Theysoonformedadeepandconfusedmassofdismountedcavalryinfrontoftheirencampment，when，atthesignalofashrillcry，whicharosehighovertheclangourofthemusic，eachcavaliersprungtohissaddle。Acloudofdust，arisingatthemomentofthismanuvre，hidfromRichardandhisattendantsthecamp，thepalm-trees，andthedistantridgeofmountains，aswellasthetroopswhosesuddenmovementhadraisedthecloud，andascendinghighovertheirheads，formeditselfintothefantasticformsofwrithedpillars，domes，andminarets。Anothershrillyellwasheardfromthebosomofthiscloudytabernacle。
　　Itwasthesignalforthecavalrytoadvance，whichtheydidatfullgallop，disposingthemselvesastheycameforward，soastocomeinatonceonthefront，flanks，andrear，ofRichard’slittlebodyguard，whowerethussurroundedandalmostchokedbythedensecloudsofdustenvelopingthemoneachside，throughwhichwereseenalternately，andlost，thegrimformsandwildfacesoftheSaracens，brandishingandtossingtheirlancesineverypossibledirection，withthewildestcriesandhalloos，andfrequentlyonlyreininguptheirhorseswhenwithinaspear’slengthoftheChristians，whilethoseinthereardischargedovertheheadsofbothpartiesthickvolleysofarrows。OneofthesestruckthelitterinwhichtheQueenwasseated，wholoudlyscreamed，andtheredspotwasonRichard’sbrowinaninstant。
　　Ha！SaintGeorge，’’heexclaimed，wemusttakesomeorderwiththisinfidelscum！’’
　　ButEdith，whoselitterwasnear，thrustherheadout，andwithherhandholdingoneoftheshafts，exclaimed，RoyalRichard，bewarewhatyoudo！see，thesearrowsareheadless？’’
　　Noble，sensiblewench！’’exclaimedRichard；byHeaven，thoushamestusallbythyreadinessofthoughtandeye-Benotmoved，myEnglishhearts，’’heexclaimedtohisfollowers-
　　theirarrowshavenoheads-andtheirspears，too，lackthesteelpoints。Itisbutawildwelcome，aftertheirsavagefashion，thoughdoubtlesstheywouldrejoicetoseeusdauntedordisturbed。Moveonward，slowandsteady。’’
　　Thelittlephalanxmovedforwardaccordingly，accompaniedonallsidesbytheArabs，withtheshrillestandmostpiercingcries，thebowmen，meanwhile，displayingtheiragilitybyshootingasnearthecrestsoftheChristiansaswaspossible，withoutactuallyhittingthem，whilethelancerschargedeachotherwithsuchrudeblowsoftheirbluntweapons，thatmorethanoneofthemlosthissaddle，andwell-nighhislife，inthisroughsport。
　　Allthis，thoughdesignedtoexpresswelcome，hadratheradoubtfulappearanceintheeyesoftheEuropeans。
　　Astheyhadadvancednearlyhalf-waytowardsthecamp，KingRichardandhissuiteforming，asitwere，thenucleusroundwhichthistumultuarybodyofhorsemenhowled，whooped，skirmished，andgalloped，creatingasceneofindescribableconfusion，anothershrillcrywasheard，onwhichalltheseirregulars，whowereonthefrontandupontheflanksofthelittlebodyofEuropeans，wheeledoff，andformingthemselvesintoalonganddeepcolumn，followedwithcomparativeorderandsilenceintherearofRichard’stroop。Thedustbegannowtodissipateintheirfront，whenthereadvancedtomeetthem，throughthatcloudyveil，abodyofcavalryofadifferentandmoreregulardescription，completelyarmedwithoffensiveanddefensiveweapons，andwhomightwellhaveservedasabody-guardtotheproudestofEasternmonarchs。Thissplendidtroopconsistedoffivehundredmen，andeachhorsewhichitcontainedwasworthanearl’sransom。TheriderswereGeorgianandCircassianslavesintheveryprimeoflife；theirhelmetsandhauberkswereformedofsteelrings，sobrightthattheyshonelikesilver；theirvestureswereofthegayestcolours，andsomeofclothofgoldorsilver；thesashesweretwistedwithsilkandgold，theirrichturbanswereplumedandjewelled，andtheirsabresandponiards，ofDamascenesteel，wereadornedwithgoldandgemsonhiltandscabbard。
