CROSSING THE ACHMOUN. 137

by the gleaming of spears and the ringing of mail to
a ruined house; and, cantering thither, he found to
his joyful surprise, that the Lord of Joinville and his
knights had taken shelter there, to await the arrival
of the king, who was still engaged in passing the
main body of his army over the Achmoun.

Nor had they long to wait. As with breathless
anxiety they watched the Saracens, swarming like
bees from their hives, and covering the plain, Louis,
having at length crossed the canal, with sound of
trumpets and clarions, rode up at the head of his
cavalry, and, with a German sword in his hand,
halted on an eminence to survey the field. And neither
in air nor appearance did Louis, at that moment,
look unworthy of the part he was acting as chief of
the pilgrim army. His magnificent armour, his
gilded helmet, and his noble bearing, gave him the
appearance of being taller by the shoulders than
any of his companions. As he reined up his white
charger—the symbol of sovereignty—and, with the
oriflamme displayed before him, endeavoured calmly
to estimate the chances of the conflict, the Lord of
Joinville and his knights, surrounded as they were
with danger, could not but utter exclamations ex-
pressive of admiration.

‘By St. James,’ exclaimed Joinville, ‘I never in
my life saw a more handsome man under arms.’

‘Certes,’ replied one of the knights, ‘I could
almost believe that the angel of battles had come to
our aid.’ :

While the king was still surveying the combat, that
every moment became more fierce and sanguinary,