CHAPTER XXIV.

THE FIRST FRIDAY IN LENT.

N the day when the city of Mansourah witnessed

the carnage of the Crusaders under the Count

of Artois, and a great battle shook the plain outside

the walls, the Egyptians experienced by turns fear
and hope, joy and sadness.

On the morning when the camp at Djédilé was
taken, and the Emir Fakreddin slain, a pigeon
carried intelligence of the disaster to Cairo; and
the Egyptian capital was immediately in conster-
nation. Believing that the days of Islamism were
numbered, and the empire of the sultan on the
verge of ruin, the inhabitants thought of nothing
but escape from the danger that impended. Many
departed for Upper Egypt, and sorrow reigned in
the city—the inhabitants bewailing their misfortunes,
and crying that the world was coming to anend. A -
second pigeon, however, carried thither tidings that
the Count of Artois was defeated and slain; and
Cairo became the scene of joy and rejoicing. Fear
vanished from every face; and the Saracens grate-
fully extolled the courage of the Mamelukes, and of
their chief, Bibars Bendocdar. :