lying on the southern slope of a low range of sandy hillocks, was quite exposed to the blazing rays. There was not a tree to cast even a solitary shadow; the long street of white canvas tents glared almost painfully upon the eye; and the hundreds of flags, streamers, and pennoncelles, and pennons, and square banners, which decked the summits of the several pavilions, and served to indicate the rank of their respective dwellers, drooped in the sultry calm, and clung to their staves silent and motionless Many of these pavilions were large and sumptuously decorated and contained many separate apartments; but there was one of vast dimensions, made it is true of plain white canvas, but covering a space of ground nearly an acre in circumference, and surrounded by a wall or screen of canvas some six or seven feet in height. Before each of the entrances, for there were four, one in each side of this great tent, a sentinel was stationed in half armour, bearing a long, broadheaded partisan; and at about fifty yards distance from each was erected a long low pent-house, facing the curtained door, and having the front open, answering the purpose of a sort of guard-room for a yeoman's party of some twenty green-frocked archers, whose six feet bows and sheaves of clothyard arrows lay ready for immediate service. In the middle of the area before the principal doorway was pitched a mighty staff, the topmast of the ship which had borne the heroic Edward to the land of war and glory and romance, from which was displayed a broad azure banner embroidered with three golden leopards, the cognizance of the royal house of England.

Within, the tent was divided into many separate apartments, the first of which was a large oblong hall, decorated with many shirts of mail, helmets and shields and corslets, hanging from the pillars which supported it. The furniture was scanty, and adapted to the heat of the climate, consisting of many stools, and sofas of canework, and a large table in the centre, round which was collected a group of young gentlemen of birth, esquires and pages to the renowned and gallant prince.

Beyond this was another compartment of the same size, more sumptuously ornamented with silken hangings, and having all the woodwork tastefully carved and gilded, with several mirrors of highly burnished steel, and soft divans surrounding it-the audience chamber of the temporary court; and out of this there opened a small inner room, beyond which was the suite of apartments appropriated to the ladies in the train of Ellenore, the young and beautiful princess, who had insisted on accompanying her youthful lord on this perilous and wild adventure.

The inner room, which has been mentioned, was fitted as a sort of library or study, according to the notions of the day, when some few score of manuscripts were looked upon as an immense and rich collection; for it contained a set of portable

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shelves, supporting some sixteen or eighteen volumes of all sizes, from the minute velvetcovered duodecimo to the gigantic folio, with its rough calfskin binding and its brazen clasps. On either hand this little bookcase there hung from the pillars of the tent a complete suit of knightly armour-one a mail-shirt or hauberk of steel rings curiously intertwisted with hose of the same material to protect the thighs and legs from the knee downward, while the joints and feet were guarded by splints of steel riveted to the mail. This suit had its peculiar helmet, conical in form, and having the avantaille or vizor of an imperfect fashion not wholly covering the face; a hood of mail was attached to it likewise for the safeguard of the neck and shoulders, with gauntlets beautifully wrought in scale, forming a complete panoply, though of a fashion that was already beginning to fall into disuse, as the more perfect coats of plate came gradually into fashion. Of this kind was the other armour. Not yet, however, was it brought to such absolute perfection as is exhibited by the work of later artisans, wherein every limb and joint was secured by plates of polished steel, so flexible in the mode of their attachment each to the other, that they gave full scope to the play of the body, and at the same time so strong and well tempered as to resist the heaviest dint of mace or battle-axe, the sheerest and most cleaving sweep of the two-handed broadsword, to all of which the yielding mail was pervious. This had the cumbrous flat-topped helmet, peculiar to the earlier crusaders, with its vizor covering the whole face, the breastplate and back piece, cuishes and greaves for the legs, and gloves of plate for the hands; but these were only introduced as additions to the chain mail, which formed the basis of the dress. To each panoply was appended a small triangular shield of azure steel, bearing upon it the already famous cognizance of the three leopards passant, while mace and battleaxe, two-handed sword and dudgeon dagger hung beside it, offensive weapons of a weight and size duly proportioned to the strength of the defences. A small round table stood in the centre of the room, with a large manuscript folio on the art of war lying upon it, open, just as it had been left a short time previously by the occupant of the apartment a rude map, such as the best engineers of that early day could lay out only with great toil and application, was stretched out beside it, pretending to elucidate the topography of Palestine, with the Dead Sea, or Lacus Asphaltites, the Sea of Tiberius, the course of the Jordan, and the site of the Holy City, indicated by strange and uncouth devices. A silver standish, with a pen or two, a roll of parchment, a golden crucifix, splendidly chased and jewelled, and a short dagger of Damascus steel, the hilt and sheath of which, covered with emeralds and diamonds, exceeded even the brilliance of that emblem of the blessed faith, to re-establish which in the plains where it was first propagated had cost

