244 THE BOY CRUSADERS.

And no time was wasted. In fact, Oulagon had
no motive for sparing the seat of the caliphate; and
no sooner did he get the six score of Musteazem’s
chief men into his hands, than he ordered them to be
beheaded, and prepared for an attack. Nor, as he
rightly anticipated, was there much danger of an
obstinate resistance. In fact, not only was the city
undefended by any regular force: it was’ divided
against itself. The citizens were formed into various
sects, all at daggers drawn, and much more earnest
in their conflicts with each other than in resolution
to repulse assailants.

It was early morning when the inhabitants of
Bagdad were aroused from their slumbers with loud
shouts of alarm, and cries that the Tartars were upon
them. Resistance was vain; and equally vain was any
hope of mercy. Having set up his machines of war,
Oulagon gave the word of command, and the Tartars
rushed to the assault with all the ferocity of their
nature. Entering the city sword in hand, Oulagon
gave it up to the fury of his soldiers. Carnage, and
all the horrors of war, followed; the gutters ran with
blood; and the caliph who, a few hours earlier, deemed
his person so sacred that he would not even consent
to touch the hand of a Frank, experienced such
rough treatment that he shrunk and shuddered and
sickened.

Oulagon, however, was in no mood to respect the
person of the head of the Moslem religion, No
allegiance did the grim Tartar owe to the heir of
Mahomet. Having seized Musteazem in his palace,
Oulagon, after severely reproaching him with medi-