m6 THE BOY CRUSADERS.

mind whether you will be landed on shore, or
stranded in the mud of the banks.’

‘Well,’ replied Joinville, ‘I choose rather to be
run on a mud bank than to be carried ashore, where
even now I sce our people being slaughtered.”

But escape proved impossible. Almost as he
spoke, Joinville perceived four of the sultan’s galleys
making towards his barge; and, giving himself up
for lost, he took a little casket containing his jewels,
and threw it into the Nile. However, it turned out
that, though he could not save his liberty, there was
still a chance of saving his life.

‘My lord,’ said the mariner, ‘ you must permit me
to say you are the king’s cousin; if not, we are as
cood as murdered.’

‘Say what you please,’ replied Joinville.

And now Joinville met with a protector, whose
coming he attributed to the direct interposition of
heaven. ‘It was God,’ says he, ‘who then, asI verilv
believe, sent to my aid a Saracen, who was a subject
of the Emperor of Germany. He wore a pair of
coarse trowsers, and, swimming straight to me, he
came into my vessel and embraced my knees. “ My
lord,” he said, “if youdo not what I shall advise, you
are lost. In order to save yourself, you must leap
into the river, without being observed.” He had a
cord thrown to me, and I leaped into the river,
followed by the Saracen, who saved me, and conducted
me to a galley, wherein were fourteen score of men,
besides those who had boarded my vessel. But this
good Saracen held me fast in his arms.’ |

Shortly after, Joinville with the good Saracens