FACE TO FACE.
WHILE the Crusaders were preparing to leave Damietta, march up the Nile,
and attack Cairo, Melikul Salih, after struggling desperately with the
great destroyer, yielded to his fate, and breathed his last at
Mansourah. The death of the sultan was regarded by the emirs as most
untimely; for his son, Touran Chah, was then in Mesopotamia, and they
were apprehensive of the most serious troubles. At this crisis, however,
a woman, whose great ability enabled her to comprehend the emergency and
to deal with it, suggested measures for averting the ruin with which the
empire of Egypt was menaced.
Her name was Chegger Eddour, and she is said to have been an Armenian.
She had originally been brought to Cairo as merchandise, and purchased
by Melikul Salih as a slave. But her wit and beauty won the sultan's
heart, and he became so enamoured that he elevated her to the position
of favourite sultana, and carried her about with him wherever he went.
One son whom she had by the sultan died young. Nevertheless her
influence daily increased; and the Arabian historians, while eloquent
in praise of her courage, agree in saying, that 'no woman surpassed her
in beauty, and no man excelled her in genius.'
No sooner did Melikul Salih depart this life, than Chegger Eddour
assembled the principal emirs at Mansourah, and made them acknowledge
Touran Chah as sultan. Moreover, she impressed upon them the necessity
of concealing the death of her husband till the arrival of his
successor. The policy she recommended was adopted. Orders were still
issued in Melikul Salih's name; the Mamelukes still guarded the gates of
the palace as if he had been living; and prayers for his recovery were
still offered up in the mosques, where the Moslems worshipped. All these
precautions, which were the work of the sultana, were skilfully taken,
and for a time the Saracens hoped that Melikul Salih might yet recover
from his malady, and save them from the foe by whom they were
threatened.
Ere long, however, suspicion was aroused, and it became more and more
difficult to conceal the truth. Of itself this was sufficient to create
consternation; but, at the same time, rumour brought to Mansourah
intelligence that the French, having left Damietta, and marched in
hostile array along the banks of the Nile, had reached Pharescour; and
the approach of the Crusaders converted the consternation into panic,
which rapidly extended its influence to Cairo. Every cheek grew pale;
and the Egyptians exhibited such anxiety and terror as had never before
been felt in their cities.
At this crisis, Fakreddin, to whom the sultana had entrusted the command
of the Egyptian army, took measures to reanimate his countrymen with
courage and confidence, and called upon them to hazard their lives
freely for their religion.
'In the name of God, and Mahomet his prophet,' said the emir, 'hasten,
great and small--the cause of God has need of your arms and of your
wealth; the Franks--Heaven curse them!--are arrived in our country, with
their standards and their swords. They wish to obtain possession of our
cities, and to ravage our provinces. What Mussulman can refuse to march
against them, and avenge the glory of Islamism?'
But, at Cairo and Mansourah, the Egyptians only answered with sighs and
groans; and, at first, Fakreddin's appeal failed to produce the effect
he intended. The emir, however, was not dismayed. Indeed, he showed a
courage worthy of the fame he had won by his military exploits, and
gradually rallied the more courageous of his countrymen around him.
Marching from Mansourah, he encamped at Djedile, on the side of the
canal known as the Achmoun, which has a deep bed and steep banks; and
halted with the Nile on his left and the city in his rear.
'Here,' said he, addressing his men, 'I await the invaders. Be brave; we
will yet avenge Islamism; and on Sebastian's-day I will dine in the
scarlet tent of the French king.'
Meanwhile, the Crusaders continued their march, and they soon approached
Mansourah. At this point, however, their progress was arrested by two
obstacles--the canal of Achmoun, and the army of Fakreddin.
'Who is the leader of that army?' asked King Louis, as he looked
earnestly across the canal to where the Saracens were encamped.
'Sire,' answered one of his knights, 'it is Fakreddin, the emir, who
fled from Damietta; but who, nevertheless, as I learn, does not hesitate
to boast that it is his intention to dine in your red tent on St.
Sebastian's-day.'
'Does the emir intend to dine in my tent on St. Sebastian's-day?' said
Louis, mildly; 'however, I will take good care to prevent him.'
'In truth, sire,' said the knight, smiling, 'I hold that you are much
more likely to dine in the sultan's palace.'
'Be that as it may,' replied the king, 'one thing is certain. We and our
foes are now face to face.'
And so they were. Face to face, separated only by the canal Achmoun,
Christian and Moslem, headed by the King of France and the Emir
Fakreddin, lay encamped and awaiting a favourable opportunity to fight,
and to conquer or die for their countries and religions.
And it speedily appeared that face to face they were for some time
likely to remain.