　　Thissplendidarrayadvancedtothesoundofmilitarymusic，andwhentheymettheChristianbody，theyopenedtheirfilestotherightandleft，andletthementerbetweentheirranks。
　　Richardnowassumedtheforemostplaceinhistroop，awarethatSaladinhimselfwasapproaching。Norwasitlongwhen，inthecentreofhisbody-guard，surroundedbyhisdomesticofficers，andthosehideousnegroeswhoguardtheEasternharem，andwhosemisshapenformswererenderedyetmorefrightfulbytherichnessoftheirattire，cametheSoldan，withthelookandmannersofoneonwhosebrowNaturehadwritten，ThisisaKing！Inhissnow-whiteturban，vest，andwideEasterntrousers，wearingasashofscarletsilk，withoutanyotherornament，Saladinmighthaveseemedtheplainestdressedmaninhisownguard。Butcloserinspectiondiscernedinhisturbanthatinestimablegem，whichwascalledbythepoetstheSeaofLight；
　　thediamondonwhichhissignetwasengraved，andwhichheworeinaring，wasprobablyworthallthejewelsoftheEnglishcrown，andasapphire，whichterminatedthehiltofhiscanjiar，wasofnotmuchinferiorvalue。Itshouldbeadded，thattoprotecthimfromthedust，which，inthevicinityoftheDeadSea，resemblesthefinestashes，or，perhaps，outofOrientalpride，theSoldanworeasortofveilattachedtohisturban，whichpartlyobscuredtheviewofhisnoblefeatures。Herodeamilk-whiteArabian，whichborehimasifconsciousandproudofhisnobleburden。
　　Therewasnoneedoffartherintroduction。Thetwoheroicmonarchs，forsuchtheybothwere，threwthemselvesatoncefromhorseback，andthetroopshaltingandthemusicsuddenlyceasing，theyadvancedtomeeteachotherinprofoundsilence，and，afteracourteousinclinationoneitherside，theyembracedasbrethrenandequals。Thepompanddisplayuponbothsidesattractednofarthernotice-noonesawaughtsaveRichardandSaladin，andtheytoobeheldnothingbuteachother。ThelookswithwhichRichardsurveyedSaladin，were，however，moreintentlycuriousthanthosewhichtheSoldanfixeduponhim；andtheSoldanalsowasthefirsttobreaksilence。
　　TheMelechRiciswelcometoSaladinaswatertothisdesert。
　　Itrusthehathnodistrustofthisnumerousarray。Exceptingthearmedslavesofmyhousehold，thosewhosurroundyouwitheyesofwonderandofwelcome，are，eventhehumblestofthem，theprivilegednoblesofmythousandtribes；forwhothatcouldclaimatitletobepresent，wouldremainathomewhensuchaPrincewastobeseenasRichard，withtheterrorsofwhosename，evenonthesandsofYemen，thenursestillsherchild，andthefreeArabsubdueshisrestivesteed！’’
　　AndtheseareallnoblesofAraby？’’saidRichard，lookingaroundonwildformswiththeirpersonscoveredwithhaicks，theircountenancesswartwiththesunbeams，theirteethaswhiteasivory，theirblackeyesglancingwithfierceandpreternaturallustrefromundertheshadeoftheirturbans，andtheirdressbeingingeneralsimple，eventomeanness。
　　Theyclaimsuchrank，’’saidSaladin；butthoughnumerous，theyarewithintheconditionsofthetreaty，andbearnoarmsbutthesabre-eventheironoftheirlancesisleftbehind。’’
