THE FAITH OF THE AGED SARACEN. 247

‘in the name of God, save me!’

‘Save you, Saracen!’ said Bisset. ‘On my faith, I
cannot but think that the man will do well this day
who saves himself,’

‘ But,’ asked the Saracen, ‘do you not believe in a
God, born of a woman, who was crucified for the salva-
tion of the human race, and rose again the third day?’

‘ Assuredly, Saracen,’ replied Bisset, regarding his
questioner with a curious eye: ‘as certainly as I be-
lieve that I am now in the palace of the caliph, and
in greater danger than I pretend to relish.’

‘In that case,’ said the Saracen, ‘ place your hopes
in your God; for, if he was able to recall himself to
life, he will not want the power to deliver you from
the evils that now threaten you.’

‘On my faith,’ replied Bisset, a little surprised,
‘I must say that you speak the words of wisdom
were you twenty times an infidel; and, for my own
part, I would fain hope that God and the saints,
especially good St. George, will befriend us in our
jeopardy.’

Meanwhile the noise and tumult caused by the
Tartars, as they forced their way into Bagdad, drew
nearer, and shouts and shrieks were heard, which
left no doubt that they had entered the palace.
Bisset thereupon, grasping his battle-axe, took his
post. on one side of the door: the Templar, sword
in hand, stationed himself on the other. Neither
spoke, and such was the silence of those who were
likely to share their fate, that a pin might have
been heard to drop. But though the carnage was
going on around them, they were left undisturbed ;