THE CAPTIVE.
AT the time when Guy Muschamp was dragged away as a captive to the camp
of the Saracens at Djedile, the emir Fakreddin sat in his pavilion. It
was a marvellous tent, in the centre of the camp, and formed so as to
resemble a fortified city, being divided into streets, flanked with
towers, and furnished with everything likely to contribute to the luxury
of an oriental. In an apartment, ornamented with gold and gems, the emir
sat, face to face with a dark-browed Saracen chief, and playing at
chess. But the game did not by any means monopolise the attention of the
persons engaged in it; for the companion of the emir was no less
celebrated a person than Bibars Bendocdar, the chief of the Mamelukes;
and between him and Fakreddin there was much discussion as to the best
mode of dealing with the enemies who menaced the empire with ruin.
And who was Bibars Bendocdar? It is necessary that we should learn, in
order to comprehend the events that were ere long to startle and terrify
the nations of Christendom.
At the time when Louis, King of France, undertook his Crusade, it was
the custom, when two eastern potentates went to war, for the conqueror
to sell the subjects of the vanquished enemy as slaves; and many of
these, bought by merchants, were carried to Egypt, and sold to the
sultan, who had them trained from boyhood to serve him as soldiers.
Carefully were these young captives reared; and, when their beards began
to grow, they were taught to draw the bow and wield the sword. After
becoming expert in military exercises, they were admitted into that
famous body, which Saladin the Great had instituted, and known as
Mamelukes. Their privileges were many. They were highly favoured by the
sultan, wearing his emblazonments of pure gold, only adding bars of
vermilion, with birds or roses or griffins for difference, and acting as
his body-guard in time of war, and watching over his safety while he
slept.
It seems that Bibars Bendocdar was originally brought to Egypt as a
slave, and, in course of time, enrolled as one of the Mamelukes. As such
he rose rapidly. His ambition was intense; and, being both able and
unscrupulous, he had no reason to despair of his ambition being one day
gratified. No position, indeed, could be more favourable to a man eager
to emerge from obscurity to eminence, than that which he occupied; and
he not only succeeded in winning the confidence of the sultan, but
contrived to insinuate himself into the good graces of the soldiers. In
truth, this with him was no difficult matter. He had profoundly studied
human nature as it was exhibited around him; and he comprehended, above
all things, the arts by which the hearts of fighting men are gained and
retained, and the arts also by which military adventurers elevate
themselves to supremacy in a state.
Besides, Bibars Bendocdar had other qualities likely to render him a
formidable foe or a dangerous rival. He was skillful as a leader in war,
courageous in conflict, cruel in the hour of victory, and remarkable for
his penetration, sagacity, and activity. Moreover, he professed great
faith in the Mahometan religion, and had great faith also in his own
destiny. Such was the man who now watched events with the eagerness of a
gambler, and who recognised, not without satisfaction, the danger and
disorder, from the bosom of which a leader of courage and audacity
might, by rekindling enthusiasm and restoring order, elevate himself to
power. He was about to prove himself one of the most formidable foes
whom the soldiers of the Cross had ever been under the necessity of
encountering.
Into the presence of the Emir Fakreddin and Bibars Bendocdar young Guy
Muschamp, drenched and agitated, was carried. Alarmed as he well might
be, the squire exhibited a dauntless air and presented a bold front. In
fact, his demeanour was such that the Saracen chiefs exchanged glances
of surprise.
'Who are you?' asked Fakreddin.
'My name is Muschamp, and I am a subject of the King of England.'
'And what brought you to Egypt?'
'I came to fight for the Holy Sepulchre.'
'And,' asked Bibars Bendocdar, sternly, 'know you not that passage in
the Koran which says that they who make war unjustly shall perish?'
'Saracen,' replied Guy, proudly, 'an Anglo-Norman gentleman does not
regulate his conduct by the Koran.'
'However,' said Fakreddin, waving his hand, 'it is needful that you
answer some questions as to the army of Franks, and that you answer
truly.'
'Saracen,' replied Guy, resolutely, 'I will not answer a question on the
subject.'
'Fool!' exclaimed Bibars Bendocdar, impatiently; 'know you not your
danger? Know you not that we can instantly order your head to be struck
off?'
'Doubtless,' replied Guy. 'And, in that case, I die the death of a
martyr, and go straight to paradise.'
'Infidel!' cried Bibars, loudly; 'you know not of what you speak. You
will have to account for your faith to the angels Munkir and Nakir.'
'Munkir and Nakir!' exclaimed Guy, with an air of perplexity; 'beshrew
me if I ever before heard of their names.'
'You will know them soon enough, if you act not more discreetly,' said
Bibars; 'for they are the two angels who interrogate the dead the moment
they are in the grave, saying, "Who is thy lord?" and, "Who is thy
prophet?"'
'On my faith, Saracen,' said Guy, compassionately, 'I marvel much that a
man of your years can credit such pagan fables.'
'Dog!' exclaimed Bibars. 'This to my beard! Ho! there, guards! Strike
off this Christian's head, and cast his carcase to the fishes!'
'No,' said Fakreddin, mildly, 'it is well that he should have time to
reflect. Let him be kept as a prisoner till the morrow. He will then be
more likely to answer the questions asked of him.'
Accordingly Guy Muschamp was led from the presence of the Saracen chiefs
and shut up in a small apartment in the centre of Fakreddin's tent. The
position was the reverse of pleasant; and he almost gave himself up for
lost. Next morning, however, after he had eaten some food brought him by
the jailer, he was startled, first by a commotion in the camp, and then
by such a noise and tumult as if all the fiends had come thither from
the infernal regions to fight their battles. Gradually, through the din,
the ear of Guy recognised the clash of weapons and the rushing of
steeds, and his suspense was agonising. For a time he endeavoured to
make out what was occurring; but this was in vain. At length the noise
ceased; and Guy moved to the door with the intention of making a
desperate effort to break it open. Somewhat to his surprise, he found
that it did not resist. In fact, the jailer was gone and the camp
deserted.