The San Francisco call., 1905-01-29

6diA "a hiAlli lAlC ISSUE O6 AIlOWA
Now followed a great silence, for all
there knew that the words were fate
full, in the midst of which Count Ray
mond said:
Nay, / go with you," while Goodwin
echoed, And we go also to show
whether or not we are the spies Of Sal
adm"
Of these speeches none of them
seemed to take heed, for all were lost
In their own thoughts. One by one they
rose, bowed to the King. and left the
tent to give their commands and rest
awhile before it was time to ride. God
win and Wulf went also. and with
them the Bishop Of Nazareth, VINO
wrung his hands and seemed III at
ease. But Wulf comforted him, say
ing:
"Grieve no more. father; let US think
Of the joy Of battle. not OF the sorrow
by which it may be followed"
'I find no joy In battles" answered
the holy Egbert.
When they had slept awhile. Goodwin
and Wulf rose and fed their norses.
After they had washed and groomed
them, they tested and did on their
armor, then took them down to the
spring to drink their fill, as their mas
ters did. Also Wulf, who was cum
ming in war, brought with him four
large wineskins which he had provided
against this hour. and filling them
with pure water, fastened two or
them with throngs behind the saddle
of Goodwin and two behind his own.
Further he filled the water bottles at
their saddle bows. saying:
''At least we will be among the last
to die Of thirst"
the host break its camp, which 1t did
with no light heart. for many of them
knew Of the danger in which they
stood; moreover, the tale Of Godwin's
vision had been spread abroad. Not
knowing where to go. they and Eg-
bert, the Bishop of NaZareth-who was
unarmed and rode upon a mule, for
stay behind he would not-joined
themselves to the great BODY or
knights who had followed the King. AS
they did so, the Templars, five hun
dred strong, came UP, a fierce and
gallant band, and the Master, who was
at their head, saw the brethren and
called out, pointing to the wineskins
which were hung behind their sad
dies:
what do these water carriers here
God alone?"
Wulf would have answered. but
Goodwin bade him be silent, saying:
Fall back: we will find less ILL
omened company"
So they stood on one side and
bowed themselves as the cross went
by, guarded by the mailed Bishop OF
Acre. Then came Reginald of Chan
tillon, Saladin's enemy, the cause or
all this woe, who saw them and cried:
"Sir knights, whatever they may
say, / know you for brave men, for
have heard the tale of your doings
among the Assassins. There is room
for you among my suite-follow me"
LAS we'll him as another" said
Goodwin. Let us go where we are
led" So they followed him.
BY the time that the army reached
Kenna. where once the water was
made wine, the July sun was already
hot and the spring was so soon drunk
dry that many men could get no wa
ter. On they pushed into the desert
lands below, which lay between them
and Tiberias, and were bordered
on the right and left. by hills. Now
clouds of dust were seen moving
across the plains and in the heart of
them bodies of Saracen horsemen,
which continually attacked the van
guard under Count Raymond and as
continually retreated before they
could be crushed, Staying many with
their spears and arrows. Also these
came round behind them and charged
IL
Templars and the light armed troops
named Turcopoles and the band of
Reginald Chantillon, with which rode
the brethren.
From noon till near sundown the
long harassed line, broken now into
fragments, struggled forward across
the rough, stony plain, the burning
heat beating upon their armor till the
air danced around it as it does before
a fire. Toward evening men and
horses became exhausted and the SOL
diers cried to their captains to lead
them to water. But in that place
there was no water.
The rearguard fell behind. worn out
with constant attacks that must be re-
PEELED in the burning heat, so that
there was a great gap between it and
the King, who marched in the center.
Messages reached them to push on, but
they could not, and at length camp was
pitched in the desert near place called
Marescalcia, and upon this camp Ray
mond and his vanguard were forced
back AS Goodwin and Wulf rode up,
they saw him come in bringing his
wounded with him, and heard him pray
the King to push on and at all hazards
to cut his way through to the lake,
where they might drink-aye, and
heard the King say that he could not,
since the soldiers would march no more
that day. Then Raymond wrung his
hands in despair and rode back to his
men, crying aloud:
ALAS alas! Lord God, alas, We
are dead, and thy kingdom is. lost"
That night none slept, for all were
athirst, and who can sleep with burn
ing throat? Now also Goodwin and
Wulf were no longer laughed at be-
cause of the water skins they carried
on their horses. Rather did great no
bles come to them, and almost ON their
knees crave for the boon of single
cup. Having watered their horses
sparingly from a bowl they gave what
they could, till at length only two skins
remained, and one Of these was split
by a thief, who crept up and slashed
it with his knife that he might drink
while the water ran to waste. After
this the brethren drew their swords
and watched, swearing that they would
kill any man who so much as touched
the skin which was left.
All that long night through there
arose a confused Glamour from the
camp. of which the burden seemed to
be, "Wateri Give us wateri" while
from without came the shouts of the
Saracens calling upon Allah. Here,
too, the hot ground was covered with
scrub dried to tinder by the summer
drought, and to this the Saracens set
fire so that the smoke rolled down on
the Christian host and choked them,