Boy Crusaders: A Story of the Days of Louis IX.

by John Henry Goldfrap

  CHAPTER XXXVII.

  A RECOGNITION.

  WHEN the Templar and the English knight left the lodgings that had beenassigned to them in the palace of Bagdad to enter the presence of thecaliph, and were honoured with the audience described, Walter Espec,excited by the novelty of his situation, thinking of his lost brother,and bearing in mind that he had a mission to accomplish, strolled,heedless of rules or regulations, into the garden of the palace, andtook his way along one of the walks, set in mosaic-coloured pebbles,towards the kiosk. He had not proceeded far, however, when he perceived,coming from the opposite direction, six youths, apparently about his ownage. All were so fettered as to be impeded in their walking, and seemedto be under the charge of an aged Saracen, who, in his turban andflowing robes, looked a most venerable personage.

  'Christian captives, as I live,' muttered Walter, compassionately.

  Of the six youths, five paced moodily along, with their eyes bent sadlyon the ground; the sixth neither seemed sad, nor had his eyes bent onthe ground, but held his head aloft with the air of one whomcircumstances could not depress; and Walter felt his heart beat and hisbrain whirl, and stopped suddenly, with an exclamation of surprise, asin this youth he recognised an old acquaintance.

  Immediately it appeared that the recognition was mutual. Indeed, thecaptive no sooner observed Walter than, disregarding the remonstrancesof the old Saracen, and forgetful for the moment of his chains, he brokeaway from his companions, and hobbling, not without danger of a fall,fairly flung himself into the Boy Crusader's arms.

  'Oh, good Walter,' exclaimed he, 'what a surprise! The idea of yourbeing here, and at a time when they are threatening to put me to deathbecause I will not embrace the filthy religion of their false prophet.But, thanks to our lady the Virgin, I now feel that I am saved.'

  'In truth, brave Guy,' replied Walter, much affected, 'you are saved, ifmy efforts can save you. I have mourned for you as for one dead; and Iswear by holy Katherine, who hath preserved me miraculously throughmanifold dangers, that if I fail I remain to share your fate, for wealor for woe. But how came you hither?'

  'By St. John of Beverley,' answered Guy, 'not with my own goodwill, asyou may swear on the Evangelists. I was dragged out of the galley of theLord of Joinville, and, with my hands chained behind my back, I was, inthat base, unworthy plight, led captive to Cairo; and, when theMamelukes killed their sultan, and the sultana, that dark-eyed woman,who outdoes Jezebel in wickedness, wished to propitiate the caliph, shesent me and five other Christian prisoners whom you see as apeace-offering. And so,' added Guy, looking down at his fetters, 'hereyou see me, an Anglo-Norman gentleman, of great name, in captivity andchains, and threatened with a cruel death; which, however, I would fainescape; for, tempting as may be the prospect of the crown of martyrdom,beshrew me, good Walter, if at my age I deem not life too sweet to partwith willingly.'

  And in spite of his fetters and his perilous plight, Guy looked asblithe and gay as he was wont to do in the tiltyard of the castle ofWark.

  'By the Holy Cross,' said Walter, gravely, 'I cannot pretend to makelight of the business; and yet I am not without hope; for a Templar, andBisset, the stout knight whom I now serve, have come from the good KingLouis as ambassadors to the caliph, and they will not fail you. Butcredit this, at least, that if the worst comes to the worst I willremain in this place, and not leave it--save in your company--tide whatmay.'

  Guy was about to protest against Walter sacrificing himself tofriendship; but further conversation was prevented by the approach ofthe aged Saracen; and Guy, however reluctant, was fain to rejoin thecompanions of his captivity. Walter, however, followed their steps, andwatched their movements, till they disappeared in a door contiguous tothat part of the palace in which the ambassadors were lodged with theirtrain. But, warned by Beltran, the renegade, that it would be prudentto confine himself to the quarters assigned, he returned to hislodgings, and there, musing over this unexpected meeting with hisbrother-in-arms, awaited Bisset's return.

