eir march to Palestine. On they move, banners flying, songs and
cheers floating on the clear air, and while there is many a dimmed eye
and choked voice among those gathered to see them start, in the ranks
of the Crusaders there is only enthusiasm and joy. On to victory! is
their cry as they disappear behind the hills, a winding ribbon of
humanity, and soon the sound of their cheers and shouts sinks into
silence.

And now let us follow them, as along the Rhine they journey. Across the
fields--beyond the river--southward through wilderness and vineyard,
they go--marching by an occasional castle rising from some lofty crag,
connected in many a childish mind with oft-heard legend and with song.

As they march on, they while away the tedious hours with hymns and
tales, the children from the castles telling of knightly deeds done by
men of famous name, the peasants, telling of miraculous visions of the
Saints; and in the hearing and the telling of the tales, the children
became as one family, bound up in one holy purpose--to outdo all deeds
of heroic valour which had ever been the theme of song or story.

A motley army they--strangest of all the armies ever seen before--with
face and form and voice of youth, but filled with older purpose and
courage, as on and on they march with Nicholas in command, the lines
stretching behind for several miles; and still are their banners
proudly borne aloft, and still as they march, this famous old
Crusader's hymn rises on the still air:

Fairest Lord Jesus,
Ruler of all Nature,
O thou of God and man the Son!
Thee will I cherish,
Thee will I honour,
Thou, my soul's glory, joy and crown.

Fair are the meadows,
Fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer,
Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

And still they journey southward, with Palestine their goal, and in
their young minds there is no fear of a way to cross the Mediterranean
sea, for had not Christ assured Stephen, and a vision revealed to
Nicholas, that the drought at that time parching the land was God's
evidence that they were to pass through the sea as on dry land, its
waters having been parted for their benefit?

So fearlessly and happily they travelled on through the lands of the
lords and nobles who owed allegiance to France, and everywhere their
fame had preceded them, and in every village they won fresh recruits,
unt