　　Ifear，’’mutteredDeVauxinEnglish，theyhaveleftthemwheretheycanbesoonfound-AmostflourishingHouseofPeers，Iconfess，andwouldfindWestminsterHallsomethingtoonarrowforthem。’’
　　Hush，DeVaux，’’saidRichard，Icommandthee-NobleSaladin，’’hesaid，suspicionandthoucannotexistonthesameground-Seestthou，’’pointingtothelitters-Itoohavebroughtsomechampionswithme，thougharmed，perhaps，inbreachofagreement，forbrighteyesandfairfeaturesareweaponswhichcannotbeleftbehind。’’
　　TheSoldan，turningtothelitters，madeanobeisanceaslowlyasiflookingtowardsMecca，andkissedthesandintokenofrespect。
　　Nay，’’saidRichard，-theywillnotfearacloserencounter，brother；wiltthounotridetowardstheirlitters，andthecurtainswillbepresentlywithdrawn？’’
　　ThatmayAllahprohibit！’’saidSaladin，sincenotanArablooksonwhowouldnotthinkitshametothenobleladiestobeseenwiththeirfacesuncovered。’’
　　Thoushaltseethem，then，inprivate，brother，’’answeredRichard。
　　Towhatpurpose？’’answeredSaladin，mournfully。Thylastletterwas，tothehopeswhichIhadentertained，likewatertofire；andwhereforeshouldIagainlightaflame，whichmayindeedconsume，butcannotcheerme？-Butwillnotmybrotherpasstothetentwhichhisservanthathpreparedforhim？MyprincipalblackslavehathtakenorderforthereceptionofthePrincesses-theofficersofmyhouseholdwillattendyourfollowers，andourselfwillbethechamberlainoftheroyalRichard。’’
　　Heledthewayaccordinglytoasplendidpavilion，wherewaseverythingthatroyalluxurycoulddevise。DeVaux，whowasinattendance，thenremovedthechappe_capa_，orlongriding-cloakwhichRichardwore，andhestoodbeforeSaladinintheclosedresswhichshowedtoadvantagethestrengthandsymmetryofhisperson，whileitboreastrongcontrasttotheflowingrobeswhichdisguisedthethinframeoftheEasternmonarch。ItwasRichard’stwo-handedswordthatchieflyattractedtheattentionoftheSaracen，abroadstraightblade，theseeminglyunwieldylengthofwhichextendedwell-nighfromtheshouldertotheheelofthewearer。
　　HadInot，’’saidSaladin，seenthisbrandflaminginthefrontofbattle，likethatofAzrael，Ihadscarcebelievedthathumanarmcouldwieldit。MightIrequesttoseetheMelechRicstrikeoneblowwithitinpeace，andinpuretrialofstrength？’’
　　Willingly，nobleSaladin，’’answeredRichard；andlookingaroundforsomethingwhereontoexercisehisstrength，hesawasteelmace，heldbyoneoftheattendants，thehandlebeingofthesamemetal，andaboutaninchandahalfindiameter-thisheplacedonablockofwood。
　　TheanxietyofDeVauxforhismaster’shonourledhimtowhisperinEnglish-FortheblessedVirgin’ssake，bewarewhatyouattempt，myliege！Yourfullstrengthisnotasyetreturned-givenotriumphtotheinfidel。’’
　　Peace，fool！’’saidRichard，standingfirmonhisground，andcastingafierceglancearound-thinkestthouthatIcanfailin_his_presence？’’
　　Theglitteringbroadsword，wieldedbybothhishands，rosealofttotheKing’sleftshoulder，circledroundhishead，descendedwiththeswayofsometerrificengine，andthebarofironrolledonthegroundintwopieces，asawoodsmanwouldseverasaplingwithahedging-bill。
