IamTheodorickofEngaddi-Iamthetorch-brandofthedesert-Iamtheflailoftheinfidels！Thelionandtheleopardshallbemycomrades，anddrawnightomycellforshelter；neithershallthegoatbeafraidoftheirfangs-Iamthetorchandthelantern-KyrieEleison！’’
　　Heclosedhissongbyashortrace，andendedthatagainbythreeforwardbounds，whichwouldhavedonehimgreatcreditinagymnasticacademy，butbecamehischaracterofhermitsoindifferently，thattheScottishknightwasaltogetherconfoundedandbewildered。
　　TheSaracenseemedtounderstandhimbetter。Yousee，’’
　　hesaid，thatheexpectsustofollowhimtohiscell，which，indeed，isouronlyplaceofrefugeforthenight。Youaretheleopard，fromtheportraitonyourshield-Iamthelion，asmynameimports-and，bythegoat，alludingtohisgarbofgoat-skins，hemeanshimself。Wemustkeephiminsight，however，forheisasfleetasadromedary。’’
　　Infact，thetaskwasadifficultone，forthoughthereverendguidestoppedfromtimetotime，andwavedhishand，asiftoencouragethemtocomeon，yet，wellacquaintedwithallthewindingdellsandpassesofthedesert，andgiftedwithuncommonactivity，which，perhaps，anunsettledstateofmindkeptinconstantexercise，heledtheknightsthroughchasms，andalongfootpaths，whereeventhelight-armedSaracen，withhiswell-trainedbarb，wasinconsiderablerisk，andwheretheiron-sheathedEuropean，andhisover-burdenedhorse，foundthemselvesinsuchimminentperil，astheriderwouldgladlyhaveexchangedforthedangersofageneralaction。Gladhewaswhen，atlength，afterthiswildrace，hebeheldtheholymanwhohadleditstandinginfrontofacavern，withalargetorchinhishand，composedofapieceofwooddippedinbitumen，whichcastabroadandflickeringlight，andemittedastrongsulphuroussmell。
　　Undeterredbythestiflingvapour，theknightthrewhimselffromhishorseandenteredthecavern，whichaffordedsmallappearanceofaccommodation。Thecellwasdividedintotwoparts，intheoutwardofwhichwereanaltarofstone，andacrucifixmadeofreeds:Thisservedtheanchoriteforhischapel。
　　OnonesideofthisoutwardcavetheChristianknight，thoughnotwithoutscruple，arisingfromreligiousreverencetotheobjectsaround，fasteneduphishorse，andarrangedhimforthenight，inimitationoftheSaracen，whogavehimtounderstandthatsuchwasthecustomoftheplace。Thehermit，meanwhile，wasbusiedputtinghisinnerapartmentinordertoreceivehisguests，andtheretheysoonjoinedhim。Atthebottomoftheoutercave，asmallapertureclosedwithadoorofroughplankledintothesleepingapartmentofthehermit，whichwasmorecommodious。Thefloorhadbeenbroughttoaroughlevelbythelabouroftheinhabitant，andthenstrewedwithwhitesand，whichhedailysprinkledwithwaterfromasmallfountainwhichbubbledoutoftherockinonecorner，affording，inthatstiflingclimate，refreshmentaliketotheearandthetaste。
　　Mattresses，wroughtoftwistedflags，laybythesideofthecell；
　　thesides，likethefloor，hadbeenroughlybroughttoshape，andseveralherbsandflowerswerehungaroundthem。Twowaxentorches，whichthehermitlighted，gaveacheerfulairtotheplace，whichwasrenderedagreeablebyitsfragranceandcoolness。
　　Therewereimplementsoflabourinonecorneroftheapartment，inanotherwasanicheforarudestatueoftheVirgin。
　　Atableandtwochairsshowedthattheymustbethehandiworkoftheanchorite，beingdifferentintheirformfromOrientalaccommodations。Theformerwascovered，notonlywithreedsandpulse，butalsowithdriedflesh，whichTheodorickassiduouslyplacedinsucharrangementasshouldinvitetheappetiteofhisguests。Thisappearanceofcourtesy，thoughmute，andexpressedbygestureonly，seemedtoSirKennethsomethingentirelyirreconcilablewithhisformerwildandviolentdemeanour。
　　Themovementsofthehermitwerenowbecomecomposed，andapparentlyitwasonlyasenseofreligioushumiliationwhichpreventedhisfeatures，emaciatedastheywerebyhisausteremodeoflife，frombeingmajesticandnoble。Hetrodhiscell，asonewhoseemedborntoruleovermen，butwhohadabdicatedhisempiretobecometheservantofHeaven。Still，itmustbeallowedthathisgiganticsize，thelengthofhisunshavenlocksandbeard，andthefireofadeep-setandwildeye，wereratherattributesofasoldierthanofarecluse。
　　EventheSaracenseemedtoregardtheanchoritewithsomeveneration，whilehewasthusemployed，andhewhisperedinalowtonetoSirKenneth，TheHamakoisnowinhisbettermind，buthewillnotspeakuntilwehaveeaten-suchishisvow。’’
