CEATIT OF FAKREDDIN 127

the camp was invaded, the emir was in his bath, and
having his beard coloured, after the custom of the
Orientals ; but he immediately roused himself, dressed
himself hastily, and, springing on horseback, en-
deavoured to rally his troops, and attempted to resist.
Inspired by Fakreddin’s example, the Saracens wl'o
had not fled offered a feeble resistance. But it was
unavailing, and they followed the fugitives streaming
towards Mansourah. Fakreddin, however, disdaining
either to fly or yield, continued to struggle bravely ;
until, left almost alone, he fell in the midst of his
foes, covered with wounds, and consoling himself, as
his breath went, that his end was glorious, that he
died a martyr for Islamism, and that he would be
conveyed to the banks of the celestial river.

‘By the head of St. Anthony!’ exclaimed the
Count of Artois, looking fiercely on Fakreddin’s
mangled corpse, ‘it was this emir who boasted that
he would dine in the red tent of my lord the king;
but now he will not grumble at a humbler resting-
place.’

‘My lord count,’ said Salisbury, gravely, ‘the
emir, had he been ten times a Saracen, was a brave
man; and let us merit the praises of the valiant hy
showing that we know how to honour the memory
of our enemies as weli as of our friends.’

‘Amen,’ said both the grand masters, in significant
accents.