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Lecause they have lost a handful of men. Let us,
therefcre, return to the king, that we ey, be
strenothened by his counsel ail aid.’

‘In truth,’ said the Grand Master of the Hospital,
‘we should be foolhardy to attempt aught rashly.
We are in a strange country; and our best instructors
are behind. Let us stay for our lantern and not go
forward in the dark.’

‘Ah? exclaimed the Count of Artois, swelling with
pride and anger, ‘this is ever the way with military
monks. But for the treachery of the Templars, and
the sedition of the Hospitallers, the Holy Land
would long since have been won.’

‘Noble count,’ said the Grand Master of the
Temple, reproachfully, ‘you do us grievous wrong,
Why should we take the habit of religion, and pass
our lives in a foreign land amid perils and fatigues ?
Is it, think you, to overthrow the Church and betray
the cause of Christ, that we abandon our homes
and kindred? However,’ added the Grand Master,
waxing wroth, ‘let us forward, in God’s name, and
try all together the fortunes of battle. Standard-
bearer, unfurl the banner of the Temple. Ha!
Beau-séant! Beau-séant !’

At this moment the Earl of Salisbury made an
effort to save his comrades from the destruction
on which they were about to rush.

‘My lord,’ said he, addressing the Count of Artois,
‘I implore you to listen to the wholesome counsel of
the grand masters. They have been long in this
country, and learned by experience the craft as well
as the strength of our foes. We, being strangers,