already so much lifeblood. Upon a silken couch, under a canopy decked with the armorial bearings of the far seagirt island, reclined a young man, strong and well shaped and handsome, with fire and energy blended with thoughtfulness and mental power in his fine lineaments, but looking somewhat languid and enfeebled by the unhealthy climate, more dreadful far to the stout sons of Western Europe, than the most fearful weapons of their Saracen antagonists. His height was very great, and as he lay at length upon the couch, his lower limbs, though muscular and powerful, seemed almost disproportionately long, although they had not as yet gained for him the soubriquet by which he is known in history. His large gray eye was full of a clear steady light, calm now and meditative, but capable at times of flashing with almost intolerable lustre, when the soul was agitated by those bursts of sudden passion to which his frank and open temper was occasionally liable. His hair, which had been cut short that it might not interfere with the fastenings of his helmet, was of a rich deep auburn, curled closely over all his head, as was the short crisped beard which fringed his sunburnt cheeks, and covered his chin, leaving only a small space bare below the nether lip. His shoulders were extremely broad and muscular, his chest deep and round, and his hands, though well formed and unusually white, large, sinewy and bony. There was not, however, any thing coarse, or ponderous or fleshy in his make, which was spare though large framed, and as well-suited for deeds of agility as for feats of arms. He wore a bonnet of brown silk buttoned with a single pearl of great size and value, which held a tuft of heron's feathers; his surcoat open at the breast, and displaying a plaited shirt of white sendal, slightly embroidered, was of the same hue and material as the cap, faced and lined with deep azure, of which colour were the close fitting hose that covered all his shapely limbs from the hip downward. His girdle of blue velvet with many clasps and bosses of rich goldsmith work set with rare emeralds and brilliants, was evidently of the same pattern with the eastern poniard, which lay on the table, and was the only ornament he wore; his feet were covered for the moment by a pair of Turkish slippers of embroidered velvet, although a pair of fantastic shoes of the day, with their upturned toes, full half a yard in length, twisted like the horns of a ram and gaily gilded, stood close beside the couch upon the matted floor, in readiness, if he should wish to go abroad. On a light chair, not far removed from the Prince's couch, there hung a lady's mantle of rich crimson lined everywhere with cloth of gold and decked with clasps and chainwork of the same costly metal; and on it lay a lute, which had apparently been just laid down, while on the floor were scattered several sheets of written music, not written as is now the case, by musical notation, but by words, or mots, as they were then termed,