　　Itwasinsilence，accordingly，thatTheodorickmotionedtotheScottotakehisplaceononeofthelowchairs，whileSheerkohfplacedhimself，afterthecustomofhisnation，uponacushionofmats。Thehermitthenheldupbothhands，asifblessingtherefreshmentwhichhehadplacedbeforehisguests，andtheyproceededtoeatinsilenceasprofoundashisown。
　　TotheSaracenthisgravitywasnatural，andtheChristianimitatedhistaciturnity，whileheemployedhisthoughtsonthesingularityofhisownsituation，andthecontrastbetwixtthewild，furiousgesticulations，loudcries，andfierceactionsofTheodorick，whentheyfirstmethim，andthedemure，solemn，decorousassiduitywithwhichhenowperformedthedutiesofhospitality。
　　Whentheirmealwasended，thehermit，whohadnothimselfeatenamorsel，removedthefragmentsfromthetable，andplacingbeforetheSaracenapitcherofsherbet，assignedtotheScotaflaskofwine。
　　Drink，’’hesaid，mychildren，’’-theywerethefirstwordshehadspoken，-thegiftsofGodaretobeenjoyed，whentheGiverisremembered。’’
　　Havingsaidthisheretiredtotheoutwardcell，probablyforperformanceofhisdevotions，andlefthisgueststogetherintheinnerapartment，whenSirKennethendeavoured，byvariousquestions，todrawfromSheerkohfwhatthatEmirknowconcerninghishost。Hewasinterestedbymorethanmerecuriosityintheseinquiries。Difficultasitwastoreconciletheoutrageousdemeanouroftherecluseathisfirstappearance，tohispresenthumbleandplacidbehaviour，itseemedyetmoreimpossibletothinkitconsistentwiththehighconsiderationinwhich，accordingtowhatSirKennethhadlearned，thishermitwasheldbythemostenlighteneddivinesoftheChristianworld。Theodorick，theHermitofEngaddi，had，inthatcharacter，beenthecorrespondentofpopesandcouncils；towhomhisletters，fullofeloquentfervour，haddescribedthemiseriesimposedbytheunbelieversupontheLatinChristiansintheHolyLand，incoloursscarceinferiortothoseemployedattheCouncilofClermontbytheHermitPeter，whenhepreachedthefirstCrusade。Tofind，inapersonsoreverend，andsomuchrevered，thefranticgesturesofamadfakir，inducedtheChristianknighttopauseerehecouldresolvetocommunicatetohimcertainimportantmatters，whichhehadinchargefromsomeoftheleadersoftheCrusade。
　　IthadbeenamainobjectofSirKenneth’spilgrimage，attemptedbyaroutesounusual，tomakesuchcommunications；
　　butwhathehadthatnightseeninducedhimtopauseandreflectereheproceededtotheexecutionofhiscommission。
　　FromtheEmirhecouldnotextractmuchinformation，butthegeneraltenorwasasfollows:-That，ashehadheard，thehermithadbeenonceabraveandvaliantsoldier，wiseincouncil，andfortunateinbattle，whichlasthecouldeasilybelievefromthegreatstrengthandagilitywhichhehadoftenseenhimdisplay；-
　　thathehadappearedatJerusaleminthecharacter，notofapilgrim，butinthatofonewhohaddevotedhimselftodwellfortheremainderofhislifeintheHolyLand。Shortlyafterwardshefixedhisresidenceamidthescenesofdesolationwheretheynowfoundhim，respectedbytheLatinsforhisausteredevotion，andbytheTurksandArabsonaccountofthesymptomsofinsanitywhichhedisplayed，andwhichtheyascribedtoinspiration。ItwasfromthemhehadthenameofHamako，whichexpressessuchacharacterintheTurkishlanguage。Sheerkohfhimselfscornedatalosshowtoranktheirhost，Hehadbeen，hesaid，awiseman，andcouldoftenformanyhourstogetherspeaklessonsofvirtueorwisdom，withouttheslightestappearanceofinaccuracy。Atothertimeshewaswildandviolent，butneverbeforehadheseenhimsomischievouslydisposedashehadthatdayappearedtobe。Hisragewaschieflyprovokedbyanyaffronttohisreligion；andherewasastoryofsomewanderingArabs，whohadinsultedhisworshipanddefacedhisaltar，andwhomhehadonthataccountattackedandslainwiththeshortflailwhichhecarriedrovingtribestorespecthisdwellingandhischapel。Hisfamehadspreadsofar，thatSaladinhadissuedparticularordersthatheshouldbesparedandprotected。Hehimself，andotherMoslemlordsofrank，hadvisitedthecellmorethanonce，partlyfromcuriosity，partlythattheyexpectedfromamansolearnedastheChristianHamako，someinsightintothesecretsoffuturity。Hehad，’’continuedtheSaracen，arashid，orobservatory，ofgreatheight，contrivedtoviewtheheavenlybodies，andparticularlytheplanetarysystem；bywhosemovementsandinfluences，asbothChristianandMoslembelieved，thecourseofhumaneventswasregulated，andmightbepredicted。’’
