78 THE BOY CRUSADERS. 4

Joinville and Baldwin of Rheims rendercd their
comrades good service. Hastily closing their ranks,
they contrived not only to stay the rush, but to
present so impenetrable a front, that the Saracens
retired baffled to prepare for a fresh spring.

And again, with an enthusiastic energy which
would have struck terror into antagonists less bold,
the Saracens under Fakreddin charged down upon
the Crusaders; and then began, all along the coast,
a confused conflict which raged for hours—Chris-
tian and Moslem fighting hand to hand; while the
two fleets engaged at the mouth of the Nile; and
the Queen of France and the Countess of Anjou,
and other ladies of high rank, who remained on
board at a distance, awaited the issue of the contest
with terrible anxiety, and, with priests around them,
sang psalms and prayed fervently for the aid and
protection of the God of battles. At length the con-
flict came to an end. Both on the water and on the
land the Crusaders were victorious. The Saracen fleet,
alter getting decidedly the worst of the combat,
escaped up the Nile; and the Saracen soldiers, beaten
and dispersed, retired precipitately, and flying in
contusion towards Damietta, abandoned their camp,
and leit several of their emirs dead on the field.

After witnessing the flight of the Saracens, Louis
ordered his pavilion, which was of bright scarlet, to
be pitched on the ground where he had conquered,
and caused the clergy to sing the Te Deum. The
Crusaders then set up their tents around that of the
king, and passed the night in rejoicing over the.
victory they had won.