signifying sounds, and times, and cadences. But, although from these marks of feminine accomplishment, it would seem that some lady had not long since shared the Prince's chamber, Edward was now alone and buried in deep meditation. He had that very morning received despatches from the dear distant island to the crown of which he was heir apparent--despatches that had aggrieved his spirit, and while they made him grave, and even melancholy, disposed him to thought rather than to action, and sent him to his own private chamber to meditate on the news he had received-news of a weak imbecile king, and that king his father-of turbulent and factious barons, many of them alone richer and mightier than their monarch-of a people harassed and driven into outlawry by the exactions and oppressions of the old feudal law-of tyranny, in short, and factious turbulence, soon to break out into rebellion. The prince's horses had been at the tent door, when the despatches were brought in, with hawks and hounds of the true English breed, and falconers and foresters and huntsmen, for there was at that moment a short truce existing between the Saracen and the crusaders; and, as the hills and dales of Palestine abounded with the wild goat and antelope, the bustard and the partridge, he had intended to exchange the dull limits of his guarded camp, for the free gallop over the lovely plains, with the barb bounding sprightly under him, and the keen falcon at his fist, and the staunch bloodhound running on the track of the wild game before him. Then the despatches came, and, as he broke the seals, a gloomy shadow fell upon his brow, and he dismissed his retinue, and even frowned upon Adam Hartley, his old gray-headed huntsman, who had taught him to ride when a boy, and he remarked half jocularly, half grumblingly, upon the changed mood of his royal master. Retiring instantly, he had remained all the morning buried in deep and gloomy thought; and when his own fair Princess, the beautiful and graceful Ellenore, had come in, lute in hand, to strive if she might not, even as David used to do with Saul, banish the evil spirit from the soul of her beloved by that gentle music to which he best liked to listen, he had replied to her so suddenly and sharply, that she was fain to quit the room in haste, leaving her mantle and her music there, lest he should see the tears which sprung to her bright eyes at his unwonted mood. He did not seem, however, to observe it, but continued buried in dark meditation, reading occasionally from the closely written parchments, and occasionally casting them down, and brooding gloomily over their contents. The noonday meal was served in the knights' hall, as it was called, but Edward had refused briefly to attend it, and so clearly did his chamberlain perceive the distempered mood of the Prince, that he dared not to offer any persuasion or remonstrance, as he would have done under ordinary circumstances. The feast was therefore of unusually brief dura

tion, the ladies of the royal company remaining with their mistress in seclusion, and little merriment and no revelry enlivening the hurried and almost melancholy banquet.

At length, when the dinner had been long ago concluded, and most of those who had partaken it had withdrawn either to their respective duties or to the afternoon siesta, which the intense heat of the climate and the custom of its natives, had introduced among the hardier crusaders of the west, Edward called loudly for his chamberlain; and now it seemed that a part at least of the harshness of his humour had passed over, for he smiled as his officer entered, and said, in a pleasant tone,

"Ha! Wilford, these pestilent despatches have so engaged me all the morning, that I might not dine well until I had digested them, and now, I warrant you, I am a hungered. I pray you bid the pantler bring me a manchet and a cup of wine, so I can hold my stomach until supper."

The gentleman bowed low in answer, leaving the cabinet as he did so, but returned in a few minutes, accompanied by a servant, carrying a flask of Cyprus wine, two or three silver goblets, a manchet, as it was then styled, or flat cake of bread with a few dates and grapes. This done, Wilford addressed the Prince, informing him that Malech the Saracen had been in waiting for some time without, having, as he averred, papers of great importance, and private intelligence from Jerusalem.

"Well! sir, admit him-admit him instantly. Malech, the Saracen spy! I know the fellow very well-a trusty fellow and a useful. Three times hath he brought me true tidings, and never once deceived me."

It seemed for a moment that the chamberlain was about to remonstrate, but Edward saw his hesitation, and speaking very shortly if not sharply, bade him begone and do his bidding!

By St. George," he exclaimed, as the other half reluctantly departed," By St. George! one would think that a single Saracen was a mad dog, so loath are these bullheaded Englishmen to deal with one in private, while in the field they care not for the wildest odds, but charge them soundly home if they be ten to one."

As he ceased speaking, the curtain which closed the entrance of the cabinet was lifted, and the tall form of the stalwart chamberlain was seen, conducting with a watchful eye and his hand on the dudgeon of his broad-pointed dagger, the slight and dusky figure of the spy.

