11J

CHAPTER XIX.
THE CAPTIVE.

T the time when Guy Muschamp was dragged
away as a captive to the camp of the Saracens
at Djedilé, the emir Fakreddin sat in his pavilion.
It was a marvellous tent, in the centre of the camp,
and formed so as to resemble a fortified city, being
divided into streets, flanked with towers, and fur-
nished with everything hkely to contribute to the
luxury of an oriental. In an apartment, ornamented
with gold and gems, the emir sat, face to face with a
dark-browed Saracen chief, and playing at chess. But
the game did not by any means monopolise the atten-
tion of the persons engaged in it; for the companion
of the emir was no less celebrated a person than
Bibars Bendocdar, the chief of the Mamelukes; and
between him and Fakreddin there was much discus-
sion as to the best mode of dealing with the enemies
who menaced the empire with ruin.

And who was Bibars Bendocdar? It is necessary
that we should learn, in order to comprehend the
events that were ere long to startle and terrify the
nations of Christendom.

At the time when Louis, King of France, undertook