king.

Every night when the Crusaders encamped, the heralds blew their
trumpets, and cried three times, "Save the Holy Sepulchre!" And
the Crusaders knelt and said, "Amen!"

The great leader of the Saracens was Saladin. He was a model of
heroism and the two leaders, one the champion of the Christians
and the other the champion of the Mohammedans, vied with each other
in knightly deeds.

Just before one battle Richard rode down the Saracen line and boldly
called for any one to step forth and fight him alone. No one responded
to the challenge, for the most valiant of the Saracens did not dare
to meet the lion-hearted king.

After the capture of Acre Richard took As'ca-lon. Then he made a
truce with Saladin, by which the Christians acquired the right for
three years to visit the Holy City without paying for the privilege.

[Illustration: RICHARD C[OE]UR DE LION AND SALADIN, RULER OF THE
FAITHFUL, ENTERING JERUSALEM]

III

Richard now set out on his voyage home. He was wrecked, however,
on the Adriatic Sea near Trieste. To get to England he was obliged
to go through the lands of Leopold, duke of Austria, one of his
bitterest enemies. So he disguised himself as a poor pilgrim returning
from the Holy Land.

But he was recognized by a costly ring that he wore and was taken
prisoner at Vienna by Duke Leopold. His people in England anxiously
awaited his return, and when after a long time he did not appear
they were sadly distressed. There is a legend that a faithful squire
named Blondel went in search of him, as a wandering minstrel traveled
for months over central Europe, vainly seeking for news of his
master.

At last one day, while singing one of Richard's favorite songs
near the walls of the castle where the king was confined, he heard
the song repeated from a window. He recognized the voice of Richard.
From the window Richard told him to let the English people and
the people of Europe know where he was confined, and the minstrel
immediately went upon his mission.

Soon Europe was astounded to learn that brave Richard of England,
the great champion of Christendom, was imprisoned. The story of
Blondel is probably not true, but what is true is that England
offered to ransom Richard; that the Pope interceded for him; and
that finally it was agreed that he should be given up on the payment
of a very large sum of money. The English people quickly paid the
ransom and Richard was freed.

The king of France had litt