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semi-barbarous armour and scarlet trappings. Here were the solid lines of

the Egyptian infantry, steady troops, upon whom Saladin much relied. Here

were other tribes, gathered from afar, each distinguished by its own

particular marks. In silence did this vast array view awhile the solid

mass of the Christians. Suddenly a strange din of discordant music from

thousands of musical instruments--conches and horns, cymbals and drums,

arose in wild confusion. Shouts of defiance in a dozen tongues and from

200,000 throats rose wild and shrill upon the air, while clear above all

the din were heard the strange vibratory cries of the warriors from the

Egyptian highlands.

"One would think," said Cnut grimly to Cuthbert, "that the infidels

imagine we are a flock of antelopes to be frightened by an outcry. They

would do far better to save their wind for future use. They will want it,

methinks, when we get fairly among them. Who would have thought that a

number of men, heathen and infidel though they be, could have made so

foul an outcry?"

Cuthbert laughed.

"Every one fights according to his own method, Cnut; and I am not sure

that there is not something to be said for this outcry, for it is really

so wild and fearful that it makes my blood almost curdle in my veins; and

were it not that I know the proved valour of our knights and footmen, I

should feel shaken by this terrible introduction to the fight."

"I heed it no more," said Cnut, "than the outcry of wild fowl, when one

comes upon them suddenly on a lake in winter. It means no more than that;

and I reckon that they are trying to encourage themselves fully as much

as to frighten us. However, we shall soon see. If they can fight as well

as they can scream, they certainly will get no answering shouts from us.

The English bulldog fights silently, and bite as hard as he will, you

will hear little beyond a low growl. Now, my men," he said, turning to

his archers, "methinks the heathen are about to begin in earnest. Keep

steady; do not fire until you are sure that they are within range. Draw

your bows well to your ears, and straightly and steadily let fly. Never

heed the outcry or the rush, keep steady to the last moment. There is

shelter behind you, and fierce as the attack may be, you can find a sure

refuge behind the line of the knights."

Cnut with his archers formed part of the line outside the array of

English knights, and the arrows of the English bowmen fell fast as bands

of the Bedouin horse circled round them in the endeavour to draw the

Christians on to the attack. For some time Saladin persisted in these

tactics. With his immense superiority of force he reckoned that if the

Christian chivalry would but charge him, the victory of Tiberias would be

repeated. Hemmed in by numbers, borne down by the weight of armour and

the effects of the blazing sun, the knights would succumb as much to

fatigue as to the force of their foes. King Richard's orders, however,

were well obeyed, and at last the Moslem chief, urged by the entreaties

of his leading emirs, who felt ashamed that so large a force should

hesitate to attack one so vastly inferior in numbers, determined upon

taking the initiative, and forming his troops in a semicircle round the

Christian army, launched his horsemen to the attack. The instant they

came within range, a cloud of arrows from the English archers fell among

them, but the speed at which the desert horses covered the ground

rendered it impossible for the archers to discharge more than one or two

shafts before the enemy were upon them. Quickly as they now slipped back

and sought refuge under the lances of the knights, many of them were

unable to get back in time, and were cut down by the Saracens. The rest

crept between the horses or under their bellies into the rear, and there

prepared to sally out again as soon as the enemy retired, The Christian

knights sat like a wall of steel upon their horses, their lances were

levelled, and, brave as the Bedouin horsemen were, they felt to break

this massive line was impossible. The front line, however, charged well

up to the points of the lances, against which they hewed with their sharp

scimitars, frequently severing the steel top from the ashpole, and then

breaking through and engaging in hand-to-hand conflict with the knights.

Behind the latter sat their squires, with extra spears and arms ready to

hand to their masters; and in close combat, the heavy maces with their

spike ends were weapons before which the light clad horsemen went down

like reeds before a storm.

