A RECOGNITION.
WHEN the Templar and the English knight left the lodgings that had been
assigned to them in the palace of Bagdad to enter the presence of the
caliph, 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, and
took 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 own
age. All were so fettered as to be impeded in their walking, and seemed
to be under the charge of an aged Saracen, who, in his turban and
flowing 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 sadly
on the ground; the sixth neither seemed sad, nor had his eyes bent on
the ground, but held his head aloft with the air of one whom
circumstances could not depress; and Walter felt his heart beat and his
brain whirl, and stopped suddenly, with an exclamation of surprise, as
in this youth he recognised an old acquaintance.
Immediately it appeared that the recognition was mutual. Indeed, the
captive no sooner observed Walter than, disregarding the remonstrances
of the old Saracen, and forgetful for the moment of his chains, he broke
away 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 your
being here, and at a time when they are threatening to put me to death
because 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, if
my efforts can save you. I have mourned for you as for one dead; and I
swear by holy Katherine, who hath preserved me miraculously through
manifold dangers, that if I fail I remain to share your fate, for weal
or for woe. But how came you hither?'
'By St. John of Beverley,' answered Guy, 'not with my own goodwill, as
you may swear on the Evangelists. I was dragged out of the galley of the
Lord of Joinville, and, with my hands chained behind my back, I was, in
that base, unworthy plight, led captive to Cairo; and, when the
Mamelukes killed their sultan, and the sultana, that dark-eyed woman,
who outdoes Jezebel in wickedness, wished to propitiate the caliph, she
sent me and five other Christian prisoners whom you see as a
peace-offering. And so,' added Guy, looking down at his fetters, 'here
you see me, an Anglo-Norman gentleman, of great name, in captivity and
chains, and threatened with a cruel death; which, however, I would fain
escape; 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 part
with willingly.'
And in spite of his fetters and his perilous plight, Guy looked as
blithe and gay as he was wont to do in the tiltyard of the castle of
Wark.
'By the Holy Cross,' said Walter, gravely, 'I cannot pretend to make
light of the business; and yet I am not without hope; for a Templar, and
Bisset, the stout knight whom I now serve, have come from the good King
Louis as ambassadors to the caliph, and they will not fail you. But
credit this, at least, that if the worst comes to the worst I will
remain in this place, and not leave it--save in your company--tide what
may.'
Guy was about to protest against Walter sacrificing himself to
friendship; but further conversation was prevented by the approach of
the aged Saracen; and Guy, however reluctant, was fain to rejoin the
companions of his captivity. Walter, however, followed their steps, and
watched their movements, till they disappeared in a door contiguous to
that part of the palace in which the ambassadors were lodged with their
train. But, warned by Beltran, the renegade, that it would be prudent
to confine himself to the quarters assigned, he returned to his
lodgings, and there, musing over this unexpected meeting with his
brother-in-arms, awaited Bisset's return.
At length the English knight appeared. But he did not seem quite
himself. The frank and joyous expression which characterised him had
deserted his countenance, and he looked a changed man. Haughty sternness
sat on his brow; his eye-brows were elevated; his eye glanced flame; his
nostrils breathed fire; and he clenched and opened his hand excitedly,
as if contemplating some ruthless deed, as he strode into the apartment
and seized Walter's arm.
'Sir knight,' said Walter, amazed, and almost terrified, 'what aileth
thee?'
'By the might of Mary!' exclaimed the knight hurriedly and sternly, 'I
have seen a sight that has roused all the Norman within me, and made me
thirst 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 the
saints grant me patience to think of it calmly! The very throne of gold
on 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! By
the 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 strange
discovery. Guy Muschamp, the English squire, my brother-in-arms, is a
captive in this palace, and in danger of death, because he will not
abandon his faith as a Christian. I have seen him; I have spoken with
him; I implore you to obtain his release; for,' added Walter, with tears
in his eyes, 'I must tell you frankly, that otherwise I must remain to
share his fate.'
'Fear not, boy,' said Bisset, touched with the squire's emotion; 'I will
see to his being ransomed. In truth, I hardly think there will be much
difficulty; for this caliph is a miser--a mean, detestable miser--and
would sell anything for bezants--even his soul, if he had not already
pawned it to Satan, through his brokers Mahound and Termagaunt.' And,
too much occupied with his dream of seizing Bagdad, and carving out a
kingdom with his sword, the knight relapsed into silence, and scarcely
moved till evening fell.
It was just after sunset, and Bisset was rapt in thought, and Walter
Espec perplexing his soul about Guy Muschamp, when suddenly they were
aroused by the voice of the Muezzin, who, according to the custom of the
Saracens, standing on the minaret of a mosque hard by, solemnly
proclaimed three times--'There is but one God, and Mahomet is his
prophet.'
Walter sprang up, quivering with pious horror, and hastily crossed
himself.
'Sir knight,' said he, earnestly, 'I feel that this place is unholy.'
'Mayhap, boy,' replied the knight. 'But patter your prayers, and no evil
will come nigh you. For the rest, Bagdad would be holy enough were the
walls and towers manned by Christian warriors, and the mosques converted
into churches, and I king, with the caliph's treasures to go forth
against the Moslem, conquering and to conquer. Oh, credit me, it is a
glorious vision. But it cannot be realised. Marry, I spoke too truly
when I said that I was born without luck on my side.'
Night fell; the moon rose; and the Crusaders, after for a time looking
out upon innumerable stars, glorious in the blue depths of an Asian sky,
saw to the comfort and security of their attendants, and then stretched
themselves to rest--Walter laying himself down at the door of the
chamber which Bisset occupied. In spite of the knight's agitation and
the squire's anxiety, both soon sank into sleep. But their repose was
destined to be broken. About daybreak they were awakened by cries and
tumult, that filled the palace of the caliph. Gradually, the noise
increased, and was blended with strange cries, as of warriors storming
the city. Bisset and Walter listened with breathless attention, as yell
after yell, and whoop after whoop, intimated that some terrible
catastrophe had occurred; and as they hearkened, the Templar, who had
occupied an adjoining apartment, rushed in, calm, but pale as a ghost.
'Gentlemen,' said he, 'we are dead men.'