"Ha! Malech, my good fellow," exclaimed the Prince, speaking in the lingua Franca, as the crusaders called it, a species of Patois, or jargon rather, midway between the French and Oriental languages. Right glad am I to see you; for sure I am that you bring us news of coming battle. Speak, man, what have you in your wallet?" The Saracen was, at first sight, as compared with the tall and bulky Europeans, a small slight man; but when you came to examine his figure VOL. XXVII.-7

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and his muscular frame more closely, it was apparent that, although bare of flesh, and reduced in fact to a mere mass of bone and brawn and sinew, he was both powerfully and elastically built. He stood about five feet ten inches high, and was proportionately broad-shouldered and strong-limbed. He wore a crimson turban, perfectly plain, without embroidery or fringe, over a close white skullcap, a close-fitting jacket over a large loose shirt, with falling sleeves of coarse white silk, and muslin pantaloons, all gathered at the waist by a red sash, which, contrary to the usual custom of his people, contained neither poniard, knife nor scimitar, nor any semblance of a weapon.

On entering the chamber, he cast his eyes about him for a moment, with a quick anxious look, but it was only for a moment, and instantly assuming a quiet and even downcast look, he Imade a low obeisance to the Prince after the Oriental fashion.

"I have, most noble Prince," he said, as he arose from the deep genuflexion,-"I have important tidings, and such as in your wisdom you have imagined, shall lead you speedily into the field, where your own valour shall ensure you victory and glory; but," and he glanced a sidelong look toward Wilford, the stout chamberlain, who, half distrustful, as it seemed, of the spy's real errand, kept a close watch upon his every movement, never withdrawing his hand at all from the hilt of his dudgeon dagger.

"My tidings, noble sir," answered the Saracen, are of so grave and dangerous importance that I dare hardly trust them to the air even in your single presence, lest any passing breeze should bear them unto ears, which, should they reach, it would be death to me in tortures inconceivable, and ruin to the schemes which most would benefit your valour. Let him beware who tampers with the councils or divines the thoughts of princes. Birds of the air have spoken, nay not dumb living things alone, but stocks and stones have sometimes spoken to betray the secret traitor. Let my lord therefore pardon his faithful slave, that he may not speak into other ears but those which it alone behoves to hear his tidings." Wilford," said Edward instantly, in whose bold nature doubt or suspicion had no portion, "hearest thou not the man-begone, that he may speak without fear, what he beareth it much concerneth us to know and that fully. I know the fellow very well. Begone then, my good friend, and tarry in the knights' hall, out of earshot."

But Wilford bent his knee to the ground, and obeyed not, but spoke in a low and humble voice, "Noble sir, and my right loyal prince and master, I pray you of your grace, if I have ever served you truly at any times heretofore passed-if I

have ever merited any favour at your hands, pardon me that I leave you not, nor obey you. Surely my ears are as the ears of my Prince, to hear nothing that he would not have me understand, and my lips as his lips to reveal nothing that he would not have made public. Bethink thee, noble sir, how treacherous and false these infidels be ever unto us of the true faith, holding it no reproach, but honourable cunning rather, and good deed to murder under trust, with cord or bowl or dagger, whom they may not even think to cope with in the field."

"Ha! Wilford," exclaimed Edward, "dost thou fear for my safety-mine? and from so slight and base a caitiff, as that frail shivering traitor:" and here it should be mentioned that both the baron and the prince spoke in the Norman French, which still was for the most part used as the court tongue in England, and which they believed utterly beyond the comprehension of the infidel, although it might be doubted by the quick sparkling of his small keen eye, and the scornful smile which curled his thin lip, as the royal warrior spoke so slightingly of his manhood, whether his ignorance was indeed so great as the stout Englishman believed, - Why, man," he added, laughing, "I thought you had too often seen me deal with such craven cattle by scores or even hundreds, to fear to trust me here in my own guarded tent with one poor renegade. Fie! Wilford, fie! your fears do misbecome your judgment and my manhood."

"Were you, fair Prince, but standing in your stirrups, with your proud destrian beneath you, belted as best becomes a knight, with casque on head and spur on heel and that good broadsword in your hand, which clove the soldan of Damascus from silken turban to gilt saddle-bow, right gladly would I trust you with a hundred, right gladly be your godfather in such a championship, and win or fall beside you! At least, at least, my prince, if you will speak with him alone, let me call in the yeomen of your guard and have him searched if he bear no weapon. My life on it, a venomed kanjiar shall be found within his belt, for all he seems so innocent and fenceless!"