Hour after hour the Arab horsemen persisted in their attack, suffering

heavily, but determined to conquer if possible. Then Saladin suddenly

ordered a retreat, and at seeing their enemy fly, the impetuosity of the

crusaders at last broke out. With a shout they dashed after the foe. King

Richard, knowing that his followers had already shown a patience far

beyond what he could have expected, now headed the onslaught, performing

prodigies of valour with his single arm, and riding from point to point

to see that all was well.

The early resistance of the infidel host was comparatively slight.

The heavy mass of the Christian cavalry, with their levelled lances,

swept through the ranks of the light horsemen, and trampled them down

like grass beneath their feet; but every moment the resistance became

more stubborn.

Saladin, knowing the Christians would sooner or later assume the

offensive, had gathered his troops line in line behind the front ranks,

and as the force of the crusaders' charge abated, so did the number of

foes in their front multiply. Not only this, but upon either side chosen

bands swept down, and ere long the Christians were brought to a stand,

and all were fighting hand to hand with their enemies. The lances were

thrown away now, and with axe and mace each fought for himself.

The Earl of Evesham was one of a group of knights whom King Richard had

that day ordered to keep close to his person, and around this group the

fight raged most furiously.

Saladin, aware of the extreme personal valour and warlike qualities of

King Richard, set the greatest value upon his death or capture, and had

ordered a large number of his best troops to devote their whole attention

to attacking the King of England. The royal standard carried behind the

king was a guide to their onslaught, and great as was the strength and

valour of King Richard, he with difficulty was able to keep at bay the

hosts that swept around him.

Now that the lance had been abandoned for battle-axe, Cuthbert was able

to take an active part in the struggle, his duties consisting mainly in

guarding the rear of his master, and preventing his being overthrown by

any sudden attack on the flank or from behind.

King Richard was bent not only on defending himself from the attacks of

his foes, but on directing the general course of the battle; and from

time to time he burst, with his own trusty knights, through the ring of

foes, and rode from point to point of the field, calling the knights

together, exhorting them to steadiness, and restoring the fight where its

fortunes seemed doubtful. At one time the impetuosity of the king led him

into extreme danger. He had burst through the enemy surrounding him, and

these, by order of their captain, allowed him to pass through their

ranks, and then threw themselves together in his rear, to cut him off

from the knights who rode behind. The maneuver was successful. The rush

of horsemen fairly carried away the Christian knights, and one or two

alone were able to make their way through.

Amid the wild confusion that raged, where each man was fighting for his

own life, and but little view of what was passing could be obtained

through the barred visor, the fact that the king was separated from them

was known to but few. Sir Walter himself was engaged fiercely in a

hand-to-hand fight with four Bedouins who surrounded him, when Cuthbert

shouted,--

"The king, Sir Walter! the king! He is cut off and surrounded! For

heaven's sake ride to him. See! the royal standard is down."

With a shout the earl turned, brained one of his foes with a sweep of his

heavy axe, and, followed by Cuthbert, dashed to the assistance of the

king. The weight of his horse and armour cleft through the crowd, and in

a brief space he penetrated to the side of King Richard, who was borne

upon by a host of foes. Just as they reached them a Bedouin who had been

struck from his horse crawled beneath the noble charger of King Richard,

and drove his scimitar deep into its bowels. The animal reared high in

its sudden pain, and then fell on the ground, carrying the king, who was

unable to disengage himself quickly enough.

In an instant the Earl of Evesham had leapt from his horse and with his

broad triangular shield extended sought to cover him from the press of

enemies. Cuthbert imitated his lord, and strove to defend the latter from

attacks from the rear. For a moment or two the sweep of the earl's heavy

axe and Cuthbert's circling sword kept back the foe, but this could not

last. King Richard in vain strove to extricate his leg from beneath his

fallen steed. Cuthbert saw at a glance that the horse still lived, and

with a sudden slash of his sword he struck it on the hind quarter. Goaded

by the pain the noble animal made a last effort to rise, but only to fall

back dead. The momentary action was, however, sufficient for King

Richard, who drew his leg from under it, and with his heavy battle-axe in

hand, rose with a shout, and stood by the side of the earl.

