188 THE BOY CRUSADERS.

earnestly, ‘but rather tell me, since, if I understand
aright, I owe my lite to you—how am [I ever suffi-
ciently to prove my gratitude ?’

‘Ah, sir squire,’ replied she, ‘ you err in supposing
the debt to be on your side. It is I who owe-you a
life, and not you who owe a life to me; and,’ added
she, struggling to repress tears, ‘my heart fills when
I remember how you did for me, albeit a stranger,
what, under the circumstances, no other being on
earth would have ventured to do.’

‘By Holy Katherine, noble demoiselle,’ said Walter,
wondering at her words; ‘I should in truth deem it
a high honour to have rendered such as you any
service. But that is a merit which I cannot claim;
for, until this hour, unless my memory deceives me,
I never saw your face.’

The countenance of the girl evinced disappointment,
and the tears started to her eyes.

‘Ah, sir, sir,’ said she, with agitation; ‘I am she
whom, on the coast of Cyprus, you saved from the
waves of the sea.’ }

Walter’s heart beat rather quick as he learned that
it was Adeline de Brienne who stood before him; for,
though her very face was unknown to him, her name
had strangely mixed up with many of his day-dreams ;
and it was not without confusion that, after a pause,
he continued the conversation.

‘Pardon my ignorance, noble demoiselle,’ said he,
‘and vouchsate, I pray you, to inform me where I
now am; for I own to you that I am somewhat
perplexed.’

‘You are in Damietia.’