"No! Wilford, no! it must not be," Edward replied; "it doubtless would offend him, and he for spite would hide those counsels which I would give a year of life to know. Tush! man, I will be cautious. Thou knowest I can be cautious if I will."

"Not of yourself, my noble Prince," said Wilford," not of yourself I fear me! Yet I implore be so now-think what a loss and shame it would be to England, Europe,-yea! all Christendom,what joy and triumph to the vile paynimrie, if aught should now befall you in the full tide of glory! and think how should we, thy faithful followers, who would die for thee, dare to look England in the face, and thou slain in the midst of us. Nay! nay! fair Prince, wax not wroth with me, nor impatient. I go, and may God keep your highness."

"A very faithful fellow," said Edward to himself, as he departed, "and bold as any lion in his own person, but timid as a girl if but a shadow wave toward me. Now, Saracen," he added, changing the language in which he had spoken hitherto for the lingua Franca, "Now, Malech, speak-what are your tidings?".

The spy, before he answered, unwound the crimson shawl which formed his turban, and, as he untwisted it, produced from the central fold a long strip of white parchment, closely written on both sides, which he handed to the eager prince.

"Read these," he said, "my lord, and then thy slave will speak what there you may not understand."

Edward took the scroll, and so cunningly was the device framed, that it appeared to him at a glance that it related to matters of the most intense interest, and his whole soul was soon engaged in the perusal; still he did not for some little time, entirely neglect the caution of his chamberlain, but raised his eyes once or twice and fixed them with a piercing scrutiny on the quiet and seemingly passionless face of the infidel. Perceiving nothing there to justify the suspicion which he in some sort shared with Wilford, and feeling a sort of half shame that he should find himself fearing or suspecting any thing, after another sidelong look he gave himself entirely up to the subject of his thoughts, and read attentively and without interruption, though at times he had occasion to ask for some little explanation, which was in every case promptly and understandingly given, until he reached the bottom of the first page. Then he once more looked up, and met the eye of the infidel fixed on his face with an expression so bland and calm, and free from the least shade of consciousness or apprehension, that he cast all care to the winds and actually smiled at his own doubts, as he turned the scroll and directed his attention to the rest of its contents. Had he however seen the answering smile which stole across the dark and now speaking features of the Saracen, who had read easily the meaning of Edward's confident calm smile, he would have altered his opinion. But he saw it not, and read on. Apparently, the contents of the scroll became line after line more interesting-the prince's colour came and went, he clenched his right hand and unclenched it rapidly, and even muttered a few words in English to himself, so thoroughly engrossed was he in his high studies, so utterly forgetful that any mortal being stood beside him. Scarce had he read ten lines, however, upon the second side before his false security was fearfully and well-nigh fatally invaded. Freeing by a motion of his right hand, so slight as to be almost imperceptible, a long straight two-edged dagger with a blade waved in the shape of a curling flame or rippling water, from its scabbard within the loose sleeve of his right arm, while it hung down by his side, the infidel collected all the energies of his muscular lithe limbs, drawing himself back

a little and crouching like a tiger for its spring, with his fierce eye upon the bosom of the prince, with a long noiseless and elastic bound he stood beside the couch, and rearing the blade high in air unseen and unsuspected, struck with the whole might of his body at the heart of the fearless reader. An accident alone diverted his sure aim; a casual movement of the prince's arm, which thus received the blow intended for a part more vital. A long and ghastly wound was the result, ripping the flesh clear down to the bone, nearly the whole length from the shoulder to the elbow; the blade rose into air again, now crimsoned with the noble blood, to speed a second and a surer thrust; but, every energy alive, cool and collected, though in the midst of sudden pain and strange surprise, Edward arose to meet him, and, with an iron grasp even of his wounded arm, he seized the wrist of the assassin as he brandished the keen knife on high, and held it there fixed and immovable as though it had been griped by a vice of steel.

