The Shasta courier., 1868-04-18
COURIER.
THE CAPTIVE,s FLIGHT.
A Tale of the Crusades.
BY JAMES DE MILE.

BY JAMES DE MILE.
1t was midday in Syria. The day was
sultry and oppressive. Not a breath of
wind moved along the sandy solitude where
no tree offered a welcome shade. The sterile
and barren desert spread around on every
side-all desolate. all burning in the hot
rays of the. There were no fountains, no
trees, nothing to be seen except the plain
of sand, save where in the distance a long
life of gloomy and rugged rocks arose.
Through the frightful desert travelled
Christian knight. All day he had gone on,
the sun sending down its fiercest rays upon
his helmeted head and glittering and polish
ed armor. Faint and weary he went on, and
as he neared the gloomy but grateful rocks
a thrill of joy passed through his bosom.
g Ha!" he exclaimed as toward evening
he entered the shadow of a lofty PERCEPTIONS
height, g hereis grateful place for rest
II re l may dsmount and refresh myself
and wearied steed. But first let re find
some spring where my horse and l may
obtain draught Of WATER
So saving, he went on more slowly than
before. 1t was well be had reached this
place of rest. His horse trembled with utter
fatigue. and seemed able scarcely to stand.
The knight himself felt exhausted, and
his iron frame was almost broken down by
the labors of the day.
AT length he found spring which gushed
muscally from one of the rocks down into a
pool below. Here he dismounted, and rider
and horse both rushed eagerly to the water
The knight drank long and heartily.
9 Praised be our holy virgin ~ he
exclaimed brushing away the drops of water
which clung to his mustachp. - Praised
and forever blessed be saint
" Ho, Christian ~ suddenly exclaimed
voice behind him in Arabic, Surrender"
The knight turned swiftly around, drawing
his sword as he did so.
Before him was Saracen knight dressed
in chain armor, mounted on light Arabian
steed
Surrender Sir Christian -
Who art thou, who burst call on me to
surrender?'
Il am Hamet, Governor of Acre, well
known in the camp of Suladin
" And Count Roland De Courcv, de-
spise thee for infdel and a base heathen p
cried the Christian. lifting his sword so
come on, thou on horse, and | on foot.
will fight thee God defend the right!"
Fool - cried the Saracen, dost thou
think am alone as thou art? See p
lie blew silver trumpet which hung by
his side. AT the sound IA number of followers
came riding one after the other from the
clefts and defles of the surrounding rocks.
Wilt thou fight now? Yield, Chris
tan ~
De Courcey stood for moment and look
ed around. As many as hundred men
were there before him. How could he fight
against such odds?
lie flung down his sword.
. am your prisoner, but Hamet, if
thou burst, | will fight thee for my freedom" +"
The Saracen smiled sarcastically.
No, no, Sir Christian | wish not to
kill thee. Soldiers. give him another horse.
fr his is weary. Form around him, and
let us 60"
His followers obeyed. With the captive
Knight in their midst they departed
- Where art thou taking me-" said De
Courcy to Hamet
forth be thy home.'i
= Boast not thyself too greatly. NAV he
freed from thy hand"
And the troops disappeared The next
morning De Courcy was brought into Acre.
The palace of Hamlet lay little way out
of town upon gentle eminence facing the
sea. 1t was a magnificent edifice built in
the luxurious style of Saracens. Among
the many places around it was a titing ward
built for the purpose of enjoying that chival,
rous sport which the Moslem loved as we'll as
the Christian.
De Courcy was made a slave He was
allowed the freedom of the grounds and
house, but 1t was impossible for him to escape
for wherever he went he knew he was
watched Yet his situation was not so mis-
cradle as might be conceived. Among the
maidens who dwelt in IIamet's palace the
most beautiful was his peerless daughter
Donnah. She it was. who, upon his arrival.
had pitied him, and saved him from dun
geon. She it was whose dark eye would
sometimes rest upon him with an expression
which made his youthful heart throb with
unaecustomed violence
%, had but my freedom and my gallant
men behind me, how eagerly would | force
my way even into the middle of Hamets
hold to win the lovely Donnah''
Thus thought the captive knight
A tournament The proclamation went
round and tidings spread far and wide that
flamet was going to prepare a tournament
which, for splendor and magnifcence could
not he surpassed.
My father, said Donnah, D." Where will
your knights come from ?''
Where? From my own brave troops. and
from Acre where some of the bravest of the
faithful dwell"
g And wilt thou have Moslem only p"
Yes. Would venture to let the faith.
less Christian approach here? No, by
Allah ~
But there are Christian captives who
were once soldiers"
"Well?"
They can yet WELD the spear and take
part in the tournament"
Well said"
If they are killed let them die-they are
only Christians, but if they are victorious let
them be Free"