126 THE BOY CRUSADERS,

but the count persisted; and, promising to wait
with patience on the opposite bank for the main
army, he placed himself at the head of the van,
which was formed of the Templars, tle Hospitallers,
and the English Crusaders, and dashed into the
canal. ;

Now, at this moment the opposite bank was occu-
pied by several hundred Saracen horsemen, who
seemed prepared to oppose the landing of the Cru-
saders. No sooner, however, did the Saracens per-
ceive that the Crusaders were fording the canal
safely than they gave way, and fled towards the
camp of the Emir Fakreddin at Djedilé.

It was then that, in spite of all the warnings he
had received and all the promises he had made, the
Count of Artois gave way to the impetuosity that
was destined to lead to the ruin of the pilgrim army.
At the sight of the flying Saracens, he threw all
discretion to the winds, and, attended by his
governor, an old deaf knight, who held his rein,
pursued the fugitives towards the camp. In vain
the Grand Masters of the Temple and the Hospital
shouted out remonstrances. The count paid no
attention whatever; and the aged knight, who was
too deaf to hear a word, urged on the pursuit, cry-
ing loudly, ‘Hurrah! hurrah! Upon them! upon
them !’

I'he Saracens who occupied. the camp at Djedilé
were panic-stricken; and, supposing that the whole
French army was upon them, fled in confusion
towards Mansourah. But there was one man who
did not fly; and that man was Fakreddin. When