerful。’’
Youmustaddfreebloodandafearlessheart，’’saidtheChristian；then，perhaps，youwillnothavespokenuntrulyofthedignityofknighthood。’’
Andmixyouasboldlyamongstthefemalesofyourchiefsandleaders？’’askedtheSaracen。
Godforbid，’’saidtheKnightoftheLeopard，thatthepoorestKnightinChristendomshouldnotbefree，inallhonourableservice，todevotehishandandsword，thefameofhisactions，andthefixeddevotionofhisheart，tothefairestprincesswhoeverworecoronetonherbrow！’’
Butalittlewhilesince，’’saidtheSaracen，andyoudescribedloveasthehighesttreasureoftheheart-thinehathundoubtedlybeenhighlyandnoblybestowed？’’
Stranger，’’answeredtheChristian，blushingdeeplyashespoke，wetellnotrashlywhereitiswehavebestowedourchoicesttreasures-itisenoughfortheetoknow，that，asthousayest，myloveishighlyandnoblybestowed-mosthighly-
mostnobly；butifthouwouldsthearofloveandbrokenlances，venturethyself，asthousayest，totheCampoftheCrusaders，andthouwiltfindexerciseforthineears，and，ifthouwilt，forthyhandstoo。’’
TheEasternwarrior，raisinghimselfinhisstirrups，andshakingalofthislance，replied，Hardly，Ifear，shallIfindonewithacrossedshoulder，whowillexchangewithmethecastofthejerrid。’’
Iwillnotpromiseforthat，’’repliedtheKnight，thoughtherebeinthecampcertainSpaniards，whohaverightgoodskillinyourEasterngameofhurlingthejavelin。’’
Dogsandsonsofdogs！’’ejaculatedtheSaracen；whathavetheseSpaniardstodotocomehithertocombatthetruebelievers，who，intheirownland，aretheirlordsandtask-masters？
withthemIwouldmixinnowarlikepastime。’’
LetnottheknightsofLeonorAsturiashearyouspeakthusofthem，’’saidtheKnightoftheLeopard；but，’’addedhe，smilingattherecollectionofthemorning’scombat，if，insteadofareed，youwereinclinedtostandthecutofabattle-axe，thereareenoughofwesternwarriorswhowouldgratifyyourlonging。’’
Bythebeardofmyfather，sir，’’saidtheSaracen，withanapproachtolaughter，thegameistooroughformeresport-
Iwillnevershuntheminbattle，butmyhead’’pressinghishandtohisbrowwillnot，forawhile，permitmetoseektheminsport。’’
IwouldyousawtheaxeofKingRichard，’’answeredthewesternwarrior，towhichthatwhichhangsatmysaddlebowweighsbutasafeather。’’
Wehearmuchofthatislandsovereign，’’saidtheSaracen，artthouoneofhissubjects？’’
OneofhisfollowersIam，forthisexpedition，’’answeredtheKnight，andhonouredintheservice；butnotbornhissubject，althoughanativeoftheislandinwhichhereigns。’’
Howmeanyou？’’saidtheEasternsoldier；haveyouthentwokingsinonepoorisland？’’