preceding ones.

[Sidenote: _Failure of the German Mission._]

It was either in the middle or just before this Chapter, that the
German-Hungarian expedition returned. Their mission had been an utter
failure! When questioned as to the reason of this failure, they
answered, unanimously--

"No one knows us; our dress, our loneliness, excite distrust. The
clergy have united to drive us away, they called us heretics, and left
us without defence or protection. We fell into the hands of wicked men
and thieves, who ill-treated us; we had to come away!"

This sounded very badly, but the explanation of it lay in the fact
that they did not understand the language of the people they went to!
How it happened that they were sent, not knowing the language, we
cannot say. Perhaps Francis thought that French and Italian would be
spoken, or, at least, understood in these countries, or it may be he
expected them to be endowed with the gift of tongues. Those who went
to Germany knew but one word of the language, "ja"--"yes." In the
first town they entered they attracted a great deal of notice, and
people asked them if they would like food and a lodging. They did not
understand a word of what was said, but they smiled and said "ja."
Finding themselves well treated, they determined to use this
expression on all occasions.

Unfortunately, the next one asked them if they were heretics, and had
come to Germany to preach an evil doctrine. When they again smiled and
answered "ja," to their grief and amazement, they were cast into
prison, and after having been ill-treated for some time, were driven
out of the country.

At the close of the "Chapter of Mats," Francis announced that he was
about to proceed to Egypt to preach to the Sultan. Ugolino had decided
that things were now on such a solid foundation that he could with
safety leave the Order while he took this long journey.

CHAPTER XV.

FRANCIS' VISIT TO THE SULTAN. DISCOURAGEMENTS.

"I must not fail
Nor be discouraged. In the work of God
No man may turn or falter."

Francis and his companion Illuminato set out for Egypt with the
intention of making straight for the Sultan. They travelled with one
of the Crusading parties, which, by a curious coincidence, was
commanded by John of Brienne, brother to that Walter of Brienne whom
Francis would have enlisted under, only God sent him back to his
native town! That Francis made a good impression upon the Crusad