  At length the English knight appeared. But he did not seem quitehimself. The frank and joyous expression which characterised him haddeserted his countenance, and he looked a changed man. Haughty sternnesssat on his brow; his eye-brows were elevated; his eye glanced flame; hisnostrils breathed fire; and he clenched and opened his hand excitedly,as if contemplating some ruthless deed, as he strode into the apartmentand seized Walter's arm.

  'Sir knight,' said Walter, amazed, and almost terrified, 'what aileththee?'

  'By the might of Mary!' exclaimed the knight hurriedly and sternly, 'Ihave seen a sight that has roused all the Norman within me, and made methirst for gold and pant for conquest.'

  'And what of the caliph?' asked Walter.

  'Tush,' answered the knight, contemptuously. 'This caliph is nobody,save as master of this palace and city, and the treasure they contain.By my father's soul! the caitiff wretch is rolling in wealth. May thesaints grant me patience to think of it calmly! The very throne of goldon which he sits would, if coined into money, furnish forth an army,capable, under a skilful and daring leader, of conquering kingdoms. Oh,for five hundred brave men in mail, and the cross on their shoulders! Bythe bones of Becket, I should, ere morning, be lord of all;' and,torturing himself with the idea of such a prize escaping his grasp,Bisset sunk into silence, and indulged in reflection.

  'Sir knight,' said Walter, after a long pause, 'I have made a strangediscovery. Guy Muschamp, the English squire, my brother-in-arms, is acaptive in this palace, and in danger of death, because he will notabandon his faith as a Christian. I have seen him; I have spoken withhim; I implore you to obtain his release; for,' added Walter, with tearsin his eyes, 'I must tell you frankly, that otherwise I must remain toshare his fate.'

  'Fear not, boy,' said Bisset, touched with the squire's emotion; 'I willsee to his being ransomed. In truth, I hardly think there will be muchdifficulty; for this caliph is a miser--a mean, detestable miser--andwould sell anything for bezants--even his soul, if he had not alreadypawned it to Satan, through his brokers Mahound and Termagaunt.' And,too much occupied with his dream of seizing Bagdad, and carving out akingdom with his sword, the knight relapsed into silence, and scarcelymoved till evening fell.

  It was just after sunset, and Bisset was rapt in thought, and WalterEspec perplexing his soul about Guy Muschamp, when suddenly they werearoused by the voice of the Muezzin, who, according to the custom of theSaracens, standing on the minaret of a mosque hard by, solemnlyproclaimed three times--'There is but one God, and Mahomet is hisprophet.'

  Walter sprang up, quivering with pious horror, and hastily crossedhimself.

  'Sir knight,' said he, earnestly, 'I feel that this place is unholy.'

  'Mayhap, boy,' replied the knight. 'But patter your prayers, and no evilwill come nigh you. For the rest, Bagdad would be holy enough were thewalls and towers manned by Christian warriors, and the mosques convertedinto churches, and I king, with the caliph's treasures to go forthagainst the Moslem, conquering and to conquer. Oh, credit me, it is aglorious vision. But it cannot be realised. Marry, I spoke too trulywhen I said that I was born without luck on my side.'

  Night fell; the moon rose; and the Crusaders, after for a time lookingout upon innumerable stars, glorious in the blue depths of an Asian sky,saw to the comfort and security of their attendants, and then stretchedthemselves to rest--Walter laying himself down at the door of thechamber which Bisset occupied. In spite of the knight's agitation andthe squire's anxiety, both soon sank into sleep. But their repose wasdestined to be broken. About daybreak they were awakened by cries andtumult, that filled the palace of the caliph. Gradually, the noiseincreased, and was blended with strange cries, as of warriors stormingthe city. Bisset and Walter listened with breathless attention, as yellafter yell, and whoop after whoop, intimated that some terriblecatastrophe had occurred; and as they hearkened, the Templar, who hadoccupied an adjoining apartment, rushed in, calm, but pale as a ghost.

  'Gentlemen,' said he, 'we are de
ad men.'