BRAVERY OF THE FOUR SURVIVORS. 135

‘Shame upon usif we hesitate !” said Walter Espec.

And drawing close together, with a rush which
for a time bore down opposition, the four survivors
made a stern endeavour to reach the gate,—the axe
of Bisset and the swords of the military monks
doing terrible execution. Twice the Saracens formed
in a mass to prevent their reaching the only gate
which was not closed; as often Bisset, penetrating
singly into the Saracen ranks, dealt death and de-
struction to his foes, and opened the way for his
friends; till gradually, having by force of arm over-
thrown every obstacle in his path, he reached the
gate, and, followed by the Grand Master of the
Temple, dashed through the opening, with a shout
of defiance at his assailants.

But the Grand Master of the Hospital and Walter
I’spec had not such good fortune as the Templar
and the English knight. Bibars Bendocdar, enraged
at the rumour that some Christians were escaping
from the carnage, hastened to the open gate, and,
with his arrival, every chance vanished. Dragged
from his steed, the grand master was fain to sur-
render himself prisoner. Wounded by an arrow and
a javelin, but still struggling to fight his way out,
Walter spec cut down a Saracen soldier, and, rising
in his stirrups and shouting, ‘St. Katherine for
Espec!’ made a fierce thrust at Bendocdar. But next
moment he was felled to the ground; he felt that
his blood was flowing fast, and that horsemen were
riding over him; and then he lost all consciousness,
and lay prostrate and insensible among the dead and
the dying.