ished, his warriors would fain have severally undertaken
the enterprise, and they remonstrated against his exposing himself to such
peril; but he was not to be shaken from his purpose. On the following
morning, ere the break of day, his horse was led forth, caparisoned, into
the court of the convent, and Pelistes appeared in complete armor.
Assembling his cavaliers in tie chapel, he prayed with them for some time
before the altar of the holy Virgin. Then rising, and standing in the
midst of them, 'God knows, my companions,' said he, 'whether we have any
longer a country; if not, better were we in our graves. Loyal and true
have ye been to me, and loyal have ye been to my son, even to the hour of
his death; and grieved am I that I have no other means of proving my love
for you, than by adventuring my worthless life for your deliverance. All I
ask of you before I go, is a solemn promise to defend yourselves to the
last like brave men and Christian cavaliers, and never to renounce your
faith, or throw yourselves on the mercy of the renegado Magued, or the
traitor Julian.' They all pledged their words, and took a solemn oath to
the same effect before the altar.

Pelistes then embraced them one by one, and gave them his benediction, and
as he did so his heart yearned over them, for he felt towards them, not
merely as a companion in arms and as a commander, but as a father; and he
took leave of them as if he had been going to his death. The warriors, on
their part, crowded round him in silence, kissing his hands and the hem of
his surcoat, and many of the sternest shed tears.

The gray of the dawning had just streaked the east, when Pelistes took
lance in hand, hung his shield about his neck, and, mounting his steed,
issued quietly forth from a postern of the convent. He paced slowly
through the vacant streets, and the tramp of his steed echoed afar in that
silent hour; but no one suspected a warrior, moving thus singly and
tranquilly in an armed city, to be an enemy. He arrived at the gate just
at the hour of opening; a foraging party was entering with cattle and with
beasts of burthen, and he passed unheeded through the throng. As soon as
he was out of sight of the soldiers who guarded the gate, he quickened his
pace, and at length, galloping at full speed, succeeded in gaining the
mountains. Here he paused, and alighted at a solitary farm-house to
breathe his panting steed; but had scarce put foot to ground when he heard
t