　　BytheheadoftheProphet，amostwonderfulblow！’’saidtheSoldan，criticallyandaccuratelyexaminingtheironbarwhichhadbeencutasunder；andthebladeoftheswordwassowelltemperedastoexhibitnottheleasttokenofhavingsufferedbythefeatithadperformed。HethentooktheKing’shand，andlookingonthesizeandmuscularstrengthwhichitexhibited，laughedasheplaceditbesidehisown，solankandthin，soinferiorinbrawnandsinew。
　　Ay，lookwell，’’saidDeVaux，inEnglish；itwillbelongereyourlongjackanape’sfingersdosuchafeatwithyourfinegildedreaping-hookthere。’’
　　Silence，DeVaux，’’saidRichard；byOurLady，heunderstandsorguessesthymeaning，-benotsobroad，Ipraythee。’’
　　TheSoldan，indeed，presentlysaid-SomethingIwouldfainattempt-though，whereforeshouldtheweakshowtheirinferiorityinpresenceofthestrong？Yet，eachlandhathitsownexercises，andthismaybenewtotheMelechRic。’’-Sosaying，hetookfromtheflooracushionofsilkanddown，andplacedituprightononeend-Canthyweapon，mybrother，severthatcushion？’’hesaidtoKingRichard。
　　No，surely，’’repliedtheKing；noswordonearth，wereittheExcalibarofKingArthur，cancutthatwhichopposesnosteadyresistancetotheblow。’’
　　Mark，then，’’saidSaladin；andtuckingupthesleeveofhisgown，showedhisarm，thinindeedandspare，butwhichconstantexercisehadhardenedintoamassconsistingofnoughtbutbone，brawn，andsinew。Heunsheathedhisscimitar，acurvedandnarrowblade，whichglitterednotliketheswordsoftheFranks，butwas，onthecontrary，ofadullbluecolour，markedwithtenmillionsofmeanderinglines，whichshowedhowanxiouslythemetalhadbeenweldedbythearmourer。Wieldingthisweapon，apparentlysoinefficientwhencomparedtothatofRichard，theSoldanstoodrestinghisweightuponhisleftfoot，whichwasslightlyadvanced；hebalancedhimselfalittleasiftosteadyhisaim，thensteppingatonceforward，drewthescimitaracrossthecushion，applyingtheedgesodexterously，andwithsolittleapparenteffort，thatthecushionseemedrathertofallasunderthantobedividedbyviolence。
　　Itisajuggler’strick，’’saidDeVaux，dartingforwardandsnatchinguptheportionofthecushionwhichhadbeencutoff，asiftoassurehimselfoftherealityofthefeat，-thereisgramaryeinthis。’’
　　TheSoldanseemedtocomprehendhim，forheundidthesortofveilwhichhehadhithertoworn，laiditdoublealongtheedgeofhissabre，extendedtheweaponedgewaysintheair，anddrawingitsuddenlythroughtheveil，althoughithungonthebladeentirelyloose，severedthatalsointotwoparts，whichfloatedtodifferentsidesofthetent，equallydisplayingtheextremetemperandsharpnessoftheweapon，andtheexquisitedexterityofhimwhousedit。
　　Now，ingoodfaith，mybrother，’’saidRichard，thouartevenmatchlessatthetrickofthesword，andrightperilouswereittomeetthee！Still，however，IputsomefaithinadownrightEnglishblow，andwhatwecannotdobysleight，weekeoutbystrength。Nevertheless，intruththouartasexpertininflictingwounds，asmysageHakimincuringthem。ItrustIshallseethelearnedleech-Ihavemuchtothankhimforandhadbroughtsomesmallpresent。’’
　　Ashespoke，SaladinexchangedhisturbanforaTartarcap。
　　Hehadnosoonerdoneso，thanDeVauxopenedatoncehisextendedmouthandhislargeroundeyes，andRichardgazedwithscarcelessastonishment，whiletheSoldanspokeinagraveandalteredvoice:-Thesickman，sayeththepoet，whileheisyetinfirm，knoweththephysicianbyhisstep；butwhenheisrecovered，heknowethnotevenhisfacewhenhelooksuponhim。’’
　　Amiracle！-amiracle！’’exclaimedRichard。