hand and signet."

The Saracen bent his head to the dust as he recognized the seal and
handwriting of the renowned Soldan of Egypt and Syria; and having kissed
the paper with profound respect, he pressed it to his forehead, then
returned it to the Christian, saying, "Rash Frank, thou hast sinned
against thine own blood and mine, for not showing this to me when we
met."

"You came with levelled spear," said the Knight. "Had a troop of
Saracens so assailed me, it might have stood with my honour to have
shown the Soldan's pass, but never to one man."

"And yet one man," said the Saracen haughtily, "was enough to interrupt
your journey."

"True, brave Moslem," replied the Christian; "but there are few such as
thou art. Such falcons fly not in flocks; or, if they do, they pounce
not in numbers upon one."

"Thou dost us but justice," said the Saracen, evidently gratified by
the compliment, as he had been touched by the implied scorn of the
European's previous boast; "from us thou shouldst have had no wrong. But
well was it for me that I failed to slay thee, with the safeguard of
the king of kings upon thy person. Certain it were, that the cord or the
sabre had justly avenged such guilt."

"I am glad to hear that its influence shall be availing to me," said the
Knight; "for I have heard that the road is infested with robber-tribes,
who regard nothing in comparison of an opportunity of plunder."

"The truth has been told to thee, brave Christian," said the Saracen;
"but I swear to thee, by the turban of the Prophet, that shouldst thou
miscarry in any haunt of such villains, I will myself undertake thy
revenge with five thousand horse. I will slay every male of them, and
send their women into such distant captivity that the name of their
tribe shall never again be heard within five hundred miles of Damascus.
I will sow with salt the foundations of their village, and there shall
never live thing dwell there, even from that time forward."

"I had rather the trouble which you design for yourself were in revenge
of some other more important person than of me, noble Emir," replied the
Knight; "but my vow is recorded in heaven, for good or for evil, and I
must be indebted to you for pointing me out the way to my resting-place
for this evening."

"That," said the Saracen, "must be under the black covering of my
father's tent."

"This night," answered the Christian, "I must pass in prayer and
penitence with a holy man, The