　　ThiswasthesubstanceoftheEmirSheerkohf’sinformation，anditleftSirKennethindoubtwhetherthecharacterofinsanityarosefromtheoccasionalexcessivefervourofthehermit’szeal，orwhetheritwasnotaltogetherfictitious，andassumedforthesakeoftheimmunitieswhichitafforded。Yetitseemedthattheinfidelshadcarriedtheircomplaisancetowardshimtoanuncommonlength，consideringthefanaticismofthefollowersofMohammed，inthemidstofwhomhewasliving，thoughtheprofessedenemyoftheirfaith。Hethought，also，therewasmoreintimacyofacquaintancebetwixtthehermitandtheSaracen，thanthewordsofthelatterhadinducedhimtoanticipate；
　　andithadnotescapedhimthattheformerhadcalledthelatterbyanamedifferentfromthatwhichhehimselfhadassumed。
　　Alltheseconsiderationsauthorisedcaution，ifnotsuspicion。
　　Hedeterminedtoobservehishostclosely，andnottobeoverhastyincommunicatingwithhimontheimportantchargeintrustedtohim。
　　Beware，Saracen，’’hesaid；methinksourhost’simaginationwandersaswellonthesubjectofnamesasuponothermatters。ThynameisSheerkohf，andhecalledtheebutnowbyanother。’’
　　Myname，wheninthetentofmyfather，’’repliedtheKurdman，wasIlderim，andbythisIamstilldistinguishedbymany。
　　Inthefield，andtosoldiers，IamknownastheLionoftheMountain，beingthenamemygoodswordhathwonforme-
　　Buthush，theHamakocomes-itistowarnustorest-Iknowhiscustom-nonemustwatchhimathisvigils。’’
　　Theanchoriteaccordinglyentered，andfoldinghisarmsonhisbosomashestoodbeforethem，saidwithasolemnvoice-
　　BlessedbeHisname，whohathappointedthequietnighttofollowthebusyday，andthecalmsleeptorefreshtheweariedlimbsandtocomposethetroubledspirit！’’
　　BothwarriorsrepliedAmen！’’and，arisingfromthetable，preparedtobetakethemselvestothecouches，whichtheirhostindicatedbywavinghishand，as，makingareferencetoeach，heagainwithdrewfromtheapartment。
　　TheKnightoftheLeopardthendisarmedhimselfofhisheavypanoply，hisSaracencompanionkindlyassistinghimtoundohisbucklerandclasps，untilheremainedintheclosedressofchamoisleather，whichknightsandmen-at-armsusedtowearundertheirharness。TheSaracen，ifhehadadmiredthestrengthofhisadversarywhensheathedinsteel，wasnownolessstruckwiththeaccuracyofproportiondisplayedinhisnervousandwell-compactedfigure。Theknight，ontheotherhand，as，inexchangeofcourtesy，heassistedtheSaracentodisrobehimselfofhisuppergarments，thathemightsleepwithmoreconvenience，was，onhisside，atalosstoconceivehowsuchslenderproportionsandslimnessoffigurecouldbereconciledwiththevigourhehaddisplayedinpersonalcontest。
　　Eachwarriorprayedereheaddressedhimselftohisplaceofrest。TheMoslemturnedtowardshis_kebla，_thepointtowhichtheprayerofeachfolloweroftheProphetwastobeaddressed，andmurmuredhisheathenorisons，whiletheChristian，withdrawingfromthecontaminationoftheinfidel’sneighbourhood，placedhishugecross-handledswordupright，andkneelingbeforeitasthesignofsalvation，toldhisrosarywithadevotionwhichwasenhancedbytherecollectionofthescenesthroughwhichhehadpassed，andthedangersfromwhichhehadbeenrescuedin。
　　thecourseoftheday。Bothwarriors，wornbytoilandtravel，weresoonfastasleep，eachonhisseparatepallet。
　　KenneththeScotwasuncertainhowlonghissenseshadbeenlostinprofoundrepose，whenhewasrousedtorecollectionbyasenseofoppressiononhischest，whichatfirstsuggestedaflittingdreamofstrugglingwithapowerfulopponent，andatlengthrecalledhimfullytohissenses。Hewasabouttodemandwhowasthere，when，openinghiseyes，hebeheldthefigureoftheanchorite，wildandsavage-lookingaswehavedescribedhim，standingbyhisbedside，andpressinghisrighthanduponhisbreast，whileheheldasmallsilverlampintheother。
　　Besilent，’’saidthehermit，astheprostrateknightlookedupinsurprise；Ihavethattosaytoyouwhichyonderinfidelmustnothear。’’
　　ThesewordshespokeintheFrenchlanguage，andnotintheLinguaFranca，orcompoundofEasternandEuropeandialects，whichhadhithertobeenusedamongstthem。
　　Arise，’’hecontinued，putonthymantle-speaknot，buttreadlightly，andfollowme。’’
　　SirKennetharose，andtookhissword。