In vain did the Bedouins strive to cut down and overpower the two

champions; in vain did they urge their horses to ride over them. With

each sweep of his axe the king either dismounted a foe or clove in the

head of his steed, and a wall of slain around them testified to the

tremendous power of their arms. Still, even such warriors as these could

not long sustain the conflict. The earl had already received several

desperate wounds, and the king himself was bleeding from some severe

gashes with the keen-edged scimitars. Cuthbert was already down, when a

shout of "St. George!" was heard, and a body of English knights clove

through the throng of Saracens and reached the side of King Richard.

Close behind these in a mass pressed the British footmen with bill and

pike, the enemy giving way foot by foot before their steady discipline.

The king was soon on horseback again, and rallying his troops on, led

them for one more great and final charge upon the enemy.

The effect was irresistible. Appalled by the slaughter which they had

suffered, and by the tremendous strength and energy of the Christian

knights, the Saracens broke and fled; and the last reserves of Saladin

gave way as the king, shouting his war-cry of "God help the holy

sepulchre!" fell upon them. Once, indeed, the battle still seemed

doubtful, for a fresh band of the enemy at that moment arrived and joined

in the fray. The crusaders were now, however, inspired with such courage

and confidence that they readily obeyed the king's war-cry, gathered in a

firm body, and hurled themselves upon this new foe. Then the Saracens

finally turned and fled, and the Christian victory was complete.

It was one of the features of this war that however thorough the

victories of the Christians, the Saracens very speedily recovered from

their effects. A Christian defeat was crushing and entire; the knights

died as they stood, and defeat meant annihilation. Upon the other hand,

the Saracens and Bedouins when they felt that their efforts to win the

battle were unsuccessful, felt no shame or humiliation in scattering like

sheep. On their fleet horses and in their light attire they could easily

distance the Christians, who never, indeed, dreamt of pursuing them. The

day after the fight, the enemy would collect again under their chiefs,

and be as ready as before to renew their harassing warfare.

On his return from the field, the king assembled many of his principal

knights and leaders, and summoned the Earl of Evesham, with the message

that he was to bring his esquire with him. When they reached the tent,

the king said,--

"My lords, as some of you may be aware, I have this day had a narrow

escape from death. Separated from you in the battle, and attended only by

my standard-bearer, I was surrounded by the Saracens. I should doubtless

have cleft my way through the infidel dogs, but a foul peasant stabbed my

charger from below, and the poor brute fell with me. My standard-bearer

was killed, and in another moment my nephew Arthur would have been your

king, had it not been that my good lord here, attended by this brave lad,

appeared. I have seen a good deal of fighting, but never did I see a

braver stand than they made above my body. The Earl of Evesham, as you

all know, is one of my bravest knights, and to him I can simply say,

'Thanks; King Richard does not forget a benefit like this.' But such aid

as I might well look for from so stout a knight as the Earl of Evesham, I

could hardly have expected on the part of a mere boy like this. It is not

the first time that I have been under a debt of gratitude to him; for it

was his watchfulness and bravery which saved Queen Berengaria from being

carried off by the French in Sicily. I deemed him too young then for the

order of knighthood--although indeed bravery has no age; still for a

private benefit, and that performed against allies, in name at least, I

did not wish so far to fly in the face of usage as to make him a knight.

I promised him then, however, that the first time he distinguished

himself against the infidel he should win his spurs. I think that you

will agree with me, my lords, that he has done so. Not only did he stand

over me, and with great bravery defend Sir Walter from attacks from

behind, but his ready wit saved me, when even his sword and that of Sir

Walter would have failed to do so. Penned down under poor Robin, I was

powerless to move until our young esquire, in an interval of slashing at