226 THE BOY CRUSADERS.

Espec, now, at length, hopeful of ascertaining some-
thing about his brother’s fate. |

It was not without encountering considerable dan-
ger, and having to endure much fatigue, that the
Templar and the English knight, under the guidance
of Beltran the renegade, who had opportunely ap-
peared at Acre, and whom Bisset had pressed into
‘he service, traversed the country; and, after many
days’ travel, drew nigh to the capital of the caliphate,
which had been built, in the eighth century, by Al
Mansour, one of the Abasside caliphs, out of the
ruins of Ctesiphon, and afterwards enlarged and
adorned by Haroun Alraschid, the great — of his
dynasty.

But the journey had not been without its novelty
and excitement; and Walter Espec was riding by the
side of Beltran the renegade, towards whom, in spite
of his prejudices as a Crusader, he felt the gratitude ’
due to a man who had saved his life, when he was
cut down at Mansourah. At present he was much
interested with the account given by the renegade of
the ostriches or camel- birds, and eager to learn how
they were hunted.

‘And so, good Beltran,’ said he, ‘ you have actually
hunted this bird, whose height is gigantic, whose cry
at a distance resembles the lion’s, and which is to be
found in parched and desolate tracts, deserted even
by antelopes and beasts of prey.’

‘In truth have I,’ replied Beltran.

‘I envy you,’ said Walter; ‘nothing would please
me more than such an enterprise.’ :

‘ Nevertheless,’ rejoined the renegade, ‘it is some-