There shouldst thou see several of the fairest beauties of France and Britain form a small circle, the brilliancy of which exceeds ten-thousandfold the lustre of mines of diamonds such as thine." "Now, by the corner-stone of the Caaba!" said the Saracen, "I will accept thy invitation as freely as it is given, if thou wilt postpone thy present intent; and, credit me, brave Nazarene, it were better for thyself to turn back thy horse's head towards the camp of thy people, for to travel towards Jerusalem without a passport is but a wilful casting-away of thy life." "I have a pass," answered the Knight, producing a parchment, "Under Saladin's hand and signet." The Saracen bent his head to the dust as he recognized the seal and handwriting of the renowned Soldan of Egypt and Syria; and having kissed the paper with profound respect, he pressed it to his forehead, then returned it to the Christian, saying, "Rash Frank, thou hast sinned against thine own blood and mine, for not showing this to me when we met." "You came with levelled spear," said the Knight.

"Had a troop of Saracens so assailed me, it might have stood with my honour to have shown the Soldan's pass, but never to one man." "And yet one man," said the Saracen haughtily, "was enough to interrupt your journey." "True, brave Moslem," replied the Christian; "but there are few such as thou art.

Such falcons fly not in flocks; or, if they do, they pounce not in numbers upon one." "Thou dost us but justice," said the Saracen, evidently gratified by the compliment, as he had been touched by the implied scorn of the European's previous boast; "from us thou shouldst have had no wrong.

But well was it for me that I failed to slay thee, with the safeguard of the king of kings upon thy person.

Certain it were, that the cord or the sabre had justly avenged such guilt." "I am glad to hear that its influence shall be availing to me," said the Knight; "for I have heard that the road is infested with robber-tribes, who regard nothing in comparison of an opportunity of plunder." "The truth has been told to thee, brave Christian," said the Saracen; "but I swear to thee, by the turban of the Prophet, that shouldst thou miscarry in any haunt of such villains, I will myself undertake thy revenge with five thousand horse.