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CHAPTER XXVI.
THE MASSACRE OF MINIEH.

T was already dark when the pilgrim army com-

menced a perilous retreat to Damietta, and when

the King of France, surrounded by a band of brave

knights, undertook the duty of bringing up the rear
—on that occasion the post of honour.

But Louis was in no condition to occupy such a
position with advantage. He was not fully recovered
from his sickness, and so weak, that he could hardly
. bear the weight of his armour, or support himself on
his white charger. Neither helmet nor cuirass wore
he; nor had he any weapon save hissword; nor had
he sufficient strength to wield his sword to any
purpose in the event of a close encounter,

And, as it happened, the post of honour speedily
became the post of danger. As Bisset had predicted,
the Saracens lost not a minute in availing themselves
of the bridge that had been left standing. In an
incredibly brief space of time, they contrived to cross
the canal in such numbers, that the plain on the
Damietta side was covered with turbaned war-
riors, bent on the destruction of their foes; and, in
the darkness of the night, their cavalry charged

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