"Ha! dog! Ha! traitor," he exclaimed in a voice clear as a trumpet call, feeling at the same time with his right hand for the dagger which should have hung at his own girdle, but finding it not, he struck him one blow on the chest with his clinched hand--one blow that would have felled a bullock. 66 'Ha! by St. George! Die thus!" and under that tremendous blow the whole frame of the infidel shrank palsied, and as it were collapsed, his eyes rolled wildly in their sockets, his lips turned white as ashes, and, hearing footsteps rushing to the door, Edward now flung him off with his whole power, that he reeled blindly backward, while the Prince reached his own dagger from the table, and quietly unsheathing it, stood in an attitude of perfect majesty, awaiting if perchance his enemy could again rally to attack him.

But, while the villain was yet reeling to and fro uncertain whether to fall or no, Wilford rushed in with his long double-edged sword drawn, in his hand, and crying out in his blunt English,

"By God! I knew it would be so! Die, dog!" ran him completely through the body, that he hung for a moment on the blade which transfixed him, until the baron cast him off with a blow of his foot, and rushed forward to assist the Prince. A faint smile played upon the lips of the dying infidel, and he muttered in his own tongue, "It is done-it is finished-God is Great, and Mohammed is his prophet," and with the words he rolled over with his face to the ground, and expired, dauntless and confident that he had won by that awful deed an immortality of bliss and glory. Scarcely had the assassin fallen, and the breath had not as yet left his body, ere Edward, faint from loss of blood, and not that only, but still more from the effects of the poison with

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which the blade of the murderer had been anointed, turned pale as death, and after staggering for a moment fell at full length upon the couch from which he had arisen to do battle for his life, drew a long sob or two, and fell into a swoon.

The outery of the chamberlain soon brought assistance; pages, and squires, and aged knights, came crowding round the bed of their loved Prince, and terror, grief, and consternation occupied all the camp. The leeches, who had examined the wound and succeeded in arresting the flow of blood, pronounced the cut in itself trifling, and scarcely even sufficient to account for the sudden swoon of the stalwart Prince; but at the same time hesitated not to give it as their opinion that poison had been used, and that unless some person could be found who would risk his own life, by sucking the venom from the wound, the life of the young warrior might be considered forfeit. Meanwhile, supposing that a sally of the enemy would be made while the camp might be deemed in confusion, owing to the assassination of the Prince, the veteran knights of the array proceeded to get the host under arms--the wild and pealing clangor of the trumpets, the deep booming of the Norman kettledrum, and the loud shout of Bows and bills! bows and bills! St. George for Merry England!" were blended with the clang of arms and harness, the trampling of barbed chargers, and all the din and dissonance of battle, so dear to those ears that heard not now, nor perceived any mor. tal sound--if ever they should do so any more.

So sure it is that the hardiest and bravest spirits, nursed in the very lap of peril, and accustomed to incur the deadliest dangers of one especial order, will often shrink and tremble at the first encounter of something new and strange-that it was perhaps scarcely to be wondered at, that of the gallant and determined band, who clustered round the bed of their Prince, who would have rushed upon death if he came on the arrow's point or the spear's thrust, who would have bared their brows undauntedly to the dread brunt of mace or battleaxe, all now shrunk back aghast at the idea of drawing from the veins of him--to preserve whose life or crown or honour they would have gladly met death in the field-the poison which in their ignorance they fancied would slay as surely if admitted by the lips, as when mixed with the lifeblood in the vein.

Stranger, perhaps, it was, that one in that array was found to brook the terrors of that imaginary terror; but so it was-the love--the pure, strong, holy love of woman-stronger than death-prevailed o'er woman's terror; and it was doubly sweet to Edward, when life ebbed back to his chilled heart, and sense returned to his disturbed and unstrung mind, to learn that he owed his life to the undaunted faith and more than heroic valour of his own loved and lovely Ellenore.