258 THE BOY CRUSADERS.

But, be it known to you that. as matters stand, the
Sultan of Damascus has intimated that he will
permit any of the pilgrims to visit Jerusalem. Now,
have you the courage—for courage will be needed—
to enter the Holy City, held as it is by fierce Saracens,
and kneel at the Holy Sepulchre ?’

‘ By Holy Katherine, sir knight!’ exclaimed Walter,
bluntly, ‘ you must hold me excused. Happy, indeed,
should I deem myself in the privilege of kneeling at
the Holy Sepulchre, even at the cost of much labour
and fatigue. But these are not the days of Godfrey
and the Baldwins; and I care not to trust to the tender
mercies of Bibars Bendocdar and his Mameluke myr-
midons. I will not needlessly put my head again
into the lion’s mouth.’

‘And what say you on the point, my gay and
puissant warrior?’ asked Bisset, turning to Guy
Muschamp. |

‘Oh,’ answered Guy, merrily, ‘as says the good
Walter, so say I, neither to Jerusalem nor to Constan-
tinople do I go. I have a father and mother and
kindred at home, whose faces I long to see. Where-
fore, I go to England, and to no other place.’

Walter Espec sighed, as he was in the habit of
doing, at the mention of kindred, and gave himself
up to painful reminiscences.

‘Sir knight,’ said he, addressing Bisset, after a long
silence, ‘deem you that my lost brother can be in the
hands of him who is known as the Old Man of the
Mountains ?’

‘ What!’ exclaimed Bisset, ‘ rearing as an assassin ?
The saints forefend |’